Author: Autocar Magazine UK

Land Rover Defender update brings styling tweaks, new touchscreen

The Land Rover Defender has been updated with a series of subtle styling tweaks and reworked interior technology, including a larger infotainment touchscreen. The exterior refresh includes a revised headlight design with a smaller centre section – said to provide a “distinctive” graphic when activated – as well as the application of a smoked tint to… Continue reading Land Rover Defender update brings styling tweaks, new touchscreen

Fiat Grande Panda

Fiat will offer the Grande Panda with two combustion powertrain options: the Hybrid tested here and a pure-ICE version driven through a six-speed manual – although the latter has yet to be confirmed for the UK. As an aside, Fiat has also shown off a 4×4 concept, which is set to go into production and… Continue reading Fiat Grande Panda

Genesis Electrified GV70

Given the largely carried over mechanicals, it’s no surprise the GV70 drives much the same as before, which is to say it ultimately favours a relaxed rather than road-burning approach. That said, the big Korean machine is no slouch. The enlarged battery means a kerbweight increase of 25kg, slowing the Boost-assisted 0-62mph time by a couple… Continue reading Genesis Electrified GV70

Mini John Cooper Works Aceman

Squat, somewhat inelastic, a bit gauche. Its athletic gate is super grippy on the right, smooth roads, but if you find some imperfections that grip is replaced by good old fashioned torque steer.  I actually found this kind of endearing in a kind of #throwwbackthursday kind of way but I wonder if this would grate… Continue reading Mini John Cooper Works Aceman

Official: BMW M2 CS brings 523bhp for £87k

The new BMW M2 CS has been unveiled in full, and it could be the final version of the brand’s junior sports car to feature pure combustion power. Priced from £86,800, the stripped-out, track-focused sports car is the first variant of the ‘G87’ M2 to be launched and comes six years after the original M2 CS… Continue reading Official: BMW M2 CS brings 523bhp for £87k

Alpine to use in-wheel motors for electric sports car line-up

Alpine’s upcoming electric sports cars will use in-wheel motors as part of a radical plan to reduce weight below that of an equivalent combustion engine sports car, Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has confirmed. “It will change everything,” de Meo said of the APP (Alpine Performance Platform), which has been designed by the premium… Continue reading Alpine to use in-wheel motors for electric sports car line-up

Alpine A390 revealed as 464bhp tri-motor Porsche Macan rival

Producing 395bhp in standard GT guise and 464bhp in the top-rung, circa-£70k GTS – and with a peak torque output of 596lb ft – this powertrain can send the A390 from 0-62mph in as little as 3.9sec. That matches the stripped-out A110 R, which weighs around a tonne less. A cheaper variant with a more… Continue reading Alpine A390 revealed as 464bhp tri-motor Porsche Macan rival

First look at Alpine A110 EV due next year

The electric A110’s design will be only subtly evolved from the current car, de Meo suggested. It “needs to look like” an A110, he said. “Porsche doesn’t make a square 911.” More broadly, de Meo said “six or seven” uniquely positioned models would make up the Alpine range, including “some emotional pure sports cars”. Eighteen months ago,… Continue reading First look at Alpine A110 EV due next year

TfL plots congestion charge increase to £18 per day

Transport for London (TfL) has proposed raising the congestion charge for driving into the capital during peak hours to £18 per day. TfL has called for public views on the hike – up from the current £15 per day – which has been mooted to come into effect from 2 January 2026. It would mark… Continue reading TfL plots congestion charge increase to £18 per day