Kia announces Stinger Tribute Edition

Six years after it was introduced, Kia’s Stinger sedan is near its end, but it will be farewelled with a ‘Tribute Edition’ that features a new exterior colour option and unique interior trim.

Along with similar models from other manufacturers, it seems the Stinger is a victim of the demand for SUVs and the move toward electrification. Kia has yet to say specifically when Stinger production will end, but the announcement of the Tribute Edition last December makes continuation beyond 2023 unlikely.

“The Stinger Tribute Edition denotes an important chapter in the story of Kia’s high-performance ethos. Featuring an exclusive color and interior trim never before seen on the sedan, it also serves as a fitting celebration of the Stinger’s contribution to the Kia brand," said Chang Sung Ryu, Senior VP and Head of Purchase, CX Design Sub-division.

Limited to 1,000 units worldwide, the Stinger Tribute Edition is based on the 274kW/510Nm 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 GT and will be offered in two colours; the already available Ascot Green and an all-new Moonscape matte grey.

Accenting this are black mirror caps and calipers for the Stinger GT’s Brembo brakes, along with 19-inch alloys in gloss black.

Inside, a “carefully curated collection of design and material upgrades” includes Terracotta leather on the seats and doorcards, with Terracotta stitching on the sports steering wheel. Faux carbon fibre trim features on the centre console and around the door handles, while a new ‘wasp’ emblem is added to the seat headrests.

Each Tribute Edition will carry its individual build number on a special driver’s side sill plate.

The demise of the Commodore SS and Falcon XR6 (and more recently the Chrysler 300C) made the Stinger the only option for buyers looking for an affordable performance sedan, reflected by a spike in demand that saw 2,242 sales last year against only 1,407 in 2021.

With local demand exceeding supply, Kia Australia has yet to close the order books on the regular Stinger, so have no plans to offer the Tribute Edition locally at time of writing.

The 1,000-unit production for the Stinger Tribute Edition is expected to be split across US and Asian markets.