Media Embargo & GTs On the Ground

runner377 said:

Does anyone know when websites and print media will be able to release test reviews of the GT? And, when should the GTs begin to arrive at dealerships?

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+1

Kia keeps slipping the promise date. September, then November, then December...
From what I can tell, they have been making them in Korea but for some reason haven't ramped up production in the Georgia plant yet.

In the absence of facts from Kia, we are left to speculate while passing the time..

Could they be waiting on the EPA to sign off on smog and CAFE numbers? COVID has really slowed down the already slow wheels of government regulators in other areas. Could the EPA be the bottleneck?

I've read about Kia's marketing brain trust having concerns with the K5 GT 2.5T cannibalizing sales of the RWD/AWD Stinger GT-Line which currently is only available in the US with the 2.0T power plant and has a higher price point. Supposedly that concern is why the K5 GT won't be available in the US with AWD even though some of the 2021 K5 GT press cars in Korea had it.

Good info. Thanks.
It will be interesting to see how the GT handles 290 hp with FWD. Savage Geese review noted that the 2.0T's acceleration from a 90-degree turn is sluggish, one assumes to reduce torque steer. Still difficult to believe AWD isn't an option. But your points about the Stinger are on target.

Its ridiculous that Kia K5 GT doesn't have AWD option, and LESS features for the US release than the Canadian version when they are both made in the same damn factory. KIA please pull your brain out of your donut hole. If people wanted to buy a stinger, you would have more sales for the stinger. They don't, so put more effort and options into the car that is winning all the design awards pls. Driving K5 GT with fwd and listening to all that wheel spin from a dead stop in Raiti's rides, what are they thinking 😣

I hope, probably hopelessly, that the delay of the GT is due in part to KIA's rethinking the need for AWD or a limited slip differential. As zethyr points out, it would be an easy fix because of the Canadian AWD cars. I think the GT market, relative to other K5 trim lines, will be fairly small and those who want it would gladly pay the extra cost for AWD. Obviously, something is going on since the GT was supposed to be available in November.

runner377 said:

I hope, probably hopelessly, that the delay of the GT is due in part to KIA's rethinking the need for AWD or a limited slip differential. As zethyr points out, it would be an easy fix because of the Canadian AWD cars. I think the GT market, relative to other K5 trim lines, will be fairly small and those who want it would gladly pay the extra cost for AWD. Obviously, something is going on since the GT was supposed to be available in November.

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I bet the decisions about how to position the GT's features are being left to the marketing brain trust at Kia USA. If you want to get their attention, I suggest test driving a GT and telling the sales manager that you won't buy it because it doesn't come in AWD nor does it have the features available on the Canadian models made in the same factory. Enough of those lost sales stories get fed up the ladder from dealers and I suspect things will change.

[EDIT] Looks like the rumor of the Canadian GTs coming with AWD is wrong.
https://www.kia.ca/vehicles/k52021/features