Kia reveals the new Stonic GT Line

 

  • Latest model line to earn a sports-inspired GT Line specification
  • Sportier exterior design with new customisation options
  • Unique GT Line interior upgrades with Kia’s latest ‘connected car’ tech
  • Choice of 1.0-litre T-GDi engines, including mild-hybrid options
  • On-sale across Europe from Q4 2020

                                                                                     

Frankfurt, 7 October 2020 – Kia has today revealed the new Kia Stonic GT Line, the latest model line from the brand to earn a sports-inspired ‘GT Line’ specification.

The Stonic GT Line brings the sportiest elements of the brand’s designs to the fore, with a more emotive appearance, inside and out, and exclusive GT Line design features. Like other models in the Stonic line-up, the GT Line model also offers scope for customisation with new two-tone exterior colour options, as well as range of mild-hybrid and non-hybrid powertrain options.

Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, comments: “The Stonic has been a major success for Kia in Europe since sales began in 2017, with more than 150,000 units sold to-date. In 2019, it also became our fourth best-selling model in Europe. The Stonic is loved by its owners, and the new GT Line variant dials up the Stonic’s best features, offering a design inspired by the most powerful cars in our line-up. We expect the GT Line variant to further enhance the desirability of the Stonic line-up in what has become a highly competitive corner of the market.”

Production of the Stonic GT Line commences in October at Kia’s Sohari production facility in Korea. European sales start during the final quarter of 2020 and all models will offer buyers Kia’s unique 7-year, 150,000-kilometre warranty.

 

A GT-inspired exterior design

The exterior design of the Stonic GT Line gives a sportier edge to the car’s urban crossover appearance, inspired by Kia’s powerful GT models, the Stinger, Ceed GT and ProCeed GT.

This manifests itself in new front and rear bumper design for a more purposeful posture on the road. The front bumper is enhanced by integrated LED fog lamps, three distinct air intakes across the front of the car, and a metallic trim along the lower edge. The tiger-nose grille also gets its own unique design finish, while the door mirror caps are finished in black. Furthermore, GT Line models are fitted as standard with new full LED headlamps, creating a distinctive light signature. At the back, a more prominent rear bumper differentiates it from other Stonic variants, with a design mimicking dual exhausts and a rear diffuser and a GT Line badge on the tailgate.

As with existing variants of the model, customisation remains a key point of appeal for the Stonic GT Line. To-date, a third of all Stonic models have featured a two-tone exterior paint finish, and the GT Line offers the same choice to drivers. Depending on market, buyers can choose from up to 15 two-tone colour combinations for body and roof. The GT Line model extends these colour options further, with colour highlights around the three front bumper air intakes matching the contrast roof colour. All Stonic GT Line models are fitted with 17-inch aluminium alloy wheels.

 

Unique interior upgrades with Kia’s latest ‘connected car’ features

Upgrades to the cabin of the Stonic GT Line also elevate its performance-inspired credentials over other models in the Stonic line-up. The most apparent modification is the adoption of carbon fibre-effect trim on the dashboard, a finish unique to GT Line models.

The seats are also unique to the new variant, trimmed in a combination of black cloth and synthetic leather with piping and contrast stitching in white. Drivers are also met with a new perforated leather D-cut steering wheel with GT Line logo and contrast stitching, as well as a 4.2-inch digital display between the dials in the instrument cluster.

Like other models in the Stonic line-up, the new variant is available with Kia’s latest ‘connected car’ and infotainment technologies. At the centre of the dashboard is a large 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Kia’s latest ‘Phase II’ UVO Connect system, enhancing vehicle connectivity and control.

The new infotainment system is offered with a choice of Display Audio or optional Satellite Navigation technologies depending on vehicle specification. In either guise, it features Bluetooth multi-connection, enabling users to connect up to two mobile devices at the same time – one for hands-free phone and media use; the other for media use only. It also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on models equipped with the Display Audio system, removing the need for many owners to connect their smartphone via a cable.

Kia’s new ‘Phase II’ UVO Connect telematics features include a range of on-board services including live traffic information, weather forecasts, points of interest (POIs), fuel prices, and details of potential on- and off-street parking – including price, location and availability. Online Voice Recognition lets users search for POIs, addresses, weather updates, or send text messages with voice commands. A new ‘Online Navigation’ routing service uses cloud-based real-time and historical traffic data to predict time-efficient routes more accurately than ever before.

Users can also access the accompanying UVO App, compatible with Android and Apple smartphones, which offers new ‘Phase II’ features such as Last Mile Navigation. This helps customers continue navigating to their destination after they have parked and left the car behind. It helps Kia customers navigate in towns and cities where parking hubs are often some distance away from shops, cafés and restaurants.

 

Choice of turbocharged and mild-hybrid powertrains

The Stonic GT Line offers Kia’s new gasoline mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) ‘EcoDynamics+’ powertrain. Pairing a ‘Smartstream’ 1.0-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine with a 48V MHEV system, the EcoDynamics+ powertrain delivers greater efficiency by seamlessly deploying and recuperating electric power. A compact 48-volt lithium-ion polymer battery supplements the engine’s torque output with electric power, via a new Mild-Hybrid Starter-Generator (MHSG) unit.

The MHSG is connected by belt to the engine’s crankshaft, and switches seamlessly between ‘motor’ and ‘generator’ modes. In ‘motor’ mode, under acceleration, the MHSG provides electric power assistance to reduce engine load and emissions. As the car decelerates, the MHSG has the ability under certain conditions to switch to ‘generator’ mode, recuperating energy from the crankshaft to recharge the battery.

The new Smartstream engine features Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) technology. This enables the engine to switch seamlessly between different combustion cycles depending on load, maximising efficiency in all driving situations. The Smartstream engine produces 100 ps or 120 ps with each engine offering a Drive Mode Select system with ‘Eco’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Normal’ modes.

The Stonic GT Line is fitted with Kia’s new intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) as standard, or an optional seven-speed double-clutch transmission (7DCT). iMT is Kia’s new ‘clutch-by-wire’ system, which contributes to fuel efficiency while retaining the driver engagement of a conventional manual transmission. Instead of a mechanical linkage, the iMT’s clutch is actuated electronically. It integrates seamlessly with the MHSG to switch off the engine earlier than Kia’s Idle Stop & Go start-stop system when coasting to a halt.

Both transmissions, iMT and 7DCT, enable periods of engine-off ‘sailing’ to improve fuel efficiency in Eco mode. This operates at speeds of up to 125 km/h (77 mph), and the engine reactivates when the driver pushes the accelerator, brake or clutch pedals.

As well as EcoDynamics+ models, the Stonic GT Line is also offered a non-hybrid Smartstream 1.0-litre T-GDi engine, producing 100 ps and paired with a choice of six-speed manual transmission or 7DCT.

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