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BEING a journalist means you have a healthy dose of built-in cynicism. So I’ll admit to turning up at the launch of the new Genesis GV80 and G80 models not expecting them to be serious premium car contenders. How wrong I was. As you can read on pages 24 and 26, both cars are seriously impressive and – straight out of the box – serious contenders against serious rivals. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, having seen how the Hyundai Motor Group has transformed itself and its brands (Hyundai, Kia and Genesis) over the past few years. I’ve been lucky enough to spend some time in Korea, where I’ve always been struck by Hyundai’s eagerness to listen, learn and react – fast. I remember being asked to feed back my…

● We get behind the wheel of all-new family hatchback ● New underpinnings promise improved comfort and handling VAUXHALL is now part of the Stellantis empire, with the fruits of the new ownership already showing in the latest Corsa – Britain’s best-selling car. Now it’s the turn of the Astra, with the brand given access to the Stellantis toybox to develop the eighth generation of the famous family hatch. While the prototype we’re driving is camouflaged, Vauxhall has already teased its Vizor grille, rear badging and updated interior with Pure Panel screens (below). Our exclusive image shows how the Astra should look without the disguise. However, there are plenty of advances under the bodywork, too, because the Astra uses the Stellantis Group’s third-generation EMP2 platform, which incorporates the latest driver-assistance…

Luke_Wilkinson@autovia.co.uk @LT_Wilkinson ● All-new family SUV revealed ● Arrives in UK this September KIA has revealed the all-new fifth-generation Sportage, which will go on sale towards the end of 2021. The Korean brand’s latest family SUV will arrive with a bold look and a completely new interior loaded with the latest technology. A Europe-specific version of the Sportage will arrive in September. In the meantime, the car in our pictures is for international markets, so the car we’ll see in UK showrooms could look a little different. The new Sportage draws design inspiration from the all-electric EV6, and it shares the same C-shaped daytime running lights and rounded bonnet line, as well as a stylised version of the EV’s full-width light bar at the rear. Kia’s trademark ‘tiger nose’ grille…

John_McIlroy@autovia.co.uk @johnmcilroy ● Plug-in, regular hybrid offered ● Same platform as RAV4 THIS is the new Lexus NX, and while it’s a familiar name with a familiar face, this mid-size SUV comes with a revolution under the skin: it’s the brand’s first plug-in hybrid. The NX has been a hugely significant model for Lexus since it was launched in 2014. More than 170,000 examples have been sold in Europe so far, and the majority have been to customers new to the brand. The new model’s styling is an evolution of what’s gone before. There’s Lexus’s familiar front grille, some complex side surfacing, and a new tail-light arrangement with a full-width lighting signature. The second-generation NX sits on the Toyota TNGA-K platform, shared with the RAV4. It’s 20mm longer, 20mm wider…

THIS is our first look at what could be a new V6 hybrid supercar from Ferrari to rival the forthcoming McLaren Artura. Codenamed F171, it’s possible that this will be the first model to make use of a six-cylinder engine that has been in development at Maranello for some time, and referenced by the firm’s executives. The brand’s Chief Marketing Officer, Enrico Galliera, told Auto Express in 2019: “The philosophy is to try to be ready with different technologies in order to use them with the necessary evolution. That’s why we have a wide range of engines: V12, V8 and, in the future, the V6.” Although unconfirmed, speculation suggests it will be a turbocharged 3.0-litre unit with some sort of electrification. Power output is also unconfirmed so far, but given…

VOTING for the Auto Express Design Award is now open, giving you the chance to choose 2021’sbestlooking new car. A 15-strong shortlist (right), which covers new and forthcoming production cars as well as concepts, has been selected by the experts on the Auto Express team, and we want you to decide which car goes on to take the title at our New Car Awards on 7 July. The list isn’t limited to sleek sports cars or wild concepts, either, with electric city cars, hatchbacks, SUVs and even an estate car all making the cut. Previous winners of the prestigious Design Award have included the Jaguar I-Pace, Alfa Romeo Tonale and Aston Martin Vantage. Visit our website to see the contenders and vote for your favourite. TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE…