The Mazda 2 has been axed in the UK following its effective replacement by the Mazda 2 Hybrid – a rebadged Toyota Yaris. The supermini can no longer be ordered brand new, and a spokesperson for the brand confirmed to Autocar that just a “few hundred” examples remain in showrooms across the nation. It brings… Continue reading Mazda 2 supermini axed after a decade on sale
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
New Kia EV4 revealed with choice of hatch or saloon bodystyles
Kia has revealed the production design for its Volkswagen ID 3-rivalling EV4, ahead of a launch later this year. Little changed from the concept shown in 2023, the EV4 arrives to fill the gap between the EV3 hatchback and the EV5 SUV that’s due to launch in Europe soon. It will be sold primarily as… Continue reading New Kia EV4 revealed with choice of hatch or saloon bodystyles
BMW Vision Driving Experience is a radical quad-motor test mule
BMW has revealed the radical Vision Driving Experience, a quad-motor high-performance text vehicle fitted with five fans designed to suck it to the ground that is being used to hone the advanced technology that will power its next-generation of Neue Klasse electric vehicles – including the forthcoming M3 EV. While the powertrain layout, featuring four… Continue reading BMW Vision Driving Experience is a radical quad-motor test mule
Floored in Surrey with Gordon Murray: Welcome to the T50 factory
Some of them, though, have very nice engines. As does the T50. It would be remiss of me not to mention the bespoke 4.0-litre V12, because it sounds so very, very good. “The carbonfibre airbox is basically tuned to give a resonance based on throttle angle, and the noise that we experience is all linked… Continue reading Floored in Surrey with Gordon Murray: Welcome to the T50 factory
How will ZEV mandate and 2035 ICE ban affect small car makers?
The latest government consultation on how quickly the UK car market should migrate to fully electric vehicles concerns what will happen between 2030 and 2035. But it has made it 100% clear where the entire industry, even small- and micro-scale manufacturers, will stand after that. All new cars, no matter who makes them, must be… Continue reading How will ZEV mandate and 2035 ICE ban affect small car makers?
Maserati MC20 GT2 Stradale
The springs are around 10% stiffer, but otherwise the dynamics hardware is fundamentally unchanged, just retuned. As standard, like the regular MC20, you get a mechanical limited-slip differential but an electronically controlled one, which is all we’ve ever tried, is optional. You can move through drive modes to firm the dampers, which also punches gearshifts… Continue reading Maserati MC20 GT2 Stradale
New Peugeot boss open to 208 GTI revival
Peugeot is considering reviving the Peugeot 208 GTi as a hot EV, new boss Alain Favey has said. Favey said bringing the GTi moniker back was “a question I’ve been asking myself very much” since taking over the role of Peugeot CEO from Linda Jackson as part of a wide-reaching Stellantis management shake-up just 10 days… Continue reading New Peugeot boss open to 208 GTI revival
Peugeot 5008, e-5008 now available with five seats for bigger boot
Peugeot has launched five-seat versions of its 5008 and e-5008, trading the third row of seats for one of the biggest boots offered in the segment. The SUVs now offer 994 litres of cargo room behind the second row of seats, which is 78 litres more than in a seven-seat 5008 with the third row folded down.… Continue reading Peugeot 5008, e-5008 now available with five seats for bigger boot
Vauxhall Corsa
In persistent rain, our 99bhp Vauxhall Corsa test car battled through a shortage of traction off the line to hit 60mph in 11.2sec. In similarly adverse conditions last year, however, a 94bhp Volkswagen Polo with smaller, 15in wheels and 185-section tyres was able to hit 60mph from rest half a second quicker. A respectable but… Continue reading Vauxhall Corsa
Check the spec: Finding the forbidden fruit on car configurators
Recently, we featured a road test of the new Audi S5, and the process of writing it gave me an excuse to engage in an underrated pastime: playing with car configurators. All in the name of research, you understand. Not time-wasting. Not at all. The thing with cars like the S5 is that you don’t just have to… Continue reading Check the spec: Finding the forbidden fruit on car configurators