Delayed Maserati Quattroporte set to swap to Granturismo platform
“It’s Giorgio-inspired. Internally, we call it Giorgio Sport because this is 60% aluminium, whereas Giorgio was only steel.” Danesin also reiterated that the Quattroporte’s performance was insufficient in its previous form, highlighting problems with weight and range. He told Autocar:…
Blackstone to buy Britishvolt battery factory site for huge data centre
Britishvolt aimed to secure funding for battery R&D and manufacturing businesses in the UK Close News 2 mins read 15 April 2024 Plans initially set out by failed start-up Britishvolt to build £3.8 billion electric car battery gigafactory in the…
Maserati Grancabrio Folgore arrives as 751bhp drop-top EV
Maserati has partially lifted the veil on the new Grancabrio Folgore, a soft-roofed electric GT promising to meld high-performance thrills with a tranquil open-air driving experience. The Folgore, Italian for lightning, swaps its combustion-engined sibling’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 for the…
BMW X3 prototype drive
Major overhaul in every department for Munich’s best-selling model BMW’s recent unveiling of the Neue Klasse X concept showed us how the BMW iX3 is set to radically progress in 2025. The heavy focus on the electric SUV doesn’t mean…
Welcome to the weird world of the 1970s microcar
But the Willam beckons. Registered in 1976, it is, claims Barrett, the only road-legal Willam Cyclo in the world – which might explain why she was recently offered £20,000 for it, an offer she declined. I squeeze in behind the…
Best of a dying breed: Ford, Lexus and Jaguar V8 showdown
The walkers, cyclists and assorted day-tripping visitors of the Peak District should have no trouble hearing us coming. It’s an early July day in the middle of the working week (and, yes, this does count as work, although I never…
Abarth reveals retro sports coupe based on Alfa Romeo 4C
Abarth has revealed a retro two-seat sports coupé to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Called the Abarth Classiche 1300 OT, it’s based on the Alfa Romeo 4C and is described as a ‘modern reinterpretation’ of the 1965 Fiat-Abarth OT 1300 race…
Omoda E5 prototype review | Autocar
The Omoda E5 is intended to have a rather upmarket feel, and Hyundai and Kia are a particular target. However, there is a whiff of tackiness to the trim in our top-spec Noble prototype test car. Small details like the…
Avatr to Zeekr: Every new car at the 2024 Beijing motor show
It’s expected to be offered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid in various global markets, with a digital instrument cluster and large central infotainment screen hinting at a more premium focus. GWM Ora 07 Ora’s second UK model wears a swooping, retro-inspired…
Which car glass cleaner is best?
NAME Armor All Glass Cleaner Price £6.00 (500ml) Buy from Amazon Price per litre? £12.00 If you don’t mind the rather chemically smell, the Armor All does a decent job even on very dirty exterior glass, as well as on…
What are the best first cars for enthusiasts?
3. Fiat Panda 100HP Picture a Fiat Panda driver and you’ll probably think of a jolly pensioner on their way to pick up the week’s milk and bread. But your nan’s shopping cart this is not. In true hot hatch…
Mercedes-Benz EQS gains new face and 511-mile range
The Mercedes-Benz EQS electric saloon has gained an extra 51 miles of range and a new front-end design echoing the firm’s traditional radiator grille as part of a range of major upgrades. The BMW i7 rival will also receive a host of interior updates,…
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Review (2024)
Though it’s perhaps not quite as impressive as how it accelerates, the Turbo GT does a remarkably good job of carrying and disguising its weight when cornering, which it does with amazingly level body control, intuitively weighted and communicative steering,…
Inside Japfest: Why Japanese cars are still loved by UK tuners
Modifying – fixing, improving, making more obnoxious – cars in the UK has been alive and well since, basically, the invention of the cars. The first Japanese car sold in the UK came in 1965. But it took another 15-20…
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N primed as performance brand’s second EV
Hyundai’s N division is putting the finishing touches to a hot new version of the Ioniq 6 saloon, which will bring Porsche Taycan levels of performance and dynamic agility honed on the racetrack. Hyundai N’s second electric car, following the…
New Vauxhall Frontera is chunky, electric Crossland replacement
The Vauxhall Frontera has been revived as a chunky family SUV to replace the Crossland, with the option of petrol or pure-electric power. Understood to be a close relation to the upcoming second-generation Citroën C3 Aircross – and expected to…
The best cars to modify – that you wouldn’t expect
5. BMW 3 Series Compact The third-generation BMW 3 Series, better known as the E36, spawned a curious short-tailed version called the Compact. Up front however, it was all regular 3 Series, meaning there’s room for one of BMW’s signature…
BMW X5 2024 long-term test
Conspicuous consumption with a conscience: is it really possible? It’s time to find out Why we ran it: To find out if this revised plug-in hybrid luxury SUV could offer the best of both Month 1 – Month 2 – Month 3 –…
How to buy a sub-£40,000 Ferrari
We set out to find the cheapest Ferrari and Porsche and ended up inspecting these two Always wanted an Ferrari or Porsche but never had the funds? Richard Bremner has the answers Depreciation: it can be as much a friend…
Like father, like son: Porsche 911 meets legendary 356
But I can tell you it rides well, deftly and softly, because on generous tyres and weighing around 700kg (it’s hard to discern the precise figure from historical records), it doesn’t need to be overtly stiff. Besides, nobody thought to…
What does ‘enough car’ really look like?
‘Smaller, fewer, lighter, shorter, beauty’ is a Suzuki corporate philosophy that pertains to the company’s compact cars, like the new-generation Swift that I recently drove. Obviously they say it in Japanese (‘sho-sho-kei-tan-bi’), but the mindset translates to the Swift being…
Report: Tesla Model 2 scrapped in favour of robotaxis
Tesla has scrapped plans for a new ‘Model 2’ entry-level electric car, Reuters reports. The long-promised new model line, which boss Elon Musk recently suggested could enter production late next year, was tipped to come to market at less than…
Fiat 600e Review (2024) | Autocar
This car may be large by supermini class standards but, in some ways at least, you wouldn’t know it. Although it feels wider across the cabin than is typical of a car in this class, offers quite generous front-row head…
From the archive: Would you buy a Chrysler Croydon?
