Breaking: Mini delays EV production at Oxford

This post was originally published on Autocar Electric Cooper and Aceman models, currently built in China, were due to start rolling out of UK plant next year Electric car production at Mini’s Oxford plant has been delayed for an unconfirmed amount of time, with the worldwide slowdown of EV sales blamed. The decision was confirmed to Autocar… Continue reading Breaking: Mini delays EV production at Oxford

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Vorsprung durch Technik Live: Join Autocar for the ultimate Audi experience day

This post was originally published on Autocar Sign up today for your chance to explore the world of Audi at this exclusive hands-on event To celebrate more than five decades of Vorsprung durch Technik innovation and explore how Audi’s ever-growing range of e-tron models is changing the game for all-electric mobility, Audi and Autocar are… Continue reading Vorsprung durch Technik Live: Join Autocar for the ultimate Audi experience day

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

12,000 miles with a BMW i5: is this the ultimate electric estate?

This post was originally published on Autocar Time is up with our bells-and-whistles electric exec. How did it fare? Before this BMW i5 Touring arrived, I’d spent some time looking after a Land Rover Defender. The two are about the same price, at approximately £100,000 – and, no, I don’t know how so many people… Continue reading 12,000 miles with a BMW i5: is this the ultimate electric estate?

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Peugeot 5008

This post was originally published on Autocar Peugeot’s third-generation family hauler braves the seven-seat class with hybrid power and new interior tech Was 2024 the year of the seven-seat SUV?Kia started it off with the all-new electric EV9, Skoda followed soon after with the second generation of the Kodiaq, and both Kia (again) and Hyundai… Continue reading Peugeot 5008

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

New Tesla Model Y brings 311 miles of range for £45k

This post was originally published on Autocar Aerodynamic tweaks cut the drag coefficient to 0.22Cd, boosting range Best-selling electric SUV has been given a futuristic new look and more miles per charge The full range of trims for the facelifted Tesla Model Y has gone on sale in the UK, dropping the electric SUV’s starting price down… Continue reading New Tesla Model Y brings 311 miles of range for £45k

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Keyless entry is pointless, so why do car makers persist with it?

This post was originally published on Autocar Key card? No thanks. Digital key card? Oh, for crying out loud… This could be public enemy number one on the ever-expanding list of utterly hopeless and infuriating automotive technologies that nobody asked for. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you keyless operation. Passive keyless entry (PKE) is how it’s known… Continue reading Keyless entry is pointless, so why do car makers persist with it?

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

BMW Neue Klasse platform to reduce price of EVs and add range

This post was originally published on Autocar New Gen6 EV architecture includes slimmer batteries, more efficient motors and clever tech New electric powertrain technology will allow the BMW Group to launch electric cars at a cheaper price while offering more range and better efficiency than today’s cars, the firm has claimed. The Munich company has been working… Continue reading BMW Neue Klasse platform to reduce price of EVs and add range

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Next-generation Mini EVs could ditch front-wheel-drive set-up

This post was originally published on Autocar Switch to new BMW Group platform means future Mini models could be rear-drive Next-generation electric Minis could switch from the firm’s customary front-wheel-drive set-up to rear-drive, due to the adoption of a new BMW Group platform. The new Gen6 800V architecture, developed by Mini’s parent firm, is claimed to be a “huge leap… Continue reading Next-generation Mini EVs could ditch front-wheel-drive set-up

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

BMW says it's eight years away from needing a solid-state battery

This post was originally published on Autocar The updated BMW iX in xDrive60 guise offers the most range in the brand’s stable with 426 miles German firm claims advances in current battery technology will yield more EV range benefits in coming years BMW isn’t focussing on solid-state battery technology for the coming years, insisting there is… Continue reading BMW says it's eight years away from needing a solid-state battery

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Classic Peugeot 504 Break gets the Pikes Peak treatment

This post was originally published on Autocar The Peugeot 504 Break was introduced in 1970 and could be had with seven seats Brand’s in-house design studio presents three radical takes on the 1970s family estate The Peugeot Design Lab has given a 504 Break the Pikes Peak treatment as part of a series of radical reimaginings of… Continue reading Classic Peugeot 504 Break gets the Pikes Peak treatment

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

New Mercedes CLA to offer price parity between EV and hybrid

This post was originally published on Autocar Reductions in battery costs mean compact EVs based on new MMA platform can cost the same as the hybrids Electric and hybrid models based on Mercedes-Benz’s new MMA compact car platform will be priced at similar levels, CEO Ola Källenius has said. Mercedes will reveal the production electric version… Continue reading New Mercedes CLA to offer price parity between EV and hybrid

