Unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, Kia asserts there are no plans to bring the GT4 Stinger Concept to production, yet reminds us that it has a history of creating production cars that closely resemble the concepts that preceded them. Penned in California, the rear-wheel drive 2+2 sports car is Kia's "most aggressive concept car ever." At 169.7 inches long, with a 103.1-inch wheelbase, the GT4 Stinger is a tad longer than a Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S, but significantly shorter than the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

Weighing in at a svelte 2,874 pounds, it sits lower and wider than the FR-S, but make no mistake – this, along with the upcoming Mazda MX-5 Miata – is the car Kia aims to do battle with. Not the Genesis Coupe or the turbo-four Mustang. Under the hood, a 2.0-liter turbo-four is good for 315 hp that's sent to the 20-inch wheels via a six-speed manual. 15-inch Brembo brakes and four-piston calipers keep the concept in check and Pirelli PZero tires provide the grip. The latest interpretation of Kia's "tiger nose" grille sports a glowing white surround and is flanked by vertical LED headlamps.

A chrome-accented clamshell hood has bulges in order to house the massive wheels, while black front pillars incorporating transparent sections afford the windscreen a wraparound look and improve visibility. Hints of the Nissan 240Z are apparent from the side, thanks to the long hood and the body widening at the rear where LED rear lights illuminate from behind a black panel. A minimalist cabin has sparse instrumentation that uses red LEDs, aluminum door handles, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and leather-wrapped bucket seats.