The Big Apple got “Stung” earlier this month when a star-studded group of celebrities took to the streets of New York City to race one of the year’s most anticipated automobile releases – the all new 2018 KIA Stinger. Located on a transformed, fully functioning race track, fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, supermodels Candice Swanepoel and Joan Smalls, baseball legend Alex Rodriguez, bestselling author and TV host Derek Blasberg, and social media superstar Cameron Dallas gathered to test out the KIA Stinger in the very first Stinger Runway Racing challenge. Swanepoel was able to pull away from her celebrity competition, and take home first-place bragging rights in a race against the clock.

“This is our first Stinger Runway Racing challenge, and we chose New York because the city reflects everything KIA and the Stinger stand for: youth, vibrancy, style, performance and quality,” said Justin Sohn, president and CEO, KIA Motors America. “We are honored to have been joined by all our friends from fashion, entertainment, news, and sports for our first race in celebration of the youthful and super-handsome Stinger at our Stinger Runway Racing event in New York.”

To bring the 2018 KIA Stinger to life, KIA Motors’ chief design officer Peter Schreyer turned to his design team in Frankfurt, Germany. The eye catching design and heart-pounding performance makes the KIA Stinger more than just a fastback sports sedan.

“KIA’s youthful spirit and commitment to world-class quality and performance enabled the creation of the Stinger, a gorgeous, high-power, GT car available in both rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations,” said Justin Sohn, president and CEO, KIA Motors America.  “The KIA that people knew just five years ago is gone, and our new image is what attracts the young, and the young at heart, in fashion, music, sports and entertainment to take part in our fast-paced runway race. We congratulate Ms. Swanepoel on her record-setting Stinger Runway Racing win.”