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Alpine A390 crossover to be revealed on 27 May

This post was originally published on Autocar Alpine’s preview image (brightened by Autocar) shows the production A390’s face Production model will feature tri-motor set-up and active torque vectoring for “lightweight” feel The Alpine A390 will be unveiled on 27 May as the French performance brand’s first electric crossover. Previewed by the A390 Beta concept that was displayed… Continue reading Alpine A390 crossover to be revealed on 27 May

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Listed: the UK's cheapest cars

This post was originally published on Autocar Despite inflation, the cost of living crisis and political uncertainty, new cars in the UK can still be reasonably cheap The cheapest new cars even just a couple of decades ago would have been sub-par, uneconomical and unreliable. In 2024, however, even the cheapest come from manufacturers with a proven… Continue reading Listed: the UK's cheapest cars

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Used Seat Ateca 2016-2020 review

This post was originally published on Autocar Is Seat’s first SUV a more appealing used buy than a Volkswagen Tiguan or Nissan Qashqai? A stylish alternative to the mightily successful Nissan Qashqai, the Seat Ateca plugged a conspicuous SUV-shaped gap in Seat’s line-up when it arrived in 2016 and helped to turn the tide for… Continue reading Used Seat Ateca 2016-2020 review

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

MG 3 gains 114bhp pure-petrol engine for £16,495

This post was originally published on Autocar New pure-petrol model is £2000 cheaper than the £18,495 hybrid (pictured) New powerplant makes one of the UK’s cheapest cars even more affordable The MG 3 has gained a pure-petrol engine that drops its starting price by £2000, making one of the UK’s cheapest cars yet more affordable. The new… Continue reading MG 3 gains 114bhp pure-petrol engine for £16,495

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Futurama: Renault Group's new strategy to reach 'Champions League'

This post was originally published on Autocar Luca de Meo’s Renaulution plan has delivered all-new line-up and dramatic profit hike CEO Luca de Meo says Renaulution plan has been a success and “now it’s time for us to open a new chapter” The Renault Group has launched a new company strategy that will have it… Continue reading Futurama: Renault Group's new strategy to reach 'Champions League'

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Mercedes-Benz tests solid-state battery with 620-mile range

This post was originally published on Autocar Pack developed by Mercedes-Benz and US-based Factorial Energy, with prototype work carried out in the UK Mercedes-Benz is testing a solid-state battery that could unlock a range of more than 620 miles on a single charge, with the first production car to use it scheduled to hit roads… Continue reading Mercedes-Benz tests solid-state battery with 620-mile range

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Industry backlash as average EV breaks luxury car tax threshold

This post was originally published on Autocar Entry-level Ford Explorer is priced from £39,875 so just avoids the ECS, but extras push it over the £40k threshold Sales of many EVs will be hit by the new application of the £3k expensive car supplement Car makers, already under pressure to sell more EVs, have expressed concern that… Continue reading Industry backlash as average EV breaks luxury car tax threshold

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

High-tech Volvo ES90 saloon to be revealed on 5 March

This post was originally published on Autocar ES90 will serve as the premium flagship in a wave of five advanced EVs New saloon will be a technological flagship, with advanced on-board computers and sensors The Volvo ES90 will be revealed on Wednesday 5 March as the brand’s most technologically advanced car to date. The company… Continue reading High-tech Volvo ES90 saloon to be revealed on 5 March

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Kia PV5 revealed: brand's first van is radical VW ID Buzz rival

This post was originally published on Autocar PV5 is targeting a relatively low starting price of €35k (equivalent to £29k) First in a line of ‘Platform Beyond Vehicles’ gets futuristic looks and MPV variant; more derivatives to come The Kia PV5 has been unveiled as the brand’s first van, conceived as a futuristic rival to… Continue reading Kia PV5 revealed: brand's first van is radical VW ID Buzz rival

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Gordon Murray Group announces new Special Vehicles arm

This post was originally published on Autocar Launch of more hardcore T50S clears the way for new bespoke commissions New division will focus on one-off models, plus highly-customised examples of the T50 and T33 The Gordon Murray Group has launched a new Special Vehicles division to accommodate demand for bespoke models. The company said the… Continue reading Gordon Murray Group announces new Special Vehicles arm

