Author: Autocar Magazine UK

Fun fare: An exciting second life for London’s diesel taxis

Another nail is hammered into the coffin of old diesel-engines London taxis in November last year when their maximum permitted age for operation in the capital was reduced by one year to 13 years. To encourage wider take-up of cleaner alternatives, including zero-emissions-capable vehicles, Transport for London offers a grant to owners to take their… Continue reading Fun fare: An exciting second life for London’s diesel taxis

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 2022

Low CO2 emissions of 25g/km and an 8% benefit-in-kind rate will be good news to company car drivers, although it’s only available as a sportier GS Line, making it the most expensive version, so you’ll need plenty of battery charging before recouping that outlay. Good thing it can take as little as two hours to… Continue reading Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 2022

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C8

That’s how it has come to pass that you can, for the first time, buy an official, factory-built, right-hand-drive Corvette sports car from GM Europe’s one and only nominated UK dealer: Ian Allan Motors of Virginia Water, Surrey. This is a sports car unlike any other in the Corvette’s long back catalogue. Critically, it’s a… Continue reading Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C8

BMW leasing subsidiary launches digital salary sacrifice product

Leasing and mobility provider Alphabet, a subsidiary of the BMW Group, has launched a new digital salary sacrifice product, following rising demand for these schemes among corporate customers. Developed with a different ‘trusted partner’ to its predecessor, the new offer operates from an online portal designed to help employees self-serve, generating quotes comparing tax savings… Continue reading BMW leasing subsidiary launches digital salary sacrifice product

What are Euro 7 emissions regs and what will they mean for cars?

Open gallery Audi Q3 in Mahle Powertrain’s cold chamber Euro 7 will add significant costs to testing emissions from cars Audi Q3 in Mahle Powertrain’s solar testing facility Mahle Powertrain facility Close Access to this content requires a subscription to Autocar Business The Knowledge. Click here to purchase a subscription to The Knowledge.  Go to… Continue reading What are Euro 7 emissions regs and what will they mean for cars?

How Max Chilton and the McMurtry Speirling conquered Goodwood

Is the Spéirling a big step forward compared with a Formula 1 car? “It’s so different. The acceleration from 0-60mph is nearly twice as quick as what I did in my fastest launch in an F1 car. That’s how rapid it is. Plus, it’s 100% torque and there are no gearchanges, so it’s completely linear… Continue reading How Max Chilton and the McMurtry Speirling conquered Goodwood

Electrification a “real threat” to affordable vehicles, says Citroen

Electrification is threatening the existence of affordable vehicles, the boss of Citroën Europe has said, as the rising price of raw materials impacts car production around the world.  Speaking at the launch of the Citroën ë-C4 X, Arnaud Ribault suggested that the French manufacturer is aiming to reduce costs of its electric cars.   “The work we’re all doing… Continue reading Electrification a “real threat” to affordable vehicles, says Citroen

Matt Prior: Where have all the practical fast cars gone?

At the launch of the Alpina B4 Gran Coupé, Alpina’s engineers and marketers pulled up a few charts showing pricing comparisons with rival vehicles. (Even if they’re selling a niche expensive product, it’s still a competitive marketplace.) They’re talking Audi RS models and Mercedes-AMG cars, and mostly quietly overlooking the M variants of BMW. But… Continue reading Matt Prior: Where have all the practical fast cars gone?

Nissan Ariya

Its on-paper performance stacks up well against competitiors, too. Our test car was specified in range-topping Evolve trim but with the entry-level front-wheel-drive powertrain and smaller 63kWh battery, and so offered 215bhp and 221lb ft, compared with the range-topping e4orce car’s 388bhp and 443lb ft, and an official range of 250 miles rather than the… Continue reading Nissan Ariya