The sizzling Kia Stinger emerged as the ST Car of the Year (COTY) 2018, with a score of 315 points. The next closest contender, the muscular Audi RS4 Avant, had 294 points to its name. The even mightier BMW M5, which was just a single point
behind, finished in third.
This is the first time in the history of the ST-Torque Awards that a Korean car has claimed the top spot.
Of the past eight winners, four are German (Porsche in 2011, Volkswagen in 2013, BMWs in 2014 and 2015), two are British
(Jaguar in 2010 and Land Rover in 2011), one is Swedish (Volvo in 2016) and one is Japanese (Lexus in 2017). The 5-litre Lexus LC500 is also the first 8-cylinder winner since 2010’s Jaguar XJ, which came with a V8 engine option.
The ST-Torque Awards panel of 11 judges congratulates Kia and Cycle & Carriage on the Stinger being Straits Times Car of
the Year 2018 – please enjoy the trophy.
ST-TORQUE AWARDS 2018 SCOREBOARD
|
315 points
|
KIA STINGER |
266 points
|
LEXUS ES |
|
294 points
|
AUDI RS4 AVANT |
262 points
|
VOLVO XC40 |
|
293 points
|
BMW M5 |
261 points
|
SKODA KODIAQ |
|
285 points
|
RENAULT MEGANE RS |
260 points
|
SKODA SUPERB |
|
275 points
|
HYUNDAI IONIQ ELECTRIC |
239 points
|
SUZUKI SWIFT |
STRAITS TIMES CAR OF THE YEAR – PAST WINNERS
| 2010 | Jaguar XJ | 2014 | BMW i3 | |
| 2011 | Land Rover Range Rover Evoque | 2015 | BMW i8 | |
| 2012 | Porsche 911 | 2016 | Volvo S90 | |
| 2013 | Volkswagen Golf | 2017 | Lexus LC500 | |
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“IN JUST A LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS, KIA HAS GONE FROM CHEAP, AUSTERE AND SOMETIMES NASTY TO HIGH-VALUE AND HIGH-DESIRABILITY. THE STINGER IS THE PINNACLE OF THAT ASTOUNDING ACHIEVEMENT. GREATER THINGS WILL COME FROM THIS BRAND.” CHRISTOPHER TAN |
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“KIA HAS EXECUTED THIS FABULOUS FASTBACK WITH ABSOLUTE FLOURISH. THE DESIGN IS RIGHT, THE DRIVING POSITION IS SPOT ON, AND THAT TAILHAPPY HANDLING – THEY HAVE UNQUESTIONABLY NAILED THIS ONE. UTTERLY COMPELLING.” JEREMY CHUA |
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““AS ENIGMATIC AS A KOREAN DRAMA. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT KIA, KNOWN FOR MASS MARKET BREAD-ANDBUTTER CARS, CAN MAKE A CAR LIKE THAT? BUT IT DID.” ” TOH YONG CHUAN |
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“THE KIA STINGER POSSESSES THE BEAUTIFUL PROPORTIONS OF A GRAN TURISMO AND PERFORMANCE THAT LIVES UP TO ITS NAME. COMPARED TO CONTINENTAL RIVALS WITH SIMILAR SPECIFICATIONS, IT WILL LEAVE A SMALLER STING ON YOUR WALLET. THE ONLY THING THAT THE KIA STINGER HAS GOING AGAINST IT IS BRAND SNOBBERY.” LYNN TAN |
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“KIA HAS RATTLED THE GERMAN ORDER. THE STINGER HAS DELICIOUS NUANCE AND A GENUINELY DELIGHTFUL DRIVING EXPERIENCE. YOU’D BE SILLY NOT TO BUY ONE.” DR KONG YONGYAO |
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“WHAT AN ENTICING PROPOSITION THE KIA STINGER IS. GORGEOUS TO LOOK AT INSIDE AND OUT, DYNAMICALLY BLESSED WITH STONKING PERFORMANCE AND AN AGILE, INTERACTIVE REAR-DRIVE CHASSIS, IT SERIOUSLY CHALLENGES THE (MAINLY GERMAN) SPORTSSALOON ESTABLISHMENT. AND, PRICED A HUGE CHUNK BELOW THOSE CARS, AND WITH MORE CABIN ROOM AND EQUIPMENT TO BOOT, IT ABSOLUTELY DESERVES TO SUCCEED.” EDRIC PAN |
