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
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
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
Genesis Electrified G80
The original G80 EV has always started behind scratch against its rivals because it is based on a model that was packaged for ICE power (even though the petrol and diesel G80 are no longer sold in the UK). That meant it lacked the handy frunk of others, its driving position was compromised by a… Continue reading Genesis Electrified G80
Mercedes EQS launched ’10 years too early’, says design chief
The Mercedes-Benz EQS arrived “10 years too early” for its radical styling to be accepted by buyers, according to its designer. The electric saloon was launched in 2021 as the flagship in a new line of Mercedes EVs but has failed to generate as many sales as its combustion-engined counterpart, the S-Class. A significant reason for… Continue reading Mercedes EQS launched ’10 years too early’, says design chief
As ADAS gets smarter, so must the way we test it
It’s one thing to load cars with safety systems such as ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), but as they get more sophisticated, it becomes more complicated to ensure they always do what’s expected. So manufacturers are turning to the most advanced techniques to validate ADAS and make it as accurate as possible. Volvo is using… Continue reading As ADAS gets smarter, so must the way we test it
Why the Chrysler Crossfire is not a dog’s dinner
There are plenty of things people can’t forgive Jeremy Clarkson for, but near the top of my list is his comparison of the Chrysler Crossfire coupe’s rear end to a dog relieving itself. He has certainly caused worse offence, but now, whenever I see a Crossfire coupe, it’s hard not to recall that unpleasant analogy.… Continue reading Why the Chrysler Crossfire is not a dog’s dinner