– Miami, Florida

Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it, they say. In this case, Kia has cracked open its own history books, and taken a lesson from the chapter of what not to do. The Stinger is no Amanti – that is, a half-hearted attempt to compete with more premium products. The Stinger is the real deal, and it should have companies like BMW and Mercedes-Benz worried (if they aren’t already).

Still, the question lingers, particularly in the minds of consumers that aren’t familiar with Kia’s recent turnaround: can the Korean carmaker keep up with other established vehicles in this segment? In one word: absolutely.

In a world where sporty sedans – or in t...