Author: autocar.co.uk

This post was originally published on Autocar Electric SUV is described as the “pinnacle” of the Geely-owned brand; will arrive late this year German tuner Brabus has got it hands on the new Smart #5 SUV, pumping it with 637bhp and giving it the acceleration to match a Range Rover Sport SV. The flagship variant of the… Continue reading Smart #5 Brabus is 637bhp SUV with Range Rover Sport SV pace

This post was originally published on Autocar Can the MINI Countryman stake a claim to being the perfect family car? We certainly think so… Space, practicality, comfort, safety… the perfect family car needs to tick many boxes, but we think the all-electric MINI Countryman might just fit the brief Finding the perfect family car is… Continue reading All-electric MINI Countryman: 7 reasons it’s the perfect family car

This post was originally published on Autocar These are the best EVs on sale in the UK today in our view – each with its own trump card Electric cars have come a long way over the past few years, and improvements across the board mean they’re a more viable ownership option than ever before. Choosing… Continue reading The best electric cars – driven, rated and ranked

This post was originally published on Autocar New hybrid powertrain can be specified in combination with blue-themed Azure trim Luxury coupé and saloon gain a lower-powered PHEV set-up – but it still provides supercar pace Bentley has introduced a second plug-in hybrid V8 option to the Continental GT and Flying Spur, with enough power to… Continue reading Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur gain 671bhp PHEV V8

This post was originally published on Autocar New rear-wheel-drive model brings EV’s price down to £82,660 while boosting range to 380 miles The Volvo EX90 has gained a single-motor variant that trims the electric SUV‘s starting price by nearly £14,000. Available to order now from £82,660, the new Single Motor variant adds a rear-wheel-drive option to the EX90… Continue reading New single-motor Volvo EX90 shaves £14k off SUV's starting price

This post was originally published on Autocar Cross Country sits 19mm higher than regular EX30 and rides on all-terrain tyres Rugged variant of Volvo’s smallest car becomes the first SUV or EV to wear its Cross Country badge The Volvo EX30 has spawned a jacked-up, off-road-focused model that has become the first EV and the… Continue reading Volvo EX30 Cross Country goes on sale at £47,060

This post was originally published on Autocar New grille mirrors that fitted to the XC90 Brand’s best-selling SUV gets a further update ahead of the arrival of its electric sibling, the EX60 The updated Volvo XC60 has gone on sale, priced from £49,240, as the Swedish brand bids to maintain the appeal of its best-selling model. The range tops out… Continue reading Volvo XC60 gets refreshed look and upgraded interior for £49,240

This post was originally published on Autocar With such a wild variety of cars, the race is just organised bedlam Think of endurance racing and your mind probably turns to the World Endurance Championship, in which bespoke hypercars rub wings with some of the world’s ultimate sports cars. It makes for stellar viewing but, given… Continue reading Forget WEC – Super Taikyu is way cooler

This post was originally published on Autocar Blue Oval to give all EV buyers free home chargers as it aims to remove concerns about EV switch Ford UK believes the launch of the new Puma Electric can prompt buyers of its existing vehicles to make the switch to electric, and is launching a new range… Continue reading Ford launches EV incentives to win over buyers with new Puma

This post was originally published on Autocar The rise has been put down to keener pricing at the lower end of the market Private customers are turning towards electric cars in greater numbers than ever before in a sign that growing choice at the cheaper end of the market is persuading customers of petrol and diesel… Continue reading Private EV sales finally on the rise, thanks to cheap deals, greater choice

This post was originally published on Autocar Government brings forward changes to ZEV mandate, allowing wider variety of hybrids to remain on sale until 2035 Banning the sale of hybrid cars from 2030 would’ve been “too soon”, the prime minister has said, as his government confirmed they can remain on sale until 2035 as part of a… Continue reading Banning hybrids from 2030 would have been 'too soon', says PM

This post was originally published on Autocar The government’s zero-emission vehicle mandate is shaking up the British car market and car industry Few initiatives are more game-changing for the modern-day automotive industry than the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.   In fact, Mike Hawes, chief of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, has labeled the mandate “one… Continue reading ZEV mandate: what it is and how it will impact UK drivers

This post was originally published on Autocar Sales of the existing car have lagged well behind expectations, despite being the most powerful C-Class model to date The Mercedes-AMG C63 is set to receive a new six-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrain as part of its mid-life facelift in 2026. Confirmed to Autocar by Mercedes-AMG, the move marks a… Continue reading 2026 Mercedes-AMG C63 to drop PHEV four for new PHEV six

