With the holiday shopping season in full swing, Kia Motors America is showcasing the new 2018 Stinger by opening special showcases in retail centres across the U.S.

These Stinger Salons” are currently open in Bethesda, Md.; Skokie, Ill. and White Plains, N.Y. with additional locations scheduled to debut soon in California, Ga., and Texas.

Designed in Frankfurt and developed on Germany’s famed Nürburgring under the watchful eyes of two auto industry legends—Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors’ Chief Design Officer, and Albert Biermann, head of Kia’s Vehicle Test and High-Performance Development—the Stinger is unlike anything seen before from the brand.

At each Stinger Salon, visitors can gain insight on the Stinger’s long journey from concept car to reality and how the Kia brand has evolved through conversations with knowledgeable product specialists as well as interaction with custom video content and virtual reality modules.

“Stinger is a dream car and as we usher in a new era for the Kia brand we are doing something different to show people just how far Kia has come with a true gran turismo that has a faster top speed and 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time than a Porsche Panamera,” said Saad Chehab, Vice President, Marketing Communications, KMA.

“Whether you are a diehard enthusiast or a curious onlooker who has heard the buzz about the Stinger and Kia’s industry-leading quality, our salons are designed to take visitors on a journey and explore what makes the Stinger such a unique and special offering.”

Additional “Stinger Salon” locations are planned for the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, Calif.; Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara, Calif.; the Mall of Georgia in Buford, Ga.; and the Domain in Austin, Texas, all of which are set to open within the first quarter of next year. While there are no direct sales opportunities at the Stinger Salons, on-site specialists can refer those interested in purchasing a Stinger to one of Kia’s nearly 800 dealerships across the U.S.