Auto Express 1569

IN over 25 years of writing about cars, I’ve enjoyed watching the rise of Korean sister brands Hyundai and Kia more than most. And having just spent a week in Korea on World Car Awards duties, I’ve seen how these already-major players plan to up their game even further. Part of the week has been spent driving brilliant new cars like the new Kia Soul EV (above and Page 26). But I’ve also been talking to the management team about changes in the company resulting from Euisun Chung’s ascension to top spot in place of his father, M.K. Chung. There are little things that have already changed, such as a more relaxed dress code. But Euisun Chung has brought about a new focus to a business that had already developed…

● All-new family SUV is wider and longer than previous generation ● On sale in December this year with three hybrid versions in range “New Kuga is longer and wider than old car and has class-leading rear passenger space, Ford claims” Jonathan_Burn@dennis.co.uk @Jonathan_burn THIS is the all-new Ford Kuga. It’s the third generation of Ford’s biggest-selling SUV and the first model from the brand to be launched with a trio of hybrid powertrains, including a 235.4mpg plug-in hybrid unit that will top the range. The new SUV is the most thoroughly redesigned version of the car since it was launched back in 2008. It’s based on a completely new platform called C2 that has not only brought significant gains in practicality, but also allowed Ford to fit the latest family…

FORD will revive the Puma name for the forthcoming SUV version of the Fiesta, it has been confirmed. Test vehicles spied in recent months show how Ford is hoping that a proper jacked-up small SUV – previewed in our exclusive image (below) – will give the company a better chance to compete with the likes of the Nissan Juke, SEAT Arona and Citroen C3 Aircross. Now it has been confirmed that Ford’s new model – which could be sold alongside the existing EcoSport SUV – will see the return of the Puma badge that was used on a popular small coupé from 1997 to 2002. The choice of name could be significant; even without a direct link to the coupé, naming the new car after a fast, agile cat could…

● Boardroom battle to save iconic sports car ● Various battery layouts being looked at John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE under-threat Audi TT may have a future after all, after it emerged that the company’s technical boss is trying to convince his fellow board members to develop a successor to the sports car with pure-electric power. The prospects for Audi’s iconic small sports car, which made its debut more than 20 years ago, have been increasingly in doubt thanks to modest overall sales and ever-tightening CO2 emissions legislation. Audi sources have suggested that one idea could be to develop a four-door ‘TT Sportback’ successor to the current Mk3 model (as we reported in Issue 1,549). However, speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Audi’s recently appointed board member for technical development, Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, said…

ELSEWHERE at Audi, the firm will rival BMW by offering its high-performance RS editions with electrification in the near future, Auto Express has learned. Audi’s board member for technical development, Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, told Auto Express: “We are in lots of discussions with our colleagues in Stuttgart, at Porsche, and we are already really sure that we will have plug-ins in all of these high-powered cars. It is difficult to have the social acceptance for these cars without plugin capability, and you have to tell every neighbour, ‘Hey, this car is emissions-free for the first 50 kilometres’.” Rothenpieler also suggested that this drive to be overt about the green credentials of plug-in RS models could even result in them having a different badge. “I’m sure that this will be a part…

● Hybrid Cupra Leon by 2021 ● More than 242bhp planned John_McIlroy@dennis.co.uk @johnmcilroy THE forthcoming Cupra Leon will be offered as a plug-in hybrid, and will be just one of six electrified SEATs to arrive in dealers by the start of 2021. The Spanish manufacturer’s performance sub-brand had been expected to offer the fastest Leon available under its own badge after the new generation of the car goes on sale next summer. However, SEAT confirmed at its annual press conference last week that while a plug-in hybrid version of the regular Leon will be introduced, in both five-door and estate body styles, the Cupra editions of these models will also be electrified. “In 2020, the new generation of Leon will come to market in five-door and ST [estate] versions,” said…