A New Direction for Kia’s Performance Sedans
Kia’s performance-sedan legacy effectively ended with the discontinuation of the Stinger in 2023, but the brand has not abandoned the idea of a sporty four-door. While Kia has never promised a direct Stinger successor, company President Ho-sung Song confirmed last year that an electrified sport sedan was under consideration, sparking years of speculation.
That speculation has intensified with the debut of the Vision Meta Turismo, a dramatic fastback concept unveiled for Kia’s 80th anniversary celebration. Though Kia avoids naming it a Stinger replacement, the sleek proportions and performance-oriented stance suggest a spiritual continuation of the Stinger formula—only fully electric and far more futuristic.
Design Preview: A Sedan From the Future
Kia describes the Vision Meta Turismo as a showcase of its design direction for a “new mobility era,” and the exterior makes that clear. The fastback features sharp geometric surfacing, ultra-thin LED lighting, and extremely short overhangs that strongly hint at a dedicated EV platform.
Large glass surfaces wrap around the cabin, amplifying the concept’s airy, futuristic appearance. The car’s gold finish—applied to both body and driver’s cockpit—creates a seamless visual identity that makes the entire vehicle feel like a unified sculpture.
Inside, the layout blends minimalist aesthetics with experimental technology. A D-shaped steering wheel, paired with a small square digital cluster, anchors the driver’s position. An augmented-reality head-up display projects layered 3D graphics across the base of the windshield, previewing Kia’s next-generation interface approach.
A Cabin Designed as a Lounge
Perhaps the most striking element is the interior’s lounge-like atmosphere. The driver’s seat, dash, and floor are finished in the same gold as the exterior, while the passenger area features soft white materials to emphasize openness. This color contrast, combined with expansive windows, gives the rear cabin the feel of a minimalist living space rather than a traditional vehicle interior.
A jet-fighter-inspired joystick sits beside the driver, though Kia has not revealed what functions it controls. As with many concept elements, it may serve more as a design statement than a production-ready control solution.
EV Architecture Implied but Unconfirmed
Kia has not released any powertrain or battery specifications for the Vision Meta Turismo. However, its overall shape—including the stretched wheelbase and near-zero front and rear overhangs—strongly suggests a dedicated electric platform. The flat floor inside supports that assumption as well.
Still, Kia emphasizes that this concept is not confirmed for production. While it adds momentum to rumors of a high-performance electric sedan, the company stops short of linking the vehicle to any future model by name.
A Tribute to 80 Years of Kia Innovation
The Vision Meta Turismo was created in honor of Kia’s 80th anniversary. The original company, Kyungsung Precision Industry, was founded in 1944 before becoming Kia in 1952. Over the decades, the brand has evolved from building bicycles, to manufacturing commercial vehicles, to becoming a global automotive leader with strong ambitions in electric mobility.
The Vision Meta Turismo stands as a symbolic marker of that journey: a forward-looking statement that bridges past design values and Kia’s rapidly expanding EV future.
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Kia EV5 Arrives in Canada With Low Pricing and NACS Charging