Kia has reportedly scrapped plans to construct an electrical substitute for its Stinger liftback.
The Korean Automobile Weblog experiences phrase from unspecified business sources that the brand new mannequin – codenamed GT1, and mooted to put on the EV8 nameplate – received’t enter manufacturing.
It was reportedly set to share its eM platform with Genesis fashions, a lot because the now-defunct Stinger shares a platform with the Genesis G70.
The brand new electrical automobile (EV) platform will reportedly now be unique to Genesis fashions just like the upcoming GV90, with Hyundai and Kia as an alternative utilizing a platform known as eS.
A leaked union manufacturing schedule from final yr had indicated the GT1 would enter manufacturing in Korea in 2026.
It was additionally reportedly set to exchange not solely the Stinger, but additionally the tamer, front-wheel drive K8 massive sedan.
In range-topping guise, the GT1 was reportedly set to mix 200kW entrance and 250kW rear electrical motors for a complete system output of 450kW, simply pipping the EV6 GT’s 430kW output.
It was additionally set to make use of Kia’s largest battery but, a 113.2kWh unit, good for between 700 and 800km of vary on an unspecified take a look at cycle.
The GT1 was additionally reportedly set to be provided in a much less highly effective dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration with two 160kW electrical motors for a complete of 320kW, and a single-motor rear-wheel drive configuration with 160kW.
For reference, the defunct Stinger produced 182kW of energy with its entry-level turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, 224kW with the two.5-litre turbo 4 not provided right here, and 274kW with its twin-turbocharged 3.3-litre V6.
With no GT1/EV8 forthcoming, that leaves the EV6 – ostensibly an SUV – because the Stinger’s substitute.
Certainly, Kia launched a promotional video in 2023 commemorating the Stinger successfully passing the efficiency torch to the EV6.
The Stinger exited manufacturing in 2023 after sluggish gross sales in markets like Korea, Europe and the US.
In Australia, nonetheless, it was a extra constant vendor, even having fun with a gross sales spike in its final full yr in the marketplace.
MORE: Every part Kia Stinger
