The arrival of the two powertrains will coincide with a new platform that promises improvements in driver engagement, comfort and safety. For medium-sized cars, it will be 90kg lighter than the current structure and the bodies applied to the frame will bring a further 10% saving in mass. Cost-cutting is also a key directive in… Continue reading Honda taps “world’s most efficient” ICE powertrain for hybrid blitz
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
WATCH: We test – and JUMP! – a Monster Truck
[embedded content] “You’re going to catch some air,” says Tristan England, driver of the JCB Digatron Monster Jam truck, the subject of this year’s Christmas road test. This was unexpected. If you’ll excuse the behind-the-scenes indulgence, sometimes we get a brief go in a Christmas road test vehicle, sometimes an extended run, but often –… Continue reading WATCH: We test – and JUMP! – a Monster Truck
Facelifted Kia Sportage due in UK this summer with 236bhp hybrid
The updated Kia Sportage will arrive in UK showrooms this summer, offering a choice of petrol or hybrid power. One of the UK’s best-selling cars, the crossover has been reworked to bring its styling into line with its newer stablemates, such as the Picanto, Sorento and electric EV3. The new treatment comprises column-like headlights and a… Continue reading Facelifted Kia Sportage due in UK this summer with 236bhp hybrid
Quarter of motorists unhappy with ADAS as ‘trust gap’ widens
Widespread confusion regarding the capabilities and limitations of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is developing a ‘trust gap’ with modern cars. That’s the conclusion of a new survey from technology specialist DG Cities, which warns that in order to buck this trend, dealers and car makers need to explain the tech better to buyers. From… Continue reading Quarter of motorists unhappy with ADAS as ‘trust gap’ widens
My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.143)
This week Steve Cropley and Matt Prior meet in a top designer’s office to talk about some secret Rovers, why the upcoming death of the Ford Focus ST means too much, Steve’s newly shiny Alpine A110, the Audi A3 PHEV, and much more besides, including your correspondence. Make sure you never miss an Autocar podcast. Subscribe… Continue reading My Week In Cars: New Steve Cropley/Matt Prior podcast (ep.143)
Nio Firefly confirmed for sale in Europe; set for UK by October
The Nio Firefly, a Chinese rival for the Renault 5 and incoming Volkswagen ID 2, has been confirmed for Europe – and UK sales should soon follow. The electric supermini was launched in China in April, offering a range of 260 miles (albeit on the lenient CLTC test cycle) and a single rear-mounted 141bhp motor for… Continue reading Nio Firefly confirmed for sale in Europe; set for UK by October
New pictures of 2025 Nissan Leaf ahead of full debut this month
The new third-generation Nissan Leaf EV will be fully revealed later this month ahead of a market launch by the end of the year. In a new video showcasing some headline attributes, Nissan revealed new details and angles of the upcoming Skoda Elroq rival, which will enter production at Sunderland in the coming months. Nissan says… Continue reading New pictures of 2025 Nissan Leaf ahead of full debut this month
Renault Austral
Under the bonnet sits Renault’s familiar E-Tech Full Hybrid powertrain, which in this application pairs a 129bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine with a 67bhp front-mounted electric motor and a 34bhp integrated starter-generator. All in, it makes 197bhp and 302lb ft for a rather modest 8.4sec 0-62mph time. Like the Rafale, the Austral pulls away… Continue reading Renault Austral
Wild new 641bhp Bentley Bentayga Speed has Porsche 911 pace
The new Bentley Bentayga Speed has been unwrapped as the brand’s quickest SUV yet, beating its predecessor to 62mph by half a second and going on to 193mph. It swaps the previous Bentayga Speed’s 6.0-litre W12, now retired, for a twinturbocharged 4.0-litre V8 that puts out 641bhp and 627lb ft – a gain of 15bhp… Continue reading Wild new 641bhp Bentley Bentayga Speed has Porsche 911 pace
Real range anxiety: Driving London to Land’s End in 1921
Indeed, many competitors floundered, but there were several impressive performances too, like that by VG Lloyd, who “astounded everyone with his speed” in his two-cylinder Carden. Notably, Lionel Martin “romped up the hill” in his new production Aston Martin (he had co-founded the company in 1913 to build hillclimb specials; Aston was a course in Buckinghamshire).… Continue reading Real range anxiety: Driving London to Land’s End in 1921