Hold on to your Bathurst mug – the Kia Stinger GT will use its 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine to accelerate as quickly as the Holden Commodore SS with a 6.2-litre atmo V8.

If anticipation for Kia’s first-ever rear-wheel-drive sports sedan (no, it won’t use the SS tag) wasn’t already lofty enough, then the South Korean brand has just dropped its initially communicated 0-100km/h acceleration claim by two-tenths to a bloody brisk 4.9 seconds.

Kia Stinger GT rear

Although less interesting 188kW/353Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol and 147kW/440Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel versions will likely make it to market, all will send drive only to the rear wheels.

Kia Stinger GT side

By contrast, Australian car enthusiasts have seemingly embraced Kia’s decision to produce a relatively affordable twin-turbocharged, rear-drive large sedan-like vehicle. Indeed, the Stinger GT was revealed at the Detroit motor show in January to rapturous applause from website and Facebook commentary the world over.

Kia Stinger GT front