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2019 Kia Stinger gets IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating

The 2019 Kia Stinger just officially received an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the highest honor from the Insurance Institute. However, this award only applies to Stingers equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights. All the crashworthiness ratings returned with a "Good" rating, and that applies to every version of the Stinger sold here. The forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection is an option on the Stinger, and this combined with trims sporting LED headlight projectors results in the TSP+ rating. In IIHS forward collision tests, the Stinger successfully avoided collisions at 12 mph and 25 mph. The base halogen projector headlights were rated "Poor," so watch out for those while Stinger shopping. Interestingly, the IIHS rated the static LED projectors as "Good" and the curve-adaptive LED projectors got lower marks as "Acceptable." For reference, the curve-adaptive LEDs are found on the Stinger GT2 trim. The IIHS just thinks the visibility with the adaptive LEDs is worse compared to the static units. We can't say we're surprised that the Stinger received the TSP+ award, as it shares a modified platform with the Genesis G70 that received the same rating from the IIHS. The new sport sedan and sportback from Genesis and Kia clearly crash well. That's always heartening to hear, especially as we continue with the long-term test of our Kia Stinger GT. We love the red bullet of a hatchback, and most recently compared it to a Genesis G70 with the same powertrain.

Kia to show widebody custom Stinger at SEMA

Kia will take to the SEMA Show later this month with a modified version of its Stinger fastback sedan that it developed with West Coast Customs. This tuned version gets a number of high-performance enhancements, including a widened body, lowered front and rear suspension, gloss black front grille, carbon fiber aero kit, 21-inch forged wheels, widebody fender flares, rear diffuser and squared-off exhaust tips. The Stinger is a fastback sedan and the brand's first GT offering, inspired by the grand touring cars of the '60s and '70s, designed in Frankfurt and developed on the Nurburgring circuit. When it goes on sale in December, it'll come in a choice of two engines: a base 2.0-liter turbocharged four pushing out 255 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and a GT version with a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 365 hp and 376 lb-ft that's also found in the Genesis G90. It also comes in rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations, with standard Nappa leather interior and plenty of passenger and cargo space. You can read our First Drive impressions of the GT version here. Kia also promises upgrades to the tuned Stinger's cockpit. It'll be unveiled Oct. 31 alongside two other custom Kia vehicles, with more news to come in the days ahead.Related Video: Featured Gallery Kia Stinger GT Widebody by West Coast Customs: SEMA 2017 View 9 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2017 Drew Phillips / Autoblog.com SEMA Show Kia Sedan kia stinger gt west coast customs

WTF China? Why copy the Kia Picanto for anything?

While we certainly don't condone it, we at least get why Chinese companies copy the work of global automakers. It's all about the prestige in the China, and when versions of expensive imports can be had from a cheaper, domestically built automaker, it's clear where the money will go. But of all the prestigious, luxurious, handsome, high-performance vehicles for a Chinese automaker to rip off, why in the name of Chairman Mao did they choose a Kia Picanto? For those not in the know, the Picanto is a tiny city car that'd slot in below the Rio, were it sold in the US market. It's a fine car for what it is, but hardly one that is so packed full of innovative, handsome styling that makes sense to copycat, even if it isn't actually sold in the People's Republic. But that's just what Yogomo has done, with the new 330 electric car. While the real McCoy is a proper car, complete with a range of gas engines, the electric 330 is what's known in China as a low-speed electric vehicle – despite its size, according to Car News China, it can't be used on highways and is not eligible for the PRC's green subsidies. While most copycat designs are pretty flagrant, they're easily discernible from the cars on which they're based. That's not the case with the Yogomo 330, though. The mirrors are different, sure, and the grille, while roughly the same shape, isn't as exact the trademark Kia grille. But beyond that, the design is virtually identical, and that's sure to ruffle the feathers of copyright lawyers in South Korea. Head over to CNC for a look at the Yogomo's copycatting efforts. Featured Gallery Yogomo 330 EV Related Gallery 2015 Kia Picanto News Source: Car News ChinaImage Credit: Kia Government/Legal Green Kia