Even though Kia’s lineup has expanded in recent years with a myriad of models, a true Stinger successor is still nowhere to be seen. However, a sports sedan is in the works, minus the combustion engine. The company’s design boss has revealed that a production version of last year’s Vision Meta Turismo is in development and will serve as a “sports sedan for the gamer generation.”
In an interview with Autocar magazine, Karim Habib said Kia wants to explore segments beyond SUVs, and a sedan would fit the bill. Interestingly, a fastback version is apparently “90-percent production-ready,” meaning it too has a real shot at reaching production one day.
Neither model will have an engine, as Kia believes younger buyers aren’t as interested in ICE vehicles as older generations, according to the company’s head of interior design. On the same note, Jochen Paesen reckons younger buyers also don’t care much for EVs with artificial engine noises, adding that the same applies to simulated gear shifts. These characteristics are gaining traction among other automakers, including sister brand Hyundai, with the Ioniq 6 N sedan.
Kia Aims To Make An Emotional Electric Sports Car
Even without artificial elements meant to replicate the experience of an ICE car, Kia is confident it can forge an emotional connection between drivers and EVs. The concept foreshadows a Stinger-like GT developed from the ground up as a performance vehicle. But Habib admitted that the vehicle’s nature is “slowing us down” in terms of the pace of development due to high costs. Rather than being a sporty version of an existing model, the production-ready Vision Meta Turismo will be a dedicated performance EV.
“We have a small history of doing cars like the Stinger and that's something we don't want to give up on. The Vision Meta Turismo is our idea of a sports sedan for the gamer generation.”
When the concept made its first public appearance last month during Milan Design Week, Kia didn’t go into technical specifications, but it did make some bold claims. The company promised “a more dynamic, engaging, and visceral driving experience” in an edgy sedan with a lounge-like interior.
Since Kia isn’t providing a firm timeline for the car’s launch, the sporty electric sedan is unlikely to go on sale within the next couple of years.
