Performance-Focused Post-Holiday Fever: 2018 Stinger Pricing Announced

The 2018 Kia Stinger is bound to turn heads within the auto market for many reasons: it's the first true sports coupe from the brand, and offers up well-thought and class-leading design. The power you have access to is obtained at a reasonable price, and it has risen to the challenge of competing with luxury sport sedans substantially. The car is a prime example of the brand we love to represent's commitment to surpassing expectations in every aspect. Drivers are really going to notice how this is still very much a traditional Kia, but the performance and handling ante has been upped noticeably.

A few days ago in Irvine, CA, Kia announced the pricing stats for this highly anticipated urban or otherwise commuter's dream. Here's the general scheme of how it will all be rolled out:

-Stinger begins at $31,900

-Stinger Premium begins at $37,100

-GT begins at $38,350

-GT1 begins at $43,250

-GT2 begins at $49,200

-All-wheel drive: $2,200

-Destination $900

Developed on the famed hairpin turns of Nurburgring and designed in Frankfurt, the Stinger is offered with multiple drivetrain and engine options, and doesn't skimp on luxury to deliver grade A performance. All Stingers come standard with a beautiful leather interior, and you can ask us on the lot here at Jim Butler how you can upgrade to the lavish and amazingly soft Nappa leather for even more comfort. The steering wheel is hand-stitched with multi-function leather, housing paddle shifters front and center of the driver. Every Stinger is available with a large-color TFT instrument cluster, and there's even a track timer here for any instances where you may be living out your speed-driven dreams with friendly competition!

If you are summoned to take the sales presentation on the road, are traveling for the holidays, or going to see all of the great things Missouri has to offer on the weekends, you'll be happy with the 23.3 cubic. -ft of cargo space, that can be accessed with the power liftgate, and even has the futuristic and ultra-useful Smart Trunk Functionality. The base Stinger and Premium trims provide a 2.0- liter twin-scroll, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, and it provides 255 hp, as well as 260 lb. -ft of torque. Buying your way shrewdly into the GT namesake offers you up a more powerful 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6, which cranks out 365 hp, and 376 lb. - ft. of torque. These are both matched to an 8-speed, rear-drive automatic transmission, and for some in St. Louis and locations further north of here, all-wheel drive is available to conquer inclement weather on all trim levels of the Stinger.

To enhance the driving experience in the revolutionary and game-changing Stinger, there are Multiple Advance Driver Assistance Systems that all work together. Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision Avoidance with pedestrian detection, Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, and Lane Keeping Assist are just some of the features that will keep you safe at all times, and optimize every mile marker of your journey. The base audio system for the 2.0-liter turbo features a 7-inch touchscreen and six speakers, as well as Kia's award-winning telematics and UVO. Voice-guided maps, navigation, hands-free calls, and texts, and voice recognition are all features that you can enjoy via this technology.

With the holidays right around the corner and the promise of exciting New Year's happenings to boot, now would be a great time to check out the world's finest performance sedan, and treat yourself to an example of the finest in elevated action-driving authenticity!

2018 Kia Soul + Sportage Receive Highest Safety Props For the Year From IIHS

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded its most prestigious rating to two of our favorite vehicles: The 2018 Kia Soul, when equipped with high-intensity discharge headlights, and the 2018 Kia Sportage, when equipped with new HID headlights. For the Soul, the needed feature is available on the Primo Lit Package, and the SX Turbo trim is what is needed for the Sportage. To qualify for this honor, the testing procedures require that a vehicle earn “Good” ratings in five crashworthiness tests: these are small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side impact, roof strength, and head restraints. There also needs to be an “advanced” or “superior” rating for front crash prevention, as well as “acceptable” or “good” rating in headlight testing and performance.

All of us here in sales and service at Jim Butler Kia are also happy to see four other Kia vehicles receive the TSP+ rating from the IIHS: the Forte, Optima, Cadenza, and Sorento are all other proud recipients of honors. What the IIHS focuses on is how well a vehicle protects its occupants during a crash, and crash avoidance: the technology that can be used to prevent a crash or lessen the severity of the impact. This can all be very useful information when shopping for a new car, as your family and any other passengers with you will want to know that they are constantly safe. Many buyers we talk to use this data in conjunction with Consumer Reports, to assure that they are looking at a car that can keep them safe and well-repaired in the long run.

This is the Soul's fifth model year, and it is known for its fun and outside-of-the-box approach to getting around every day. The 2018 model sees the addition of the innovative infotainment system to the Base Convenience Package, and the Soul Plus as now standard equipment. Ask us about the Soul Plus Primo Package, which now adds Smart Cruise Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking. One of the deciding factors on the IIHS rating, the Soul Plus Primo “Lit” Package includes HID headlights and LED positioning lights to enhance driving on the road at any hour.

