The motor trade isn’t doing enough to make women feel welcome when they’re buying a car, according to new research. In 2023, almost 17 million women held a UK driving licence, compared with almost 18 million men, and many women buy their own car or are responsible for a shared purchase of one. Yet in… Continue reading Women feel unwelcome and patronised at car showrooms
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
Mercedes-AMG to simulate gearboxes in ’emotional’ EVs
Mercedes-AMG will simulate internal-combustion powertrains in its upcoming EVs in a bid to hit the “emotional” benchmarks set by its previous V8- and V12-powered sports cars. Speaking to Autocar at the launch of the AMG Concept GT XX, Mercedes-Benz Group tech chief Markus Schäfer suggested that the brand could go as far as simulating gearchanges… Continue reading Mercedes-AMG to simulate gearboxes in ’emotional’ EVs
Dacia Duster to remain rugged 4×4 in move to electric power
Dacia is readying its hugely popular Duster for the EV age – and the upcoming electric variant is set to stay true to its affordable, rugged ethos as well as retain the option of a go-anywhere 4×4. The Romanian brand will showcase the next chapter of its reinvention in November, following the launch of its… Continue reading Dacia Duster to remain rugged 4×4 in move to electric power
Work underway at Tata’s UK EV battery factory ahead of 2027 opening
Autocar understands the site will be known as Agratas South West, but it remains unclear whether that holds any implications for future Agratas facilities in other parts of the country. The factory, which will create 4000 jobs, will initially make batteries for Tata Motors and JLR (formerly Jaguar Land Rover) – brands that sit under… Continue reading Work underway at Tata’s UK EV battery factory ahead of 2027 opening
Krief: The engineering guru who swapped Ferrari for Renault
A successful one, admittedly – young Krief was rolling around in the back of DS Citroëns and had a soft spot for his father’s Peugeot 504 coupé (the Pininfarina one, he reminds me), so delectable metal was on the scene. But it wasn’t the impetus. Engineering was the job he always wanted to do, “so I… Continue reading Krief: The engineering guru who swapped Ferrari for Renault
How Ellesmere Port was saved: inside the old Astra factory’s revival
It made sense, because her husband, an American, was already a paint supplier there. Aston Martin paint is quite different from Ford Transit paint, she found: “I started off thinking five jobs an hour would be easier than 60 jobs an hour, but that was completely wrong. True, Aston paint was very different – many more… Continue reading How Ellesmere Port was saved: inside the old Astra factory’s revival
Scouting report: inside VW’s new off-road brand
It’s very simple: I get targets from an engineering perspective. We’re focused on ability, on approach angles, the torque, weight distribution, everything. We’re working on an e-beam and a special axle design. We have 35in wheels. You have to have the sway bar disconnect. But we can combine the tradition of an off-road car with the innovations of an… Continue reading Scouting report: inside VW’s new off-road brand
Lotus plans to close UK plant in Norfolk and shift production to US
The company will pivot instead to Hyper Hybrid PHEVs with Lotus sports cars also in-line for an electrified drivetrain. The first Lotus plug-in hybrid will be the Eletre and will go on sale in the first quarter of next year, starting in China. Hethel was to build a planned electric sports car when Emira production ended… Continue reading Lotus plans to close UK plant in Norfolk and shift production to US
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025 preview: all the biggest launches
Everything you need to know about the BMW Vision Driving Experience Eccentrica Diablo restomod Described by its maker as the ultimate Diablo, this restomod intends to unleash the potential of Lamborghini’s famously tetchy flagship. Its chassis has been reinforced with carbonfibre, the brakes overhauled, traction control added and the V12 tweaked with new camshafts and springs.… Continue reading Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025 preview: all the biggest launches
Lotus mulls PHEV sports cars in commitment to ICE power
Lotus is testing its upcoming ‘Hyper Hybrid’ technology in sports cars as the company continues its pivot away from a pure electric future amid falling sales. It is “investigating the feasibility” of a sports car with the high-powered plug-in hybrid technology, CEO Feng Qingfeng said on his company’s first-quarter earnings call. Lotus reported a 42% drop… Continue reading Lotus mulls PHEV sports cars in commitment to ICE power