Kia GT4 Stinger to start production in 2014 | report

Kia stunned all with the GT4 Stinger sports coupe concept at last month’s Detroit motor show, but a new report suggests the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ rival has not only been green lit for production, but it will make its showroom debut before the end of 2014.

Speaking with anonymous Kia insiders, Top Speed reports that the GT4 Stinger concept was close to production ready – despite Kia’s refusal to confirm a production future at the time.

According to the report, the two-door coupe’s exterior design has been finalised, including those ADR-challenging low-mounted headlights, but the show car’s heavily stylised interior is expected to be scaled back for production.

The car is expected to ride on a version of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe platform, and use an uprated version of its 204kW 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that is also available in the US-market Sonata sedan. Kia claimed 235kW for the GT4 Stinger concept, which likely well within the tuning limits for this engine.  

We agree that such a rapid concept-to-reality plan sounds just a little tenuous, and it’s not April 1 just yet, but I’m sure we’d all love the chance to drive a production GT4 Stinger by the next time Santa fires up his sleigh.

Watch the desktop version of the Kia GT4 Stinger concept Detroit unveiling video here.

This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn