cars news 10: The Stinger GT is a “Different Level of Kia,” Says High-Performance Development Chief

Motor Trend was invited to Korea for an exclusive preview of the new 2018 Kia Stinger. While we were there, we took a close look at the rear-drive sporty sedan and met with several executives. Motor Trend was the only U.S. automotive media outlet invited. We had the opportunity to chat with Albert Biermann, executive vice president and head of vehicle test and high-performance development for Hyundai Motor Group, after his presentation on the Stinger’s dynamic capabilities. Biermann was hired away from BMW in April of 2015, where he was vice president of engineering for BMW M Automobiles and BMW Individual.

Motor Trend: In your presentation, you said the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is the chief competitor. You had Audi A5 Sportback, as well?

Albert Biermann: Yeah, but we didn’t spend so much time with Audi.

MT: What would you say is the main selling point versus the 4 Series Gran Coupe?

AB: Styling aside?

MT: Yes.

AB: My car would be the [Stinger] GT. The 3.3 [liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine] has this nicely balanced power. We can still deliver a good, let’s say comfort level in the car, but a really good level of power that is nicely balanced and controlled. It’s a huge car, but the way it drives … I mean, you get the opportunity soon … so it’s a very enjoyable car.

MT: What was your first reaction to seeing the car when you got here?

AB: This one I didn’t see before, but before I joined Hyundai Motor Group, I had a chance to visit the design studios, and I was impressed with the cars I saw, the styling models. I couldn’t believe these were Hyundais or Kias. At that time I think I didn’t see the Stinger, but then later I saw the design model in the design review; it was almost a kind of final confirmation. I was really deeply impressed, but then two months later they brought the GT. That really was the ultimate kick. I liked the GT so much when I saw the GT. It was sitting there in the nice red color and was really impressive, and I thought, “OK, that’s the car where we have to deliver a whole different driving experience.” This is a different level of Kia.

MT: You came into this project only a year and a half ago. How much was already set by then?

AB: The platform was the most basically defined. We have been working on the platform for a long time, like I just said. We were still improving some elastokinematic areas just a few months ago. There were many, but this is what we normally do. This was the first car of this new platform—it’s more like an evolution, not a revolution of the platform. Of course, this car gets a lot of attention and much fine-tuning. We change control arm positions, all kinds of kinematic variations, and the level of response and precision—that was a key job, to give the Stinger more driving precision than our other cars. They are clearly focused on a good level of isolation, and they have different architectures—front-wheel-drive cars—but with this one we could reach a nice balance point on a really higher level. Isolation is still very good even with the 19-inch summer tires from Michelin. The isolation level is really quite good—no road noise, harshness. We are pretty happy. We keep fine-tuning, but that is for Kia just a whole different story. I think we can really challenge the others out there.

MT: What platform is this based on?

AB: This is the kind of evolution of the Genesis. It’s that kind of platform, but it’s a different front axle, some changes on the rear axle, and then even you have more stiffness in the body-in-white structure.

MT: Was increasing stiffness a need you saw coming in, or was this predetermined?

AB: Like I said, the base structures of our cars are pretty good. I mean, in the process of doing the first high-performance car, we don’t need to add a whole bunch of reinforcement bars. I mean, I’ve done other high-performance cars before where it needed a whole bunch of reinforcement to bring the car to that level. Our base structure is pretty good, pretty competitive. We only added, compared to the previous platform, two struts underneath. That’s it because the concept of the engine bay design and the concept of the structure in the front include the bars anyway. It’s part of the concept. That is not an afterthought or something.

MT: Does the engine bay fit a V-8?

AB: [smiles] Oh, I couldn’t tell you. I never check.

MT: Really?

AB: No, I didn’t check. I’m very happy with the V-6. I think it nicely matches. The way you experience the engine in the Stinger is a lot different than you experience the same engine in the Genesis G90. It’s a whole different collaboration; character is a lot different. They’re very responsive.

MT: So your preference is the six-cylinder? Rear drive?

AB: Yeah, clearly. We are still in the process of making the all-wheel drive as much fun as the rear-wheel-drive car. We are not finished yet, but I think we can get damn close.