Kia's RWD Sedan "Leaked"

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by barra240t

So out bush buyers are more RWD do you think? Does AWD come into the equation too?

Given the choice on 'bush' roads, RWD kills FWD always. AWD is the only other alternative. AWD is always better, however, if you don’t see the need to haul around the additional weight of AWD, RWD especially with a longer WB will be the safer option on the bush road.
On these roads if you brake in a FWD there is lost traction and you loose all steering, cause the brakes even with anti- lock braking distort steering.
So in this situation, its see you later road and hello table drain/mulga...... Big tree, etc.
The RWD vehicles which Holden/Ford have been engineering here for generations leave FWD in the weeds on these bush roads.
Given that most buyers are in urban areas in Aussie now this debate is almost irrelevant to the urban driver...... until they find themselves on a 'bush' road.
Yoou can try this out on narrower tared roads in a RWD/FWD simply by tossing the LH side wheels into the gravel.....

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by barra240t

What I really want to know is, when Stinger is available for sale in Australia will the buyers really be looking for the RWD aspect of it? Does our country still have an obsession with RWD in general?

The other thing is how many buyers of Toyota, Kia etc even know or care if it's FWD or not.

I think most people wouldn't know how many wheels are moving the car or from which end.

[CyberWasp]

What would this look like as a Ute?
The Korean Car Companies also need to offer more on the commercial side of things?

[383hq]

for anyone who thinks the Kia quality is no good,
The JD Powers quality survey top 4 in the USA last year were Kia Porsche Hyundai and Toyota.

The JD powers quality survey is a big deal in the automotive industry in the USA.

For anyone who thinks the handling will be no good, I'm betting the opposite, M tuned BMW cars go alright round corners, and the guy in charge of dialling in the suspension is ex-BMW M car goodness...

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by arronm

Go to a big shopping center and take a look around at the people, That's why falcons and commodore big RWD sedans don't sell anymore

Its not all to do with car park size, my ST has the turning of the titanic. As do most small hatch backs with bigger wheels.

Not aussie made but RWD, what a conundrum for many bogans

[Sprintey]

Great stuff Kia, RWD 4 door sedan in a large size affordable segment - what a point of difference (USP) to the rest of the fwd mid/large blehboxes being foisted on country Australia. Extra bonus points for making it a hatch (like LX Torana hatch) - longer items can be stowed which negates the need for a wagon.

Commodore is FWD with AWD after slip detected? How unuseful.

If I have to admit my preferences, it's for RWD, RWD biased AWD, and north-south facing motors. So that's now this Kia, Suby, Cruisers, um, final Aussie Commodore, and expensive Euros. The first 3 will hold together.

Did you say 7 year warranty?

As for gravel roads, teaching young one on these right now, he can certainly feel the difference for AWD Territory as opposed to our RWD Sprint. The only times I nearly came to grief as a young one at speed on gravel were in a FWD, same thing happened as described above. Quite a shock when you are used to steering remaining under control in a RWD.

Our family has bought cars as they suited us. That means gravel and country conditions as well. We are for the most unlike North America or Europe or North Asia with their snowy conditions and FWD grip, and so are a continent where RWD should thrive. That Kia has bothered to offer an affordable RWD, more power to them.

[Eric A]

I was interested in the Optima GT when it came out, but the FWD had me sitting on the fence a bit. This seals the deal I think. And I have no idea why RWD matters to me, just like it for those sometimes spirited t-intersections

[vztrt]

Please give me the manual version and the next car will be sorted. Good on KIA for giving the enthuiest an option.

[EB#]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Please give me the manual version and the next car will be sorted. Good on KIA for giving the enthuiest an option.

Auto only as far as I know.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by EB#

Auto only as far as I know.

I know. Just wish that option was there.

[arronm]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Its not all to do with car park size, my ST has the turning of the titanic. As do most small hatch backs with bigger wheels.

Not aussie made but RWD, what a conundrum for many bogans

Not the car park , the people , have a close look at them. Do they look the same as the guys buying falcons and commodores in the 70s and 80s and even 90s

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by arronm

Not the car park , the people , have a close look at them. Do they look the same as the guys buying falcons and commodores in the 70s and 80s and even 90s

That i cant answer, i wasnt around back then.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Please give me the manual version and the next car will be sorted. Good on KIA for giving the enthuiest an option.

8 speed ZF is a good transmission choice.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by barra240t

I find it truely amazing and quite funny how for years non Korean car companies were making RWD cars for years while Korean companies, like Kia were FWD only, and now, in 2017, the tables have turned.

They have been making them for years, with V8's too just not released here..

Hyundai Genesis was introduced in 2008 and was sharing its Tau V8 with Kia

http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-revi...25-gmdivp.html

Toyota Crown is another example that's been around forever.

They have stayed away as the market here has been dominated by cheaper Falcons & Commodores.

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

It just makes me wonder what Ford Oz could have come up with if they had been given the money to do a clean sheet design.

