After years of rumors about its death, the Kia Stinger is nearing the end of its life cycle. The Honor Edition serves as a last hurray for the sporty gran tourer, which the South Korean automaker says will be indirectly replaced by the EV6 GT. Custom versions can be had in the new Moonscape matte gray paint or with an existing Ascot Green finish. The side mirror caps, 19-inch wheels and Brembo brake calipers are all black.
Upon opening the doors, the Honor Edition reveals individually numbered sill plates and terracotta tan leather upholstery. The same material also adorns the door cards and handles and steering wheel. Some areas such as the door panels and dashboard have faux carbon fiber trim. One interesting detail that this Stinger has is the wasp emblem embedded in the headrest.
As expected, the Stinger’s swan song is based on the GT model with its powerful twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 engine. There are no changes to the powertrain, so you get the same 368 hp and 376 lb-ft (510 Nm) of torque. Kia did not specify whether the Tribute Edition will be rear-wheel drive only or if buyers can also opt for AWD.
Epitomized by the sleek GT concept in 2011, the Stinger didn’t reach production until 2017. Many see it as the best car Kia has ever made and a worthy contender for something like the Audi A5 Sportback or the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. This is yet another victim of the crossover/SUV craze, and with electrification taking over, it’s a shame the V6 gran tourer is a niche model right now.
The Tribute Edition signifies “the production of the breakthrough model is coming to an end.” Only 1,000 units will be made worldwide, with details on pricing and availability to be released at a later date.
