Holidng a Nürburgring lap record is not just about bragging rights. Each of the 147 corners along the 13-mile course gives car makers unparalleled insight into where their machines work best, and where they must improve on. Manufacturers spend years (if not decades) honing their cars around the Nordschleife in the hope of being crowned maker of… Continue reading Nürburgring lap records: the fastest lap times
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Ford Mustang GTD beats Porsche 911 GT3’s Nurburgring time
The Ford Mustang GTD has lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in less than seven minutes, making it the fastest American road car ever to have rounded the hallowed circuit. The new track-focused version of the venerable Mustang muscle car clocked a lap time of 6min 57.685sec around the full 12.9-mile layout of the Nordschleife. That’s more… Continue reading Ford Mustang GTD beats Porsche 911 GT3’s Nurburgring time
Dacia surprised as “super pragmatic” UK buyers turn backs on LPG
The Spring, the firm’s first electric car, is built in China and has a threat of tariffs hanging over it as part of Europe’s plans to slow the flow of low-cost electric cars coming from China, but for now le Vot said there are no plans to move Spring production. Speaking on the competition from… Continue reading Dacia surprised as “super pragmatic” UK buyers turn backs on LPG
Skoda Elroq
Like the recent updates to the Octavia, Superb and Kodiaq, the Elroq has a welcoming and pleasant cabin that neatly balances robustness with a decent level of material quality. Prod and probe the Elroq’s innards and you’ll find soft-touch materials on the dashboard, doors and door cappings, with the only let down being the cheap,… Continue reading Skoda Elroq
The rise and whimpering fall of General Motors’ Honda-killer
“Saturn is the key to General Motors’ long-term competitiveness, survival and success as a domestic producer,” boss Roger Smith stated boldly in January 1985. The idea for this new brand had been secretively formulated three summers prior by senior engineer Alex Mair, at a highly troublesome time for the US industry. The name hints at… Continue reading The rise and whimpering fall of General Motors’ Honda-killer
Renault to introduce new shapes in move away from traditional SUVs
The next-generation of Renault vehicles that will arrive starting in 2028 are set to eschew SUV design in favour of new body styles featuring “breakthrough concepts”, with new design language hinted at by the recent Embleme concept, according to the firm’s design chief. The French firm recently confirmed that it would launch a “new generation”… Continue reading Renault to introduce new shapes in move away from traditional SUVs
Wider use of ANPR reveals spike in numberplate cloning
Numberplate cloning in the UK has risen sharply as criminals look to avoid paying fees and tolls operated by a growing number of automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR) zones. Police are warning that the issue is an “ongoing battle” as more systems pop up across the country to enforce compliance in bus lanes, congestion charge and… Continue reading Wider use of ANPR reveals spike in numberplate cloning
Johnny Herbert: F1 drivers use guidelines ‘to get an an advantage’
“F1 drivers have so much awareness and mental capacity to know exactly what’s going on, and when extra rules get thrown into the mix, they use the guidelines to get an advantage,” says Herbert. “This whole apex thing: the race is just to get to the apex first.” As for abusing track limits, Herbert admits… Continue reading Johnny Herbert: F1 drivers use guidelines ‘to get an an advantage’
Racing to change the world: When Autocar met Sir Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton wants to maintain the momentum by speaking out against racism and inequality to such an extent that it has become his main motivation to continue in the sport. “As I continue to grow, I understand the sheer mass and size of issues surrounding us,” he says. “I would love to be able to do… Continue reading Racing to change the world: When Autocar met Sir Lewis Hamilton
GWM’s flat-eight motorbike proves Chinese car makers can have fun
It has come to my attention that the people behind the Funky Cat (Great Wall Motor, who later renamed the Ora EV something much more prosaic) have made something actually funky. This column item is ultimately going to be about cars, so I beg the patience of any reader who will write in when they… Continue reading GWM’s flat-eight motorbike proves Chinese car makers can have fun