Model names come from many places, but one of the easiest ways to establish an image is to borrow the name of an evocative location: think Ferrari with the yachts of the Italian Riviera’s Portofino harbour, Seat with the party…
Renault Captur revamped in pursuit of small SUV sales crown
The Renault Captur has been redesigned and heavily upgraded for 2024 in a bid to propel it up the ranks of Europe’s hotly contested small SUV segment. Renault calls it “the B-segment car for living”, touting its small footprint but spacious…
Renault, Volvo Group partner on commercial EVs to be ‘Tesla of vans’
He also suggested that Flexis’s software platform will be capable of learning a company’s routes and factoring in charging stops, reducing the burden on drivers. All of Flexis’s vans will be based on a highly modular skateboard platform with 800V…
Top 10 best superminis 2024
3. Skoda Fabia 9 Skoda has seen a clear march upmarket in recent years, and that suits some of its models better than others. Some have got a bit too expensive, but with the latest Fabia, Skoda has nailed the balance….
Porsche K1: Electric seven-seat luxury SUV shows off radical design
Already three years in conception and planning, the K1 aims to build on the success of the Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Macan, Porsche’s two best-selling models over the past two decades. When it arrives, it will be the sixth Porsche EV after the Porsche…
New Alpine A290: electric hot hatch will be revealed on 13 June
He added that the only feature likely to translate to the four-seat production car is the Formula 1-inspired ‘OV’ button, which enables a 10-second power boost. Alpine is yet to detail the scale of this uplift, but Bonetto said “it’s…
Toyota Land Cruiser Review (2024)
Climb up into the cabin – and yes, this is one of those SUVs that require a bit of a climb and make you thankful for the side steps – and things are a magnitude more modern than in the…
Best used cars for £50,000 and under
5. Mercedes AMG GT (2014-2022) 9 Believe it or not, a few of these creep into our budget with middling mileages, full service histories, and high specifications. But choose wisely. AMGs historically let their dynamic flourishes come to life with…
Alfa Romeo Tonale Review (2024)
If the Tonale was intended as the car to save Alfa Romeo – and, let’s face it, there have been a few – you wouldn’t really know as much from a pair of electrified powertrains whose outright performance and drivability…
GT showdown: Mercedes-AMG SL 55 vs Porsche 911 GTS
It will tighten its line on the throttle (although not by you coming off it, unlike the 911) but doesn’t do so as naturally as any longitudinally engined roadster from Affalterbach should. It clings doggedly onto that feeling of stability that…
Why Chapman Bespoke is right for the times
Last week, Lotus announced a new programme called Chapman Bespoke. It promises to offer greater personalisation and unique options, right up to the production of one-off cars, for your Lotus. What would Colin Chapman, Lotus’s founder, after whom the scheme…
Gone too soon? Final drive in the pioneering Renault Zoe
There’s more. Though the essential design has been in production 12 years, a recent Zoe feels entirely modern with its LED lights, automatic dipping, automatic wipers, automatic locking and thoroughly decent phone-connected audio and nav systems. Best of all, it’s…
Mazda MX-5 Review (2024) | Autocar
The ND MX-5 is now nine years old – positively geriatric in the context of model cycles. Nevertheless, the no-nonsense interior still feels fresh. It was a huge leap compared with the NC generation, but if you’re unaccustomed to MX-5s,…
Xpeng lands in Germany ahead of UK launch later this year
Chinese electric car maker Xpeng has launched in Germany, beginning a European expansion strategy that will take it into France, Italy and the UK by the end of this year. Xpeng will begin selling the G9 SUV and P7 saloon in Germany…
2024 BTCC race season to be streamed live via TikTok
The 2024 season of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) will be streamed live via TikTok, in a move designed to bring the UK’s popular event to a new, younger audience. ITV Sport, the media outlet responsible for the coverage, has said that…
New Renault Captur to be revealed next week
Renault has confirmed that it will reveal the new Captur on 4 April. The popular compact SUV is set to follow the smaller Clio in receiving a heavy update, as Renault targets an increased share of the critical segment. Renault product…
New Toyota GR Yaris priced from £44,250 in the UK
Pricing and specification details for the updated Toyota GR Yaris have been revealed, with the high-performance hot hatch increasing in cost by more than £12,000. Prices for the Volkswagen Golf GTI rival start at £44,250 in the UK, with the Sébastien…
Geely confirms global launch plans for Galaxy premium brand
Geely has previewed its new Galaxy E5 ahead of the electric SUV’s unveiling at the Beijing motor show next month. The five-seater is the first from Geely’s new premium brand to be developed in both left- and right-hand-drive forms, said the…
Kia EV9 GT first look: 600bhp seven-seater hits the Nurburgring
The Kia EV9 GT is in the final stages of testing ahead of its launch as the Korean brand’s most powerful and expensive car yet. The GT transformation will bring more power, performance-focused chassis tweaks and angrier styling to the three-row…
New electric cars coming in 2024
Everything we know about the BMW i5 Touring BMW iX2 The second-generation version of BMW’s entry-level coupé-SUV gains an electric powertrain packing 308bhp and 364lb ft. It touts an official range of 279 miles and a maximum charging rate of…
Why Hallmark appointment is a huge coup for Aston Martin
Adrian Hallmark’s decision to join Aston Martin later this year after six high-achieving years as CEO of Bentley is just about the only move he could have made that could universally be regarded as a huge positive. Hallmark has created…
Hidden Skodas: Unlocking the brand’s secret museum room
In his role, the third-generation Velebný leads a team of five people at the depository: one engine specialist, two bodywork specialists and another two ‘hybrid’ specialists. “And me, the boss,” adds Velebný. But for him, this is much more than a…
Suzuki Swift review | Autocar
The latest Swift is a conventional small car offering and very Suzuki: light and frugal, with a strong list of equipment and keenly priced. Although small cars’ share of the overall UK market has shrunk from 20% to 15%, “the B-segment is important and…
12 hours in a Porsche Cayenne V8: is an SUV really the best GT?
