British battery start-up Volklec will begin producing cells in Coventry later this year. It has licensed two lithium ion designs from Chinese firm Far East Battery, each measuring 21mm in diameter and 70mm in length. The first to enter production will be a cell for e-bikes and suchlike, using nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistry, followed by a new and more powerful… Continue reading UK battery start-up to begin cell production this year
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
Increasing the Gran Coupé’s length by 20mm was partly to improve interior space There’s certainly enough room up front to accommodate most drivers, while rear leg room and head room below that sloping roofline are passable for passengers up to around 6ft tall. The boot measures 430 litres, which is down on the 460 litres offered… Continue reading BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
Mercedes-AMG and the art of the U-turn
Fans of the egg-faced volte-face will be smirking into their coffee mugs this week at the news that Mercedes-AMG’s incoming CLE 63 coupé is to get not four, not six but eight cylinders. What’s more, when the current C63 saloon and estate come in for their mid-life refresh next year, they too will become available… Continue reading Mercedes-AMG and the art of the U-turn
Who is Forseven? New UK start-up made up of top industry talent
A little-known British EV start-up has been quietly recruiting some of the industry’s best-known executives as it gears up to launch an assault on the global luxury car market. Named Forseven, the three-year-old firm is backed by cash-rich CYVN Holdings, an investment group majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi government. The group also owns Gordon Murray… Continue reading Who is Forseven? New UK start-up made up of top industry talent
Car makers suffer punishing year in China – with more woe to come
Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark recalled the disbelief from seasoned luxury car dealers at the speed of the sales collapse in China. “You sit around the table with them and they’re saying ‘what is this?’. They’ve never experienced a recession; it has been constant growth for 25 years.” Global car makers, from boutique luxury brands… Continue reading Car makers suffer punishing year in China – with more woe to come
Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider
Dropping the roof lets you better hear one of the world’s great engines, of course. The 6.5-litre, naturally aspirated V12 only shouts really loudly at high revs and in the racier drive modes. But even above 9000rpm, it’s smoothly noisy rather than raucous. It’s easy to understand why, despite the rigidity (and, to my eyes,… Continue reading Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider
Morgan Supersport: Plus Six replacement to be revealed in March
For the new flagship, it seems more likely that Morgan will use lessons from the limited-edition Midsummer to produce a considerably more exclusive and upmarket model, clearly differentiated from the Plus Four, that will justify higher prices and more interest in the firm’s bespoke programme. Some people inside Morgan have been calling for this move… Continue reading Morgan Supersport: Plus Six replacement to be revealed in March
Ferrari Roma
Once you’re off and rolling at almost any speed, the Roma, like all modern Ferraris, has a direct steering ratio that picks up pace only just off-centre, and here, as in any of the firm’s models, that takes some getting used to. But when cornering quickly, the Roma rolls appreciably less than the Portofino and… Continue reading Ferrari Roma
Murray firm developing ultra-lightweight chassis for new supercars
Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) is to launch “a portfolio of new vehicles” underpinned by a ultra-lightweight supercar chassis being developed by a UK consortium. Project M-Lighten aims to create monocoques using high-strength extrusion aluminium alloy which, while lighter, will be stronger and produced in a greener way than today’s GMA supercars, the T50 and T33. GMG will… Continue reading Murray firm developing ultra-lightweight chassis for new supercars
‘Challenging backdrop’ of low private EV sales hits charging firms
One of the UK’s largest charger companies is facing a fight for its future, after the slowdown in EV take up wiped more than £10 million from its market value overnight. On the release of its 2024 results, which revealed a £7m shortfall on its revenue target of £60m, Pod Point’s share price fell 41%.… Continue reading ‘Challenging backdrop’ of low private EV sales hits charging firms