Kia rules out diesel as Stinger makes Aussie debut

Kia has revealed a diesel version of its Holden Commodore-baiting Stinger sports sedan, which made its Australian debut at the Australian Open tennis tournament this week, but it won't be sold here.

Revealed overnight in Europe, the Stinger diesel will be powered by the Hyundai-Kia group's 2.2-litre 'R' turbo-diesel, which in this application will produce 147kW and 440Nm.

However, Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth told motoring.com.au that it would not be available here from the Stinger's local launch by October — the same month Holden ends Commodore production — when the focus will be on 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 3.3-litre V6 turbo-petrol engines.

The former will develop 188kW/353Nm, while the latter will slam down 276kW/510Nm in the Stinger GT – Kia's fastest and most powerful model ever — and both models will drive their rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

In contrast, while Holden's first imported Commodore — based on the next-generation Opel Insignia -- will come with a circa-200kW petrol V6 and 2.0-litre diesel power, it will be the first without rear-wheel drive, instead offering front- and all-wheel drive.

In European spec, the 4830mm long Stinger '3.3i' will ride on 19-inch wheels and adaptive suspension, while the 2.0i rides on 18s and the entry-level 2.2D wears 17-inch hoops.

Australian reaction to Kia's first rear-drive sports sedan GT – both before and since it made its world debut at the Detroit motor show earlier this month – has been overwhelmingly positive, as you can see from this video.

Australians will be among the first in the world to have access to the Stinger, which also hits European showrooms in the fourth quarter of this year.

Expect Stinger pricing to open at around $42,000 and the twin-turbo V6 Stinger GT to cost about $52,000 in Australia, where tennis champ Rafael Nadal was on hand to help promote the new Kia sedan.

This year is the 16th in a row that Kia has sponsored the Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam, and it's once again donating a fleet of 130 vehicles for the event, including 20 Optimas, 40 Sorentos and 70 Carnivals.

Kia's 2017 Australian Open courtesy fleet will be driven by more than 200 volunteer drivers who expect to clock up more than 400,000km during thousands of journeys to shuttle players, officials, media and fans.

The upstart Korean car-maker will also use Melbourne's global sporting event as a springboard to launch its new 2017 Rio light-car in Australia.