Kia has withdrawn its flagship Stinger sports saloon from sale in the UK, ramping up to the arrival of its high-performance EV6 GT later this year.

The Stinger now passes the baton in the UK over to the EV6 GT, which boasts 585hp and a 265-mile electric range

The Stinger first launched in 2017 as the brand’s flagship and was updated in 2021, dropping smaller engines and focusing on the 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that enabled a 0-to-62mph sprint in 4.7 seconds – making it Kia’s fastest-accelerating car to date.

The grand tourer is also credited with having transformed perceptions of Kia in recent years and serving as a bold statement of intent for the brand.

But the Stinger, while having a halo effect on Kia, had always been a low-volume, niche model and this, along with the brand’s focus on electrification, has led to its exit.

The Stinger now passes the baton over to the all-electric, zero-emissions EV6 GT, which not only takes the crown for fastest-accelerating Kia, thanks to a heady 3.5-second 0-62mph sprint, but is also the most powerful production car ever made by the brand. Its dual-motor electric powertrain outputs 585hp and 740Nm of torque.

Despite its prodigious electric power, the EV6 GT boasts a WLTP combined driving range of 265 miles and 800V charging technology, enabling it to recharge from 10 to 80% in 18 minutes from an ultra-rapid charger. Its sleek, coupé-inspired crossover design also provides a generous level of interior space.Available to order now and due for first deliveries this quarter, the EV6 GT also gains bespoke chassis and powertrain features compared to more conventional EV6 variants. Highlights include performance brakes, optimised steering, and reworked suspension while drivers can also optimise performance with the GT Mode in the updated Drive Mode Select system.

Paul Philpott, president and 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.”

He added that the EV6 GT was the ideal spiritual successor to the Stinger.

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