It should have been a hit, and a big one. All the ingredients were there. The Honda CR-Z reprised a much-loved sports coupé of the 1980s, its high grade innards borrowed from one of the late 20th century’s most far-sighted conceptions and its chassis tuned by a Japanese gentleman well used to viewing his rapid… Continue reading Honda CR-Z – is this 50mpg coupe a misunderstood hidden gem?
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
The ‘pious’ pioneer: how the Toyota Prius changed motoring
Taxi! It’s the reductive cry of many when a Prius hums into view, Toyota’s pioneering hybrid hatchback having become the ubiquitous Uber for a generation of ride-hailing devotees. Yet as the petrol-electric model celebrates its quarter century on sale in the UK, does the incredibly efficient and relentlessly reliable Prius deserve to be seen –… Continue reading The ‘pious’ pioneer: how the Toyota Prius changed motoring
Driving instructors deserve more love
Everyone’s got a story. From slipping and sliding around an abandoned field to stalling innumerable times in a whisper-quiet side street, it seems nobody’s first time driving a car goes all that well. Yet, on most occasions, it’s a tale told through a smile. What should be a deeply overwhelming experience ends up being joyful,… Continue reading Driving instructors deserve more love
Autocar Meets author and historian Karl Ludsvigsen
Karl Ludvigsen, one of the greatest ever writers on motoring subjects and our distinguished guest on this week’s Autocar Meets podcast has had many careers. Car-obsessed from his earliest years, he trained in the US as an engineer and designer in the immediate post-war years, beginning a parallel career as a motoring writer and editor almost… Continue reading Autocar Meets author and historian Karl Ludsvigsen
Two electric MINIs get the John Cooper Works treatment
The Cooper name is steeped in motorsport history. A legendary car maker whose innovative designs changed the face of four-wheeled competition. The Cooper portfolio includes winning Formula One cars that were driven by icons such as Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jack Brabham. But it’s the MINI Cooper that’s perhaps the most iconic car in… Continue reading Two electric MINIs get the John Cooper Works treatment
Nissan Micra
That ‘audacity’ idea was met with scepticism by journalists at the car’s European press launch in Rotterdam. Because – as it might seem, at the very least – all the company has done here is to take a Renault 5, modify the headlights, bumper styling and body surfacing a bit, and slap on some Nissan badges. It… Continue reading Nissan Micra
GWM Poer 300
The open road also exposes the Poer 300’s unimpressive ride comfort. It feels particularly unsettled by undulations and cracks at low speeds, and this fidgeting continues on quicker B-roads. It does eventually rein itself in at motorway speeds, but it’s no match for the Ford Ranger and constant jiggling about on longer journeys could prove… Continue reading GWM Poer 300
Lotus Elise S1 reimagined as 600kg, central-seat supercar
British firm Analogue Automotive has detailed the VHPK, a dramatic new reimagining of the Lotus Elise S1 weighing just 600kg and featuring a central driving position. Announced to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the seminal sports car’s unveiling, it draws on the Sport Elises raced in the Autobytel Lotus Championship at the turn of the millennium. Like… Continue reading Lotus Elise S1 reimagined as 600kg, central-seat supercar
Cyber attack could be costing JLR £5 million a day
JLR could be losing up to £5 million a day in profit as it continues to suffer the consequences of a devastating cyber attack that shut down its operations on 1 September. The shutdown of car production in the British firm’s two factories in the UK as well as those in China, India and Slovakia… Continue reading Cyber attack could be costing JLR £5 million a day
Skoda rules out Citigo successor based on Volkswagen ID 1
Skoda isn’t considering launching an electric car smaller than the forthcoming Epiq in the future, preferring to focus its entry-level efforts on its existing ICE models. The Epiq will arrive next year using the Volkswagen Group’s new MEB Entry platform, which it will share with the Volkswagen ID Polo, Volkswagen ID Cross and Cupra Raval – all… Continue reading Skoda rules out Citigo successor based on Volkswagen ID 1