The first-ever planned full-land closure of a stretch of the M25, Britain’s busiest motorway, this weekend had sparked warnings of traffic chaos. Intrigued to how south west London’s infrastructure would cope with the potential chaos, we decided to pay a visit. Concorde, the Intercity 125 and the M25 motorway. Three icons of British transportation, but… Continue reading On the scene at the M25 closure: did it really cause traffic chaos?
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Why UK speed limits are confusing for pick-up drivers
Well, this is a little embarrassing. When I previously suggested that all drivers should be regularly reminded of their responsibilities on the road, reader Phil Townsend wrote to suggest that I ought not to be overtaking cars doing 60mph on dual carriageways in my Ford Ranger Raptor because its speed limit is also 60mph on… Continue reading Why UK speed limits are confusing for pick-up drivers
Driving 100 laps of the M25 in the 1999 COTY-winning Ford Focus
When we first announced the Ford Focus as European Car of the Year in our 18 November 1998 issue, would we have predicted, 25 years on, that it would remain the contest’s most significant winner, in our judging panel’s opinion? Well, we must have had an inkling, because the test that Autocar conceived to welcome… Continue reading Driving 100 laps of the M25 in the 1999 COTY-winning Ford Focus
Mazda 2 Hybrid
If you saw the previous 2 Hybrid on a Mazda forecourt, it immediately stood out from its stable-mates. “I wouldn’t call it a black sheep, but it didn’t fit the line-up,” says Stenuit. So the goal for this revamp was to make the regular Mazda 2’s “adopted sibling” look more like part of the family.… Continue reading Mazda 2 Hybrid
Jaguar I-Pace owners angry as smart charging ability removed
Jaguar I-Pace owners are angry at JLR for abruptly pulling third-party access to its cars, ending the EV’s ability to work with smart charging technology. This means owners will now, in essence, see their energy bills soar, because they will no longer be able to remotely charge their EVs to preset amounts at the most economical times. Smart energy… Continue reading Jaguar I-Pace owners angry as smart charging ability removed
Volkswagen close to final design of £17k ID 1 electric car
Volkswagen is set to sign off the final design of the Volkswagen ID 1 imminently, brand chairman Thomas Schäfer has said, with four proposals being debated for the £17,000 entry-level electric car. Conceived as a replacement for the 11-year-old e-Up, the new model is planned to go on sale across Europe by the end of 2027 at a… Continue reading Volkswagen close to final design of £17k ID 1 electric car
Mercedes Vision EQXX breaks own efficiency record with 8.4mpkWh
The Mercedes Vision EQXX electric car concept has broken its own range and efficiency record, travelling 627.6 miles across the Arabian Peninsula with an impressive efficiency average of 8.4 miles per kWh. It was the car’s third long-distance road trip, following two previous attempts in Europe, and the second time the sleek sports car has travelled… Continue reading Mercedes Vision EQXX breaks own efficiency record with 8.4mpkWh
Drivers to be affected as M25 section to close this weekend
Why is the M25 closing? National Highways says the road will close so it can demolish and replace the bridleway bridge at Clearmount and install a large gantry. The work will also increase the number of lanes at junction 10, which, National Highways said, will “make journeys safer and improve traffic flow”. Entry and exit… Continue reading Drivers to be affected as M25 section to close this weekend
2025 Skoda Epiq is rugged urban EV for sub-£25,000
The battery will support bi-directional charging, which means it can power external devices or bolster home electricity networks. The Epiq embodies Skoda’s new Modern Solid design language, as showcased in 2022 with the much larger Vision 7S concept, which majored on “robustness, functionality and authenticity”. It will be the first Skoda, though, to carry that theme overtly over… Continue reading 2025 Skoda Epiq is rugged urban EV for sub-£25,000
Honda and Nissan considering partnership on electric cars
Japanese titans Honda and Nissan are considering a partnership to reduce the cost of developing electric cars and advanced driver assistance technologies. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding and will soon begin investigating areas where they can most effectively cut costs through collaboration. This includes the joint procurement of key components to exploit… Continue reading Honda and Nissan considering partnership on electric cars