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What a sports car sounds like does factor into the purchasing process and the new Kia Stinger's exhaust note may be enough to entice customers away from rival brands like BMW, Audi, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.
At 4.83m, the Stinger is a bit longer than the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé (4.64m) and Audi A5 Sportback (4.73m), but there's a reason for that. The increase in overall length and 2.9m wheelbase improves ride comfort and stability. But what's a nice package without a matching sound?
Two videos of the exhaust in action were recorded at a preview event for the Stinger in Asia and it looks to be the range-topping 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 model if the slightly blurry GT badge is any indication.
Kia's first foray into the luxury rear-wheel drive sedan segment has 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque on tap. That's enough to rocket the Stinger from 0-62 mph in just 4.9 seconds, and it won't stop until it hits the 167 mph. What's more, the Stinger's max torque can be accessed from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm.
Speaking with CarAdvice, Kia Australia media and corporate communications general manager Kevin Hepworth said they were "determined to get the right sound from the car," though the local team will still be developing the sound until August.
Do you think they've delivered the right sound so far? Let us know what you think below.