Kia Stinger Mods: From Grand Tourer to Sports Sedan

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Cover Image: KIA America Newsroom

The Kia Stinger is the Korean brand’s entry into the sporty grand tourer segment. Muscular and low-slung, the fastback Stinger looks the part. And it means business if you get it with the 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The engine pushes out 370 HP, which is more than adequate for a grand tourer.

However, since it’s a forced induction engine, you can easily squeeze out more power from it. It has the potential to hit close to 450–500 horsepower at the wheels. With that kind of power and supporting handling and braking mods, the Stinger becomes a true sports sedan.

Here’s what you need to turn your Korean grand tourer into a sports car slayer with the best Kia Stinger mods.

Handle Maintenance First

Before you touch anything and start putting more stress on stock components, make sure you’re on top of maintenance. Get all the filters and fluids refreshed. That includes engine oil, transmission oil, brake fluid, and all the filters. Fix the small things and make sure everything is in good condition before modding, so you have a solid base to start with.

Best mods for Kia Stinger's 3.3L twin-turbo V6 engine

Image: KIA America Newsroom

Best Kia Stinger Power Upgrades

A cold air intake kit, a cat-back exhaust, an oil catch can, upgraded spark plugs, a high-performance intercooler, and an ECU flasher with a tune are all you need to make the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 deliver sports car-level performance reliably.

ECU Reflash

Software tuning makes a world of difference in terms of power in turbocharged engines. You can transform your Stinger with over 450 HP easily with an ECU tune and some supporting mods. All you need is a flash tuner and an off-the-shelf or a custom tune on the locked ECU of your 3.3L V6 engine.

Upgraded Spark Plugs

Upgraded spark plugs are designed to handle tuning and provide improved ignition performance. To ensure longevity with your build, enthusiasts and professionals recommend high-performance iridium spark plugs such as HKS’s M-series or Denso 1-step spark plugs. Gapping the plugs down to 0.022 inches is a simple trick for maximum performance.

Oil Catch Can

An oil catch can is a simple and maintenance-free mod that prevents engine oil from being sucked by the PCV system and splattering onto your intake manifold and cylinder heads. An oil catch can increases engine efficiency and improves the longevity of your performance build. Some designs require you to monitor and empty the can, while others send the caught oil back into the loop automatically.

High-Performance Intercooler

The stock intercooler of the Stinger works well within the stock setup, but it gets weak when you start adding noticeably more power. A beefier intercooler with a larger core provides more efficient cooling, keeps the heat soak in check, and allows your motor to hold boost pressure and power longer during extended runs. It also helps extract more power from your setup.

Intake and Exhaust

An upgraded intake system draws denser air into the intake manifold and makes combustion more efficient, helping the engine make more power. An intake alone doesn’t do much in terms of horsepower, but it definitely has its place in a full-on build. Shop for a true cold air intake that draws cooler air away from the engine block.

Intake kit for Kia Stinger

Image: AFE Power

As for the exhaust upgrades, start with the secondary downpipes. Swapping out the factory secondary downpipes doesn’t cause CELs and delivers noticeable power gains, especially in a complete build. Finish the system with a quality cat-back exhaust because hearing all that power is pure fun!

Unlock The Real Potential with Fukin Tuned

Now that you have close to 500 HP in your Stinger, you need to address the throttle lag issue. The Stinger uses a drive-by-wire throttle system that’s restricted from the factory for efficiency and emissions. The only real way to eliminate those restrictions is to change the throttle mapping.

Fukin Tuned does just that. It’s a plug-and-play throttle controller module that connects to the pedal position sensor, and it remaps the throttle with Stinger-specific software. The Fukin Tuned throttle response controller eliminates throttle lag and delivers a sharp pedal feel that’s customizable to your liking.

With 36 total throttle response settings, you can dial in the perfect pedal feedback — whether it’s for a smooth daily commute, a spirited back road drive, or repeated highway pulls. Fukin Tuned is completely wireless and doesn’t cause clutter on the dash. Simply plug it in, hide the module in the footwell area, and control it wirelessly with the free Fukin Tuned mobile app.

Plus, you get the advantage of a built-in Anti-Theft feature with the Fukin Tuned unit. Simply calibrate your controller for Anti-Theft, subscribe to the service ($0.99 a month or $9.99 a year), and disable the gas pedal whenever you need additional vehicle security. Stay confident when leaving your modded Stinger unattended in remote areas, parking lots, or even on your own driveway!

Order the best Kia Stinger upgrade today!

Best Kia Stinger Handling and Braking Upgrades

500 horsepowers in a 4-door sedan sound seriously cool, but without being able to control it, that is straight dangerous. Dial in the handling and braking to round up your fast Kia perfectly.

Suspension Tuning

Thicker sway bars change the handling dynamics drastically. The stock sway bars are tuned for comfort and are hollow. Upgraded ones are usually solid and come with 2–3 levels of adjustability, so you can pick a softer setting for your daily commutes and stiffen them up for track days.

KW coilover kit for Kia Stinger with ECS delete

Image: KW Suspension

A set of height and dampening-adjustable coilovers perfectly finishes off any suspension setup. Skip the budget ones and shop for brand names.

The Kia Stinger has a system called Electronic Control Suspension that changes the stock suspension’s dynamics depending on road conditions. So, when you swap out the stock shocks and springs, the system triggers an error code on the dash. KW has an ECS canceller kit, so when you fit aftermarket coilovers, you’ll need the ECS delete kit as well.

Braking Upgrades

The Kia Stinger’s stock brakes are weak for the car’s weight and power (even stock). A set of performance rotors and pads with fresh brake fluid is a good start to beef up braking power. For a drastic change in stopping performance and brake feel, a big brake kit is the way to go. Big brake kits come with everything you need to swap out the entire braking system, including calipers, pads, rotors, and brake lines.

Best Kia Stinger performance upgrades