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Kia Motors Reveals 2021 Stinger Fastback Facelift

Kia today officially took the wraps off of the 2021 Kia Stinger Facelift, although they have only touched on the interior and exterior upgrades and haven’t said an official word about powertrains yet.

The modest upgrades include an optional new headlight design with multifaceted reflector LED headlamps and unique quad LED daytime running lights slightly slanting in towards the center of the car on each side. The current Stinger’s headlights are also still available on certain models. The taillights are probably the biggest deviation from the existing Stinger, as we’ve seen in spy photos, with full-width LED lighting and new LED turn signals that more closely match those at the front. For high-end Stinger GT trims, the rear diffuser has been enlarged to look more muscular on the rear bumper, and larger, wide-bore exhaust tips are integrated into the diffuser. New wheel designs are available across the board, in both 18” and 19” sizes. Kia tried to make the wheel designs a little more modern and intricate for the mid-cycle refresh.

Depending on your market, Stingers will also now be available in an optional “Dark Package” or “Black Package” which adds a gloss black diffuser surround, black exhaust tips, a black Stinger badge, unique 19” matte black wheels, black rear wing on the trunklid, and blacked out mirror caps and vent trim. Kia also claims to be adding a new exterior color, but hasn’t mentioned which color that will be.

On the inside, the 2021 Kia Stinger facelift has subtle changes throughout, including a metallic finish on the lower D-cut steering wheel in place of the gloss black from before, and that same finish has been added around the existing 7” center screen between the analog gauges. Kia hasn’t said one way or another, but there is no indication yet that the Stinger will be available with a full digital dashboard. Another interior upgrade is the 10.25” central infotainment screen, replacing the previous 8” unit. We don’t yet know what kind of software upgrades have been made, but we’d expect it to closely match what’s available in the K5. The interior ambient lighting has also been upgraded to allow 64 colors, up from the original 6 in the current Stinger, and there’s additional ambient lighting on the upper dashboard now. The rearview mirror has been updated to a trendy frameless style.

The seats have been upgraded to a diamond quilted pattern on Stingers equipped with nappa leather, which is available in dark brown, Saturn Black, red, or beige. There’s also a cool new seating option that provides you black suede seats with red patterned stitching. The dashboard also features stitching that enhances the look of the airbag cover in front of the passenger seat, and the interior front and rear door panels now feature three stitched character lines which dip down into the window controls at the front of the doors.

We will wait to learn more as Kia releases details in each market, especially regarding powertrain options, but are excited to see the Stinger continue with a facelifted model.

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2021 Hyundai Veloster N Adds 8-speed DCT, Available in October

Hyundai today released product details for its 2021 Veloster N model, which now offers a high-performance N eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (N DCT), N Light Sport Seats, navigation and a full host of new driver-assistance features. The 2021 Veloster N, including models with the new N DCT, will arrive at US Hyundai dealers in October.

 

2021 VELOSTER N

  • New, available N Eight-Speed Wet Dual-Clutch Transmission
    • Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters
    • Thermal endurance capabilities meet sustained high-performance levels
    • Includes N Track Sense Shift with Launch Control
  • New standard N Light Sport Seats with Illuminated N Logo
    • Performance side bolsters and 4.4 lb. weight reduction
  • Performance Package equipment now standard on Veloster N
  • New, standard eight-inch display audio/navigation system
  • New, standard driver assistance features include: Forward Collision-avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross-traffic Collision Warning
  • New white exterior color replaces Chalk White exterior color (November production)

2021 VELOSTER (all non-N Models)

  • 2021 Veloster is not changed from the 2020 Veloster model

“Veloster N demonstrates Hyundai’s approach to high-performance cars. By equipping Veloster N with N DCT, drivers get performance and convenience at the same time,” said Thomas Schemera, Head of Product Division at Hyundai Motor. “Anyone who wants a fun driving experience will jump at the chance to pilot the new Veloster N – an everyday sports car with racetrack capabilities.”

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N Eight-speed Wet Dual-clutch Transmission
Hyundai developed the N DCT with manual or fully-automatic modes and eight speeds for improved acceleration and efficiency. N DCT is equipped with electronic actuators that operate the dual clutch, providing ride comfort, fuel efficiency and driving fun. Unlike a dry dual-clutch transmission, the wet N DCT uses oil to significantly improve lubrication and cooling performance, as required of higher-torque applications. The new N wet-type dual-clutch transmission uses an electric oil pump for increased thermal endurance and reduced direct parasitic drag on the powertrain. The N DCT was fully-developed in-house by N engineers, with a fun-to-drive tuning focus.

Race-like Manual Shift Logic
This fun-to-drive tuning target is further enhanced via an aggressive shift feel that is accentuated by “push” actuation. Under braking, with the driver resisting forward g-forces, lower gears are selected with an ergonomic forward push of the gear selector. Conversely, under the rearward g-forces of acceleration, higher gears are selected via a natural, rearward pull of the lever.

Korean-spec model shown

N Grin Shift
The N DCT even comes with game-like features that enhance driving fun. N Grin Shift (NGS) increases peak torque by seven percent from 260 lb.-ft. to 278 lb.-ft. by allowing temporary turbocharger over-boost and maximizing transmission response. When activated, the N Grin Shift mode causes the powertrain to shift to its sportiest program for up to 20 seconds (such as for passing). Further, transmission customization settings are now available in the “Custom” screen mode.

N Power Shift and N Track Sense Shift
N Power Shift (NPS) engages when the car accelerates with more than 90 percent throttle demand, mitigating torque reduction by using upshifts to deliver maximum power to the wheels through each gear change. This gives the driver a responsive feeling of dynamic acceleration when shifting, with a factory-estimated zero to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds. N Track Sense Shift (NTS) discerns when road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving and activates automatically, selecting the right gear and shift timing for optimal performance.

Driving Experience Customization
Along with other updated features, such as Rev Matching, Launch Control and Overboost, Veloster N is optimized to automatically sense driving styles and road conditions to optimize shift points. For example, the car will hold lower gears longer in performance driving for better acceleration out of corners. Conversely, if the driver is aggressively pushing the car on a racetrack, the car will use the full range of available engine RPM to maximize performance. All of these features can be configured in Veloster N’s improved infotainment system, using the latest operating system shown on a high-definition eight-inch display.

N DCT Engineering
The Veloster N DCT transmission employs two clutch assemblies, one for odd gears and one for even and reverse gears. The clutch actuator assembly utilizes a lightweight electric motor-driven system for greater efficiency, optimized shift response and compact packaging. It also deploys an external damper for improved NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). The DCT uses an electromechanical gear actuator, yielding a lightweight design, higher fuel efficiency and precise shifting control via the engine’s electronic control unit. The DCT gearing assembly uses hollow input shafts for an ultra-lightweight and extremely responsive shifting character.

N Light Sport Seats
The new N Light Sport Seats are wrapped in cloth and leatherette upholstery to firmly hold the driver in position during spirited driving. These track-ready seats are thinner and lighter, with a weight reduction of 4.4 lbs. N Light Sports Seats have an illuminated N logo on the upper side of the backrest, adding to the interior aesthetic. The N logo illumination operates in conjunction with other interior lights to create a distinctive interior ambiance.

Korean-spec model shown

 

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