Author: Autocar Magazine UK

Alpine A110 set for sub-tonne, £200k final edition

Alpine is also targeting a kerb weight below 1000kg, giving the new A110 a similar power-to-weight ratio as the Cayman GT4 RS, rated at 348bhp per tonne. Autocar understands Alpine’s ambition is to beat the GT4 RS’s Nürburgring lap time of 7min 4.51sec. In October, spy photographers clocked the A110 at 7min 18.77sec with Ocon… Continue reading Alpine A110 set for sub-tonne, £200k final edition

Polestar hits 370kW in new extreme fast charging tests

Polestar’s boss said the technology would help to overcome what is seen by the public as one of the biggest shortcomings of EVs, which is time-consuming charging stops when compared with petrol or diesel.  “Time is one of life’s greatest luxuries, and as a manufacturer of luxury electric performance cars, we need to take the… Continue reading Polestar hits 370kW in new extreme fast charging tests

Inside China’s £6k mini-EVs: Geely Geometry Panda driven

Ultimately, though, the segment is shrinking, from almost 30% of new EVs in 2021, with sales of more than one million to below 10% last year, well down from its six-figure record, according to research from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Two factors are at work here. One is that cities such as Shanghai are… Continue reading Inside China’s £6k mini-EVs: Geely Geometry Panda driven

Experts predict more than two million UK car sales in 2024

Industry giant Cox Automotive predicts the UK new car market will exceed two million registrations in 2024. The firm, which owns a suite of automotive companies including Manheim Auctions, has forecast a ‘baseline’ (most likely) registration figure of 2.06m, along with potential ‘downside’ (worst case) and ‘upside’ (best case) estimates of 1.93m and 2.20m units. … Continue reading Experts predict more than two million UK car sales in 2024

Why Mercedes is now X-raying its crash tests

Witnessing the sheer violence of a crash test in a closed facility for the first time is a sobering experience. The colossal energy release and the noise it makes last only a second, but they’re followed by an eerie silence that makes the experience even more shocking. Crash testing is something that car makers spend… Continue reading Why Mercedes is now X-raying its crash tests

Jeep Recon 4×4 primed for 600bhp EV and hybrid option

But he added: “Wagoneer S will stay BEV-only, for sure. But [while] being faithful to our main strategy of deep electrification, we can think about opportunities on Recon. Let’s see: Recon will be built on a platform that is very versatile.” Filosa said it was unlikely that the Recon would be offered with a pure-petrol… Continue reading Jeep Recon 4×4 primed for 600bhp EV and hybrid option

From the archive: When American cars swapped muscle for MPG

The car industry’s reaction to the UK’s new zero-emission vehicle mandate hasn’t been positive, not least as some makers are unable to comply – and here we can hear echoes from early-1970s America. Americans had become acutely aware of environmental damage post-war, primarily through the smog hanging over many major cities, and so it became… Continue reading From the archive: When American cars swapped muscle for MPG

Watford Gap services: inside an unlikely motoring landmark

Jimi Hendrix thought it was a nightclub, in their early days The Beatles regularly dropped in on their way south from Liverpool and Gerry Marsden of the Pacemakers rated it as a good place for a “quick stop and a quick nosh”. Welcome to Watford Gap services, located on both sides of the M1, the… Continue reading Watford Gap services: inside an unlikely motoring landmark

Jaguar to stay in Formula E after reinvention as premium EV brand

Jaguar will remain in the Formula E World Championship until the end of 2030, saying that it will continue to accelerate its development of its new generation of electric road cars. The British brand has raced in the electric single-seater series since the 2016-17 season and will contests its 100th ePrix in Monaco this weekend. Jaguar… Continue reading Jaguar to stay in Formula E after reinvention as premium EV brand