We've been touting the Kia Stinger since it came out in 2018, and when rumors began to circulate that itmight be discontinued, we urged you to buy it before it went away.

Despite reasonable sales of 13,517 units in 2021, the murmurs of the Stinger's demise continue to grow louder. A new report from the Auto Times in South Korea claims Kia will stop building the Stinger in April 2023. That would give the sports sedan around half a year left to live.

A lack of demand could be to blame for this news. Stinger sales have remained relatively steady in the US market, though the top sales year in 2018 was only 16,806 units. Kia has only sold 6,189 units through August, meaning 2022 will likely be the model's lowest volume full year. Things are much worse in the company's home market of South Korea, where the Stinger has only sold 1,499 units through September.

The rumors suggest that the Stinger no longer fits into Kia's product strategy, which is focused on electrification with models like the EV6.

After receiving a facelift for the 2022 model year, it's unlikely that the Stinger will live on for a second generation, with no successor currently in the works.

The EV6 GT will fill the performance gap left by the Stinger, producing 576 horsepower from dual electric motors. Kia's all-electric hyper hatch even has a drift mode. An all-electric sedan could join the lineup in 2025, though it's unlikely to wear a Stinger badge. Maybe Shocker would be a better name.

If this rumor is correct, now is the time to purchase a Kia Stinger while dealers still have inventory, or you can order your ideal color and engine combination.

The facelifted Stinger comes standard with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 hp or an optional 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 delivering 368 hp. An eight-speed automatic is standard on both cars, and the power is sent to the rear wheels only.

Though the V6 is our preferred powertrain, the four-pot Stinger is still plenty of fun and is available for just $36,290. If you want the V6, the GT1 trim starts at $43,890. In terms of handling, it's not as scalpel-like as the BMW 4 Series, but Kia hit an excellent sweet spot between continent-crushing comfort and the ability to be a bit naughty when the mood strikes.