Again, price is a big factor. For $35 grand maybe, but over for over $40 grand there are too many proven sports sedans out there.

 

A fully loaded GT2 is going to top $50k by a good margin. If you're prepared to put aside the brand/marque issues, this is a European sportback/touring model. The Giulia is a true sport sedan, not a tourer but I do see similarities. Both need to get their models on the streets and be seen. Both have excellent warranty terms and suffer from perception issues. Alfas are not reliable. Kias are cheap.

I honestly don't think there's any way the Stinger will handle anything close to the Guilia regardless of whether it's a 4 or 6 cyl. Kias generally have very high reliability ratings (for whatever that's worth) but I think you'll be very hard pressed to find someone to layout over $50k for one unless there are crazy lease terms which are seemingly going to happen. The Giulia has a huge advantage where the dealer chain is Maserati/Ferrari with a superior buying experience. Your typical BMW/Audi/MB/Lexus driver is going to have to google to find their local Kia dealer and probably turn right around after taking a step into the dealer. The two Kia dealers I walked into had perhaps the worst showrooms I've ever been in.

 

they are after a bigger market than what Alfa has focused on, and that means somewhere between current bmw and lexus manners.
I have no doubt they could build something more focused if they wanted to, but they have no identity or history to inspire and preserve, just a desire to sell lotsa cars.

 

The Autoweek article I read mentioned fairly low volume. Maybe similar to Giulia's?

 

 

low volume has a different meaning for Asian manufacturers.

 

ARMANI vs. Sears....

Enough said.....

A few years back VW tried to launch the "Phaeton" on these shores....A $75 K VW (in today's dollars closer to $80 K) and a W 12 Phaeton at over $100 Large !!!! Nobody spent that kind of coin on a rebadged Audi A 8 with a "less snobby badge".....No longer sold here.....

The Asian companies with the biggest design issues are Nissan and Honda with Toyota a close 3rd....Never have I seen more non contiguous lines on any type of metal....I mean cut lines and slashes and black trim EVERYWHERE.....NO FLOW ....On the Stinger, the C Pillar is a MESS !!! It's like they wanted to make a KamTail and suddenly realized they had a trunk to tack on ......I'll take my Giulia Quad every and any day of the week and twice on Sunday.....PLEASE......:laugh:

 

Sears is dying.

Lexus = mostly ugly.

 

although not my taste, I respect the nissan etc design people who are willing to make a vehicle that isn't same same.
it reminds me of 50's/60's cars, early lambos etc
good for them

 

French/Renault influence?

 

Remember the K900 (Kia's first foray into the price range)? Kia is probably hoping you don't. Maybe they think things will be different with the Stinger.

 

BONDI to all !!!
to all YOU R driving ALFA ROMEO or dreaming of owning ONE .
IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT U having a discussion of what ??? KIA/something on GIULIA FORUM.
WHAT IS wrong with you people ???
even a passing thought , to put marque / name ALFA ROMEO NEXT TO ???
DNA - does the meaning known to you all ???
OBVIOUSLY some of you never got to live LE EMOZIONI DI UN BISCIONE !!!
SALUTI CORDIALI , fabrizio nuvolari @ salazar alfa romeo

 

is the juke the one that looks like a bug eye healey?

I kinda like that one.

 

C'mon now.....really ...? Would you spend your hard earned money on that thing ...?

 

I jumped on the reviews... and found the term "Body Roll" mentions wayyyyyyy to many times. Forget all the obvious differences in.... everything between an Alfa and a Kia.
Body roll? Really?
I don't care how many Germans were involved in the project. You don't make a $50k Kia and have "too much body roll".
Even a Giulietta doesn't have Body Roll, let alone a Giulia.
Enough!
When you are at the point where a BMW 340xi costs as much as a Kia, and you buy the Kia (assuming Alfa is not for you), you have issues.
Go get a Charger 392 SRT and call it a day.

Sorry for the rant, but I went into Stinger research independently of this thread, and I came to no good conclusions.

 

c'mon now, how can one not be be pleasantly amused everytime they see a vehicle that evokes cheer and playfulness in it's desigh? the thing looks happy.

and that is unique in an era when aerodynamics and bumper heights and every other government mandate has made most cars almost indistinguishable except for the front grill.

