This week your hosts Matt Prior and Steve Cropley catch up properly after a hectic few weeks by talking Morgan special editions, how the Vauxhall Frontera isn’t a classic, the best-of-the-best concours, the end of the The Grand Tour, spotting one’s old Ferrari, buying a Caterham, the new Toyota Prius and much more besides, including… Continue reading My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.106)
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Polestar 3
On the inside, only the high cabin floor you so commonly find in EVs adversely affects passenger comfort here – and only in the second row. This isn’t a car you climb up into like a Range Rover; nor one you sit particularly upright within. It has the medium-high vantage point of a mid-sized SUV, but… Continue reading Polestar 3
Electric Mini John Cooper Works gets 255bhp motor, sportier styling
The new electric Mini John Cooper Works hatchback has been revealed in a Chinese government filing. It gets a single motor that sends 255bhp through its front wheels – up by 40bhp compared with the existing Mini Cooper SE and rival Alpine A290 GTS. The JCW’s kerb weight is listed at 1670kg, down 10kg compared with the SE. This gives… Continue reading Electric Mini John Cooper Works gets 255bhp motor, sportier styling
Car makers extend life of combustion engines amid EV hangover
The spike in Tesla’s share prices in 2021 – eventually valuing the electric car maker past one trillion dollars – triggered an unprecedented wave of optimism towards EVs among the boardrooms of global car companies. With the financial markets rewarding bold strategies that involved an early exit from combustion engines, car companies were happy to set… Continue reading Car makers extend life of combustion engines amid EV hangover
Esprit de War: When Lotus’ GT2 racer met its road-going sibling
Lotus has unveiled the new Theory 1, a radical three-seat concept car inspired by the Esprit. In celebration of the original, we’ve been digging through the Autocar Archive to find one of its high points: when Lotus took on Europe’s giants in the GT2 class and shocked the lot of them. Back in August 1995, just before… Continue reading Esprit de War: When Lotus’ GT2 racer met its road-going sibling
Lotus shows sports car future with wild Esprit-inspired three-seater
The radical new Lotus Theory 1 concept is a three-seat, 986bhp supercar designed to evoke the spirit of the Esprit as a brand-building performance showcase that will be a “blueprint” for all of the firm’s future cars. The new supercar uses a twin-motor all-wheel-drive electric powertrain that draws energy from a 70kWh battery mounted next… Continue reading Lotus shows sports car future with wild Esprit-inspired three-seater
Every new car and concept at the 2024 Paris motor show
The biennial Paris motor show returns on 14 October, and it’s shaping up to have been worth the wait. The show floor will be dominated by the Renault Group, which is revealing no fewer than six new cars. They will range from the next evolution of Alpine’s hydrogen-combustion supercar to Dacia’s Ford Kuga killer and the reborn Renault 4. Stellantis will… Continue reading Every new car and concept at the 2024 Paris motor show
Mystery Audi test car hints at extreme electric 4×4
Audi appears to be gearing up for the launch of a hardcore electric off-roader, with a distinctive prototype having been spotted testing at a company facility in Germany. Although based on the upcoming Q6 E-tron Sportback, it’s significantly taller and wider than the regular electric SUV. It appears to have a more aggressive front bumper… Continue reading Mystery Audi test car hints at extreme electric 4×4
Brazilian EREV first to use engine from Renault-Geely firm Horse
Brazilian start-up Lecar will be the first car maker to use a powertrain supplied by Horse, the joint venture between Renault and Geely. UK-based Horse, announced last July and officially formed this May, aims to become the “global powertrain leader”, with a goal of building some five million “best-in-class” petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains per year for car makers including… Continue reading Brazilian EREV first to use engine from Renault-Geely firm Horse
Big electric myths, busted by Audi e-tron
If you’ve been thinking about making the switch to an all-electric car but you’re worried about whether right now is the right time, you’re probably not alone. There are plenty of myths and misconceptions around electric cars – especially the topics of range anxiety, poor charging infrastructure and running costs. So, despite the fact that… Continue reading Big electric myths, busted by Audi e-tron