With a 103.1-inch wheelbase and an overall length of just 169.7 inches, it's only a few inches longer than a Scion FR-S and is considerably shorter than the 182.3-inch Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Compared to the FR-S, the GT4 is lower and wider, both of which portend good things for its agility. This is a bit of a featherweight, too, weighing in at just 2,874 pounds. It's also somewhat unusual for an automaker to disclose a concept's weight – by our read, that further suggests eventual production is in mind. The footprint issue is an important one, as it hints that if/when we see a production GT4, it looks like it'll be more of an FR-S/Subaru BRZ/Mazda MX-5 Miata fighter than a rival to the Genesis Coupe or the upcoming four-cylinder turbo Ford Mustang.
The design, meanwhile, is something of a love it or hate it deal. From the side, we see hints of Nissan 240Z, thanks to the Stinger's long hood and plunging rear end, but we aren't completely sold on the nose. Those tall, vertical headlights on either side of the large grille are interesting, but we suspect they'll be left on the cutting-room floor if a production model is made, if only because their low mountings would make for expensive low-speed accidents (and they might not even be DOT complaint). We do like the transparent A-pillars that remind us of the 2001 Volvo Safety Concept Car (SCC), but don't count on those making it to dealers, either. The cabin, meanwhile, is purposeful, with billet-aluminum doorhandles, no carpet, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and an instrument cluster that uses red LEDs. Drivers and passengers sit in meaty, leather-wrapped bucket seats.
Now, it's fair to say that a lot of the stuff up here isn't likely to make production - concept cars rarely get the green light without making some major compromises. Still, enthusiasts should view the GT4 Stinger as a very positive sign. It's small and light, and with any luck, it'll provide substantially more grunt than what would seem to be its main competitors – the BRZ and FR-S. It'll still be some time before we know for certain whether Kia will go ahead with a production GT4, but if history is any indication, the prospects look good.
