How breaking a World Record taught me to love hypermiling

There are some things that I just can’t resist, like driving flat out on a race track, overlanding across continents, off-roading and generally pushing cars to their limits. But there’s another that I’ve got hooked on that, in contrast, is about conserving energy and driving as far as possible, rather than fast. Yes, I love… Continue reading How breaking a World Record taught me to love hypermiling

The new hydrogen tech delivering 435-mile range vans

Hydrogen fuel cell projects continue to grow, along with interest in using them to power commercial vehicles and particularly heavy trucks. One such is the new Renault Master H2-Tech Prototype shown at the recent IAA Transportation show in Hanover. The Master has been developed by the Hyvia joint venture between Renault and US fuel cell… Continue reading The new hydrogen tech delivering 435-mile range vans

My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.115)

On this week’s My Week In Cars podcast our hosts Matt Prior and Steve Cropley review the new Alpine A290 hot hatchback, chat about upcoming changes to hybrid vehicle taxes, the big Genesis saloon that looks like a Bentley, their lunch menu and more besides. You can make sure you never miss an Autocar podcast… Continue reading My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.115)

BMW X3

The X3’s driving environment looks and feels quite different than it used to. You sit only medium-high, in a comfortable and widely adjustable seat, but in front of one of BMW’s latest-generation ‘curved display’ instrumentation and multimedia consoles, which brings a big extra hit of widescreen digital tech appeal. This uses BMW’s latest Operating System… Continue reading BMW X3

First STLA Small car “on track” for 2026 launch, says Tavares

Stellantis is “on track” to launch its first STLA Small-based car in 2026, with the platform to underpin vehicles made specifically for the European market, boss Carlos Tavares has confirmed. The platform itself will be unveiled between late 2025 and early 2026, he told reporters. It will be crucial in underpinning the group’s next generation of small cars ranging from the A-segment… Continue reading First STLA Small car “on track” for 2026 launch, says Tavares

Reborn Renault 5 undercuts rivals with £22,995 starting price

Interior  The 5’s interior melds the clean-cut styling of the Mégane with a brutalistic look inspired by the classic 5 Turbo. The 10.0in instrument and infotainment screens are encased in chunky plastic shrouds designed to recall the homologation special’s analogue gauges, while the seats feature thick, corduroy-style padded inserts. The dashboard, too, is inspired by the… Continue reading Reborn Renault 5 undercuts rivals with £22,995 starting price

Dealers’ margins squeezed by EV shift, greater consumer protection

Dealers are facing a profit-margin squeeze from the double whammy of the transition to EVs threatening their lucrative aftersales business and a legal clampdown curtailing profitable commissions for selling finance and insurance (F&I). Dealers rely on both aftersales and F&I to generate income to supplement the much lower-margin business of actually selling new cars. Dealer group Vertu… Continue reading Dealers’ margins squeezed by EV shift, greater consumer protection

Audi A1

While Audi has made an effort to differentiate the A1’s cabin from that of its Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza cousins by employing a slightly more tasteful palette of trim materials and switchgear, that relationship hasn’t been entirely masked. Sure, it might exude more in the way of immediate opulence on first acquaintance, but closer… Continue reading Audi A1

Jaguar’s scrapped electric XJ pictured in production spec for first time

Pictures have surfaced of an almost production-ready version of Jaguar’s electric XJ, the car that was tipped to lead the brand’s electric reinvention before it was scrapped in 2021. The electric XJ was first previewed by the brand in 2019 and was spotted several times road testing in the advanced stages of its development. But… Continue reading Jaguar’s scrapped electric XJ pictured in production spec for first time