ASIAN fusion is a very 21st-century culinary concept. Taking traditional dishes from other regions and mixing techniques together could also, however, have been the design brief for the Kia Stinger.

Kia wanted to build a rival to Germany’s BMW 4 Series. Yet if this South Korean’s build quality is anything like Hyundai’s Genesis, it should feel more than a little like a Japanese Lexus inside.

With Australia’s rich history in rear-wheel-drive performance sedans, however, the Stinger comes armed with a turbo four-cylinder, like the short-lived Ford Falcon EcoBoost, plus a boosted V6 that seems spiritually like that of a Falcon XR6 Turbo.

Except with real luxury and Brembo brakes on V6s, the Stinger also seems akin to an also short-lived, pre-2013 Holden Calais V Redline.

The Stinger really does seem like a fusion of style and space, or luxury and sports. And with the last remaining local rear-drive sedan gone next month, the pressure is now on to see if Kia has served an enticing first dish of this kind – and whether it really can appeal to this country’s large-car tastes.