Alpine will have two convertibles in its line-up by 2030, with plans for drop-top versions of both its next-generation A110 sports car and its forthcoming Porsche 911-rivalling fastback GT. The Renault Group’s performance brand is in the process of building a line-up of seven electric-only models by 2030. To that end it has already launched the… Continue reading Alpine lifts lid on plan for two EV roadsters
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Ioniq, ID, EQ… what makes an electric sub-brand succeed?
Our spy shots of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class suggest that what’s going to happen next with that car is what happened with the GLC over the summer: an end to the weird, soap bar-looking EQ electric models and an alignment with the combustion models. “If you were told this was the next-gen combustion GLC, you… Continue reading Ioniq, ID, EQ… what makes an electric sub-brand succeed?
Listen: Alpine boss says A290 is convincing petrolheads to go EV
The Alpine A290 hot hatch is helping to convert long-time petrolheads to electric power, according to the brand’s UK boss. The Renault 5-based EV is the first new car under Alpine’s reinvention from a single-model sports car brand into a performance-honed electrified brand. Speaking to the Autocar Meets podcast, Alpine UK chief Nicola Burnside said… Continue reading Listen: Alpine boss says A290 is convincing petrolheads to go EV
One step beyond: how Kia plans to shake up the van market
In this transition era for the automotive industry, barely a week passes without a manufacturer wheeling out a bold new electric machine with a flashy presentation that claims it brings tomorrow’s technology to today’s roads and will transform the fortunes of the firm that made it. But those presentations don’t normally include extended sections on… Continue reading One step beyond: how Kia plans to shake up the van market
This Lotus can hit 420kW – if you find a fast enough charger
How long does it take to fill up a car? When the difference between a fast fuel pump and a slow one and a big tank and a small one is three minutes, the answer is ‘who cares?’. That said, I still find filling up with fuel quite tedious, largely because you have to stand… Continue reading This Lotus can hit 420kW – if you find a fast enough charger
Peugeot to expand GTi with more hot models after e-208
Peugeot will flesh out its revived GTi performance line-up with more models beyond the new e-208 hot hatch as part of a push to put “great driving sensations” at the core of its brand positioning. The e-208 GTi is the latest entrant into a small but growing field of electric hot hatchbacks and will take on the… Continue reading Peugeot to expand GTi with more hot models after e-208
Fiat 500 Hybrid
In spite of the 500 Hybrid being something of a hack job, cobbled together with whatever Fiat had lying around on the shelves, the end result is fairly impressive. The Firefly engine is particularly well suited to nipping around town, with the majority of its grunt coming in at just 2000rpm. Advertisement With six tightly spaced… Continue reading Fiat 500 Hybrid
Fiat Grande Panda Electric gains entry trim with steel wheels
The Fiat Grande Panda Electric has gained a new entry-level trim in the UK, meaning it now starts from £20,995. The Pop grade that was previously exclusive to the Grande Panda Hybrid replaces Red trim, bringing 16in steel wheels, LED headlights and two-tone black and blue cloth upholstery. Cars painted red will now feature (RED) badging no… Continue reading Fiat Grande Panda Electric gains entry trim with steel wheels
“All over the place”: haphazard incentive cuts threaten EV confidence
Experts are warning against the “haphazard” removal of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle incentives, following further adjustment to fleet tax breaks as part of the 2025 Budget. Businesses are critical for the UK’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market, accounting for around 80% of registrations across both, according to the latest Department for Transport… Continue reading “All over the place”: haphazard incentive cuts threaten EV confidence
Porsche 911 GT3 R proves old-school engineering isn’t dead
With so much of the news from manufacturers these days focused on software-defined vehicles, we could be forgiven for believing the era of grassroots engineering has long passed. Thankfully it hasn’t, and the same basic principles still apply to making cars go, stop, steer and hold the road, even if the backroom tools used to do… Continue reading Porsche 911 GT3 R proves old-school engineering isn’t dead