Kia Forte drift car

The writer is not a fan of the motorsports niche of drifting, but one has to appreciate the quality of the build of the Red Bull-sponsored 2019 Kia Forte drift car shown at the Kia corporate booth at the 2018 SEMA show.

The car is powered by a twin-turbocharged engine out of a Kia Stinger with a custom intake manifold sequential six-speed transmission as part of a conversion to rear-wheel drive with a quick change rear differential.

Check out the total transformation of the body with all the aerodynamic add-ons.

Photos by the author  

The Kia Stinger at SEMA 2017

 

 

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) traditionally bring their newest modified passenger cars to SEMA, (the Specialty Equipment Market Association trade-only show) and the 2017 show was no exception as Kia Motors showed off two modified versions of their new 2018 Kia Stinger GT, a car which wasn’t even available to the public until later in November 2017. 

 

author photos

 

This orange beauty built by Struass Haus Enterprises an OEM ADP (accessory development partner) is equipped with a black finished rear spoiler, hood vents,  rear diffuser and front and rear winglets. The car rides on a lowered Eibach suspension with 20-inch TSW wheels wrapped in Falken rubber. All the body components shown are available at https://stingerhaus.com/components

photos courtesy of WCC and Kia

West Coast Customs, a shop featured on an eponymous reality program shown on the Velocity cable network, produced this “wide body” Kia Stinger with custom metal work that flared the fenders and which was highlighted by carbon fiber custom front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser. The suspension is lowered and it rides on 21-inch Keen custom wheels.

 Photo by the author 

 

The production version of the rear-wheel Kia Stinger GT is powered by a 3.3 liter (201 cubic inch) twin turbocharged V-6 engine which develops 365 horsepower with a base price of $38,350. An all-wheel drive option is available for $2,200.