Kia Motors UK has removed the Stinger from sale, ahead of the arrival of a new high-performance EV6 GT later this year.

The rear-wheel-drive flagship launched in 2017, marking Kia's first entry into a premium segement in the UK alongside cars like the Audi A5 Sportback,

It was last updated in 2021, when the engine line-up was cut to just one offering; a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6. It had previously been offered with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a diesel.

The car achieved just 2,300 registrations during its lifespan.

Paul Philpott, president & CEO for Kia UK, said: "The launch of the Stinger will go down as a transformative moment for Kia. Its driver-focused 'grand tourer' credentials, paired with Kia's reputation for vehicle quality and design, made it an incredibly compelling car for drivers. At the same time, it also had a transformative effect on how people saw Kia.

"For the same reasons, the EV6 GT is the ideal car to take the baton from the Stinger in the UK. Our future product plan has a major focus on electrification, and globally Kia plans to offer a line-up of 14 EVs by 2027. Combining high-performance capabilities with an incredible design and a long-range electric powertrain, the EV6 GT is an important part of this plan, and a true new flagship for the Kia brand."

The Stinger GT S was Kia's fastest-accelerating car, achieving the 0-to-62mph sprint in 4.7 seconds.The EV6 GT not only takes the Stinger's crown for fastest-accelerating Kia, sprinting from 0-to-62mph in 3.5 seconds. It is also the most powerful production car that Kia has ever made, with its dual-motor electric powertrain producing 585PS and 740Nm.

The EV6 GT features a long-range 77.4kWh battery, giving a driving range of 265 miles (WLTP), it also boasts 800V charging technology, enabling it to recharge from 10-80% in 18 minutes from an ultra-rapid charger.

The Kia Stinger remains in production in South Korea, and Kia UK will fulfil all existing customer orders for the model.

Kia is on track to achieve its goal of 100,000 annual registrations in the UK for the first time, by the end of this year. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show the car maker has amassed 89,146 registrations to the end of October.

The Korean brand was named Manufacturer of the Year at the 2022 AM Awards.