I would include the giulia and stelvio in that category, and perhaps to appeal tp a mainstream audience the goal was simply to to a better job of "same", but change the grills and they could have been the new anything, audi, acura bmw, grand- am macan

 

I guess we'll agree to disagree....

 

I mean KIA doesn't even have a logo ???? I mean just Block Script...?? No imagination..

 

Killed
In
Action

Not an ideal acronym for a car company, just saying.....

 

BRAVO !!! BRAVISSIMO !!! ECELENTE !!!!
COMPARE AN ALFA ROMEO TO ...............what ??????
it is a sacriligios thought . BY you all , owning an ALFA ROMEO ???
OBVIOUSLY you guys never in touch with SOUL & PASSION OF MARQUE .
....maybe you all should trade in ..............
with great dissapointment ,
nuvolari fabrizio @ salazar alfa romeo

 

perhaps heritage is important because when a designer/engineer gets a job somewhere (maybe somewhere he dreamed of working) he knows what he has to live up to, and that if the vehicle doesn't meet those standards, his work will be publicly panned as a disgrace.

kia sells some soul-less box to people who apparently personally identify with hamsters.
I'm not sure what that says about corporate identity or how it might inspire the designers of the stinger.

 

Heritage is a tricky thing though. Look at Harley Davidson. The most innovative redesign they ever did was done by Porsche and a lot of Harley guys don't consider them real Harleys. Now, they are so tired to that heritage it's limiting what they can accomplish, e.g. water cooling is sacrilege so only the heads can be even though the bike are barely meeting emissions regs.

Conversely, what is the heritage of Ford? They made the pinto and the GT. What about Mazda; they've won Lemans, won races with a diesel, but build mostly econoboxes.

I personally only judge a company on what they are producing now. I cannot buy the old feelings and goodwill.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

if a guy at ford or mazda is working on a performance vehicle, you can bet he is reminded pf the le mans win(s)

harley had a shrinking customer base, and although they have surely offended some traditionalists, they are doing well worldwide by remembering their heritage while updating their product.
the new designs are different than the older "updated" product, and the strategy is working.
I'm not a harley guy (because I've ridden them, but I would like an xr-750), but I do wish I had bought more of their stock when I saw how they were approaching those issues.

 

I was at a event today where the stinger was on display. I was able to sit in the car. It is truly a impressive step up for Kia. If the build quality matches the looks other manufacturers may need to take note. The exterior of the car was beautiful, the interior was very nice as well. The interior trim was silver plastic much like the base Giulia and was the biggest let down I noted. Seats were sport style and comfortable. On the whole I was very impressed.

 

Aussie NCAP (highly confusing) have rated iKIA 3 stars for absence of LDW and AEB across the range ...

http://www.caradvice.com.au/609173/kia-stinger-gets-controversial-ancap-score/

i wouldnt read too much into it, the whole process is BULLSHIT in Australia ... we have some real dropkicks in charge atm

 

Can dress it up how you want...it's a KIA at the end of the day. Pass.

 

As far as exterior styling...I think the KIA is an absolute mess....the large plastic whatever on the lower front sides behind the front wheels is a visual disaster...the C pillar may be the worst execution of a C pillar in recent years (Jaguar XJ a close second).....I don't want to sound like a "hater" but there Optima from a few years back was a much cleaner design...

 

Alfa generates buzz. Tell folks you drive an Alfa and it’s wows and lucky for the responses. Tell folks you drive a Kia and the response is ok and so.

Lots of cars to choose from in the mid $40ks.

Only Alfa gave me that fizz.

That’s the heritage coming thru. Pride in the brand.

 

Also, with the KIA, you will need to explain why the stinger is special.

No need to for the Alfa. They already know it’s special.

 

Bingo. There would be a LOT of 'I drive a KIA...BUT, BUT, BUT seriously it's amazing and is almost like other cars."

KIA should stick with the SOUL--it screams KIA and no explaining needed.

 

Was reading C&D on plane to France last night...they were disapointed by the car’s dynamics beside the engine.....as it was expected....it does take a bit more than some fancy parts to make car feel and drive special