Kia has ended sales of the Stinger, ahead of the arrival of a new high-performance EV6 GT later this year.

The rear-wheel-drive Stinger launched as the brand’s flagship model in 2017, rivalling cars like the Audi A5 Sportback, marking Kia's first entry into a premium segement in the UK.

It was never a high-volume seller, especially in the fleet sector, achieving just 2,300 sales during its lifespan.

The sleek fastback received a range of updates in 2021, when the engine line-up was cut to just one offering; a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6. It had previously been offered with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a diesel.

The Stinger has been – for several years – Kia's fastest-accelerating car to date, achieving the 0-to-62mph sprint in 4.7 seconds.

Waiting in the wings to take its place is the electric EV6 GT, with first customer deliveries starting in the UK before the end of the year. The new model not only takes the Stinger's crown for fastest-accelerating Kia, sprinting from 0-to-62mph in 3.5 seconds. It is also the most powerful production car that Kia has ever made, with its dual-motor electric powertrain producing 585PS and 740Nm.

The EV6 GT features a long-range 77.4kWh battery, giving a driving range of 265 miles (WLTP), it also boasts 800V charging technology, enabling it to recharge from 10-80% in 18 minutes from an ultra-rapid charger.

Paul Philpott, president & CEO for Kia UK, said: "The launch of the Stinger will go down as a transformative moment for Kia. Its driver-focused 'grand tourer' credentials, paired with Kia's reputation for vehicle quality and design, made it an incredibly compelling car for drivers. At the same time, it also had a transformative effect on how people saw Kia.

"For the same reasons, the EV6 GT is the ideal car to take the baton from the Stinger in the UK. Our future product plan has a major focus on electrification, and globally Kia plans to offer a line-up of 14 EVs by 2027. Combining high-performance capabilities with an incredible design and a long-range electric powertrain, the EV6 GT is an important part of this plan, and a true new flagship for the Kia brand."

The Kia Stinger remains in production in South Korea, and Kia UK will fulfil all existing customer orders for the model.