We don’t know if the Kia Stinger really needs to prove that it’s able to hang with some big names over a standing 1/4 mile in order to call itself a real ‘GT’, but it doesn’t hurt either.
If you’re looking for an opponent, the V8-powered Ford Mustang GT might not be the first choice, despite sharing the same ‘Grand Tourer’ moniker with the Kia, but it is a regular at drag race events, so we guess it will do.
The Mustang’s V8 is massive with its 5.0-liter displacement, whereas the Kia comes with a 3.3-liter twin turbo V6. In Australia, which is where this drag race took place, the Mustang GT is good for 306 kW (410 HP) and 530 Nm (390 lb-ft) of torque.
Meanwhile, the Stinger’s V6 engine produces 272 kW (365 HP) and 510 Nm (376 lb-ft). So as you can see, on paper, it’s not as lopsided as some of you might have originally thought.
In fact, their zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) times are nearly identical, with the Mustang rated at 4.8 seconds and the Stinger at 4.9 seconds, so anything beyond that is likely to come down to grip, fast shifts and their overall power-to-weight ratios. Also, the Mustang had a manual transmission, so let’s go ahead and call that for what it is, a disadvantage.
In the end, expect a tight battle, with not that much between them over the 1/4 mile. The winner crossed the line in 12.83 seconds, with the runner-up in 13.32 seconds.