Some of you may recall a couple of years ago when Kia unveiled a concept that was very un-Kia like. The GT4 Stinger was first shown at Detroit in 2014 and it immediately got everyone's attention. This wasn't just another Kia economy car or crossover concept. Quite the opposite, in fact. This was a fully-fledged rear-wheel-drive 2+2 sports car made for driving enjoyment. Power came from a 2.0-liter turbo four with 315 hp. And, as it often goes with many automakers, Kia refused to confirm anything about a production-spec Stinger future.

Kia did mention a problem, however: developing a RWD platform for a single niche model would be very expensive. But apparently there are forces atKia who've been pushing hard for this car to happen. According to a report from AutoGuide, Kia has just filed a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the name "Kia Stinger." Also interesting is that last November Kia filed to protect "Kia GT4 Stinger" in Europe. Problem here, however, was that other companies soon claimed copyright infringement. The US application essentially drops the "GT4" part. AutoGuide also believes that production, if all goes to plan, could begin as early as next year.