This post was originally published on Autocar Concept is one metre tall and mixes historic cues with technical features Ex-Jaguar designer Julian Thomson leads GM’s British design studio in imagining C9 ‘Vette General Motors has unveiled a fully finished, future-looking Chevrolet Corvette electric car concept produced entirely in Britain, to underscore the importance of its large… Continue reading Next Chevrolet Corvette to be influenced by new British concept

This post was originally published on Autocar Chunky proportions mark this out as an obvious Defender offspring First pictures confirm Autocar report that JLR is preparing chunky compact 4×4 to rival Mercedes ‘Little G’ Land Rover is gearing up to launch a long-mooted and highly anticipated ‘Baby Defender’ 4×4 as a crucial new entrant into its… Continue reading Land Rover 'Baby Defender' spotted for the first time

This post was originally published on Autocar Road testers’ habits die hard, even driving a pick-up truck in a quarry This may well say more about my own lack of reflection on the subject than anything else, but the job of a road tester seems to me to be quite particular and the skills that… Continue reading When I quit road testing, I want to be a driving instructor

This post was originally published on Autocar Where we’re going, we don’t need roads: these high-riders are capable on just about any surface If you want to climb every mountain and ford every stream, a proper rough-and-tumble vehicle is exactly what you need. The best 4x4s and off-roaders are genuinely capable, mud-plugging machines designed to tackle terrain that would… Continue reading The best 4x4s and off-road cars – driven, rated and ranked

This post was originally published on Autocar V12-engined super-GT arrives with lofty ambitions. What’s the reality? Aston Martin is seldom far from the headlines. In 2025, there is more talk of debt piles, the trimming down of the workforce and share price woes. It is enough to make you wonder if the company will ever… Continue reading Aston Martin Vanquish

This post was originally published on Autocar Chevette, launched in the UK as a Vauxhall in 1975, was merely a renosed Opel Kadett Opel produced cars on the continent while Vauxhall built cars at Luton and Ellesmere Port Stellantis’s UK boss recently reassured us that Vauxhall has a future and reaffirmed that it legitimately is a… Continue reading How Vauxhall lost its independence to Opel

This post was originally published on Autocar Inside the new FIA Extreme H World Cup racers that will give FCEV tech its most challenging test yet The hydrogen fuel cell could be one of the most highly developed and rigorously tested automotive technologies never to reach mainstream production, but that doesn’t mean it won’t. The… Continue reading This extreme off-road racing series will show what hydrogen can do

This post was originally published on Autocar Elon Musk hasn’t been doing Tesla any favours in recent weeks, with both shares and sales on the decline ‘Go woke, go broke’, goes a catchphrase beloved by below-the-line internet commenters when a company adopts a controversially progressive stance. And like so many clichés, its origins have some… Continue reading Does it matter who runs the company you buy your car from?

This post was originally published on Autocar Kevin Beresford is the president of the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society (UKRAS) Most people barely even have an opinion about roundabouts – some just can’t get enough of them Surely, if anyone knows a dull car when he sees one, Kevin Beresford does. That’s why I’ve asked the… Continue reading Going full circle: This is the UK's biggest fan of roundabouts

This post was originally published on Autocar Autocar’s Editor-at-large Matt Prior talks to Ineos CEO Lynn Calder about the 4×4 company’s future In this bonus podcast, Autocar’s Editor-at-large, Matt Prior, meets the Ineos Automotive CEO Lynn Calder. Speaking at Ineos’s Hambach factory, Calder tells Prior about the Grenadier 4×4, why its Fusilier follow-up is paused, and why running… Continue reading MWIC Bonus Episode 5: Autocar meets Ineos Automotive CEO Lynn Calder

This post was originally published on Autocar Changes to ZEV mandate set to be made next week to help car makers mitigate impact of 25% import duty The UK government is poised to relax its mandated electric car sales targets next week, in a bid to help manufacturers contend with the impact of the US’s newly… Continue reading UK government poised to relax EV targets in response to US tariffs

This post was originally published on Autocar The compact crossover, which was crowned 2024’s best-seller, leads the charts after a strong March 2024 was quite the year for the car industry. New car registrations increased by 2.6% compared with the year before, while the Ford Puma was crowned the best-seller. The Blue Oval’s small SUV… Continue reading The best-selling cars in the UK: Ford Puma leaps into the lead

