Plans initially set out by failed start-up Britishvolt to build £3.8 billion electric car battery gigafactory in the northeast of England look to have ended after three years. The proposed 95-hectare site for the factory is close to being sold to US-based Blackstone Group, one of the world’s biggest private equity firms, which intends to… Continue reading Blackstone to buy Britishvolt battery factory site for huge data centre
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Reports: Tesla to lay off over 10% of global workforce
Tesla will lay off 10% of its global workforce – equivalent to around 14,000 jobs – after the company suffered a fall in deliveries for the first time in almost four years. According to Electrek, Elon Musk, boss of the American electric vehicle manufacturer, announced the layoffs through a memo sent to company employees. At the end of… Continue reading Reports: Tesla to lay off over 10% of global workforce
Maserati Grancabrio Folgore arrives as 751bhp drop-top EV
Maserati has partially lifted the veil on the new Grancabrio Folgore, a soft-roofed electric GT promising to meld high-performance thrills with a tranquil open-air driving experience. The Folgore (Italian for lightning) swaps its combustion-engined sibling’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 for the three electric motors from the hard-roofed Maserati Granturismo Folgore. One is mounted to the front… Continue reading Maserati Grancabrio Folgore arrives as 751bhp drop-top EV
BMW X3 prototype drive
The PHEV is distinctly quiet and very smooth, with flexible and cultured qualities that make it every bit as capable in urban driving as it is out on the open road. There’s strong step-off and latent urgency to the performance on a loaded throttle when the battery is charged and the electric motor contributes to… Continue reading BMW X3 prototype drive
Welcome to the weird world of the 1970s microcar
At a Sunday morning car meet recently, I was about to tuck into a bacon sandwich when a small yellow box purred by, doing around 15mph. Turning in to the car park, it came to a stop in front of the assorted Stags, Esprits, Mustangs and other relics drawing the usual crowd. One side of… Continue reading Welcome to the weird world of the 1970s microcar
Abarth reveals retro sports coupe based on Alfa Romeo 4C
Abarth has revealed a retro two-seat sports coupé to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Called the Abarth Classiche 1300 OT, it’s based on the Alfa Romeo 4C and is described as a ‘modern reinterpretation’ of the 1965 Fiat-Abarth OT 1300 race car, which claimed high-profile victories at the Nürburgring, Monza and Mugello in period. The 1300… Continue reading Abarth reveals retro sports coupe based on Alfa Romeo 4C
Alpine to run hydrogen-combustion supercar at Spa next month
Alpine’s radical Alpenglow concept will hit the track for the first time next month, using a hydrogen-fuelled combustion engine that the brand suggests could soon feature in its road cars. Revealed as a static concept at the Paris motor show in 2022, the futuristic Alpenglow will be driven for the first time at Spa-Francorchamps ahead… Continue reading Alpine to run hydrogen-combustion supercar at Spa next month
Mercedes-Benz EQS gains new face and 511-mile range
The Mercedes-Benz EQS electric saloon has gained an extra 51 miles of range and a new front-end design echoing the firm’s traditional radiator grille as part of a range of major upgrades. The BMW i7 rival will also receive a host of interior updates, with the option of more luxurious rear seats, new driver assistance features and the deployment… Continue reading Mercedes-Benz EQS gains new face and 511-mile range
Alfa Romeo Milano: firm’s smallest model gets hot 237bhp EV
Alfa Romeo has revealed the Milano as its third SUV and its first series-production electric car. Named for the brand’s hometown, the urban-focused crossover is positioned as the spiritual successor to the Giulietta and Mito hatchbacks, majoring on accessibility but offering both premium appeal and driver engagement in a bid to “attract a new generation of… Continue reading Alfa Romeo Milano: firm’s smallest model gets hot 237bhp EV
Aston Martin to keep combustion cars on sale well into 2030s
There will “always be demand” for combustion-engined cars, according to Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll, who has pledged to keep selling them for as long as he is legally allowed to. Aston Martin recently pushed back its plans to launch its first electric car in 2025 to 2027 and has increased investments in plug-in hybrid technology… Continue reading Aston Martin to keep combustion cars on sale well into 2030s