Kia introduces Stinger, Sorento specials

KIA Motors Australia (KMAu) has added a pair of special-edition models to its line-up, with the aptly named Stinger Carbon Edition and Sorento Black Edition now in showrooms.

KMAu general manager of media and corporate communications Kevin Hepworth told GoAuto that “there is no firm number” of visually enhanced Stingers and Sorentos heading Down Under, noting that “the market will decide” how many end up in driveways.

Based on the flagship GT grade of KMAu’s rear-wheel-drive large sedan, the Stinger Carbon Edition is priced from $67,990 driveaway.

For the extra spend over the GT ($60,790 plus on-road costs), Carbon Edition buyers get genuine carbon-fibre trim for the grille surround, bonnet vents, side air intakes, side-mirror covers and rear diffuser.

Inside, the Carbon Edition’s steering wheel is trimmed in Alcantara, while a ‘Carbon Edition’ badge is positioned in front of the gear selector.

Five paintwork options are available for the Carbon Edition, including the Stinger’s latest hue, Neon Orange, as well as Micro Blue, Hichroma Red, Snow White Pearl and Aurora Black.

The Carbon Edition is based on the US-market GTS, a limited-edition Stinger revealed at the New York Motor show in April this year.

It is motivated by a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine and produces 272kW of power at 6000rpm and 510Nm of torque from 1300-4500rpm. An eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission is responsible for swapping gears.

Meanwhile, the Black Edition slots in between the Sorento large SUV’s SLi (from $46,990 plus ORCs) and GT-Line (from $55,490 plus ORCs) grades.

The Black Edition is available with a 206kW/336Nm 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine for $48,990 driveaway or a 147kW/441Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder unit for $52,490 driveaway.

No matter what engine buyers choose, the aforementioned eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission is standard.

Opting for the Black Edition gets buyers high-gloss treatments for the 19-inch alloy wheels, grille, side-mirror covers and roof racks as well as dark-chrome door garnishes.

It also features ‘Ice Cube’ LED foglights, black front and rear skid plates, privacy glass and a panoramic sunroof.

Paintwork options extend to Clear White, Silky Silver, Aurora Black and Snow White Pearl.

Stinger sales have cooled off this year in line with the new-vehicle market’s decline, with 1401 examples sold to the end of September – a 7.4 per cent decrease over the 1513 deliveries made during the same period in 2018.

However, the Sorento’s volume has contracted more sharply in the year to date, dipping by 17.9 per cent to 2844 units, leaving it well off the pace of the sub-$70,000 segment-leading Toyota Prado (14,228) and Kluger (8057) large SUVs.

The Stinger competes in the much smaller and therefore less competitive sub-$70,000 large-car segment, trailing only the Holden Commodore (4639 units) to the end of September.

2019 Kia Stinger Carbon Edition driveaway pricing

2019 Kia Sorento Black Edition driveaway pricing