13.00: Arrive in Northumberland. Weather is biblically wet now. Settle down to some work. 19.00: Flick through news app. Twitter. Dinner, Merlot, bed. Day two: 07.00. Northumberland. Disable phone alarm, flick through news app. Twitter. Shower, change, get in car. No…
Nissan Juke Review (2024) | Autocar
The quirkiness and sense of fun of the original Juke’s interior design was toned down a little for the Mk2 version and it was augmented by a pretty clear effort to add some richer material and technological allure. There’s still…
Volkswagen ID 7
Volkswagen gears up to finally go Tesla-hunting with its first all-electric saloon, the ID 7 Car makers have typically deployed big and expensive saloons in order to make a statement, and this is no different in the case of the…
Volkswagen Touareg Review (2024) | Autocar
The Black Edition’s 3.0-litre V6 diesel, in midfield 282bhp spec, felt very much in tune with the Touareg’s size and weight and suited the car exceptionally well. Also boasting 442lb ft torque there is more than enough punch and more. Only at lower speeds…
Volkswagen ID Buzz GTX is warmed-up 335bhp electric MPV
The retro-styled Volkswagen ID Buzz has become the latest model to gain a warmed-up GTX variant, with the new range-topper arriving with a dual-motor powertrain and sporty exterior design. Set to launch in the second half of 2024, the ID…
New Ford Tourneo Connect PHEV boasts 68-mile EV range
Ford has added a plug-in hybrid powertrain to the Tourneo Connect MPV, touting a 68-mile electric-only range – one of the longest of any PHEV on sale today. The powertrain takes after that of the larger Tourneo Custom in featuring a…
Ex-Jaguar design boss creates unique EV for wheelchair users
The eVita isn’t immediately destined for production but rather serves as a call to action for the industry to better consider the needs of disabled users in the transition to EVs. Motability CEO Andrew Miller said: “Collaboration is key to making…
New entry-level Mercedes-AMG GT 43 gets 416bhp four-pot
Mercedes-AMG has unveiled an entry-level version of its GT sports car, dubbed the GT 43, which is said to offer greater agility. It swaps the GT 63’s snarling 577bhp 4.0-litre V8 for the mild-hybrid 2.0-litre turbo four-pot from the AMG A45, which puts…
First Bentley EV pushed back to 2026 in favour of new PHEVs
Bentley has revised its launch plans, investing more into plug-in hybrids and delaying its first EV to late 2026. The British luxury brand’s first EV had been due in 2025 as the first of five new EVs due at a rate…
Audi Q6 E-tron brings 388 miles of range and up to 510bhp
Do you have to balance the new technology with a design that will be familiar to customers? “We have a clear strategy for our E-tron models, which we respect – but you also have to do the next step. Looking…
Audi SQ8 E-tron 2024 long-term test
Efficiency is definitely an issue in the SQ8 E-tron, but let’s start with the good stuff. Find the right rapid charger and the battery can certainly charge quickly. If you’ve just stopped for a tickle of power and leave most…
Maserati Grecale Folgore Review (2024)
Adaptive air suspension comes as standard and has been specially tweaked to make up for the weight of the battery. Predictably, that means it’s a whole lot stiffer than the relatively soft petrol versions. That’s a good thing when it…
Aero testing the new Ariel Atom 4R in Catesby tunnel
The idea was that Prior and I – plus Ariel’s own technical expert, Kelvin Marshall – would do a series of coastdown tests in the tunnel, with and without screen, accelerating to 60mph, then coasting in neutral to 20mph and…
On the scene at the M25 closure: did it really cause traffic chaos?
I hop off the train at Byfleet & New Haw, about half a mile north of the diversion route, and head for the A245, expecting it to be transformed into a car park. Cut down the alley, head down the…
Why UK speed limits are confusing for pick-up drivers
Well, this is a little embarrassing. When I previously suggested that all drivers should be regularly reminded of their responsibilities on the road, reader Phil Townsend wrote to suggest that I ought not to be overtaking cars doing 60mph on…
Mazda 2 Hybrid Review (2024)
If you saw the previous 2 Hybrid on a Mazda forecourt, it immediately stood out from its stable-mates. “I wouldn’t call it a black sheep, but it didn’t fit the line-up,” says Stenuit. So the goal for this revamp was…
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV | Autocar
The EQS SUV’s unusual shape and silhouette have a profound effect on the car’s cabin. Naturally, the space inside is vast, but we will get to that in due course. The first thing you notice is the rather odd view…
Yangwang U5 Review (2024) | Autocar
The U8 is not a cute kitten, looking more like a cross between a Land Rover Defender and the Kia EV9’s evil twin. What it is instead is a collection of all the gimmicks your heart could possibly desire. Aside…
Skoda Superb Review (2024) | Autocar
Inside? Well, let’s start with the rear, because a voluminous boot has been front and centre of the Superb’s appeal and that’s no different this time. Luggage capacity with seats in place is 690 litres, up 30 litres from before….
Car design legend Marcello Gandini dies at 85
Legendary car designer Marcello Gandini, who shaped some of the best known and most revered Italian cars of all time, has died at the age of 85. The Turin native, widely recognised as one of the most prolific and influential…
How to SORN your car
You don’t always need to keep your car road-ready, but if you’re not using your car for an extended period, you’ll need to know how to SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) your car. Many drivers SORN their cars if they’re…
New Maserati Grecale Folgore goes on sale from £109,905
The Maserati Grecale Folgore has gone on sale, priced from £109,905, and will arrive in dealerships in June as one of six new Maserati EVs due by 2025. The Italian brand’s first electric car to go on sale, the mid-sized SUV will…
Porsche 911 hybrid confirmed for summer 2024
Among the possibilities for the more sporting 911 models is a new 3.6-litre version of the classic six-cylinder Porsche engine, running a single variable-vane turbo – an engine that, insiders suggest, will form the basis of the next-generation 911’s powertrain…
Dealers told to prepare for used ICE car supply to drop 69% by 2028
Close 5 mins read 11 March 2024 The volume of ICE cars entering the used car market is set to decline by as much as 69% by 2028 as car makers prioritise EV sales to hit government-legislated targets. This forecast, from Cox Automotive,…
Smart #1 2024 long-term test
So well, indeed, that Smart recently announced a new entry-level #1 Pro model with a smaller (49kWh) battery and fewer features. Our car is the Premium, the top trim available before you hit the speed-crazed Brabus, which adds a second…
Used Renault Mégane 2016-2022 review
This car’s interior represented a huge improvement over its predecessor. Renault, however, did not cure its every quirk and shortcoming in one fell swoop, so there’s still a mixed story to report. But overall, the car can be considered pleasant, usable and…
Movie star cars: How much is product placement worth to makers?
“Manufacturers will do some pre-release awareness-raising – whether print media, online, digital or heavily targeted towards the customer database – for three weeks before the movie release and several weeks afterwards. “This often goes through a specialist agency like ours….
Crossing the Finnish line: New Toyota GR Yaris driven on ice
Unlike Rally1, with its bespoke spaceframe machines, Rally2 is a customer category with a price cap and strict rules ensuring that cars are based on production examples – so the developments on the road-going GR Yaris really help make this…
Posh rental cars: do you really get more for your money?
