Steer by wire is coming of age quickly and on its way to the showrooms of various brands. Mercedes will be the first German manufacturer to introduce the technology with a ZF-developed system that does away with mechanical connections between the driver and road wheels, relying instead on sensors and electric actuators. Nio is also… Continue reading How steer-by-wire technology actually works
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Thieves targeting Lexus cars as Range Rover thefts plummet
Five Lexus models were among the top 10 cars most likely to be stolen in 2024, according to government data – and the Range Rover, previously a high-profile target for car thieves, is now among the most protected. Last year, more than 61,000 cars were stolen across the UK. The Ford Fiesta – the country’s… Continue reading Thieves targeting Lexus cars as Range Rover thefts plummet
New 2026 Volkswagen ID 4 will be a “completely different” car
Technical details of the facelifted ID 3 and ID 4 have yet to be revealed, though Autocar has been told Volkswagen’s best-selling electric models will benefit from the efficiency and performance gains brought to other more recently launched models, including the ID 7, through newer and more technically advanced electric motors and more contemporary battery… Continue reading New 2026 Volkswagen ID 4 will be a “completely different” car
New EV grants to be unveiled by government this week – report
Grants to incentivise sales of electric cars are set to return as part of a tier system that will reward better subsidiaries to UK-made vehicles, reports The Telegraph. The outlet claims that £640 million in taxpayer cash will be used to fund the move as part of new plans to boost retail sales of EVs. … Continue reading New EV grants to be unveiled by government this week – report
When the McLaren F1 designer made a Ford Transit
Car designer Peter Stevens, famed for the McLaren F1, is revealing the inspiration behind one of his latest projects: “I was working away from home in Coventry and staying in a very basic hotel. “There wasn’t even a chair in my room. So, one evening, I’m sitting on my bed eating a takeaway and feeling… Continue reading When the McLaren F1 designer made a Ford Transit
Honda Prelude
The Civic donates the Prelude its architecture, plus its 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle engine and drive system dubbed e:HEV. It’s worth spending a bit of time on this because it’s not straightforward, and when the Civic first arrived, Honda used the term e-CVT or something like that, which is rather misleading. The engine predominantly acts as a… Continue reading Honda Prelude
Smart Roadster: spice up summer with a £1500 gem
The pauses didn’t help, nor not knowing quite when they’d come. And there was more than one kind of pause to be experienced aboard a Smart Roadster. The most obvious, and persistent, was the between-gears interruption generated by the automated manual transmission. The Roadster’s gearbox was not an especially speedy shuffler of clustered cogs and… Continue reading Smart Roadster: spice up summer with a £1500 gem
Ramon Bäurle on designing Audi’s most advanced interior yet
A good interior also has to match the essence of the car, whether it’s a car that’s more angled towards the driving experience, or a car where you’re more connected to your surroundings through connectivity features – a car designed for long distances, for example. And a good interior has to use the right materials.… Continue reading Ramon Bäurle on designing Audi’s most advanced interior yet
New look and 451kW charging for updated Xpeng G6
Xpeng has updated its Tesla Model Y rival, the G6 crossover, with a round of styling tweaks and new battery technology that the firm claims will make it the fastest-charging EV in its class. The Chinese EV maker’s mid-sized electric SUV was only revealed two years ago and has been on sale in the UK for just… Continue reading New look and 451kW charging for updated Xpeng G6
MG Cyber X SUV could be on UK roads by 2027
A production version of the MG Cyber X concept could be on UK roads by 2027, UK boss David Allison has told Autocar. The rugged, boxy SUV concept, that previews the second model in its fashion-focused Cyber line-up, was revealed earlier this year at the Shanghai motor show. Asked by Autocar if we could see a production version… Continue reading MG Cyber X SUV could be on UK roads by 2027