The Kia Sportage was just introduced last year, and offers advanced technology and varied options across three trim levels: LX, EX, and SX – while offering customers a prime choice in the subcompact utility category. Every trim level is available with optional Dynamax full-scale all-wheel drive, and the SX level adds an electronic parking brake. We are especially proud of the premium craftsmanship in every detail, and you'll love the upgraded seats that have scientifically calibrated touch points. Truly built for adventure, the Sportage stands out with its coupe-like roof, extended wheelbase, and satin silver touches. Getting away to the lake for the weekend or just the movie theater with the entire family for the day is a snap with the Sportage, and any professional or growing family will fall in love with its luxurious and sophisticated vibe. 

Widebody Touring-Inspired Custom Stinger To Be on Display at SEMA

A wider version of the powerful and notorious Stinger was shown in public last week, and has already generated a large amount of excitement here at Jim Butler: its 2.0-liter l4 will crank out 255 horsepower, and 260 lb-ft of torque, enough to reach the 60 mph jolt in less than 6 seconds. This souped-up version gets an assortment of new high-performance enhancements: the nicely widened body, lowered front and rear suspension, gloss black front grille, carbon fiber aero kit, 21-inch forged wheels, wider-body fender flares, rear diffuser, and squared-off exhaust tips.

This is Kia's first true GT offering, and we could not be more excited about how it is inspired by the grand touring cars of the 1960's and 70's. It was designed in Frankfurt, and developed on the Nurburgring circuit. There will be a choice of two engines: a base 2.0-liter turbocharged four that generates 255 horsepower, as well as a GT version with a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6, generating 365 horse. There is a choice of rear and all-wheel drive configurations, with standard Nappa leather interior, and an ample amount of space for any passengers that want to join you.

A few more features in the cockpit are also slated for upgrade, and you're going to fully enjoy the sensation you get from blasting around with a power sunroof, navigation, and a 720-watt, 15-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Come down and ask us how you can add all-wheel drive to any of the trim types, and be fully amazed by the first performance vehicle this brand created. Rear-wheel drive models come standard with a mechanical-limited slip differential, while all-wheel drive cars rely on a torque vectoring control. This method has been proven over the long run to allow for much better grip on the road, for more accurate handling and launch.

When you indulge yourself with a test drive of the new Stinger, you'll be driving the first Kia ever to feature an adaptive suspension system. An onboard system is used to control the vertical movement of the wheels. In a passive suspension system, the movement is governed entirely by the surface of the road. These amazing technologies allow car manufacturers to achieve a much greater degree of ride quality and car handling, because the tires stay perpendicular to the road in corners, which ultimately results in the best control. There's gonna be plenty of reasons for any speed-hungry corner-handler to opt for the V6, but they both are going to have plenty of punch: The 2018 Stinger GT is bound to etch a permanent mark in our beloved brand's existence. 

Kia's Plan for All-electric SUV's Next Year Begins with the Niro

Every manufacturer in the game has dealt with the demand for electric a bit differently. We are going to be excited to watch how our beloved brand will shape itself during the days to come for demand in the St Louis area, as many will be lured by the potential of completely ditching stops at the gas pump. Kia's version will reportedly be equipped with a 50 kW battery pack, which could bring overall range close to 200 miles with a single charge. Overall production numbers are said to be around 21,000 for the Niro EV, a modest release to test the very futuristic waters with.

The Niro EV is slated to use the same electric motor as the Hyundai IONIQ electric, and a 28 kWh lithium-ion battery. The plug-in uses a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder paired to a permanent-magnet AC electric generator, and the model has been altered quite a bit over the last year. Despite a slower-than-expected start, the idea of plug-in cars is gaining momentum within the North American market segment. According to a survey during 2017 by AAA, the interest that shoppers have in electric cars is now nearly tied to the number of those interested in pickup trucks. 15 percent of those surveyed expressed interest in an electric car, and 16 percent had the desire to purchase a pickup.

The launch of the 238-mile Chevy Bolt EV admittedly had quite a tangible impact on the entire electric market, as competitors such as Hyundai and Kia observed from a distance the good and not-so-good aspects of electric cars in general. The efficiency of the batteries themselves is what is going to really change the face of the entire industry, and when this factor collides in a positive way with lower pricing, many consumers will express interest that may have not before. Even though electric cars have not quite disrupted the market in the way that some predicted they would, many think that the severe “bolt” (tiny pun intended) that shakes everything up may be about two years down the road.

Fans of NASCAR are always going to want to hear the roar of “real engines”, and we also wholeheartedly agree that pickup truck owners are another demographic that will in no way be won over easily. There are tons of benefits of a gas-powered auto, but many have been buying into the hybrid game as well, with crossover SUV's exploding in popularity over the last three years. Some experts say it's not a matter of if, but when, diehards that would never want an electric car will suddenly change their mind. As our world changes drastically every day, drivers are going to be looking for ways to make sure they are benefiting the planet, and not continuing to drain resources at an alarming rate. Kia promises to be front and center on electric developments, and the next few years are going to set the stage for a vital and flourishing future.