The Wilmington, DE Pleasure Cruise Becomes a High-Octane Performance Drive in the New 2018 Kia Stinger

It's not every new sports car that can claim the status of gran turismo, reimagined. In a trim lineup of appeal to speed demons and luxury enthusiasts alike, spanning 2.0L and step-up Premium to the hard-charging GT, GT1, and GT2, the new Kia Stinger takes the concept and speeds out the Wilmington gate. New for 2018, the latest sedan from our celebrated Korean automaker not only models performance and safety prowess, but the creature comforts and amenities enthusiasts crave, too. Eager to indulge your inner Formula 1 driver? Step into the cockpit with us here at Kia of Wilmington.

Interior and Technology

Upon your approach with a Smart Key, standard Smart Welcome technology detects it, automatically illuminating door pocket lighting to invite you into an accommodating interior ready for the road. Leather and quilted Nappa leather seating options present, a lap of luxury coming standard heated in front, optionally ventilated in models like Stinger GT2, power-adjustable for the driver and front passenger, and with a lumbar support for each.

Around you, a command center expands, complete in lower trims with a 7-inch UVO infotainment system, which rises to 8 inches and incorporates a standard Voice-Command Navigation System for turn-by-turn convenience around West Chester in those higher. What's more, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard, making it a breeze to extend your smartphone's capabilities to the touchscreen for the ride. To take your Dover road-trip soundtrack to the next level, six- and nine-speaker audio options become a 720-watt, 15-speaker Harman/Kardon QuantumLogic Premium Surround Sound system with Clari-Fi near the top of the new Stinger line. Start the engine, slip open the available power sunroof with power sunshade when the weather's fine, and the excitement begins.

Power and Performance

Under the hood, you'll find your choice of two engines for which "adrenalized" is an understatement. Opt for a twin-scroll turbocharged 255-horsepower, 2.0-liter engine firing on all four cylinders with 260 pound-feet of performance torque in lower trims, or go full-power in Stinger GT and later with a twin-turbocharged 365-horsepower, 3.3-liter V6 workhorse capable of 376 pound-feet. Each comes paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission to keep shifts smooth, and that translates to a respectable EPA-estimated fuel economy up to 22 MPG city, 29 MPG highway, and 25 MPG combined, depending on trim.

On the road around Newark, expect the dynamics to make driving a blast. A MacPherson strut front and five-link rear suspension with high-performance dampers offers a winning combination of agility and responsiveness, and it comes electronically controlled in GT1 and GT2 for the cutting-edge in discretionary adjustment. To keep the feel silken, a vibration-reducing Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber comes standard in Stinger 2.0L and Premium, and you can upgrade from rear-wheel drive in higher trims to available all-wheel drive, with a limited-slip differential and dynamic torque vectoring control likewise an option for professional command of traction, especially while high-speed cornering. To that end, you can find a Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) rack in higher trim levels, making possible enhanced highway-speed stability with rapid response.

Safety and Driver-Assist Features

But the Kia commitment to your sports sedan experience isn't limited to driving pleasure. As models of safety are concerned, the new 2018 Stinger stands out. A trifecta of Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, and Hill Start Assist Control helps keep the ride on the level, with reliable stopping power coming thanks to a Cornering Brake Control and Brake Fade Compensation. Should the worst happen, the car even incorporates an advanced airbag system for redundant layers of protection.

Plus, driver-assist options abound, offering intelligent help navigating the ways of the road from driveway to Elkton, MD highway and back home again. Available Blind Spot Collision Warning, a Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Change and Lane Keep Assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Collision Warning help keep you situationally aware. Optional Advanced Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go simplifies safely distancing yourself from other vehicles, while a Forward Collision Warning System and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection can even help you remain clear of an impending accident.

Factor in an available Driver Attention Warning feature to keep you focused, and optional High Beam Assist and Dynamic Low Beam Assist to light the way, and you and your new Kia sports car can remain ready for almost any eventuality. You can even make use of a standard rear-camera display with dynamic guidelines and Front and Rear Parking Distance Warning to ease into that premium spot at your venue with peace of mind.

See What Thrills the New Kia Stinger Has in Store Here at Kia of Wilmington

Our 1603 Pennsylvania Ave. showroom and lot play host to a lineup of new Stinger sedans ready and revving for a test drive. Take the short drive out to visit us today, and we'll set you up for some time behind the wheel you won't forget!