I think Atlantica is the good bye model. I figured that this was only going to be the one gen when it was obvious I was the only customer who paid cash for it new (2.0) at my local dealer for the whole year. They where like congrats you gamed the system lol. I saw on some car numbers websites that the stinger beat the K900 and cadenza in sales enough where that should end up being the flagship model based on numbers. So if it was a regional brand they would probably stop selling the K900 and cadenza in the USA and just stinger. But because their global and the new K900 was just rolled out looking bland, I suspect the stinger is done.
My thoughts are:
1. The new Forte and rio seem to show that the stinger style will be adapted to all models going forward which they should do
2. They should roll out a 3 tier/model Genesis like fastback stinger line for the lux segment but under the brand, and not separate like the failure that is genesis
3. But they won't because the new k900 which would be the G90 for Kia was designed to be bland following the stinger vs being a longer stinger.
4. the next Optima will absorb both models and style but sans rwd
5. A lack of special editions like FCA offers on dodges is a sore point like the way mazda doesn't offer mazdaspeed thus hurting themselves in brand image
5. It's too bad they don't adapt the stinger design and go even further and replace their sedans with fastbacks. People want suvs because of the hatch and it would be pioneering to be the first to do so.
Except for the upcoming part shortage, I enjoy owning something people don't, so if they kill it I'm fine with it because we all were smart enough to buy it. I think Atlantica is the good bye model. They'll put it out and then few months out say it's the last just like gm did with the pontiac G8, chevy SS. There isn't a business case for all three models: cadenza, K900, and stinger, but keeping stinger would sell rios, souls, and fortes to younger buyers. If they kill the stinger a year after the new forte comes out they are really stupid because the buyer who can't afford the stinger who's young will land in a forte. It's like the buick lacrosse/verano sales concept where they target the same buyer at two price points. Hyundai killed their own brand when they killed genesis coupe and spun off the brand. If Kia kills the stinger, they'll kill their sedan sales. Sticking with the K900 and cadenza over the stinger is like choosing to be toyota over BMW. Kill the stinger and then join Ford. Do not pass go, game over lol