Matters improved even more after the Velvet Revolution brought down the Czechoslovakian communists and Volkswagen bought into Skoda with grand plans for its transformation. The first fruit was the Felicia, a Favorit heavily updated with a fresh look, modern safety measures and VW engines. “The Felicia is not only good enough to be mentioned in… Continue reading Skoda milestones: the cars that defined the brand
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
The origin story behind one of Peugeot’s prettiest cars
It’s a rare thing for public relations managers to perform extreme tests on their company’s products, but that was the inadvertent fate of a senior PR from Peugeot back in 2010. Out very early to recce a test route before his press guests arrived, he and a colleague took an RCZ into the foothills of… Continue reading The origin story behind one of Peugeot’s prettiest cars
Skoda CEO reveals secret to huge profits
“It is an evolution,” says Zellmer. “We respect customers’ preferences and cater for customer preferences, not an ideology. Of course we need to stay CO2 – it’s a regulation we will adhere to, and we are on a good trajectory to meet CO2 compliance in the EU. But he adds: “When in 2019 the forecasts… Continue reading Skoda CEO reveals secret to huge profits
Sting in the tale: Scorpion hunting in an Abarth 600e
This latest interpretation of the genre isn’t so far removed in its conception from some of the best of the breed. Take a humble, compact family hauler, add some power, beef up the bodywork, stick on some more competent rubber, stiffen the suspension, slap on some racy decals and away you go: it’s a recipe that rarely… Continue reading Sting in the tale: Scorpion hunting in an Abarth 600e
Why Skoda makes your perfect electrified company car
Electrifying. Quite a word. Conjures up all manner of good things. Synonyms include words such as exciting, thrilling, spellbinding, dazzling and captivating. But the word means much more to company car drivers, because not only does it signify scintillating performance, but it also means “low company car taxation”. And that’s why, no matter what your… Continue reading Why Skoda makes your perfect electrified company car
New Freelander brand to reveal first car “in coming months”
The first new Freelander model in more than a decade will be revealed “in the coming months”, JLR has confirmed. Set to be a tech-led, electrified, full-size SUV, it will hit road in the second half of 2026. As reported, the car will be the first of a new range of models to wear the Freelander badge as part of an effort… Continue reading New Freelander brand to reveal first car “in coming months”
My 500bhp, £400k Brabus is atrocious – but I’ll never sell it
“I could drive it to the moon and back and run over everything on the way,” says Tom Exton about his Brabus Mercedes G500 4×4², also known as the G500 Squared. I don’t doubt it. In addition to the ‘regular’ Squared’s gains over the standard G500 (more than twice the ground clearance, thanks to the… Continue reading My 500bhp, £400k Brabus is atrocious – but I’ll never sell it
My 500bhp, £400k Brabus is atrocious – but I’ll never sell it
“I could drive it to the moon and back and run over everything on the way,” says Tom Exton about his Brabus Mercedes G500 4×4², also known as the G500 Squared. I don’t doubt it. In addition to the ‘regular’ Squared’s gains over the standard G500 (more than twice the ground clearance, thanks to the… Continue reading My 500bhp, £400k Brabus is atrocious – but I’ll never sell it
How I’ll get Vauxhall back on track: new boss tells all
Vauxhall is a very different place from the one that new managing director Steve Catlin left back in 2015. Then, as retail sales director, he worked for parent company General Motors at the sizeable Griffin House in Luton, not far from the Vauxhall manufacturing plant and once home to a staff of over 2000. Ten… Continue reading How I’ll get Vauxhall back on track: new boss tells all
Hardcore Bentley Continental Supersports brings 657bhp and RWD
However, Bentley says that outright power wasn’t the aim. Instead, the brief for the Supersports was to create the most driver-focused Bentley to date. Key to this, compared with the standard car, is where the power is sent. This is the first Continental – apart from GT3 race cars – to feature a rear-wheel drive… Continue reading Hardcore Bentley Continental Supersports brings 657bhp and RWD