This post was originally published on Autocar Sales rose 43% year on year in March as buyers raced to beat the ‘luxury tax’ on £40k-plus cars Uptake of electric cars massively increased in the UK in March, a bumper month for new car sales – but the industry has warned the growth is unsustainable without proper support… Continue reading Electric car sales boomed in UK ahead of April VED changes

This post was originally published on Autocar Algerian-born Guy Moll rose quickly from obscurity to the grand prix stage Formula 1 rookie Isack Hadjar isn’t the first Algerian driver to compete in grand prix racing Formula 1 obsessives among you might have noted that 2025 rookie Isack Hadjar is the sport’s first competitor from Algeria… Continue reading Formula 1’s forgotten North African heritage

This post was originally published on Autocar Nissan Qashqai is one of the UK’s best-selling cars New e-Power drivetrain draws on lessons from Leaf and Ariya EVs, bringing more power and better economy Nissan is leading £2 billion worth of investment into its Sunderland plant to prepare it to build the new Leaf and electric successors to… Continue reading Nissan upgrades Qashqai e-Power hybrid – and we've driven it

This post was originally published on Autocar Lotus’s traditional V6 sports car finally meets the Autocar timing gear The Lotus Emira has had a moderately tumultuous start to life. You could argue this makes it an authentic Lotus from the off, even if that probably wasn’t the intention.Back in 2017, Geely acquired a 51% stake… Continue reading Lotus Emira V6

This post was originally published on Autocar Merger with Forseven will see McLaren expand beyond mid-engined supercars Forseven has existed in the shadows – until now, as it forms the Manchester City of the car world Ten minutes and 26 seconds into our conversation, the bombshell drops: “What I can say now is that we… Continue reading Why McLaren's merger with Forseven is a watershed moment

This post was originally published on Autocar Forseven merger will bring a broader line-up, here imagined by Autocar Full interview with CEO as British firm sets its sights on dramatic expansion beyond mid-engined supercars McLaren Automotive is to merge with the start-up company Forseven in a bombshell move that will enable McLaren to expand beyond… Continue reading Exclusive: McLaren plots reinvention in full merger with Forseven

This post was originally published on Autocar Historic factory built its last ever vehicle, a Vivaro van, on 28 March 2025 Vauxhall‘s Luton factory has been sold to property firm Goodman, which will redevelop the site as an industrial park. The company said it would spend £400 million on the Bedfordshire site’s transformation and that it… Continue reading Vauxhall Luton site sold for conversion into industrial park

This post was originally published on Autocar AMG-developed roadster packs a serious punch, with its twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder engine The Mercedes-AMG SL 55 is the entry point to the eight-cylinder variants of the Mercedes-AMG SL.Its message is clear – with a revised raison d’être. The SL is going Porsche 911 hunting, and it has variety to help it.There are three V8-engined variants… Continue reading Mercedes-AMG SL 55

This post was originally published on Autocar With 335bhp and 4WD, the Elroq vRS covers 0-62mph in 5.4sec Dual-motor set-up brings 52bhp more than standard Elroq plus lower, stiffer chassis tune Skoda has given the new Elroq crossover, its smallest EV to date, the vRS hot hatch treatment. Unveiled at Milan Design Week, the Elroq… Continue reading Skoda Elroq vRS: crossover boosted to 335bhp with 4WD

This post was originally published on Autocar We crunch the numbers on the electric cars on sale today to which are the most efficient For many electric car buyers, choosing which one to buy hinges on two key factors: how much range the car has, and how efficient it is.  While many electric cars have… Continue reading The most efficient electric cars – and their real-world results

This post was originally published on Autocar Korean brand could also make its touchscreens smaller and easier to use to improve safety Hyundai will launch the first of its next-generation interiors next year – and bosses promise to keep physical buttons. The move, confirmed to Autocar by vice president of design Simon Loasby at the Seoul… Continue reading Hyundai to launch next-gen interior in 2026 – and buttons will stay

This post was originally published on Autocar New front end comprises diamond-shaped grille, thinner headlights and tooth-like running lights Tweaks to three-year-old, hybrid-powered family SUV are aimed at reducing interior noise The Renault Austral has been updated three years after its launch to bring it into line with its newer stablemates. Chief among the changes… Continue reading Renault Austral gets sharper look and refinement boost

This post was originally published on Autocar X Gran Coupé and X Gran Convertible are spawned from G90 flagship and feature unique design elements Two striking new Genesis concepts spawned from the Korean luxury brand’s G90 flagship showcase its “new chapter”. Unveiled at the Seoul motor show, the X Gran Coupé and X Gran Convertible have been created to… Continue reading Striking Genesis concepts showcase future of luxury brand

