Author: Autocar Magazine UK

How does Porsche’s Active Ride system work?

Back in the day, if you wanted a car with rock-solid cornering and limpet-like grip, the trade-off would be giving up any expectation of ride comfort. That doesn’t matter on a race track, but even the most devoted enthusiasm can fade under the relentless, tooth-loosening onslaught of rigid suspension. Premium car makers have battled with… Continue reading How does Porsche’s Active Ride system work?

Renault Espace could return as retro electric MPV

Renault is considering reviving the Espace MPV, as the flexibility of the company’s electric car platforms enables it to explore and revisit a range of different bodystyles. The Espace is currently a stretched seven-seat version of the Austral hybrid SUV, but Autocar understands the name could be redeployed for an electric people carrier that’s truer to the… Continue reading Renault Espace could return as retro electric MPV

Volume no longer a dirty word as Nissan looks to grow again

Nissan’s new Arc global mid-term plan carrying it to 2026 included a promise that we haven’t heard from a manufacturer for a while: it wanted to lift annual sales by a million. The announcement last week included an admission by CEO Makoto Uchida that the mid-term plan it succeeded, called Nissan Next, had a flaw. The goal… Continue reading Volume no longer a dirty word as Nissan looks to grow again

Editor’s letter: How will Audi reimagine itself in a software-led era?

‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ is one of the most enduring marketing slogans in the automotive industry – and one that has truly given expression to Audi’s focus. It was first used in 1971 to showcase the technical diversity of the NSU range, then encompassing water-cooled front-drive, air-cooled rear-drive and rotary-engined models. But it really came into vogue… Continue reading Editor’s letter: How will Audi reimagine itself in a software-led era?

Renault Captur revamped in pursuit of small SUV sales crown

The Renault Captur has been redesigned and heavily upgraded for 2024 in a bid to propel it up the ranks of Europe’s hotly contested small SUV segment. Renault calls it “the B-segment car for living”, touting its small footprint but spacious (and ‘modular’) interior as attributes that make it “at home in the city or off… Continue reading Renault Captur revamped in pursuit of small SUV sales crown

From the archive: Would you buy a Chrysler Croydon?

Model names come from many places, but one of the easiest ways to establish an image is to borrow the name of an evocative location: think Ferrari with the yachts of the Italian Riviera’s Portofino harbour, Seat with the party island of Ibiza, Bentley with the iconic Le Mans racing straight of Mulsanne or Chrysler… Continue reading From the archive: Would you buy a Chrysler Croydon?

Exclusive: Nio gives its EVs a “European flavour” in Oxfordshire

Since then, each of Nio’s eight production models – including the ET5, ET5 Touring, EL6, ET7 and EL7 sold in five European countries – has benefited from its input. Most specifically, this has been focused on chassis tuning, in which the UK-based engineering team is taking an increasingly prominent role. “We develop specific suspension tuning… Continue reading Exclusive: Nio gives its EVs a “European flavour” in Oxfordshire

Renault, Volvo Group partner on commercial EVs to be ‘Tesla of vans’

Renault and lorry maker the Volvo Group have established a new start-up that aims to flip the European commercial vehicle sector on its head with a range of highly modular electric vans. Called Flexis, it aims to capitalise on growth in demand for zero-emission commercial vehicles, which is expected by its creators to rise by 40% each… Continue reading Renault, Volvo Group partner on commercial EVs to be ‘Tesla of vans’

Autocar magazine 3 April: on sale now

This week in Autocar, we give our definitive verdict on the new Toyota Land Cruiser, detail Mercedes-AMG’s new Purosangue beater, and drive the world’s best hybrid. News Mercedes-AMG is set to unleash its electric super-SUV as a high-powered flagship based on its own bespoke EV platform – we’ve got the lowdown. Polestar, meanwhile, is lining… Continue reading Autocar magazine 3 April: on sale now