Digital Trends: How Kia went from peddling econoboxes to challenging BMW

FriedPiston · 01-29-2018, 03:42 PM

I'm not really sure why this news is just making its way around. KIA has been carving at the BMW/Audi market share since they released the redesigned Optima SX turbo back in 2012/2013. I owned a mildly modified one for 6 months before ditching it for an E90 335i.

The (2013) Optima SX turbo was nice, and the interior quality was more than adequate. It made a lot of unsuspecting heads turn, which is quite the opposite experience for when I made the switch to an E90 335i. However, having come from a tuner background, I was extremely disappointed with the lack of ECU tuning options for the KIA platform. It's not as bad compared to a modern day Toyota/Lexus, but definitely nowhere near the tunability of other FI platforms like Nissan, Subaru, Audi/VW, and BMW. The cipher they used to encrypt the ECU is damn near impossible to crack, or simply not worth spending any resources on.

I definitely wouldn't mind getting another KIA sports sedan, but I would have to be willing to commit to keeping the car as close to stock as possible given the lack of tuning options. I expect the Stinger to be no different, and this will be the biggest drawback for those who haven't been exposed to KIA "performance".

Mingwan · 01-31-2018, 09:39 PM

I like the Stinger. I think the tiger nose grill will translate well in future Kia products. (Although I think it does slightly resemble BMW’s kidney grill). I prefer the Genesis version, though. Too much design fuckery on the stinger that stands out to me.

Soul_Glo · 02-01-2018, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mingwan

I like the Stinger. I think the tiger nose grill will translate well in future Kia products. (Although I think it does slightly resemble BMW’s kidney grill). I prefer the Genesis version, though. Too much design fuckery on the stinger that stands out to me.

Was designed by the guy who used to design for Audi.

48Laws · 02-01-2018, 06:19 AM

There’s nothing inspiring about that KIA emblem. The logo sucks. It speaks cheap. They need to rethink that.

Never_Enough · 02-01-2018, 08:18 AM

Not enough car for the money

shockin330i · 02-01-2018, 08:21 AM

Still a kia

joooiiiiii · 02-01-2018, 08:31 AM

Wow, this car looks beautiful. I like the design a lot. I remember many years ago when Kia first got off the ground--people were buying 2 of them because they were so cheap. I have to give it to Kia, very nicely done. Hopefully, in the next 10 years they really step it up and bring something nice for the new gen.

aerostar · 02-01-2018, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Never_Enough

Not enough car for the money

Name a car that gives as much for 50k that the Stinger GT does.

There's not any car I can think of with ~350 HP and RWD that can give you EVERY single option that you can get on a high tier BMW for that price.

You get things like HUD, Lane assist, distance cruise control, top view cameras, etc etc.

48Laws · 02-01-2018, 09:02 AM

Infiniti ^

aerostar · 02-01-2018, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48Laws

Infiniti ^

Closest I got w/ same options is 54k for the Infiniti.

Still missing 50 hp and adds some weight, I believe.

Never_Enough · 02-01-2018, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerostar

Name a car that gives as much for 50k that the Stinger GT does.

There's not any car I can think of with ~350 HP and RWD that can give you EVERY single option that you can get on a high tier BMW for that price.

You get things like HUD, Lane assist, distance cruise control, top view cameras, etc etc.

Land yacht with a whole 350 HP. Wow. I'm so excited I fell asleep. Even if it didn't weight way too much, 350 HP is nothing in 2018.

Kia & Hyundai have been loading up their cars with options for years because the rest of the car sucks. Poor build quality. Maybe I'm biased as I bought a 2010 Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track brand new & it was the biggest POS I've ever had. Gave them another try when beater shopping last year. Checked out a new Elantra & it was also a poorly built shitbox.

48Laws · 02-01-2018, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerostar

Closest I got w/ same options is 54k for the Infiniti.

Still missing 50 hp and adds some weight, I believe.

Lol. Semantics. That’s the same ball park.

Mingwan · 02-01-2018, 11:16 AM

He said it’s still shy 50 hp similarly equipped and closely priced...that’s not the same ballpark lol

Chihuahua · 02-02-2018, 05:17 PM

There's a good article on Jalopnik right now reviewing the Stinger. It's impressive.

Soul_Glo · 02-02-2018, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chihuahua

There's a good article on Jalopnik right now reviewing the Stinger. It's impressive.

Got a link? Thanks

allinon72 · 02-03-2018, 05:17 AM

If it had BMW or Audi badges, would it get the same glowing reviews? Methinks not. This is a feel good underdog story. But a Kia is a Kia.

tranquility · 02-03-2018, 05:41 AM

Nothing worse than a badge snob. These brands can only go up. Now I'm not saying I'll buy right now but to say never because it's a Kia is just silly.

allinon72 · 02-03-2018, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Nothing worse than a badge snob. These brands can only go up. Now I'm not saying I'll buy right now but to say never because it's a Kia is just silly.

It's not badge snobbery, it's heritage.

Refined · 02-03-2018, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Never_Enough

Land yacht with a whole 350 HP. Wow. I'm so excited I fell asleep. Even if it didn't weight way too much, 350 HP is nothing in 2018.

Kia & Hyundai have been loading up their cars with options for years because the rest of the car sucks. Poor build quality. Maybe I'm biased as I bought a 2010 Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track brand new & it was the biggest POS I've ever had. Gave them another try when beater shopping last year. Checked out a new Elantra & it was also a poorly built shitbox.