While Avis Prestige is the name above the door, the company actually providing and operating the cars is called Miles & Miles. Founded in London in 1953, it claims to be the capital’s oldest independent car rental company. The head…
Top 10 best pick-up trucks 2024
Still, if you’re after a truck with more than a sheen of car-like appeal and cabin quality, the Amarok takes some beating. Save money with new Amarok deals from What Car? Pros: Value for money, loadbed flexibility, cabin space Cons: Few…
Why audio engineers prefer combustion cars to EVs
Sound quality is something we may not notice until it’s not so good. Audio system manufacturers, and especially those making high-end systems, have faced difficulties in achieving decent-quality sound inside cars for years. In-car acoustics aren’t great, there are background…
Rivian shocks with hot electric crossover at R2 unveiling
The two battery packs – which are claimed to have a greater energy density than that used in the existing R1T pick-up and R1S SUV – will be capable of recharging from 10-80% in less than 30 minutes. All versions…
From the archive: Exploring the lost car industry of Zimbabwe
As the world rebuilt from the ruins of war, economic miracles occurred in nations both victorious and defeated. Among them was one that few know about today: the Central African Federation (CAF), founded in 1953. Large reserves of gold, asbestos,…
KGM Torres Review (2024) | Autocar
There’s a sleek wraparound digital panel atop the dashboard, which looks suitably classy and speaks volumes to KGM’s designs on establishing itself at the upper end of the ‘value’ car market, as do the copper-effect trim panels. But the premium…
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep. 78)
Episode 78 of the Autocar podcast My Week In Cars finds our resident car hacks Steve Cropley and Matt Prior talking about spending days in many electric cars, commercial vehicle speed limits, news from the Geneva show and much else besides,…
Volkswagen Passat Review (2024) | Autocar
A standard electronic tailgate function makes accessing the boot easy, and a low loading lip and a flat boot floor further contribute to its outstanding practicality. The Passat now exudes a more upmarket feel than at any time in its long…
Ford Ranger Raptor 2024 long-term test
In other markets (such as Australia, where it was largely developed, this engine is allowed to make 392bhp, but for the UK, where we have petrol particulate filters and EU regulations to skirt around, it’s limited to 288bhp. That’s enough…
Used Vauxhall Astra GTC VXR 2012-2015 review
Trundle away from rest in this car and perhaps the most striking thing about its dynamics is how deftly it rides. Okay, it can’t rival a Mercedes S-Class or anything, but you would be pushed to criticise a car rolling on 245/35…
Porsche: Taycan and electric Panamera can co-exist
Porsche has just revealed an extensively overhauled version of its Taycan EV but already thoughts are turning to what a successor could look like, with the brand committed to retaining the name well into the future. Speaking to Autocar at…
Reports: Nissan in talks over £316m Fisker lifeline
Nissan is reportedly in talks to invest $400 million (£316m) in ailing electric car start-up Fisker. Fisker yesterday announced it has paused development of its affordable compact EV, the Pear, having made a loss of $463.6m (£366m) during the fourth quarter of 2023. CEO…
Suzuki Jimny 5 door review: what exactly are we missing out on?
There’s a bit of modern technology, too, in the form of a 9.0in touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although it can be a bit tricky at times to hit the right icon. That’s partly because the 5-Door…
Should UK motorists have to take driving licence refresher courses?
On the whole, I don’t like telling people what to do. Where governments have a clear choice about whether to interfere in people’s lives or not, I usually think they shouldn’t. Overreach is tiresome and we will probably get along…
Future of Apple CarPlay: why tech giant is now working with car firms
For Aston Martin, the position is slightly different. Aston Martin is an exclusive brand, but the native infotainment experience is built on an outdated Mercedes system. In recent cars, there has been a disconnect between the brand and the user…
Mercedes-Benz V-Class Review (2024) | Autocar
As for the camper Marco Polo, it is available in two trim levels also. The entry-level Sport model comes with all the equipment that a standard V-Class benefits from plus the addition of two seater luxury sofa bed, three-zone climate…
Lucid aims for electric cars to achieve 6.2 miles per kWh
Lucid boss Peter Rawlinson has said improving the efficiency of electric cars so they can travel 10km (6.2 miles) per kWh is the “holy grail” that will ensure that EVs will help to “save the planet”. The result of this…
Official: Bugatti Chiron replacement to swap W16 engine for V16
Bugatti’s next hypercar will use a mammoth V16 engine, the company has confirmed. Announcing that the new hypercar will be revealed in full in June, Bugatti has revealed that it will swap from the W16 engine used by the Chiron and…
New Renault 4 to be “Swiss army knife” of small SUVs
While the new 4 E-Tech is likely to ride softly, it won’t have to cope with the extremes of body roll of the legendary original, engineers say. Today’s sophisticated suspension – and especially the new multi-link rear suspension – means…
Lagonda “completely dead” as Aston Martin focuses on sports cars
High levels of personalisation have pushed the average price of an Aston Martin to a record £213,000, but the firm has no plans to branch out into the luxury car market. The company had to planned to launch luxury cars under previous…
Audi toys with new shapes and sounds for electric TT
Audi is in an “intense concept phase” for the electric successor to the TT, experimenting with different silhouettes and soundtracks as it plots a replacement for the popular sports coupé, which retired last year. Set to be introduced “within five…
Editor’s letter: 2024 Geneva motor show was small but worthy
The 2024 Geneva motor show provided a classic case of being able to hold two conflicting opinions and believe both to be true. You can call the show poor – although perhaps not the “pathetic” that one car maker did in private – yet…
Best used cars for £25,000 and under
Not to create the wrong impression: it’s still a Mercedes C-Class, which is to say you can use it every day. But because it was developed to rival the E92 BMW M3, it’s a C-Class with a 6.2-litre atmospheric V8 that hurls…
Facelifted Mercedes EQS gets traditional grille and uprated battery
Mercedes-Benz will offer a traditional grille on its EQS electric limousine as part of a wider overhaul designed to reverse a sales slump for the flagship EV. The Mercedes EQS will be offered with either a newly designed conventional grille with…
Rugged new Jeep Avenger 4xe adds hybrid power and 4WD
The Jeep Avenger has received a rugged new 4xe range-topper which adds the option of hybrid power and four-wheel drive for the first time. The Avenger launched as a pure EV in mid-2023 and a cheaper pure-petrol variant was added…
How to fine-tune a Porsche 911 GT3 RS on the fly
Porsche’s chassis controls can make life easier for inveterate track-day nerds We take advantage of the GT3 RS’s chassis adjustability, offering a world of configuration – is it worth the hassle? It’s at 160mph on Hangar Straight that my internal…
How Chinese engineering will affect the European car industry
I’ve got a new Chinese-brand stereo amplifier at home. There’s probably company in which one wouldn’t admit that, but I did have a (very old) British-brand amp before, talking to a couple of (very old) British-brand speakers. Then the amp…
Leaked: Early look at new Renault 5 before Monday debut
The 5 is being developed to be the most fun small electric car to drive, according to Renault boss Luca de Meo and his fellow company executives. “The Renault 5 is the car that everybody wants. It’s a legend that inspired…
