Genesis introduces the 2021 G80 and it is absolutely beautiful

It looks like all of this year's motor shows will be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and so carmakers have been revealing their new models online - and here is the latest, the all-new 2021 Genesis G80. The South Korean luxury brand's mid-size saloon looks beautiful and it will continue to compete against its Germany and Japanese rivals not just with those stunning looks but with lots of new tech and kit...

The exterior design language is called "Athletic Elegance" while the character line, called the Parabolic Line, starts at the headlights and stretches all the way to the back. According to the carmaker, this line is "counter-balanced by athletic 'power lines'" which help to highlight the fenders and the 20in alloys. The chrome trim that starts at the bottom of the front wheels and continues along the bottom of the doors, going all the way to the rear where it extends upwards further "strengthening forward visual motion" is a nice touch. The sloping decklid looks great too and resembles the fastback design of the Audi A7.

Flanking the large crest-shaped mesh grille are the signature double-lined Quad lamp headlights which were first seen on the GV80. In fact, it looks a lot like the SUV from the front - the thing that separates it from the larger family hauler is a lower grille piece that extends the length of the front fascia, accentuated by a silver horizontal grille bar at each corner that provides more depth.

Other lighting elements, such as the side marker lights and LED taillights, continue the horizontal two-bar theme. The sloping rear glass transitions into a tapered decklid but remember, this is not a hatchback - like we said, it is a saloon and that means it has a regular boot.

It shares the same rear-wheel drive platform as the GV80 and look at the rims - they are similar to those found on the SUV, too: five-spoke, silver-finished units.

The parallel line motif continues on the beautiful rear-end...

Overall, the new look is smoother, curvier and much more organic than the outgoing model.

The striking interior features a unique split steering wheel and thin air vents running the length of the dashboard. Buttons and knobs have been kept to a minimum for both aesthetic and ease of functionality reasons. There's a heads-up display along with a 12.3in 3D driver's gauge cluster capable of recognizing the driver's eyes, and a 14.5in infotainment system with the Genesis Integration Controller software for systems like Genesis Quick Guide and Valet mode.

There are also over-the-air updates for the nav system while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard. Below the wide touchscreen are the HVAC controls. The centre column incorporates a rotary dial transmission shifter and a separate "touch-and-write" pad for the infotainment system. Leather seating surfaces and steering wheel trim appear to be standard, as are leatherette dashboard surfaces. There's even open-pore wood trim throughout. Some other features include a Lexicon sound system and ambient mood lighting.

Three engine options will be offered - a new turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder making 300 horsepower, a turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 making 375 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.2-litre diesel four-cylinder with 210 horsepower. The current G80's optional 5.0-litre V8 will go away with this generation. Each powertrain will be available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and they will probably be mated exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

It can be had with adaptive suspension that adjusts based on what it sees in the road.

Standard safety includes 10 airbags, smart cruise control, Highway Driver Assist II (which helps during lane changes and merging), forward collision-avoidance, and blind-spot collision avoidance.