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Kia Motors' Stinger sports sedan is a finalist for the 2018 North American Car of the Year, outperforming its main competitors including the Audi A5 and the BMW 5-Series, the Seoul-based automaker said Thursday.This is the first time a Kia vehicle has been a finalist in the renowned annual award. The other two finalists are the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.The winner will be announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.Kia expects the latest achievement will help drive up sales for the sports sedan in major North American markets such as the United States and Canada. The vehicle is also a finalist in the 2018 European Car of the Year.Kia is rapidly expanding its American presence by winning multiple awards from the world's largest auto powerhouse. In June, the automaker took top spot for the second consecutive year in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study.Kia's much-anticipated sports sedan made its debut this year. The vehicle has drawn favorable market response, combining a 3.3-liter V6 twin-turbo GDi engine with reasonably priced at 48.8 million won ($43,455). The Kia Stinger can also accelerate to 100 kilometers an hour in 4.9 seconds, the second-fastest local sports sedan after the Genesis G70 's 4.7 seconds.Votes from 60 automobile experts will decide the North American Car of the Year.Among Korean automakers, Hyundai Motor's Genesis and Avante won the award in 2009 and 2012, respectively.The Kia Stinger is competing with six other vehicles, including the Audi A8, the BMW 5 series and the Volvo XC40, for European Car of the Year. The winner will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March.If the Kia Stinger wins the European award, it will be a first for a Korean automaker.Kia developed the sports sedan by targeting motorsports fans here and abroad. The vehicle comes with five driving modes - eco, comfort, smart, sport and custom - serving also as a daily car, depending on the driver's preference. In the eco mode, the vehicle can achieve 9.2 kilometers a liter.