The sensible but under-appreciated Kia Stinger was one among the last inexpensive rear-wheel-drive internal-combustion sedans. Alas, it was too pure for this world of consumers who think FWD and RWD are abbreviations found on a VCR distant. The gasoline Stinger was discontinued last 12 months, but for those who’re kicking yourself for the missed opp, fear not. A brand new report out of Korea says that the Stinger’s unofficial successor is within the works, and it’s electric.
The automobile, code-named GT1, might be built on Hyundai-Kia’s next-generation EV platform. It’s scheduled to roll out of Kia’s Hwaseong Plant 3 in 2026 and has been tentatively named the Kia EV8. The data comes from a leaked production schedule that Korean Automobile Blog has translated into English and reported.
The EV8’s platform is known as eM, which it would share with the big SUV Genesis GV90. Korean Automobile Blog also reports that the EV8 will use a 113.2 kWh battery pack, good for a spread of roughly 435 to 500 miles. That is more capability than even a Lucid Air Grand Touring’s 112 kWh.
Dual motors on the top-spec will supply 335 horsepower to the front wheels and 268 to the rear, for a combined 603 horsepower. Entry trim levels can have a single 215-horse motor driving the rear wheels, while AWD models can have a second 215-horse motor driving the front wheels as well.
The primary eM platform cars — the Kia EV8 and Genesis GV90 — are expected to roll out in 2026. While we are going to miss the Stinger name, the brand new moniker hints that pricing will start between the EV6 and EV9’s $42,600 and $54,900 respective base prices.
This Article First Appeared At www.autoblog.com
