The interior is basically untouched compared with the regular car. Which means it’s neatly laid out, expensively put together with physical controls for most things. The view out is reassuringly straight forward considering the size of the car. The roof can be opened in 14-seconds and closed in 16-seconds. It works at up to 31mph… Continue reading Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Skoda Elroq: why it’s What Car?’s favourite family electric SUV
Skoda has an apparently simple mantra when it comes to developing its electric cars: “Do it once, do it right.” It’s a mantra that sounds simple, but which is remarkably difficult to pull off. Nevertheless, that’s what the company has managed, first with the prizewinning Enyaq electric SUV, and now with this, the award-winning Elroq,… Continue reading Skoda Elroq: why it’s What Car?’s favourite family electric SUV
Volvo design chief steps down after two years
Volvo design chief Jeremy Offer has resigned after two years. His resignation comes just months after the departure of former Volvo CEO Jim Rowan, who was instrumental in his appointment. Both executives had come into the car industry as outsiders: Rowan was previously the chief of Dyson and Offer had spent six years as the lead designer… Continue reading Volvo design chief steps down after two years
Bold new (Amp)era: ZF shaping new generation of range extenders
Let’s wind back to 2012: Britain is gripped by Olympic fever as Vauxhall launches the Ampera and the UK’s first ‘plug-in’ hybrid decisively beats the Volkswagen Up to European Car of the Year glory in the process. Within 12 months the Ampera will have a carbonfibre-cored rival in the unlikely shape of the BMW i3, another… Continue reading Bold new (Amp)era: ZF shaping new generation of range extenders
Renault 5: 84% of electric car’s UK buyers are new to the brand
Some 84% of Renault 5 buyers are new to the brand, giving it one of the highest conquest rates of any model the brand has yet launched. A recent Renault survey of around 1900 5 buyers in the UK revealed that roughly 1600 were switching out of a competitor product: 3.4% part-exchanged a Mini Cooper, 3.8%… Continue reading Renault 5: 84% of electric car’s UK buyers are new to the brand
UK firm reveals next-gen adaptive suspension for mainstream cars
This all plugs into a central control unit, which uses data from the car’s various sensors to decide what each suspension corner unit should do. Clearmotion doesn’t use cameras because they are unreliable in less than perfect conditions, and lidar sensors are expensive and create too much data. To add in a predictive element, Clearmotion… Continue reading UK firm reveals next-gen adaptive suspension for mainstream cars
Mercedes-Benz A-Class to remain on sale until 2028
The future of the B-Class remains uncertain, but Autocar understands Mercedes will stick to its original plan and cease production of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer rival at the end of 2025. The extension of the A-Class hatchback’s model cycle coincides with a broader reshuffle of Mercedes’ compact car line-up. Following the launch of the… Continue reading Mercedes-Benz A-Class to remain on sale until 2028
New discount makes GWM Ora 03 one of UK’s cheapest EVs
The GWM Ora 03 has become one of the UK’s cheapest electric cars at £21,245, after the Chinese brand cut the model’s price by £3750 to match the UK government’s new Electric Car Grant. The ECG, announced last week, will discount new EVs (priced below £37,000) by either £3750 or £1500. These bandings will, however,… Continue reading New discount makes GWM Ora 03 one of UK’s cheapest EVs
Isuzu D-Max EV brings 163-mile range for £59,995
The new Isuzu D-Max EV will be priced from £59,995 (excluding VAT) when it arrives in UK showrooms next February. The Japanese brand’s first EV – and one of the UK’s first electric pick-up trucks – swaps the existing D-Max’s diesel engine for a pair of electric motors. One is mounted on each axle, giving… Continue reading Isuzu D-Max EV brings 163-mile range for £59,995
Alpine still developing large premium EVs as US launch postponed
Alpine is still developing larger and more upmarket electric cars to crown its line-up, despite having put its plans to enter the US market on ice. The Renault-owned performance brand had planned a US launch for 2027 as part of its strategy to achieve 150,000 annual sales by 2030 but postponed the plans indefinitely after the Trump… Continue reading Alpine still developing large premium EVs as US launch postponed