Car of the Year 2024: every nominee detailed
We get under the skin of the shortlisted Car of the Year candidates Welcome to an Autocar group test designed by committee. If we had it solely our way, you would be about to read a group test between the…
Mercedes-Benz to continue combustion car sales “well into 2030s”
Mercedes-Benz will continue to sell combustion-engined cars “well into the 2030s” as it adjusts to changing demand for its electric vehicles, the company’s CEO has said. Mercedes announced in 2021 that it planned to become all-electric “wherever market conditions allow” by 2030. …
Kimera Evo38 is spiritual successor to legendary Lancia 037
The Kimera Evo38 has been revealed as a vision of “what would have been” if the legendary, WRC-winning Lancia 037 had continued being developed beyond 1992, rather than retired. It’s an evolution of the Italian firm’s debut model, the Evo37,…
Top 10 best sports cars 2024
Yes, its cabin has plenty of ergonomic quirks and it still lags behind the best for perceived quality, but we can’t help but feel grateful that a car like the Corvette exists at all, and in right-hand-drive form to boot. It’s…
Volkswagen Tiguan Review (2024) | Autocar
The centrepiece of the totally overhauled cockpit is a new infotainment system, running through either a 12.9in or massive 15.0in touchscreen – the latter of which you could say is a mite intrusive on your field of vision and slightly at…
Porsche Cayenne Review (2024) | Autocar
With a wealth of engineering changes underneath and visual updates to the body and interior, this Porsche Cayenne facelift isn’t one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it surgeries. The new LED matrix headlights are easy to spot (and, if you like, you can…
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep. 76)
Episode 76 of the Autocar podcast My Week In Cars finds our resident car hacks Steve Cropley and Matt Prior spotting an Aston Valour in the wild, recommending Toyota Corollas (and Renault Zoes), talking Chinese brands and the upcoming Geneva…
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New Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid gets 536bhp, 59-mile EV range
The new Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid has been revealed with shorter charging times and a longer electric-only range than its predecessor – and it’s quicker off the mark than the BMW M3. Available to order now from £90,300, the new plug-in hybrid is the…
Volkswagen ID 7 Tourer electric estate brings 426-mile range
The Volkswagen ID 7 Tourer has broken cover as a sleek electric estate which the German firm hopes will broaden the appeal of its flagship EV and solidify its position in the executive market. Described as the “electric all-rounder of…
How the Czinger 21C will change car manufacturing for good
Component design goes from around 18 months to a matter of weeks, according to Lukas, and there’s no conventional prototyping process to factor in, so “as soon as that design is done, your part is typically right first time”. Furthermore,…
Skoda Scala Review (2024) | Autocar
In a similar vein to its exterior, the supposedly new-age design of the Scala’s cabin doesn’t represent a big departure from what we’ve come to expect from Skoda. Functionality and convenience continue to be prioritised, however, and they are epitomised by…
Inside Meyers Manx: the most fun car company in the world?
Clearly, the demand is there, given the first two years of production are spoken for already, with more than 2000 deposits taken. Plus, hints Potiker, the inherent characteristics of an EV powertrain could even be a boon in the context…
Will phone payments make car park machines obsolete?
Prior discusses Autocar’s research that found that 83% of motorists would use a machine over apps Autocar research has found that 83% of motorists would prefer to use cash or contactless payment machines in car parks over smartphone apps. Feedback…
Volvo XC40 Review (2024) | Autocar
The XC40’s interior design was perhaps less bold and adventurous than that of its exterior. Nevertheless, applying the same themes that brought us the lounge-like cabins of the Volvo XC90, Volvo XC60 and Volvo V90 to a class whose last…
Best cars for £15,000 and under
This budget gives you access to Dusters that are just a couple of years old, so this has the potential to be one of the most sensible financial decisions you can make. With seating for five and a compelling, chunky…
Range Rover Sport review | Autocar
Push harder on the road and some of that sense of dynamic sophistication can ebb away a little, the car’s electronic stability controls seeming peculiarly underdeveloped by JLR’s typically high standards (see ‘Track notes’). But generally, it is precisely that…
Peugeot 3008 Review (2024) | Autocar
Visually, the 3008 and e-3008 are as good as identical. The only changes other than that ‘E’ badge in front of the 3008 on the bootlid are that the wheel arches are slightly less flared on the hybrid, and they…
Nissan Juke revamped with bigger touchscreen and improved quality
The touchscreen has been increased from 8.0in in diameter to 12.3in as standard, with revised menus aimed at making it more intuitive to use and new customisable widgets added for access to the most commonly used functions. The screen is also…
Official: Lancia Ypsilon reborn as EV supermini with 250-mile range
Lancia announced that the EV hatchback will offer a range of 403km (250 miles). This means it uses the same 51kWh battery as the Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric, resulting in a 0-62mph time of 8.2sec and a top speed of 93mph. It also…
Chrysler previews electric cars with radical super-saloon
Its rakish, low-slung silhouette was obviously conceived with an stringent focus on aerodynamic efficiency – enhanced by the integration of a huge front scoop that passes through the front of the car to smooth airflow. This large vent, Chrysler highlighted,…
Pick-ups face huge tax hike as they lose commercial vehicle status
Double-cab pick-up trucks are set to lose their status as commercial vehicles when it comes to paying company car tax. Massive changes to the benefit-in-kind (BIK) rules will mean that company car drivers will face a near-fivefold increase in personal tax bills…
Audi S3 prototype drive | Autocar
Then there’s a new mode, named Dynamic Plus, which gives a faster idle speed (1300rpm, compared with 1100rpm), shorter shifts and a more direct throttle response. It also sends as much drive torque as physics allows to the rear axle…
New Audi RS5 estate set to rival AMG C63 with hybrid V6
Saloon and Avant estate bodystyles will be offered for the standard A5, with each unlikely to grow in size compared with the current A4. For reference, it stretches to 4772mm in length, 1847mm in width and 1435mm in height. Only…
New Aston Martin Vantage brings 656bhp V8 and new interior
The aluminium chassis has been extensively revised as well, in the name of improved rigidity and engagement. The front cross-member has been moved rearwards to make the front suspension mounting points more rigid, for example, and the new engine bay…
New Porsche Taycan first drive: real-world range test
All Taycans now get air suspension as standard for improved ride quality, and there’s an optional Active Ride system that is promised to all but eliminate roll, dive and squat under the obscene loads that will be put on each…
Matt Prior: Not all cars were better “back in the day”
But I also think it’s easy to forget that, for example, a late-1990s Daewoo Lanos was unspeakably bad in a way that we don’t have to tolerate today. It’s not the quality of today’s cars that underwhelms me but rather…
Super-GT mega test: Aston Martin vs Ferrari vs Maserati
The DB12 is bigger and wider and more chiselled in its muscular features but no less evocatively proportioned – handsome, perhaps, rather than pretty. For the Granturismo, however, we seem to be in tougher territory. Its proportions aren’t quite perfect….
