The biennial Paris motor show returns on 14 October, and it’s shaping up to have been worth the wait. The show floor will be dominated by the Renault Group, which is revealing no fewer than six new cars. They will range from the next evolution of Alpine’s hydrogen-combustion supercar to Dacia’s Ford Kuga killer and the reborn Renault 4. Stellantis will… Continue reading Every new car and concept at the 2024 Paris motor show
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Mystery Audi test car hints at extreme electric 4×4
Audi appears to be gearing up for the launch of a hardcore electric off-roader, with a distinctive prototype having been spotted testing at a company facility in Germany. Although based on the upcoming Q6 E-tron Sportback, it’s significantly taller and wider than the regular electric SUV. It appears to have a more aggressive front bumper… Continue reading Mystery Audi test car hints at extreme electric 4×4
Brazilian EREV first to use engine from Renault-Geely firm Horse
Brazilian start-up Lecar will be the first car maker to use a powertrain supplied by Horse, the joint venture between Renault and Geely. UK-based Horse, announced last July and officially formed this May, aims to become the “global powertrain leader”, with a goal of building some five million “best-in-class” petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains per year for car makers including… Continue reading Brazilian EREV first to use engine from Renault-Geely firm Horse
Big electric myths, busted by Audi e-tron
If you’ve been thinking about making the switch to an all-electric car but you’re worried about whether right now is the right time, you’re probably not alone. There are plenty of myths and misconceptions around electric cars – especially the topics of range anxiety, poor charging infrastructure and running costs. So, despite the fact that… Continue reading Big electric myths, busted by Audi e-tron
Renault Estafette reborn as futuristic van for cities
Renault has revived the Estafette as a high-tech, city-focused load-lugger called the ZFlexEVan. The new concept previews the debut model from the French company’s tie-up with Volvo Trucks, called Flexis, and it has been designed to stand out from the aggressive-looking diesel vans on the market. It inherits its twin round headlights and soft curves from the Estafette, which – combined with… Continue reading Renault Estafette reborn as futuristic van for cities
Kia plots Picanto, Stinger GT successors to bookend EV line-up
Kia is planning to bookend its range of EVs, with an entry-level city car and a new halo model under consideration. The Korean brand has trademarked names from EV1 to EV9 for a range of models, and while it has confirmed that an EV2 will sit below the new EV3, the prospect of an EV1… Continue reading Kia plots Picanto, Stinger GT successors to bookend EV line-up
Rising star: we go for a ride in Polestar’s new electric boat
Each C-Pod contains a pair of electric motors, driving a pair of contra-rotating propellers with a total of 67bhp. That’s more efficient than a single motor. At higher speeds, the pressure in the flow around a large propeller creates a vacuum that adds noise and inefficiency. There’s also a lot of computing power packed into… Continue reading Rising star: we go for a ride in Polestar’s new electric boat
Why a classic Land Rover Defender can cost £7k or £230k
What a month for Land Rover Defender residuals, with the announcement of not one but two restoration-and-modification specials. I also see that we’re deep into territory that I predicted (go me) in 2016, when I thought that within a few years, old Defenders would be rebranded as Defender Classics. I was partly right: it seems to… Continue reading Why a classic Land Rover Defender can cost £7k or £230k
When Mercedes made world-beating rally cars
Apart from that, the trip over the Atlas mountains was uneventful, if not for the heavy traffic that had churned up the road while carrying equipment to the French atomic research base (a year prior, scientists had tested a nuclear bomb at a still-classified location, releasing four times the energy of the bomb dropped on… Continue reading When Mercedes made world-beating rally cars
Former Polestar design chief moves to BMW to oversee Alpina
Former Polestar design boss Maximilian Missoni has joined BMW to lead design for Alpina as it begins life under full BMW ownership. Arriving as part of a wide-reaching shake-up of design teams at the BMW Group, Missoni will also oversee the design of upper mid-size and luxury-class BMW models. Other notable moves at the German firm include… Continue reading Former Polestar design chief moves to BMW to oversee Alpina