Reviews and Articles

Segmented LED lights are key to Smart's new, more rugged look Brand’s biggest model, due in UK in 2025, introduces off-roader-esque design language and new interior layout The Smart #5 concept has been unveiled as a first look at the brand’s largest, most technologically advanced electric car to date. Sized roughly in line with the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40, the #5 introduces a new styling […]

Zero-emission vehicle mandate legislates that of a car makers sales 22% must be EVs in 2024 "One of the most remarkable interventions in any industry ever” is how Mike Hawes, chief of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, described the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate that the UK government introduced into the country’s new car market at the start of this year. However dry and […]

The new Grandland is based on Stellantis’s new STLA Medium architecture Flagship SUV grows with petrol and EV options; is first Vauxhall based on STLA Medium platform The Vauxhall Grandland has been reinvented for a second generation, adopting a fresh look, a thoroughly overhauled interior and the option of electric power for the first time as it moves onto a new platform. The new Grandland […]

Clues to the electric powertrain are minimal Land Rover brand's first EV tests in extreme conditions as it approaches a launch later this year The new electric Range Rover has been all but revealed as final-stage testing gets under way ahead of its launch later this year.  New images show JLR's second production EV testing in the Arctic Circle – following a year of component and virtual […]

The BYD Shark will steal a march on the electrified pick-up truck market New four-wheel-drive double-cab truck from China is poised to rival the forthcoming Ford Ranger PHEV BYD has confirmed that its first pick-up truck will be called the Shark, ahead of its unveiling at the Beijing motor show. The Chinese giant announced the truck will introduce a new plug-in hybrid powertrain called DMO […]

The electric Mercedes G-Class, BYD's first pick-up and Ora's 395bhp sports saloon are among the headliners The Beijing motor show returns next week for the first time since 2019, bringing an array of unveilings from both domestic and global manufacturers. Taking place from Wednesday, 24 April to Saturday, 4 May, one of the world’s most important motor shows will host unveilings of […]

Smooth, long-tailed body gives lower drag coefficient than a Volkswagen XL1 Chinese firm claims new concept will hit 62mph in 1.9sec; has 0.181 drag coefficient MG has unveiled the EXE181 concept, a futuristic Rimac-baiting electric hypercar, ahead of its public debut at the Beijing motor show. It is inspired by the EX181 land speed record car driven by Stirling Moss and Phil Hill throughout […]

The Corsa E raised its game to become a competitive and classy supermini, but is it a better used buy than a Fiesta? With more than 4000 for sale, ranging in price from £2500 to £13,000, with a choice of three or five-door bodies, petrol or diesel engines and manual or automatic gearboxes, and even the hot hatch VXR version, there’s sure to be an example of the Vauxhall Corsa E of 2014-19 to […]

The DBX accounted for around two-thirds of the model's sales in 2023 One-engine offering introduced after sales success, inheriting cockpit from DB12 and Vantage The Aston Martin DBX has gained a touchscreen and is now available exclusively in top-rung 707 guise, dropping the lower-powered 542bhp version of its twin-turbo V8. The move to a one-engine offering comes in response to the success […]

SUV-bodied Cayenne GTS is priced at £106,100, rising to £107,700 for the coupé-SUV Range Rover Sport rival gets new chassis set-up, interior tech and design refresh The Porsche Cayenne GTS has been revised for 2024, gaining performance chassis technology from the Cayenne Turbo GT, improved standard equipment and a host of exterior design changes. On sale now in the UK, the traditional […]

Four years later, Audi moves to address criticisms of its swanky family hatchback Since its introduction in 1999, the Audi A3 has been the conservative and consistent, if somewhat predictable, option in the premium family hatchback class. Now halfway through its fourth generation, it's been treated to a mild nip and tuck in a bid to bolster its ability to compete with the Mercedes-Benz A-Class […]

Audi evolves its take on the all-season hot hatch, but is it more style than substance? As a concept, the Audi S3 possesses not one jot less appeal now than it did when the model first blazed the ‘sports premium compact’ trail four generations ago in 1999.You take an upmarket interior and blend it with four-wheel drive – and, of course, power. All very Audi. But the brilliant bit is that […]

Opalite paint and silver calipers mark out Speed Edition 12 The iconic W12 is retiring just as a new type of Bentley arrives - our editor drives a Flying Spur to Scotland for a taste "First, what do you think?” asks Kirsteen Campbell, creator of the new Bentley as I approach her with a few questions about her latest work. This isn’t after getting out of the Flying Spur Speed Edition 12 […]

More than 800bhp and 1000lb ft make this one of the hottest PHEVs around V8 PHEV makes 804bhp and more than 1000lb ft – making GT PHEV nearly as rapid as the Ferrari SF90 The new plug-in hybrid version of the Mercedes-AMG GT is not just the brand's quickest-accelerating road car yet, but also one of the fastest cars in production.  Arriving just a few months before Porsche is expected to […]

Yellow-tinted light is easier on eyes than pure white Prior develops and French-inspired a solution to headlight glare and believes EV tax breaks are a bad idea I’m pleased to see the government is to look into the issue of headlight brightness and glare – let’s hope they squint a bit – following a recent RAC survey that found a large number of drivers thought dazzling was a problem. […]