DS to launch high-riding electric luxury saloon
New fastback is one of two new DS models that will be built at Stellantis plant in Melfi, Italy DS 9 saloon replacement is fastback EV set to feature a 400-plus-mile range and unconventional interior DS is preparing to launch…
BMW i16 is the radical i8 successor that never was
BMW designed a radical mid-engined hybrid supercar to succeed the i8 – but never put it into production. Kept secret for four years but now revealed by BMW head designer Domagoj Dukec on social media, the striking i16 could have…
Abarth 600e revealed as hot 237bhp EV crossover
Fiat performance brand Abarth has revealed the 600e electric crossover as its most powerful car yet. Based on the new Fiat 600e, it’s the second Abarth EV – after the Abarth 500e hot hatch – and the first SUV to bear the scorpion badge…
Skoda Kamiq Review (2024) | Autocar
How many clever interior features can you fit into one compact crossover vehicle? Well, courtesy of your regular Czech automotive purveyor of such things and the facelifted Skoda Kamiq, there’s now another one. In addition to the list of neat…
VW Group calls for EV incentives to accelerate UK demand
“Car manufacturers have a binding target for the proportion of zero-emission vehicles that we sell. I think it would be useful to have binding targets for infrastructure roll-out. “If you’re providing an infrastructure for the national take-up of an environmentally…
Porsche Cayenne Coupe review | Autocar
Porsche claims that the Sport Chrono-equipped Turbo E-Hybrid will crack 60mph from a standstill in 3.4sec, which is one-tenth quicker than a Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid. As with the handling, you’ll be hard-pressed to detect the shaved tenths of a second on the…
Autocar magazine 7 February: on sale now
This week in Autocar, we have all you need to know about the new Audi RS5, reveal the new Porsche Taycan, and look at a Renault redesigned with Lego. News The Audi RS4 will soon be called the RS5, bringing…
Facelifted Skoda Octavia to be revealed on 14 February
The Skoda Octavia hatchback and estate are primed to be facelifted later this month, following updates to the Kodiaq and Superb, with a debut date set for 14 February. Now the new design has been previewed by a series of sketches that reveal sleeker styling for both variants….
Mixed messaging and misinformation threatens EV transition
The government’s “mixed messaging” around the transition to electric cars threatens the UK’s prospects of meeting its transport emissions targets for 2050. That’s the verdict of a new report from the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee titled ‘EV Strategy: Rapid…
Hyundai i20 Review (2024) | Autocar
The i20’s predecessors have typically had fascias that seemed simply laid out rather than ‘designed’. It has never been a car to seem at all ‘loaded’ with technology. How quickly things can change. Some early low-spec versions have analogue gauges,…
Willys Jeep vs Range Rover: how has off-road capability changed?
The reason it’s not the ideal Range Rover is because of the PHEV element. While that is enabling us to achieve fuel economy in the mid- to high 30s, the 38.2kWh battery sits low under the chassis, thereby reducing the…
Forbidden fruits: Nissan Z vs Subaru WRX vs Toyota GR Corolla
The GR Corolla steers more sharply than the WRX and the engine responds more quickly. The TIE-fighter styling is matched by its agility and the trick centre differential allows for some very tail-happy antics. Everything about this little hatchback feels…
Why simulators are the future of engineering
This is particularly good news. Most cars aren’t fully electrified, and getting hybrid drivetrains to behave well is evidently difficult. They stop-start, they shunt between motor and engine and they can take an age to get going or change gear…
Subaru Crosstrek | Autocar
If you’re looking for the extra head room, raised vantage point and enlarged boot of a more typical mid-sized SUV, or the sleek digital technology or premium cabin quality of so many European-market rivals for that matter, you’re barking up…
New Porsche Taycan clocks 364-mile range, 332kW charging
“And at the end we think: ‘Is it useful? And how much does it cost?’ And we’re fighting about this ratio and deciding what to do. That’s an intensive process. It takes a few months.” There was no single prevailing priority…
Range Rover thefts: JLR boss wants action to tackle organised crime
He added: “The insurance industry clearly are not using the information in the data, which is a consistent series of dialogues and messages we’ve had with that industry for the last six months. They are very slow to respond to…
What Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari means for F1
An irrepressible and likable character, Vasseur has made a strong start to leading Ferrari out of its latest era of underachievement. The project remains a work in progress – but the operational errors of previous years were fewer in number…
Jaguar XE Review (2024) | Autocar
Because, while it was a little small by class standards when introduced, this car’s market positioning has crept down a market segment, while its original rivals have crept up. As we’ll explore more fully later, through model renewals and mission…
83% of motorists want to ditch parking apps
More than four in five motorists dislike using car-parking apps, according to new research by Autocar. In a survey of 1387 UK-based motorists, 83% preferred to use cash or contactless card payments to park because they do not like having…
The biggest challenges facing automotive retail in 2024 (and how to tackle them)
It offers customers consistent, transparent ‘no-haggle’ pricing and a more straightforward buying process. For manufacturers, it means increased customer data, increased customer satisfaction and reduced distribution costs and financial risk. “The agency model seemingly has several advantages for manufacturers and…
BMW M4 facelift brings more power and lower prices
Inside, the 4 Series and M4 retain their dual-screen infotainment and instrumentation displays, measuring 14.9in and 12.3in. The software has been updated from version 8.0 to 8.5, with enhanced voice controls for the climate functions. The ambient lighting has been…
First ride: New 2023 Polestar 4
Production takes place at Geely’s SEA factory in Hangzhou Bay, which uses both solar and hydroelectric power and is said to employ production techniques that reduce emissions, such as low-carbon aluminium for smelting. Fredrika Klarén, Polestar’s head of sustainability, said: “To support…
Fisker confirms ‘high-performance’ variant of Pear EV
This simplification extends to the instrumentation and infotainment, which is all displayed through a central touchscreen in similar fashion to the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, and the upcoming Volvo EX30. A large 17.1in display will be offered as…
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2006-2013) Review | Autocar
After the S-Class had been on sale in the UK for six years, Mercedes offered an impressively wide range of engines. The V6 petrol engine is good for 302bhp and can take this big car from 0-62mph in just 6.9secs….
