Kia Stinger V8 coming… to America? – UPDATE

Kia Australia communications manager Kevin Hepworth said this morning that although he noted there had been talk in the media of a V8 Stinger project, there has been no word on such an undertaking, with no confirmation to be had.

Hepworth maintains that nobody at Kia Australia is closely enough connected to its American counterparts to know details of any project that would likely be intended for a US-market, left-hand-drive application only.

For the benefit of clarity, we have kept the original quote in place.

A V8 version of the Kia Stinger could soon be on its way to America – but the bad news is that Australia look set to miss out.

If what we've heard is on the money, the Kia Stinger V8 would probably make use of parent company Hyundai's ‘Tau’ V8 engine, a 5.0-litre normally aspirated unit with 313kW of power and 519Nm of torque.

It’s the same engine you can get in a Genesis G80 in the US, and considering there are some shared bits between the high-spec luxury-labelled Hyundai (still sold here as the Hyundai Genesis) and the new go-fast Kia, it could well be a perfect fit.

But despite a long-lasting love affair of V8 engines Down Under in the form of the Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons of years gone by, Australian customers could be left wanting.

Kia Australia general manager of media and corporate communications, Kevin Hepworth, told CarAdvice that the company’s local arm has no plans for the introduction of a V8 here.

“We have not even considered a V8 for Australia,” Hepworth stated vehemently. “It’s not even on the table.”

But he did suggest there could be a V8 coming to some markets other than Australia.

“I believe they’re developing one,” Hepworth said. “There may be a possibility the US could pick it up. We’ve not heard about it [for an Australian launch]. We haven’t entered into discussion for a V8.”

In Australia buyers will make do with two drivetrain choices – a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 190kW/353Nm, or the halo 3.3-litre bi-turbo V6 with 272kW/510Nm.

Stay tuned for our review of the 2018 Kia Stinger soon.

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