Only a few days ago we reported about the upcoming Kia Stinger facelift, which could see the base 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder be replaced by a more powerful 2.5 turbo engine that would increase the output by at least 45 horsepower. The 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 is expected to remain but a few updates are possible. That's the good news. The bad news is there's a new rumor claiming the next-generation Kia Stinger may be canceled outright.
The Korean Car Blog points to a new but unsourced report out of South Korea indicating the second-generation model could be in trouble. Why is this? Blame the coronavirus pandemic. Like all automakers these days, budget cuts will have to happen due to record-low sales. The Stinger is aimed at enthusiast buyers with lower sales expectations compared to say, the Kia Forte or Sportage.
The Kia Stinger was never intended to be a mass seller. Given the current circumstances, automakers are more likely to refocus investments on vehicles proven to make a lot of money. Originally, Kia intended to launch a second-gen Stinger though no firm date had been announced. The current car arrived in 2017 so a complete redesign likely wouldn't be too far out.
The future may also be grim for the Genesis G70, which not only shares its engines with the Stinger but also its rear-wheel-drive platform. The report also mentions the next-gen G70 could also be canceled for the same reasons.
Sedan sales, in general, are not anywhere near what they used to be, and Kia already has a well-established SUV lineup. The Genesis GV80 is the brand's sole SUV right now but that'll be changing very soon when the GV70 arrives next year. Again, SUVs make a lot more money than sedans and both Kia and Genesis may have to make some tough decisions very soon.
Kia Stinger sales, meanwhile, dropped last year in the US to 13,884 units. In 2018 that figure was 16,806. Already in the first few months of this year, Stinger sales are down compared to the same time last year. At this point, we're just hoping the Stinger facelift proceeds as planned.