It’s 4.15am and I’m in my kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil while flicking between the Google Maps and Waze apps on my phone. I have to be at a lay-by in Teesdale between 9.30am and 10am in a car that’s fuelled enough for the day, and I need to pick up a videographer… Continue reading Matt Prior: We won’t ditch our cars until train travel improves
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Why modern train travel makes you long for a car
It’s 4.15am and I’m in my kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil while flicking between the Google Maps and Waze apps on my phone. I have to be at a lay-by in Teesdale between 9.30am and 10am in a car that’s fuelled enough for the day, and I need to pick up a videographer… Continue reading Why modern train travel makes you long for a car
New electric cars coming in 2024
Read our Smart #3 review Vauxhall Crossland The new Crossland will be bigger and bolder than the current car – a proper small SUV, rather than a lifted hatchback. As with its smaller sibling, the Corsa, it will be available with petrol and electric powertrains. The latter is expected to use Stellantis’s favoured combination of… Continue reading New electric cars coming in 2024
UK car sales hit highest level since pandemic in 2023
The UK had its best year for car sales since the pandemic in 2023, as more than 1.9 million were registered, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Growth of 289,000 over 2022’s 30-year low of 1.6 million sales was driven entirely by fleet customers, who registered 1.1 million cars alone, a 38.7% rise… Continue reading UK car sales hit highest level since pandemic in 2023
Car tax: everything you need to know about vehicle excise duty
There are several taxes you need to know about to legally drive your car. One of the most important is vehicle excise duty, often abbreviated to ‘VED’. Having so many taxes can be confusing, so we’ve gathered all the information you need to know to make sense of it all right here. So: read on… Continue reading Car tax: everything you need to know about vehicle excise duty
Mini Aceman is brand’s first electric-only car
It will also employ the Cooper’s battery and power offerings (181bhp S, 215bhp SE), but given the car is bigger and heavier than its supermini sibling, the range of the entry-level 40kWh E is expected to be down on the Cooper’s 240 miles. Only two-wheel drive will be offered. A hot JCW version, using the same 54kWh battery as… Continue reading Mini Aceman is brand’s first electric-only car
What are the safest cars on sale in the UK in 2024?
No matter who you are or how far you drive, choosing the safest car will most likely be a major priority. Before going on sale, every car is put through strict safety tests run by the European New Car Assessment Programme, or Euro NCAP for short. It is judged from zero to five stars, based on… Continue reading What are the safest cars on sale in the UK in 2024?
VW Group hails ‘encouraging’ solid-state battery tests
The Volkswagen Group has revealed that new solid-sate battery cells developed by partner QuantumScape have shown encouraging results in recent tests, with a better range and significantly less degradation than both its existing lithium ion batteries and rival solid-state cells. During the tests, run by Volkswagen Group battery division PowerCo in Germany, the cells are claimed… Continue reading VW Group hails ‘encouraging’ solid-state battery tests
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep. 68)
Episode 68 of the Autocar podcast My Week In Cars finds our resident car hacks Steve Cropley and Matt Prior talking over good coffee from Caffeine and Machine about 2024’s interesting upcoming cars and events, plus the appeal of the Suzuki Swift, the Audi SQ8 E-tron, buying ex-press demonstrators (or not) and much more besides. Make sure you… Continue reading My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep. 68)
Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar
But before you plan that expedition to Saudi Arabia (home to the Dakar Rally, because who needs geography?), don’t expect the Q8 e-tron Dakar to offer off-road ability to match a Toyota Land Cruiser or Jeep Wrangler. Instead, Audi has added a soupcon of extra go-anywhere ability without compromising on premium sheen. The air suspension-controlled… Continue reading Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar