First introduced just last year at the Detroit Auto Show, the Kia Stinger GT pretty much singlehandedly upended our perception of the South Korean brand’s sporting intentions thanks to its attractive five-door liftback exterior and competitive powertrain spec. Now it looks like Kia is jumping on the special edition bandwagon with the release of the Stinger GT Atlantica, which “celebrates the cross-Atlantic collaboration between the U.S. and the vehicle’s Germany-based development roots and introduces exclusive features not previously offered.” Standout upgrades include new paint and larger wheel designs outside, as well as Nappa leather upholstery for the cabin.
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What Makes The Singer GT Atlantica Special
As you might expect, the new Kia Stinger GT Atlantica is based on the top-trim GT2 AWD model, which means it already comes loaded with slick upgrades and extras right from the factory.
To this solid foundation, the Atlantica version adds a unique paint job dubbed Deep Chroma Blue, which covers the sultry body panels with a head-turning metallic finish. The exterior is also fitted with the same 19-inch alloy wheels as the Euro-spec model, while a larger Stinger badge in the rear gives a nod to the Korean-spec model. Further badging declaring the special edition’s status was added both outside and inside.
Speaking of the cabin, the interior of the Stinger GT Atlantica is draped in an exclusive Espresso Brown Nappa leather upholstery treatment, which is topped off by a black suede headliner. In terms of technology, there’s also a Surround View Monitor, a wireless cellphone charger, and a heating function for the rear outboard seats.
Meanwhile, the powertrain and drivetrain remain unaltered. As a reminder, the Stinger GT2 AWD is outfitted with a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 up front, producing upwards of 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends the output the corners via an electronically controlled AWD system, while dynamic torque vectoring refines the handling prowess. Brake discs measuring in at 13.8 inches in front and 13.4 inches in the rear haul it down.
“Out of the box, the Stinger is a tried-and-true sports sedan with much of its development taking place on Germany’s grueling Nurburgring race circuit,” says vice president of product planning at Kia Motors America, Orth Hedrick. “The Atlantica edition introduces more European flare while distinguishing itself with exclusive badging and features not previously offered by Kia in the U.S. market.”
Production for the 2019 Kia Stinger GT Atlantica will be limited at 500 units total, with an on-sale date planned for this summer. No official pricing has been announced thus far, but expect a healthy premium over the standard Stinger GT2 AWD’s $52,300 price tag.
References
Kia Stinger
Read our full review on the 2018 Kia Stinger.
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