We Called it First: Kia Names New Concept Car GT4 Stinger

Back on Dec. 22 we told you the name of the new Kia concept car. I'd like to claim it was old-fashion sleuthing and there was an inside source who leaked the news. However, it wasn't so nefarious. Kia itself leaked the news on its own Facebook page – apparently by accident. No other sites picked up on it in the United States before TorqueNews.

Here's the official statement from Kia in its entirety, "Kia faithful will immediately notice the latest iteration of the signature grille resting mere inches from the ground. The surround glows white and is flanked by vertical LED headlamps. Front-brake cooling vents funnel air around custom 20-inch wheels. A carbon fiber front splitter mounted below the bumper provides added downforce for the car and keeps the GT4 Stinger’s front tires firmly planted to the tarmac.

"Under the hood you ask? A turbocharged 2.0-liter that pumps 315 horsepower to the rear wheels.

"More to come. Stay tuned."

That horsepower figure would make it the second most powerful vehicle in the Kia lineup. The Kia Cadenza is rated at 293 horsepower from its V6 engine. The upcoming Kia K900 pumps out 420 horsepower from its V8 engine. But this is a little four-banger (undoubtedly a turbo) putting out more than 150 horsepower per liter.

Consider that in the stupid fast category, especially for a Kia.

But will the Kia GT4 Stinger be built? As we reported back in December, "it could all mean nothing, too, to be frank. At the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, Kia introduced the Cross GT Concept CUV. To date, there has been no production news on that model."

This car, though, gets us really excited. Kia has been working hard in the last few years to be the sporty alternative to its sister company Hyundai. This could be just the vehicle to accomplish that. It would simply decimate anything Hyundai has to offer, including the current generation Genesis coupe. (A new model is rumored to be unveiled sometime in 2014.)

The rest of what's coming is pure speculation. As posted in an earlier preview of the Kia 2+2 sports concept, "Conceived at the automaker’s U.S. design studio in Irvine, CA, this stunning 2+2 sports car is intended to turn heads while delivering superb driving enjoyment on both road and track."

England's AutoExpress probably has the best insight into what might be coming to Detroit on Jan. 13 at the Kia press conference. It said, "… although it's shrouded in shadow and viewed from above, it is clear that this new concept will take some inspiration from the Kee concept - which was shown over six years ago at the Frankfurt show, but sadly never reached production. t should have decent performance, and is likely to be powered by something a little more potent than the 197bhp 2.4-litre V6 that sat under the bonnet of the Kee concept all those years ago."

AutoExpress does a great job picking up details from the photo that other websites missed. A long bonnet, dramatically sculpted wheel arches and a big wraparound windscreen are all clearly visible, and the short tailgate and short wheelbase give it classic sports car proportions. Neither the front or rear light clusters are visible, but there is a sliver of front light and indicator showing on the right hand side - and the angular design and curved front-end both show hints of the Audi R8 in the design.