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

New Toyota fuel cells to double power and improve efficiency

This post was originally published on Autocar New stack (pictured) will improve on the 128kW output of that in the current Toyota Mirai FCEV New system, which will also be cheaper and more durable, is being readied for production from 2027 Toyota is working on a third-generation hydrogen fuel cell system that’s claimed to bring double… Continue reading New Toyota fuel cells to double power and improve efficiency

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Season launch extravaganza showed the good side of 'Netflix F1'

This post was originally published on Autocar New liveries were presented on demo cars Brash new event wasn’t to traditionalist tastes but you have to admire the ongoing growth and diversification of F1 Formula 1’s inaugural season launch event last night was, perhaps unexpectedly, a resounding success.  In the past, we’ve had weeks of unremarkable… Continue reading Season launch extravaganza showed the good side of 'Netflix F1'

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Renault mulls revival of Renaultsport performance brand

This post was originally published on Autocar Any fast Renault is “gonna be a yellow car”, de Meo said Performance-focused sub-brand was “put in the fridge” to make way for Alpine The Renaultsport sub-brand could be revived, despite the Renault Group’s focus on Alpine for performance machinery, CEO Luca de Meo has said. “Officially, the… Continue reading Renault mulls revival of Renaultsport performance brand

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

The best Chinese cars on sale in the UK – tested and rated

This post was originally published on Autocar Intrigued by a Chinese car? These are the best on the market right now The rate at which Chinese cars are improving is unprecedented. Twenty-five years ago, China was knocking out models like the Lubao CA6410 – essentially the front end of an Austin Montego mated with the rear end… Continue reading The best Chinese cars on sale in the UK – tested and rated

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Unloved Land Rovers are cooler than you might think

This post was originally published on Autocar The P38 Range Rover and Mk1 Freelander are worthy of more respect – reliability issues aside I’m quite a patriotic person, the type who will watch any sporting engagement whatsoever with an English representative. That also translates into the automotive sphere, which is why I have such a deep-seated affinity for… Continue reading Unloved Land Rovers are cooler than you might think

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.128)

This post was originally published on Autocar This week Steve Cropley drives the new Subaru Forester and Matt Prior a parking victory On this week’s My Week In Cars podcast Steve Cropley and Matt Prior talk about the new Subaru Forester and a reader’s 2001 Fiat Bravo on a road trip in New Zealand. Plus, Prior… Continue reading My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.128)

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Leapmotor T03

This post was originally published on Autocar Arch rival for the Dacia Spring takes on a more mature, equipment-laden approach Amid an unremitting sea of new, anonymously styled Chinese electric cars with equally anonymous names, the Leapmotor T03 is one with a difference.Put simply, it’s one of the cheapest electric cars on sale and is… Continue reading Leapmotor T03

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Black Badge Spectre is most powerful Rolls-Royce ever made

This post was originally published on Autocar Luxury model is first EV to get Black Badge treatment which boosts output to 650bhp The new Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre is the most powerful model in the West Sussex car maker’s history, packing up to 650bhp and 793lb ft.  Its arrival also takes the Black Badge moniker… Continue reading Black Badge Spectre is most powerful Rolls-Royce ever made

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Can high-tech displays boost feel-good factor?

This post was originally published on Autocar Continental’s new display is intended to visually enhance the vehicle interior and enable personalisation The 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas flagged up how radical car interiors might become – and sooner rather than later. Continental showed its Emotional Cockpit concept, which combines high-tech electronics with… Continue reading Can high-tech displays boost feel-good factor?

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Renault makes EV fire suppression tech open to all manufacturers

This post was originally published on Autocar Removable disc in the battery casing allows water to reach the cells in the event of a fire Fireman Access device is said to allow an EV fire to be extinguished in the same time as an ICE vehicle The Renault Group has developed a fire suppression system… Continue reading Renault makes EV fire suppression tech open to all manufacturers

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Government blocked from intervening in landmark car finance case

This post was originally published on Autocar Court of Appeal’s ruling effectively bans dealers from profiting from finance deals unless the buyer gives consent The Supreme Court has blocked chancellor Rachel Reeves from intervening in the landmark car finance case that is thought to have affected millions of buyers. The case is set to be heard… Continue reading Government blocked from intervening in landmark car finance case

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Polestar 3

This post was originally published on Autocar Polestar gets into proper luxury SUV territory while trying to stay sporty There’s an interesting circularity to the way premium car makers are now revisiting and reinventing their electric luxury SUVs. It’s six or seven years – or about a full model cycle – since the Jaguar I-Pace,… Continue reading Polestar 3

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Fiat 500 and Panda to be reborn in ground-up brand overhaul

