Nissan has chosen the name Wave for its version of the Renault Twingo electric city car and will rework the design with influence from its Pike retro cars, Autocar has learned. The Wave is due next year and will be built by Renault alongside the Twingo. It is expected to hit the same sub-£20,000 price… Continue reading Sub-£20k Nissan Wave city car to channel retro 1980s classics
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Volvo EX30 Extended Range, Twin Motor owners warned of fire risk
Owners of some Volvo EX30s built between 2024 and now are being asked not to charge their cars to more than 70% to mitigate the risk of a battery fire. Volvo has identified a risk of battery cells overheating in Single Motor Extended Range and Twin Motor Performance versions of the EX30, which use a 69kWh pack… Continue reading Volvo EX30 Extended Range, Twin Motor owners warned of fire risk
The A-Z of cars named after animals: Ant to Zebra via… Golf?
From the diminutive (Austin) Ant to the robust (Daihatsu) Zebra, the automotive world has long looked to the animal kingdom for inspiration. It is a logical leap, really: naming a machine after a beast infuses cold steel with breath, character and intent. But for every thoroughbred stallion or venomous snake that has graced a bootlid, there… Continue reading The A-Z of cars named after animals: Ant to Zebra via… Golf?
Aion to Zenvo: The 159 new cars coming to the UK this year
New year, new cars: 2026 is shaping up to be a big one for the industry, with plenty of brands and models making their debuts. From the baby EVs that didn’t seem possible only a few years ago to ripsnorting V8 supercars and VIP-hauling vans, there’s something here to catch the eye of everyone. Here’s… Continue reading Aion to Zenvo: The 159 new cars coming to the UK this year
Inside McLaren’s ultra-exclusive VIP service
You dream about the chance to live out your racing driver fantasies, and mine is about to be realised. The venue for my debut track experience: Silverstone. This is like kicking a football for the first time at Wembley. McLaren is hosting one of its exclusive Pure owners’ experience days, and I’ve been invited. To… Continue reading Inside McLaren’s ultra-exclusive VIP service
BMW takes full control of Alpina performance brand
BMW has officially taken full control of Alpina and given first hints of its plans for the long-running performance firm – claiming future models will focus on a “unique balance of maximum performance and superior driving comfort.” The Munich manufacturer acquired the 60-year-old Alpina firm, famed for its extensively modified versions of BMW models in 2022.… Continue reading BMW takes full control of Alpina performance brand
Why the fuel gauge arrow is one of motoring’s greatest inventions
The history of the motor car is one of continuous innovation, with incredibly clever people relentlessly inventing new technologies to make cars safer, perhaps faster and generally better. We’re talking inventions such as seatbelts, fuel injection, anti-lock brakes, airbags and power steering – and the little arrow on your fuel gauge that tells you which… Continue reading Why the fuel gauge arrow is one of motoring’s greatest inventions
The BMW M2 CS truly lives up to its ancestors
BMW has been extending its M brand for an awfully long time, adding fast SUVs, luxury convertibles and even the fully bespoke XM. Yet when you imagine an M car, it’s a compact, rear-wheel-drive coupé. ‘E30’ M3, ‘E9’ CSL ‘Batmobile’, 2002 Turbo: these are cars with a stature that demands a modern inheritor. And the… Continue reading The BMW M2 CS truly lives up to its ancestors
Buttons are back: First look inside £22k Volkswagen ID Polo
Volkswagen has unveiled the interior of the new ID Polo ahead of the electric supermini’s launch later this year, showcasing the increased provision of physical buttons for key functions. The supermini is the firm’s vital new offering in the sub-£22,000 electric car category. It is also the first model to encompass the brand’s new design language under… Continue reading Buttons are back: First look inside £22k Volkswagen ID Polo
120’s plenty: ‘Baby’ BMW was all the car I needed in 2025
I evaluated many newcomers this year, virtually all of which were a whacking great SUV, a life-complicating EV or a combination of both. Consequently the car that I enjoyed far above all others in 2025 wasn’t at all innovative or even new: it was a small, modestly sporty, petrol-powered hatchback of a variety that has… Continue reading 120’s plenty: ‘Baby’ BMW was all the car I needed in 2025