From the archive: Ford’s French V8-powered coupé
That doing well, Ford began building a factory with a foundry for engine production in nearby Poissy. The future looked bright – until 3 September 1939, as France declared war on Germany, whose border was a stone’s throw away. A…
Volkswagen Golf R: first official pictures ahead of summer launch
Just days after revealing the new 2024 Golf, Volkswagen has shown the four-wheel-drive R hot hatch in public for the first time. The Golf range-topper was on display in prototype form – alongside the already-revealed GTI, GTE and eHybrid variants…
Why car enthusiasts love motorbikes, too
It was engineered to be only as big as it needed to be. Ariel’s Simon Saunders has designed lightweight bikes and cars. He knows the Atom doesn’t have much spare room, but said that finding “2mm in the battery box”…
Do small car drivers have an unfair reputation?
It comes, I suppose, from years of experience and conditioning. There are back-of-mind stereotypes about small cars. See a Ford Fiesta or Fiat 500? That will be a young budget-limited buyer with places to go. See a very old, very…
Lexus RZ 2024 long-term test
The many journeys that we have already shared have all been a breeze. It really is a car made for relaxed travelling, and I’ve started to pick up on the many things that Lexus has done to make that so….
Fisker Alaska electric pick-up renamed for European market
The new Fisker Alaska electric pick-up truck has been renamed for the European market, with the brand to sell the car under the ‘Fisker Kayak’ name. The pick-up is to be exported and sold in Europe following the 2023 arrival of its Fisker…
Toyota GR Yaris gains two WRC-inspired special editions
Toyota has detailed two special editions of the recently upgraded GR Yaris hot hatchback, which will go on sale in limited numbers later this year. Named the GR Yaris RZ High Performance Sébastien Ogier Edition and the GR Yaris RZ High Performance Kalle Rovanperä…
Tesla Model Y becomes first EV to top global sales charts
The Tesla Model Y has become the first EV to be crowned the world’s best-selling car, after more than 1.2 million examples were sold worldwide in 2023. The American crossover dethroned the Toyota RAV4, confining it to second place despite a rise in…
Nissan Qashqai Review (2024) | Autocar
The area where the old Qashqai particularly showed its age was in its interior, but this has generation made some big steps in this respect. That said, it’s avoided taking on digital technology for the sake of it. With a…
Alfa Romeo Milano enters final testing phase ahead of April debut
From launch, the Milano will be sold in Perfo, Veloce and limited launch-edition trims. Alfa Romeo forecasts that the Milano will account for around 40% of its global sales, but Imparato emphasised that the company is more focused on generating…
Vauxhall Frontera name returns in 2024 for Crossland replacement
Vauxhall is reviving the Frontera name for the chunky compact SUV that will replace the Crossland later this year. Due to be revealed in the coming weeks ahead of deliveries starting at the end of the year, the new Frontera…
Maserati delays launch of electric Quattroporte saloon
CEO Grasso said Maserati’s hotly anticipated Porsche Taycan rival is “unmistakably a Maserati” but also “such a disruptive design project”, suggesting it will take inspiration from the latest Granturismo and Grecale but adopt a radical new look defined by its…
Kia Sportage Review (2024) | Autocar
Kia recognised an emerging appetite for slightly more rakish ‘SUV coupés’ with the third-generation Kia Sportage back in 2010. While this car was never officially defined in those terms, the latest version is more of the same: a design-led product…
Google adds AI to Android Auto to reduce driver distraction
Google has announced that it’s bringing artificial intelligence (AI) to Android Auto in order to reduce the amount of time drivers spend looking at screens. The new functionality is expected to be rolled out later this year, with Google’s announcement placing…
Mercedes-AMG readies electric CLA 45 with 500bhp
Mercedes-AMG is developing a hot version of the new third-generation CLA, due in 2025 as an electric alternative to the fearsome CLA 45. A disguised prototype of the new AMG model caught testing in northern Sweden this week reveals several changes…
£15k heroes: What is Britain’s best cheap car?
SE Connect trim’s 15in wheels and relatively meagre tyres can be replaced by bigger ones if you insist, but I strongly suspect some of the car’s surprising ride suppleness, even refinement, would be lost. As for gadgets, this base model…
Richard Hammond on classic cars, TV, and the future of EVs
“My wife and I had just learned we were going to have a baby, so I’d swapped my much-loved Fiat Barchetta for a four-seater, a ratty old Porsche 911 SC that was permanently in danger of exploding. But I drove…
The brilliance of the Toyota GR Yaris and why ‘hooning’ is allowed
What I suspected was the case with the Toyota GR Yaris has turned out to be about right. “It’s no wonder I’ve had correspondence from people with big car collections who drive a Yaris every day,” I wrote in 2021 after spending…
Large Stellantis EVs to get 500-mile range and Hellcat power
Importantly, claimed Stellantis, the platform “enables several segment-leading capabilities” that will play to the strengths of each brand that will use it. Alfa Romeo, for example, will benefit from its “high-performance vehicle dynamics”, while Jeep can exploit its “trail-rated off-road driving” credentials. …
Mercedes-Benz to launch electric-only ‘little G’ SUV in 2026
A smaller version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class will be electric-only when it launches later in the decade. The model will be developed by Mercedes’ new specialist G division as the third model in an expanded G range, after the upcoming Mercedes EQG….