This post was originally published on Autocar Larger SUV, fastback and possible new Punto on the way in next stage of brand’s reinvention Fiat will launch all-new versions of the 500 and Panda as the foundations for a dramatically expanded range that will enable the Italian brand to break out from its recent history as… Continue reading Fiat 500 and Panda to be reborn in ground-up brand overhaul

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Fiat was 'starving for love' – now it's got it

This post was originally published on Autocar Axing model after model stunted the brand, but chief Olivier François believes it’s back for better Felicita. The Italian word for happiness was plastered all over the launch event for the new Fiat Grande Panda, and it was certainly emanating from CEO Olivier François, who, after years of… Continue reading Fiat was 'starving for love' – now it's got it

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

MG 3 hybrid 2025 long-term test

This post was originally published on Autocar Can this hybrid compete with the best superminis? Here’s our verdict What am I, Autocar’s supermini correspondent? I’d be quite happy with that, actually, having previously run a generally fabulous Renault Clio E-Tech hybrid and then an endearingly honest petrol Dacia Sandero on our test fleet. Now I’m… Continue reading MG 3 hybrid 2025 long-term test

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

The best family cars – driven, rated and ranked

This post was originally published on Autocar From large SUVs to practical hatchbacks, family cars aren’t tied to any particular segment. We reveal the very best What’s the best family car? Answering that definitively is almost impossible, even for a title that has been steeped in all things automotive for almost 130 years.  Why? because ‘family’… Continue reading The best family cars – driven, rated and ranked

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Mazda 2 supermini axed after a decade on sale

This post was originally published on Autocar 2 Hybrid (middle) is confirmed as the direct replacement for the older model Pure-petrol and mild-hybrid hatchback is dropped in favour of newer, Toyota Yaris-based 2 Hybrid The Mazda 2 has been axed in the UK following its effective replacement by the Mazda 2 Hybrid, a rebadged Toyota Yaris.… Continue reading Mazda 2 supermini axed after a decade on sale

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

New Kia EV4 revealed with choice of hatch or saloon bodystyle

This post was originally published on Autocar Latest entrant to Kia’s range of bespoke EVs fills the gap between the EV3 hatchback and EV5 crossover Kia has revealed the production design for its Volkswagen ID 3-rivalling EV4 ahead of a launch later this year. Little changed from the concept shown in 2023, the EV4 arrives to… Continue reading New Kia EV4 revealed with choice of hatch or saloon bodystyle

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

BMW Vision Driving Experience is a radical quad-motor test mule

This post was originally published on Autocar Vision Driving Experience is test mule for Neue Klasse models The Vision Driving Experience is a test mule for the brand’s next-gen vehicle dynamics technology BMW has revealed the radical Vision Driving Experience, a quad-motor high-performance text vehicle fitted with five fans designed to suck it to the… Continue reading BMW Vision Driving Experience is a radical quad-motor test mule

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Brat winter: Subaru MV vs left-field Landie rivals in 1982 showdown

This post was originally published on Autocar Subaru MV pick-up was a competent farmhand In 1982, Autocar gathered the six most significant imports on a farm in rural Kent to see what was what When we write about off-road vehicles, it usually involves larking about in a quarry. But 4x4s aren’t just toys for motoring… Continue reading Brat winter: Subaru MV vs left-field Landie rivals in 1982 showdown

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Floored in Surrey with Gordon Murray: Welcome to the T50 factory

This post was originally published on Autocar Seminal T50 is a modern day McLaren F1 GMA’s grand new HQ is now nearing completion, with T50 production already in full swing. We drop by The day’s second big surprise comes when Gordon Murray strolls in. Although his name is on the building, Murray isn’t the person we’ve been expecting.… Continue reading Floored in Surrey with Gordon Murray: Welcome to the T50 factory

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

How will ZEV mandate and 2035 ICE ban affect small car makers?

This post was originally published on Autocar Emissions regs pose a real challenge for car makers like Caterham The latest government consultation on how quickly the UK car market should migrate to fully electric vehicles concerns what will happen between 2030 and 2035. But it has made it 100% clear where the entire industry, even… Continue reading How will ZEV mandate and 2035 ICE ban affect small car makers?

autocar.co.uk |
Categorised as Automotive

Stellantis taking heat from dealers, UAW amid EV push

This post was originally published on Autonews As Stellantis tries to build sales momentum in the U.S. and presses forward with its EV offensive, it’s facing unrest among several constituencies that are monumentally important to its success.

Autonews |
Categorised as Automotive