Curious as to what issues you had with the Genesis 3.8? I had the same year 3.8 gt here in Canada, also bought new... and it was a fantastic car! I'd still be driving it as my winter beater had I not lost it in my divorce

Chihuahua · 02-03-2018, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 37psi

Got a link? Thanks

https://jalopnik.com/the-2018-kia-st...eal-1822643041

RABAUKE · 02-03-2018, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I'm the old dude around here. I remember quite well when Hyundai, which is Kia's parent company, came to the USA with cars in 1986 or so with the Excel, it gained a reputation of being a total POS. Hyundai ("rhymes with Sunday" was the commercials...) soon had to come up with the first 100,000-mile warranty to get US car customers to even pay attention. 30 years later their sub-brand is competing with BMW as far as architecture and making a driver's car. Progress.

Don't forget the Pony, POS to. I remember nobody would touch them except the folks who had a few more dollars to spend than the Lada buyers......

tranquility · 02-03-2018, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allinon72

It's not badge snobbery, it's heritage.

So heritage can never be achieved? Think about that for 1 sec.

01-29-2018, 03:42 PM	#23
FriedPiston Colonel 1969 Rep 2,711 Posts Drives: Scraper Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: East Oakland, CA iTrader: (26)	I'm not really sure why this news is just making its way around. KIA has been carving at the BMW/Audi market share since they released the redesigned Optima SX turbo back in 2012/2013. I owned a mildly modified one for 6 months before ditching it for an E90 335i. The (2013) Optima SX turbo was nice, and the interior quality was more than adequate. It made a lot of unsuspecting heads turn, which is quite the opposite experience for when I made the switch to an E90 335i. However, having come from a tuner background, I was extremely disappointed with the lack of ECU tuning options for the KIA platform. It's not as bad compared to a modern day Toyota/Lexus, but definitely nowhere near the tunability of other FI platforms like Nissan, Subaru, Audi/VW, and BMW. The cipher they used to encrypt the ECU is damn near impossible to crack, or simply not worth spending any resources on. I definitely wouldn't mind getting another KIA sports sedan, but I would have to be willing to commit to keeping the car as close to stock as possible given the lack of tuning options. I expect the Stinger to be no different, and this will be the biggest drawback for those who haven't been exposed to KIA "performance".
	Appreciate 1 Soul_Glo13342.00 Quote

01-31-2018, 09:39 PM	#24
Mingwan Major 1893 Rep 1,338 Posts Drives: X1 Individual custom paint Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Kansas iTrader: (0)	I like the Stinger. I think the tiger nose grill will translate well in future Kia products. (Although I think it does slightly resemble BMW’s kidney grill). I prefer the Genesis version, though. Too much design fuckery on the stinger that stands out to me.
	Appreciate 1 Soul_Glo13342.00 Quote

02-01-2018, 06:19 AM	#26
48Laws Banned 705 Rep 1,908 Posts Drives: '15 F80, '18 991.2 GTS Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	There’s nothing inspiring about that KIA emblem. The logo sucks. It speaks cheap. They need to rethink that.
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02-01-2018, 08:18 AM	#27
Never_Enough Banned 2203 Rep 2,476 Posts Drives: Satan's Chariot 2.0 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: PA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2018 Charger Hellcat [0.00]	Not enough car for the money
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02-01-2018, 08:21 AM	#28
shockin330i Brigadier General 798 Rep 4,784 Posts Drives: 2016 ZCP M3 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: f y'all, I'm from Texas (RGV) iTrader: (1)	Still a kia __________________ ERnie 2016 BSM/f80/ZCP
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		BMW X5 and X6 Forum (F15/F16) > BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > General Automotive (non-BMW) Talk + Photos/Videos
Digital Trends: How Kia went from peddling econoboxes to challenging BMW

02-01-2018, 08:31 AM	#29
joooiiiiii Lieutenant 439 Rep 418 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Wow, this car looks beautiful. I like the design a lot. I remember many years ago when Kia first got off the ground--people were buying 2 of them because they were so cheap. I have to give it to Kia, very nicely done. Hopefully, in the next 10 years they really step it up and bring something nice for the new gen.
	Appreciate 1 Soul_Glo13342.00 Quote

02-01-2018, 09:02 AM	#31
48Laws Banned 705 Rep 1,908 Posts Drives: '15 F80, '18 991.2 GTS Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	Infiniti ^
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02-01-2018, 11:16 AM	#35
Mingwan Major 1893 Rep 1,338 Posts Drives: X1 Individual custom paint Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Kansas iTrader: (0)	He said it’s still shy 50 hp similarly equipped and closely priced...that’s not the same ballpark lol
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02-02-2018, 05:17 PM	#36
Chihuahua Brigadier General 4058 Rep 3,194 Posts Drives: E30 329iS, E65 Alpina B7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	There's a good article on Jalopnik right now reviewing the Stinger. It's impressive.
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02-03-2018, 05:17 AM	#38
allinon72 Brigadier General 4908 Rep 3,790 Posts Drives: 20' M2C, 23' X1 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Indianapolis, IN iTrader: (2)	If it had BMW or Audi badges, would it get the same glowing reviews? Methinks not. This is a feel good underdog story. But a Kia is a Kia.
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02-03-2018, 05:41 AM	#39
tranquility sportscars only 3236 Rep 3,193 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	Nothing worse than a badge snob. These brands can only go up. Now I'm not saying I'll buy right now but to say never because it's a Kia is just silly.
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