Lexus LBX wins What Car? Car of the Year
The Lexus LBX has been crowned What Car? Car of the Year for 2024. This year’s winner was announced at What Car?’s annual awards, dubbed the UK’s ‘Motoring Oscars’, held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London The 46th…
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep. 71)
Episode 71 of the Autocar podcast My Week In Cars finds our resident car hacks Steve Cropley and Matt Prior dazzled by headlights, blissfully enjoying cheap cars until a Bentley turns up, driving the fantastic new Toyota GR Yaris, listening…
Electric Ford F-150 spawns hardcore rally weapon
The Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear has been unveiled as an off-road demonstration of Ford’s electric powertrains that promises to “push the boundaries” of electric pick-ups. The one-off truck, set to make its debut at next week’s King of Hammers off-road racing event…
Ford Tourneo Courier Review (2024)
The Tourneo Courier’s not-a-van vibe is shattered somewhat when you actually step inside, because hard, scratchy plastic abound. The Puma and Ford Fiesta (RIP) are hardly leather-lined cocoons of luxury in isolation, but they are in comparison to the Courier….
Rugged new Subaru Crosstrek replaces XV for £34,290
The new Subaru Crosstrek has arrived in the UK as a replacement for the XV, bringing a design overhaul and strong focus on off-road driving. Designed for “utility and sportiness that lends itself to an active lifestyle”, the family SUV touts a series of drivetrain…
Volvo XC60 Review (2024) | Autocar
Volvo has given every reason for potential XC90 buyers to talk themselves into its more affordable relation as much of the larger car’s aesthetic appeal, usability and material quality has been ushered into the latest offering. The pair are closely…
New electric Porsche Macan to be revealed next week
However, these have been heavily reworked to boost power density and efficiency, featuring a new ‘double V’ magnet arrangement and switching from a silicon semiconductor to silicon-carbide. The latter reduces switching losses – effectively power leakage – in the motors’…
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT revealed as brand’s first EV
The concept also incorporates several new technologies not seen on conventional EVs. It features a multi-speed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting, as well as a ‘Powershot’ button, which adds a quick burst of acceleration. Dodge claims the car is equipped with…
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review (2024) | Autocar
Anyone hoping Merc’s ‘bridging model’ strategy means the E-Class’s interior stays traditional will be disappointed: our Superscreen-equipped test car is wall-to-wall display, but the MBUX system is, at least, one of the best for usability. Most of the interface is…
Ford Ranger Raptor vs Jeep Wrangler: which is best off-road?
Rather more gratifyingly, this time it’s a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6, which, even though it has been sanitised from 400bhp in Australia to 288bhp here so that it meets our emissions rules, is much more like it. Particularly as it…
What do UK motorists want from the General Election?
Labour responded on 10 October. Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said the Tories demonstrated how out of touch they were with the reality facing drivers. “Labour’s plan means action on unfair petrol and car insurance costs, removing barriers so infrastructure…
Matt Prior: why electric SUVs will rewrite the off-road rulebook
I’m intrigued by James Attwood’s recent drive of the Audi Q8 E-tron Edition Dakar. It’s a car that at once could be easily dismissed as an expensive folly: only a few will be a few made, it costs some £20,000…
China’s Changan to launch Deepal off-roader in the UK
Chinese manufacturer Changan will launch its Deepal brand in the UK with a new 4×4, company officials have confirmed. The new Deepal G318 is the latest in a number of dedicated off-roaders from Chinese firms including BYD, Chery and Great Wall Motor….
Lexus hints at high-performance LBX with Morizo RR Concept
Lexus has unveiled a high-performance version of the new LBX crossover at the Tokyo motor show. Called the Morizo RR Concept, it swaps the LBX’s 134bhp 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain for the G16E-GTS engine from the Toyota GR Yaris. Mated to a…
Toyota Corolla Review (2024) | Autocar
What does the word ‘quality’ mean to you? When talking about the interior of a BMW or Range Rover, it’s often taken to refer to how subjectively ‘nice’ the materials feel. If that is your priority, the Corolla is not…
Volkswagen ID 3 hot hatch due as electric Golf GTI alternative
Volkswagen is preparing to launch a 282bhp hot version of the ID 3 that will serve as an electric equivalent to the Golf GTI. The electric hot hatchback builds on plans first aired by Volkswagen with the unveiling of the…
BMW Munich plant to cease ICE car production in 2027
The BMW plant in Munich will produce only electric cars from 2027, following a €650 million (£560m) investment to expand and upgrade the 102-year-old site. The German firm has confirmed that it will produce the first of its radical new Neue Klasse EVs –…
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep. 70)
Episode 70 of the Autocar podcast My Week In Cars finds our resident car hacks Steve Cropley and Matt Prior talking about Bicester Heritage’s first Scramble of the year, the Brooklands Museum’s new year’s day meeting, the disappointing Ford Kuga,…
UK fuel prices: supermarkets taking unfair share
What determines the price of fuel? The price of petrol and diesel you buy at the pump is largely determined by the wholesale price of Brent crude oil. Fluctuations in the price of this, however, can take weeks to filter…
Best selling cars in the UK 2022
Read our Vauxhall Corsa review 4 Kia Sportage – 36,135 units Consistency is key for the Kia Sportage, which entered its fifth generation at the tail end of 2022. The SUV was once again a smash hit for Kia in 2023,…
UK car sales hit highest level since pandemic in 2023
The UK had its best year for car sales since the pandemic in 2023, as more than 1.9 million were registered, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Growth of 289,000 over 2022’s 30-year low of 1.6 million…
Car tax: everything you need to know about vehicle excise duty
All cars pay the same flat rate from the second year and beyond, but cars with a list price of more than £40,000 pay a premium, called ‘expensive car supplement’, from years two to six of registration. This additional cost…
Top 10 best sports SUVs 2024
Cons: Can’t match the Porsche in the corners, firm and noisy ride The GLC 63 Coupe’s biggest enemy is its five-door sibling because that car offers the same performance from the same intoxicating V8 engine. But if you’re smitten by the…
The Fastest Ever Nürburgring Lap Times 2021
6 – Radical SR8LM – 6:48:28 The Radical SR8LM had held the lap record since 2009, when it lapped in just 6min 48sec in the hands of Michael Vergers, until it was dislodged by the Porsche GT2 RS. The king may…
Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar Review (2024)
But before you plan that expedition to Saudi Arabia (home to the Dakar Rally, because who needs geography?), don’t expect the Q8 e-tron Dakar to offer off-road ability to match a Toyota Land Cruiser or Jeep Wrangler. Instead, Audi has…
New Porsche Taycan eclipses Tesla Model S Nürburgring time
A new range-topping version of the Porsche Taycan has beaten the Tesla Model S Plaid around the Nurburgring by a blistering 28sec. It becomes one of the fastest Porsches around the fabled circuit, posting a time of 7min 7sec. Arriving later…