Toyota is set to raid more of its back catalogue for names of future electric models, rather than continue the alphanumerical naming convention it started with the bZ4X. The bZ4X arrived in 2022 as Toyota‘s first EV, with ‘bZ’ standing for ‘beyond zero’ (emissions), 4 being the size of the car in Toyota lexicon and ‘X’ referring to it… Continue reading Toyota to raid back catalogue for future electric car names
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
DS sets bold plan to rival Bentley and Rolls-Royce
DS aspires to rival Rolls-Royce and Bentley as it targets a move beyond the premium segment and into the luxury sphere. That’s according to design director Thierry Métroz, who said the Stellantis-owned French brand’s “dream is to be the Louis Vuitton of the automotive industry”. Speaking to Autocar at the Brussels motor show at the… Continue reading DS sets bold plan to rival Bentley and Rolls-Royce
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.123)
On this week’s My Week In Cars podcast join our hosts Matt Prior and Steve Cropley as they talk about Brooklands Museum and Bicester Motion’s first events of 2025. Steve has a nose around a Dacia Spring, we advise a listener which cars come with spare wheels, and Prior gets annoyed with a Hyundai advert.… Continue reading My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.123)
Aston Martin Vantage Roadster brings 656bhp V8
The new Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is one of the most powerful drop-top sports cars on sale following an extensive, performance-focused upgrade. With 656bhp and 590lb ft from a reworked version of the existing twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, the new Roadster packs substantially more power than its 505bhp predecessor and has been set up to be… Continue reading Aston Martin Vantage Roadster brings 656bhp V8
New 2025 Dacia Bigster undercuts SUV rivals at £24,995
The new Dacia Bigster SUV is available to pre-order now for less money than a Volkswagen Golf. The Romanian firm’s largest model yet starts at just £24,995 – nearly £3000 less than the cheapest Golf and far below the list price of many of its closest rivals. The Nissan Qashqai, for example, starts at £30,135, the Ford… Continue reading New 2025 Dacia Bigster undercuts SUV rivals at £24,995
St Helena opens world’s remotest EV charger in push to go all-electric
British businessman Derek Pedley, who is one of five people to already be running an EV on the island, told Autocar that the powertrain’s simplicity will lead to hundreds of EVs being imported within the next five years. His confidence has led him to begin importing a small fleet of electric Minis. He will also… Continue reading St Helena opens world’s remotest EV charger in push to go all-electric
Leapmotor: range-extenders key to hitting EV ‘tipping point’ in 2028
Stellantis’s new Chinese EV brand Leapmotor believes the addition of a range-extender (REx) powertrain to its C10 SUV will be an important factor in both its growth and the adoption of EVs in Europe. Leapmotor International is a joint venture set up to sell Leapmotor cars in Europe, owned 51% by Stellantis and 49% by Leapmotor itself. In the coming months,… Continue reading Leapmotor: range-extenders key to hitting EV ‘tipping point’ in 2028
Motorway autonomy stuck in cost jam but inching forward
What price to hand over the driving to your car? With useful vehicular autonomy remaining tantalisingly out of reach, mainly due to cost issues, the topic was hotly debated among car makers and automotive suppliers at the recent CES tech show in Las Vegas. The desire to make the jump from level-two driver assistance to level three with… Continue reading Motorway autonomy stuck in cost jam but inching forward
2026 Citroen C5 Aircross design ‘95% ready’ for production
The boldly styled concept for the next Citroën C5 Aircross is “95% ready” for showrooms and will usher in a raft of distinctive new design cues for the French brand’s electric era. Citroën’s largest model will enter its second generation next year, retaining its traditional two-box silhouette but being heavily redesigned as it moves onto Stellantis’s new… Continue reading 2026 Citroen C5 Aircross design ‘95% ready’ for production
Renault will not ‘force’ Twingo into UK dealers to boost EV sales mix
Renault aims to take the Mk4 from conception to the road in less than two years and has partnered with an unnamed Chinese consultancy in a bid to make the engineering and production processes as efficient as possible. In spite of its low projected list price (which puts it in the realm of the petrol-engined… Continue reading Renault will not ‘force’ Twingo into UK dealers to boost EV sales mix