The government has approved the construction of the Lower Thames Crossing, a new road between Kent and Essex that’s intended to ease the burden on the Dartford Crossing. Measuring around 14.5 miles long, it will be a three-lane, 70mph road connecting the A2/M2 junction with the M25 motorway. This will be done using a pair… Continue reading Lower Thames Crossing approved to ease Dartford pressure
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
New Audi A5 PHEV brings 67-mile electric range for £49k
The new Audi A5 will gain a plug-in hybrid variant in June, one of ten new PHEVs to be launched by the German brand across its line-up in 2025. The A5 arrived last November, initially with petrol and diesel power, replacing the A4 in Audi’s now-dropped naming strategy that assigned even numbers to electric cars and odd numbers to ICE… Continue reading New Audi A5 PHEV brings 67-mile electric range for £49k
All-new MG 4 EV not yet planned for UK; update inbound instead
The MG 4 EV will be updated for the UK market in the coming months, but there are no immediate plans for it to get the same wide-ranging redesign that was recently revealed in China. This was confirmed to Autocar by MG Motor UK product boss David Allison, who said the electric car will instead get an extensive interior refresh to mirror that of… Continue reading All-new MG 4 EV not yet planned for UK; update inbound instead
MG S5 EV
What is the S5 EV? It’s a rubbish name, for starters – one that only makes sense if you think very hard about it. It’s effectively the taller, chunkier version of the 4 hatchback, using the same rear-drive dedicated EV platform. In other words, it’s what the Renault Scenic is to the Renault Megane. As… Continue reading MG S5 EV
Mild-hybrid diesel Toyota Hilux goes on sale at £49,640
A new mild-hybrid diesel Toyota Hilux has gone on sale in the UK, priced from £49,640, with the brand claiming it offers the same capabilities as its regular counterpart plus better refinement and responsiveness. It uses the same 2.8-litre turbo diesel four that was already offered in the Hilux but adds an electric motor-generator and a 48V lithium… Continue reading Mild-hybrid diesel Toyota Hilux goes on sale at £49,640
Renault to revive ‘Fast and Furious cars’ as it taps into retro
Renault will continue to tap into its back catalogue with plans to revive iconic “Fast and Furious cars” of the 1990s and early 2000s. Speaking at the launch of the new Renault 5 Turbo 3E, group design chief Laurens van den Acker said he believes there is “a window of opportunity” for more desirable retro revivals,… Continue reading Renault to revive ‘Fast and Furious cars’ as it taps into retro
Why the car industry is turning to steer-by-wire
The Nio ET9 now comes with a ZF full steer-by-wire system that has no mechanical connection between the road wheels and the steering wheel. It’s among the first production cars to be fitted with steer-by-wire, but not the first. Infiniti tried it with the Q50 as far back as 2013. The Toyota bZ4X is also… Continue reading Why the car industry is turning to steer-by-wire
Why electric propulsion is the perfect fit for Rolls-Royce
Too big and heavy, too expensive, too slow to charge. These are all accusations levelled at today’s electric car batteries, to an extent and on occasions, fairly. Consider also what’s said about Rolls-Royce: that it makes the world’s best cars. “Strive for perfection in everything you do,” Sir Henry Royce reportedly once said. In the 1920s,… Continue reading Why electric propulsion is the perfect fit for Rolls-Royce
How car interiors are sparking new levels of creativity
After decades of ubiquitous grey, black and cream interiors, car makers are finally experimenting with more adventurous combinations of colours and materials. The new Fiat Grande Panda pairs a blue dashboard and seat upholstery with yellow mood lighting; Mini is stitching bold, brightly coloured patterns into the Aceman’s dashboard and door linings; and Volvo is using… Continue reading How car interiors are sparking new levels of creativity
Ukraine needs vans, minibuses and pick-ups – can you help?
Mighty Convoy, a British non-profit organisation that delivers ambulances and medical aid to Ukraine, has joined forces with two other charities to more effectively get aid to the sick and injured. I travelled with Mighty Convoy a few years ago as it delivered three ambulances filled with emergency medical kit to the Christian Medical Association of Ukraine (CMAU) in… Continue reading Ukraine needs vans, minibuses and pick-ups – can you help?