Kia Stinger Facelift Caught in the Wild

by Aug 14, 2020All News, GT, Kia, Spy Shots0 comments

kia stinger caught in the wild

While Kia already released the first official pictures and details of the 2021 Kia Stinger Facelift, today we want to share a picture of an undisguised Stinger, curiously a unit of the same colour as the official pictures (maybe getting ready for an unveil event) while we wait to know more details about the engine line-up.

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What we know so far?

The modest upgrades include an optional new headlight design with multifaceted reflector LED headlamps and unique quad LED daytime running lights slightly slanting in towards the center of the car on each side. The current Stinger’s headlights are also still available on certain models. The taillights are probably the biggest deviation from the existing Stinger, as we’ve seen in spy photos, with full-width LED lighting and new LED turn signals that more closely match those at the front. For high-end Stinger GT trims, the rear diffuser has been enlarged to look more muscular on the rear bumper, and larger, wide-bore exhaust tips are integrated into the diffuser. New wheel designs are available across the board, in both 18” and 19” sizes. Kia tried to make the wheel designs a little more modern and intricate for the mid-cycle refresh.

Depending on your market, Stingers will also now be available in an optional “Dark Package” or “Black Package” which adds a gloss black diffuser surround, black exhaust tips, a black Stinger badge, unique 19” matte black wheels, black rear wing on the trunklid, and blacked out mirror caps and vent trim. Kia also claims to be adding a new exterior color, but hasn’t mentioned which color that will be.

On the inside, the 2021 Kia Stinger facelift has subtle changes throughout, including a metallic finish on the lower D-cut steering wheel in place of the gloss black from before, and that same finish has been added around the existing 7” center screen between the analog gauges. Kia hasn’t said one way or another, but there is no indication yet that the Stinger will be available with a full digital dashboard. Another interior upgrade is the 10.25” central infotainment screen, replacing the previous 8” unit. We don’t yet know what kind of software upgrades have been made, but we’d expect it to closely match what’s available in the K5. The interior ambient lighting has also been upgraded to allow 64 colors, up from the original 6 in the current Stinger, and there’s additional ambient lighting on the upper dashboard now. The rearview mirror has been updated to a trendy frameless style.

The seats have been upgraded to a diamond quilted pattern on Stingers equipped with nappa leather, which is available in dark brown, Saturn Black, red, or beige. There’s also a cool new seating option that provides you black suede seats with red patterned stitching. The dashboard also features stitching that enhances the look of the airbag cover in front of the passenger seat, and the interior front and rear door panels now feature three stitched character lines which dip down into the window controls at the front of the doors.

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We will wait to learn more as Kia releases details in each market, especially regarding powertrain options, but are excited to see the Stinger continue with a facelifted model.

Written by Jose Antonio Lopez

Passionated about Korean cars from Hyundai, Kia & Genesis. Photographer. I love being in nature, hiking. Tech lover.