As promised, Kia Philippines, now under the leadership of AC Industrials, unboxed two vehicles at the recently concluded 15th Manila International Auto Show.
Kia Philippines president Manny Aligada led the unboxing and officially added the Kia Stinger and the All-New Kia Forte to the Kia stable.
The New Paradigm of Gran Turismo: the Kia Stinger
The Kia Stinger is the visionary product of the Kia GT Concept. Designed by Peter Schreyer and developed in the Kia Design Studio in Frankfurt, the Stinger remains faithful to its original inspiration: a nimble, fast, spacious, balanced, luxurious, and quiet gran turismo, all wrapped in an aggressive stance with a muscular fastback form.
“A true gran turismo, a car for spirited long-distance driving, is not about outright power, hard-edged dynamics, and brutal styling, all at the expense of luxury, comfort, and grace,” explains Gregory Guillaume, Kia Motors Europe Chief Designer. “The Stinger has nothing to do with being the first to arrive at the destination – this car is all about the journey. It’s about passion,” he further adds.
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The rear-wheel-drive Stinger is powered by a 3.3L V6 twin-turbocharged gasoline engine direct injection dual CVVT that is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The engine produces a maximum power output of 365HP @ 6,000rpm while Maximum Torque is at 510Nm @ 1,300-4,500rpm. Top speed is pegged at 270 kph and goes from 0-100kph in 4.9 seconds.
The Stinger is fitted with a MacPherson Strut and Stabilizer front suspension and a Five (5) Multi-Link at the rear. Uncompromising on technology, the Stinger has electronically controlled Dynamic Suspension integrated with Drive Mode Select, which adjusts steering boost, shift points, throttle, and suspension mapping. Dynamic Torque Vectoring system comes standard. Braking is courtesy of 4-Piston Brembo Caliper Discs on the front and rear. The 225/40 R19 in front and 255/35 R19 inch performance tires come as standard.
Driver-assist features include Auto Cruise Control, Blind Spot detection, 360-Degree Around View Monitoring System, and Parking Sensors. It also comes with a Harman/Kardon Sound System and an 8-inch touchscreen interface with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
The Stinger GT is priced at P3,235,000 and is available in Hi Chroma Red, Aurora Black, and Snow Pearl White.
Doing it in style with every drive: the All-New Kia Forte
The third generation Kia Forte comes to Manila as a worthy entry to the competitive C-sedan segment. The all-new Kia Forte comes with a more youthful and sportier design with its lines from the front naturally lead the eyes to the rear. Its muscular appearance, combined with the signature Tiger Nose grille, enhances its robust stance and results in a sleek, yet proportional compact car with a commanding presence on the road.
The All-New Kia Forte is available in three (3) variants. The LX and EX, both mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, have a 1.6L Dual CVVT Gasoline Engine with 126HP @6,300rpm of power and 155Nm @ 4,000rpm of torque. The sportier and more powerful Kia Forte GT has a 1.6L Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection engine with 201HP @ 6,000rpm of power and 265Nm @1,500 – 4,000rpm of torque. It is mated to a 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission.
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The Forte has front airbags, rear camera, and Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) as standard with Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC) available for the GT and EX lines. The sporty interior is driver-focused and ergonomic. A 4.2-inch instrument cluster provides crucial vehicle information while an 8-inch infotainment system seamlessly integrated to the front dash comes standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.
The Kia Forte is available in Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, and Runway Red for the GT and EX lines; Clear White, Steel Gray, and Gravity Blue for the LX Line.
Prices are as follows:
- 2019 Kia Forte 1.6 LX AT – P1,095,000
- 2019 Kia Forte 1.6 EX AT – P1,195,000
- 2019 Kia Forte 1.6 GT AT – P1,650,000
For more information about Kia in the Philippines, visit www.kia.com/ph.