1992 After the Velvet Revolution had brought down the communist regime, Volkswagen signed up to rejuvenate Skoda, planning £3 billion of investment in plant, technology and future model programmes. “Our cars are better than people think they are,” exports boss Jan Fechtner told us on a visit to Mladá Boleslav. “It’s vital that the image… Continue reading Happy 130th, Skoda: how we covered brand’s big moments
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
MG 2 EV is ‘obvious area that’s next to happen’, says UK boss
MG will put a Renault 5 rival on the road by 2027, priced from below £25,000 – and it will be designed in the UK. Called the MG 2, the new EV will sit below the MG 4 EV as the entry-level model to MG’s seven-strong EV line-up, which has been bolstered recently by the S5 EV and S6… Continue reading MG 2 EV is ‘obvious area that’s next to happen’, says UK boss
Nio confirms Firefly hatchback for 2026 UK launch
Nio is planning a UK launch of its electric Firefly hatchback – a rival to the Mini Cooper – for next year, the Chinese firm has told Autocar. It has shown a right-hand-drive version of the 4003mm-long hatchback at the Guangzhou motor show, after it announced earlier in this month that it had started building cars in the configuration. Singapore… Continue reading Nio confirms Firefly hatchback for 2026 UK launch
New Fiat 500 gets 64bhp hybrid powertrain, manual box and new look
The new Fiat 500 will arrive in the UK next summer with a 64bhp hybrid powertrain. Sold alongside the visually identical 500e EV, the new 500 Hybrid will be offered in both hatch and convertible forms, like its predecessor. At the heart of the Hybrid is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine and 12V battery – a… Continue reading New Fiat 500 gets 64bhp hybrid powertrain, manual box and new look
Goodbye brake fluid? Why the future is brake-by-wire
Despite the almost bewildering progress of technical innovation, there are many fundamentals that have been around for a very long time. Hydraulic brakes were introduced in the US at the end of World War One. Since then, they have evolved beyond measure, with better design and materials and features such as power assistance and ABS.… Continue reading Goodbye brake fluid? Why the future is brake-by-wire
Genesis G90 Wingback previews wild M5 Touring rival
The new Genesis G90 Wingback previews an estate version of the Korean luxury brand’s flagship saloon in high-performance Magma form that’s set to serve as a future BMW M5 Touring rival. A surprise unveiling during the launch event for the marque’s new hot Magma sub-brand, the large executive estate is intended to show how Genesis… Continue reading Genesis G90 Wingback previews wild M5 Touring rival
Car makers still dream of move to agency sales model
Car makers haven’t given up on the dream of selling cars direct to customers, even as the number actually doing so has dwindled to just four. Currently Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and Mini are the only car makers of any scale in the UK using the so-called agency model of selling directly to customers via their network of dealers,… Continue reading Car makers still dream of move to agency sales model
Why Magma is the ‘cornerstone’ of Genesis’s repositioning
Genesis, Hyundai’s premium brand, will be repositioned as a “luxury high-performance” marque in its second decade, beginning with the launch of the new Magma sub-brand and an expansion into motorsport. Outlined at an event to mark the 10th anniversary of Genesis and the full launch of Magma, the new vision will serve as the ‘cornerstone’ of a… Continue reading Why Magma is the ‘cornerstone’ of Genesis’s repositioning
Inside Audi’s secret F1 base as it prepares for ‘difficult’ debut
That uncertainty has informed Audi’s approach to procurement: although each F1 driver will be allowed to use only three engines throughout the 2026 season, Audi expects to build somewhere between 50 and 100 in total. The best of the bunch will be reserved for the races, while the rest will be bound for further testing… Continue reading Inside Audi’s secret F1 base as it prepares for ‘difficult’ debut
BYD axes spinning touchscreens in push for smoother apps
BYD will stop using rotating touchscreens as it ramps up the use of third-party apps and platforms in its cars. Rotating touchscreens were a headline feature of BYDs during the initial phase of the Chinese brand’s European roll-out, serving as a means of differentiating its interiors from those of similarly minimalist rivals. They were fitted as standard right… Continue reading BYD axes spinning touchscreens in push for smoother apps