This post was originally published on Autocar Muñoz, who became head of Hyundai in January, was mobbed by reporters at the Seoul motor show José Muñoz said the US is a “very, very important market” for the brand, making up 20% of its total sales Hyundai boss José Muñoz has promised to “not raise prices”… Continue reading Hyundai won't raise prices in response to new US tariffs, says boss

This post was originally published on Autocar New Hyundai Ioniq 6 N Line previews the full-fat Ioniq 6 N coming this summer Early facelift for Hyundai’s sleek electric saloon, taking influence from wild RN22e track concept The Hyundai Ioniq 6 has lost its prominent ducktail rear wing and gained a sporty new N Line variant… Continue reading 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 update drops ducktail, gains N Line version

This post was originally published on Autocar Second-generation fuel-cell SUV gets more power, more range and more practicality, plus distinct look Hyundai has reaffirmed its commitment to hydrogen-powered cars, revealing the second generation of its Nexo fuel-cell SUV. Based on the Initium concept car shown last year, it introduces a new design language dubbed Art… Continue reading New Hyundai Nexo hydrogen SUV revealed with 435-plus-mile range

This post was originally published on Autocar As well as aggressive aero set-up, the new N car swaps a Hyundai badge for model-specific branding Electric saloon’s transformation into BMW M3 alternative brings twin spoilers and big power boost Hyundai has released the first image of its new Ioniq 6 N performance saloon ahead of a full… Continue reading First look at hot Hyundai Ioniq 6 N ahead of July reveal

This post was originally published on Autocar Exterior styling from concept (pictured) isn’t set to change dramatically for production car Revived sports coupé will be launched in 2026 with new S+ Shift system and hybrid powertrain The new Honda Prelude hybrid sports coupé has now been shown in full, following the unveiling of its interior. It draws… Continue reading Full reveal: Honda Prelude sports coupe to land this year

This post was originally published on Autocar Vision Rapida is around the same size as ’90s icons such as the Mk4 Toyota Supra Turinese university students collaborate with Italdesign to create affordable sports car for Generation Z Italdesign and the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) of Turin have revealed the Vision Rapida concept, a sports car conceived to… Continue reading IED Vision Rapida unveiled as sleek 2+2 inspired by 1990s legends

This post was originally published on Autocar You can keep your GTIs and Clubsports, the entry-level Golf is everything you need and nothing you don’t In traditionally distracting fashion, a recent meandering office chat turned to the thorny subject of the best-ever Volkswagen Golf. A shortlist was duly assembled and it was understandably filled with… Continue reading Why the entry-level Volkswagen Golf is the one you actually want

This post was originally published on Autocar Prices for the revised line-up range from £84,990 to £139,990 Realignment of EV model lines brings more choice, with new value-focused grades Lotus has introduced a new range of trim levels for its Eletre and Emeya EVs, cutting their starting prices by £5760. The entry-level Emeya and Eletre… Continue reading New trims cut Lotus Emeya, Eletre starting prices by £5760

This post was originally published on Autocar President Trump claims new levy on all cars and car parts shipped into US will create “tremendous growth” Tariffs of 25% on all foreign-made new cars imported into the US, including from the UK, went live overnight on 2 April after an announcement by US president Donald Trump. An… Continue reading US tariffs of 25% on all foreign-made cars will go ahead despite talks

This post was originally published on Autocar Rowan was a key driver behind Volvo’s push for software-defined vehicles Sources confirm to Autocar that Jim Rowan was pushed out, sending shockwaves through the industry Of all the recent CEO swaps, Volvo dropping Jim Rowan in favour of his predecessor Håkan Samuelsson provoked the most puzzled response among car industry… Continue reading Volvo CEO was pushed out as financial conditions turned stormy

This post was originally published on Autocar Mild-hybrid set-up is claimed to cut CO2 emissions by 10% compared with the regular petrol engine New version of compact crossover undercuts rival Renault Clio E-Tech and packs 108bhp The new Citroën C3 Hybrid has gone on sale in the UK, priced from £20,115. A rival for the… Continue reading New Citroen C3 Hybrid offers 56.5mpg for £20,115

This post was originally published on Autocar Key to Omoda 9’s long electric range is a new 34.4kWh battery from CATL Cut-price rival for BMW X3 and Volvo XC60 will crown Omoda’s UK line-up New Chinese marque Omoda has launched the 9 as its flagship model for the UK. Priced from £44,990 and due to… Continue reading Omoda 9 revealed as £45k hybrid with 93-mile EV range