A Kia??? Really???
 

Watching the Pirelli World Challenge race on TV. How in the hell does Kia stay in front of Mustangs and Camaros? And if Kia is out there mixing up with those V8's, where is Toyota, Mazda, Nissan and VW?

Infotainment.

Race cars are built to a rule book. The rule book is made by the players. Kia pays a lot of money so they get a rule book that allows them to compete. Simple.

Kia or not, I am digging this series. Flipping between this and the V8 AU touring cars.

Doesn't Kia make a V8?

South Korea makes very good products these days. Thats how.

Does Kia make a sports car with an auto tranny?

Shameful, simply shameful.

Those Hyundai Santa Fe are very reliable and great quality. It just doesn't seem right.

I didn't know this series had fallen to these "specials", it was sports car racing last I checked.

I can't watch the Grand Am because of the tube frame fake RX8's mixing it up with the real Porsche's, Audi's, and Ferrari.

The Porsche, is at least like something you can buy. Either go all spec series, Daytona Prototype, NASCAR, etc, or all sports cars, but please don't freakin' mess with the format to bias to cars that aren't real.

So Kia makes a 4 cylinder that can stay ahead of a Ford/Chevy V8, on the straights? Race on Sunday/sell on Monday.

Found this whilst looking for more info on the Kia.

First Drives: Kia Optima GTS Race Car

"Kia Optima GTS Race Car
Price (est): $250,000
Powertrain: 2.0-liter I-4, 368 hp, 300 lb-ft
Drivetrain: FWD, 6-speed sequential
Weight: 2950 lb
Top Speed: 160 mph"

Somehow those specs plus lots of power understeer seem underwhelming for a $250K car.

People laughed when Honda started racing and engine building for F1.

Looks like the spec sheet for a $50K Mercedes CLA45 AMG.

The Kia specs read like an older BTTC touring car from the mid/late 90's. Those things were fast but had knife edge performance.

World Challenge generally tries to make the cars in the class even so all cars and manufacturers have a chance. Series Facts | Pirelli World Challenge

Um, Grand Am as you know it has been dead for 2 years. Now the only tube frame cars are the DP's which look much better with the body kits.

Can't believe people are still stuck in the "Korean cars are crap" mind set.
Hyundai has been running in WRC for a long time.
Show me any other automobile manufacture that backs their product with a 10 year/100K mile warranty.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432825606.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432825634.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1432825648.jpg

But wait...y'all keep hating on the Korean cars so I can keep getting great deals on them. ;) :D :cool:

rented a kia suv for a 2000 mile trip to yellowstone last summer

it had a turbo 4 with 6 speed auto the thing was fast
ran it on cheap 85 gas and it would go 90 all day on 80 mph posted at 20mpg
and was not too bad on mt roads in and around the park

my only problem was the back was too small to sleep in
front seats did recline so we used them to sleep

Perhaps the Mustangs and Camaros were lapping the Kia.

Just sayin'

SmileWavy

-Z