Kia Stinger GT4 concept was a 315-hp, rear-wheel-drive hot hatch
With gobs of power on tap, Kia's sweet little hatch had us asking, "BRZ, who?" back in 2014.
Would you believe that this 300-plus-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive coupe is a Kia?
Looking at this small two-plus-two sports coupe, we couldn't help but to compare it to the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ.
Unlike the Scion and Subie, which were criticized for being underpowered, this Kia has an impressive 315 horsepower.
315 hp may have seemed like yet another concept car claim, but when it debuted, chief designer at Kia Design Center America Tom Kearns stated, "Our Optima race cars use the same engine and can produce more than 400 hp, so why not infuse our concept with the kind of power that will make people take notice?"
Power flowed from the front-mounted engine to the rear wheels via a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission.
The 20-inch wheels were wrapped in wide 275/35R20 Pirelli P-Zero performance tires in the rear, and slightly narrower 235/35R-20 Pirelli P-Zero tires up front.
The Stinger GT4 was born in Kia's Irvine, California-based design studio, which was also birthplace of the Trackster and Cross GT concepts.
The door handles were flush with the body, popping out to be grabbed when you need them.
Kia never built the Stinger GT4, but it used the Stinger name on a performance hatchback we really love.
Keep scrolling for more photos of the Kia Stinger GT4 concept.