Kia Says Goodbye To The Stringer As Tribute Edition Breaks Cover

Kia is celebrating the Stinger as it bows out after the 2023 model year with a commemorative sendoff called the Stinger Tribute Edition, with only 1000 units set to be produced worldwide.

The special version can be had in a new Moonscape matte gray paint or with the existing Ascot Green finish. The side mirror caps, 19-inch wheels, and Brembo brake calipers all come in black.

Inside, Kia has trimmed the sports seats in tasteful Terracotta brown leather. The hide extends to the steering wheel, and door cards and the door pulls. Lastly, sporty carbon-fiber effect inlays adorn various surfaces in the cabin. To distinguish it from lesser models, Kia has placed a numbered plaque on the driver’s side door sill plate to authenticate the fact that this is a limited edition model. A wasp-shaped emblem has also been embossed into the headrests.

As expected, the Stinger’s swan song is based on the GT model with the potent twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 engine. There aren’t any changes to the powertrain, so you get the same 368 hp and 376 lb-ft (510 Nm) of torque. Kia doesn’t specify whether the Tribute Edition will be rear-wheel-drive-only or buyers will be able to opt for AWD as well.

While the Stinger will soon be gone, Kia plans to keep the car’s sporty focus alive in its new range of GT-badged models. The first of these are already here in the form of the K5 GT sedan and EV6 GT electric crossover. The latter delivers some serious performance with its 576-hp output.

• Also See: Report: Kia Stringer Sports Sedan To Be Discontinued Due To Poor Sales