Three weeks ago something inside me felt as though it may have broken. Something visceral, in the literal sense. It happened on the launch event of the very capable new Audi E-tron GT. And it wasn’t a result of dinner – often the scene of plutocratic, manufacturer-underwritten expansiveness but which here consisted of a burger van laid up… Continue reading ‘The RS E-tron GT left me gasping for breath in a way ICE cars don’t’
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
How Magna developed cameras to allow cars to see in the dark
Exceptional night vision isn’t something humans are gifted with. Some of our friends in the animal kingdom, such as deer, are far better at seeing at night. See-in-the-dark tech was used first by the military, before automotive supplier Magna developed its first thermal imaging system in 2003. Called Night Vision, it was introduced in the… Continue reading How Magna developed cameras to allow cars to see in the dark
How reality blew apart the agency sales model dream, even for Tesla
Blame Tesla for opening car makers’ eyes to the possibility of direct sales. The EV specialist chucked out the old sales model, bypassed established dealers and owned the retail process by seamlessly integrating a slick online showroom with physical locations. The ‘legacy’ makers meanwhile were giving away around 10% of their revenue to the dealers. These independent… Continue reading How reality blew apart the agency sales model dream, even for Tesla
McLaren W1 succeeds P1 with 1258bhp V8 hybrid powertrain
There are active front and rear wings, including the W1’s signature feature of an Active Long Tail rear wing, which extends 300mm rearwards rather than upwards to work with the underfloor and rear diffuser to create extra downforce without adding drag. This function is available on track only. In the aero’s most extreme setting, Race mode,… Continue reading McLaren W1 succeeds P1 with 1258bhp V8 hybrid powertrain
Flat out in McLaren’s ultimate trio: F1 meets P1 and Senna
The sight alone is enough to elicit involuntary laughter. F1, P1, McLaren Senna. All on the same slice of Tarmac, dihedral doors flipped up awaiting further instruction. They have been together before of course, most notably and recently at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting in the spring, but never for a purpose like this. We have… Continue reading Flat out in McLaren’s ultimate trio: F1 meets P1 and Senna
Controversy over introduction of numberplates
Mr Paynton Piggott suggested that “numbering would be an advantage to motorists who were gentlemen and drove with consideration, as it would show that they were not driving in such a way as to make them ashamed of identification”. Lieutenant Colonel Daniell said “steam launches were numbered for the purposes of identification and he could… Continue reading Controversy over introduction of numberplates
Correcting the record: When did Autocar’s road tests really begin?
It appeared to be the same methodology used by that 1931 pioneer; for purity’s sake perhaps those 44 shouldn’t be included, but the tally matched Autocar’s. Any harboured hopes of trouble-free research were unceremoniously scuttled by 16 occasions on which the test number skipped hither or thither, not always with subsequent correction. By 17 July… Continue reading Correcting the record: When did Autocar’s road tests really begin?
Lamborghini Urus SE
As we found with the Mercedes-AMG C63, the performance gain of hot plug-in hybrids is not so much in the standing-start straight-line acceleration. The Urus SE does 0-62mph in 3.4sec – only 0.1sec quicker than the outgoing Urus S. What the electric assistance does is give this heavily boosted and therefore naturally laggy V8 engine… Continue reading Lamborghini Urus SE
Diesel demand more than EVs for private buyers in September
Demand from private buyers for diesel cars was more than for EVs in September, leading industry bosses to renew calls for urgent government support amid “serious concerns” that a waning electric car market “is putting environmental ambitions at risk”. During the month, private diesel sales increased 17.1% compared with September 2023 – a volume uplift of 1367 cars… Continue reading Diesel demand more than EVs for private buyers in September
Tesla Model Y
Executive cars, whether hailing from Germany, the UK or Japan, have generally wooed buyers with their sumptuous interiors full of neat details and features. If that is what you have come to expect from your car, you will be instantly turned off by the Model Y. Its interior, like in every other Tesla, is minimalism driven to its… Continue reading Tesla Model Y