It seems mainstream rear-wheel drive performance sedans are a dying breed. The latest to receive the death sentence is the Kia Stinger.
Kia on Wednesday unveiled the Stinger Tribute Edition as the definitive version of the Stinger, which will be limited to 1,000 units for worldwide sale. The cars will be the last Stingers to be built.
Kia spokesman James Hope told the Motor Authority that about 400 are planned for the United States. He also said that the launch date has not yet been confirmed, but is likely to be in the first half of 2023.
The Tribute Edition is based on the Stinger, equipped with the 3.3-liter V6 twin-turbo engine that produces a maximum of 368 hp. It also gets exclusive Moonscape Matte Gray exterior color, although buyers can choose the existing Ascot Green as an alternative. Both colors feature black accents on the side mirror caps, 19-inch wheels and Brembo calipers.
For the interior, there is an exclusive terracotta brown hue for the leather used for the seats, steering wheel, door panels and door handles. The car also features carbon-fiber-like material on the center console and upper door panels, as well as a wasp-like pattern on the headrests as a nod to the nameplate. The conclusion is a numbered door sill plate on the driver’s side.
While the Stinger will soon be gone, Kia plans to keep the car’s sporty focus alive in its new range of GT-badged models. The first of these are already here in the form of the K5 GT sedan and the EV6 GT electric crossover. The latter, with its 576 hp, delivers a remarkable performance.