If you already own one or more prestige vehicles, but need a sporty daily driver or winter vehicle that’s comfortable, well-equipped and provides just enough style without being too showy, consider either the Kia Stinger GT Tribute or Infiniti Q50 Black Opal. Both are equipped with all-wheel drive that adds to their strong performance and winter capabilities.
Kia Stinger GT Tribute Edition (Starting at $56,495)
Kia is a brand on the rise. Its past brand slogan was, “The Power to Surprise,” and no Kia vehicle has lived up to that statement more than the Stinger GT, which earned the respect of performance car enthusiasts over the years by offering striking design, fiery performance and a high-tech interior that made it a de facto luxury sports sedan.
The Stinger GT Tribute is a special edition farewell trim limited to 1,000 units worldwide (Canada gets 100 units). Special exterior touches include a unique Moonscape matte silver paint, gloss black wheels, black Brembo performance brake calipers and black side mirror covers.
Inside, a Terracotta Brown interior, special front door sill placards, a unique Tribute emblem on the front seat headrests, brown stitching and matte carbon fibre pattern trim all add to the cabin’s unique look and feel.
Under the hood, its twin-turbo 3.3L V6 engine produces 368 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, able to propel the Stinger from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds using its easy-to-operate launch control feature. The performance is strong, authoritative, and the car handles well despite its heft.
Standout driver assist features include a broadcast of your blind spot on the instrument cluster when you signal a lane change, and a digital speedometer displayed on the windshield that changes colour as you exceed the speed limit of the road you are travelling on.
Despite having been on the market for several years, the Stinger still turned heads everywhere during our week with the vehicle, proof that striking design speaks louder than just an emblem. Don’t ignore the Stinger GT Tribute or the similarly equipped GT Elite trim with Suede Package if you want a solid sports sedan that looks as sharp as it performs.
Infiniti Q50 Black Opal Edition (Starting at $69,341)
The range-topping Q50 Black Opal is limited to just 50 units in Canada, and its most stunning feature is its unique Black Opal paint, which looks black from far, but also dark forest green, dark blue or dark purple depending on your viewing angle and under certain light. It is one of the most remarkable vehicle colours we have ever seen.
Other unique exterior touches include a black grille featuring an eye-catching illuminated Infiniti emblem, a carbon fibre rear lip spoiler and satin black badging. Its multi-spoke wheels contrast nicely with its red performance brake calipers.
Aside from its fascinating paint job, the Q50 Black Opal’s performance is by far its greatest strength. Its 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine produces 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, and feels strong at all rev ranges and speeds. It is even equipped with a sport exhaust system that gives it more sound, but this exhaust could be intrusive to some who prefer a quieter interior, so a test drive is essential. Its adaptive suspension also helps deliver a smooth ride and confident handling.
The interior features red stitching, quilted seat surfaces, and soft semi-aniline leather. The seating is comfortable, and the driver’s seat offers additional adjustments like power side bolsters and a thigh support extender, but the second row lacks important amenities like seat heaters, temperature control for the vents and USB ports.
Cargo space is also a Q50 strength, with split-folding rear seatbacks and the trunk lid supported by gas-charged struts rather than conventional trunk lid hinges that take up cargo space when you close the lid.
The Q50 Black Opal is the elder statesman among premium sports sedans, but keeps up with its younger competition by offering lots of comfort and safety features, a standout paint colour, and a gem of an engine that makes it a suitable buy for a sports sedan shopper who wants strong performance and to own a future collector vehicle.