G'day EXACTLY...
I am as passionate Falcon owner and enthusiast as anybody..Maybe I looked at them through rose coloured glasses.. Over time I have learned that the Australian Falcon /Territory platform could only go so far..

Somehow I think they eeked out the most they could out of our Falcon so even if things hadn't panned out with the manufacturing shut down and Ford kept building here , we would have needed another platform.
It's pretty clear that this was never going to happen but I totally agree.

With a clean sheet and Aussie bred development focussing on a RWD car , who knows what we might have got..All academic now , although our mob are expected to be a big part in the R/D field..
Cheers Rod..

[lra]

What could have been ... a new Aussie car on the VE platform with Ford Barra engines. (Tell him he's dreamin)
I forgot, the Holden is too big, and the the Falcon 6 would not pass international emissions.
But it is a shame that some Oz mega-millionaires prefer to put their money into casinos, racehorses, out-sourceing products, or just 'paper' wealth until it all falls down.
Back to square #1 ...... we just are not big enough or wealthy enough to compete ...... we should stick to cricket and rugby league and AFL.

[tranquilized]

It's nice to dream isn't it. Imagine what might have happened if we didn't have the GFC...

Holden could have continued to export the Commodore to Pontiac, maybe Chevrolet as well. The VF would have been an all new model as originally intended, probably on the Alpha platform, which may have allowed Holden to continue having a hand in developing the Camaro, maybe even in RHD.

Over at Ford they would have needed a global RWD platform to underpin Lincoln, Falcon, Mustang, and whatever else. This could have been developed in Australia as has been the case with Ranger etc

Under that scenario we would have had the choice of a brand new world class Falcon, Commodore, Mustang, Camaro, Territory. But instead we get to choose between a FWD Commodore, Mondeo, or Camry (Mustang as well admittedly) Due to this we're all now looking at a Kia and saying, it doesn't look too bad!

Dark times for enthusiasts, and all thanks to Wall Street greed.

[baboon]

Wanted to find the weight of the Stinger and found a link to Wheels site which estimates it to be 1770Kg.

Also from https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/reviews...stinger-review :

SPECS
Model: Kia Stinger GT
Engine: 3342cc V6 (60°), dohc, 24v, twin-turbo
Max power: 272kW @ 6000rpm
Max torque: 510Nm @ 1300-4500rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
L/W/H: 4831/1869/1400mm
Wheelbase: 2906mm
Weight: 1770kg (estimated)
0-100km/h: 5.1sec (estimated)
Fuel economy: 9.5L/100km (estimated)
Price: $52,000 (estimated)
On sale: September

[barra240t]

Anyone find any rear seat/room pics?

[Vesper Martini]

Just reading another article
http://www.caradvice.com.au/512214/t...-game-changer/

IMO this is a seriously good looking car, at $40-50K id expect to see plenty on the road in years to come.
Would an XR6 owner not be happy upgrading to this?

[barra240t]

Come on Ford..

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by barra240t

Come on Ford..

image

G'day , COOL..That actually looks good...really good...A four door Stang...
We kinda sorta had it..until October last year that is..
I like the way you think....Cheers Rod..

[CyberWasp]

The 4 Doors actually suit it from side on. It is all in proportion.

[Vormund]

Originally Posted by barra240t

Anyone find any rear seat/room pics?

Rest here: http://www.motor1.com/photos/516960/...-detroit-2017/

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by barra240t

Come on Ford..

image

That looks way better than expected. A decade ago some companies were turning 4-door Falcons into 2-door coupes. I think it was Hilliers or something ? Perhaps soon those same companies could turn 2 door Mustangs into 4 door sedans .

[MITCHAY]

Yeah I think Kia has nailed the timing probably deliberately.

The competition is wrapping itself up and from what I have read the last performance Commodores are not really going to be in big numbers despite saying they would build as many as people order. They already have allocations and even big dealers don't have a lot to play with unless they are just holding back until the end.

I think it looks good and the performance is pretty decent but without a manual option so it rules me out by default.

Based on what has been seen on paper so far I'd go this over the Insigna oops Commodore replacement.

I hate the grill on the Kia though, much prefer a more oval/rectangle shape without the dips in the middle.

Can you believe that we'd be talking about a Kia as a possible Falcon/Commodore replacement?

[tranquilized]

I don't think the demise of the Falcon and Commodore has anything to do with this car, timing is pure coincidence. I doubt anyone at Kia in Korea have even heard of the Falcon or Commodore.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

I don't think the demise of the Falcon and Commodore has anything to do with this car, timing is pure coincidence. I doubt anyone at Kia in Korea have even heard of the Falcon or Commodore.

Some of the comments about this car show how much of a bubble some live in...

[MITCHAY]

Sure it maybe coincidental and have nothing to do with the local wrap up but realistically what other buyers in Australia would even consider this?

[Sabantien]

I don't think the Stinger being made has anything to do with the Falcon or Commodore, but it may not have been released here without those cars meeting their demise.

Big difference is, Australia was pretty much the entire market for those two cars. The Stinger will be world wide, so they don't need all their volume from one country.