Car News

New Runabout gets pop-up headlights Striking roofless racer is the first in a series of models drawing on the famous Italian design house’s heritage Bertone is putting the Marcello Gandini-designed Runabout into production as a retro-futuristic supercar, 55 years after revealing the concept. The new Runabout remains faithful to the taut, wedge-like proportions of the 1969 original but features several tweaks both to modernise it and to ensure that it's usable on the open road. For example, the bizarre headlights (mounted high on its shoulder line, alongside the occupants’ heads) have been replaced with pop-up units integrated into the nose. The […]

Where do our road testers rate the latest mid-engined Ferraris, Lamborghinis and McLarens relative to one other? Very few cars inspire the kind of instant, childish, gleeful excitement that the best supercars do. The term 'supercar' has become a little fluid over the last few years, but essentially they aim to combine exotic and singularly purposeful looks, with kidney-crushing performance and physics-testing handling, at a slightly more attainable price. The route to outright performance has changed over the years too, with everything from pure ICE machines to plug-in hybrids in the mix. There’s also still a surprisingly wide array of engine layouts, […]

RS models arrive once in a blue moon; hottest Focus bowed out six years ago Firm's design boss says it will stick with making road-focused performance cars in the EV age Ford is committed to making performance models in the future despite the slimming down of the Ford Performance range for ST and RS models in recent years. With the Focus ST soon to follow the Fiesta ST into retirement, only the Puma ST and the Mustang will remain on sale. Autocar spoke to Ford of Europe design director Amko Leenarts in a wide-ranging interview on the firm’s future (see […]

Next-generation GT3 could switch to a variation of the hybrid system used by the new 911 GTS The 4.0-litre engine is one of just two from the German car maker not to feature forced induction or a hybrid element The Porsche 911 GT3’s 503bhp naturally aspirated flat six has only around two years left on sale without being turbocharged or electrified, according to Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger.  The 4.0-litre engine has powered the GT3 since the ‘991.2’ generation of 2018 and is also fitted in the 911 S/T, 911 GT3 RS, 718 Cayman GT4 RS and 718 Spyder RS, […]

Get your nominations in for our new awards celebrating diverse automotive talent There are just a few days left to get your nominations in for the 2025 Drivers of Change awards, a new initiative held in association with Ennis & Co and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) to champion diverse talent in the automotive industry. A returning name with a completely new format and approach, Drivers of Change is a sibling event to Autocar’s Great Women initiative, which celebrates the automotive industry as a place that welcomes everybody.  Autocar Drivers of Change winners will be individuals who are driving change and […]

Ace Electric uses Tremec motor and battery package Reborn 1950s roadster gains EV option that weighs little more than its petrol-engined sibling AC Cars has unveiled an electric version of its Ace roadster that tips the scales at less than 1134kg, making it one of the lightest open-top EVs on sale. The single-motor MG Cyberster weighs 1885kg and the Wiesmann Project Thunderball is said to be just above 1700kg. The combustion-engined Ace, meanwhile, is 1100kg. The Ace Classic Electric uses gearbox maker Tremec’s eGT413 powertrain, comprising a 72kWh battery pack and 300bhp motor. Carbonfibre bodywork, as used by the petrol Ace, helps to keep the EV’s weight […]

Audi’s long-lived SUV entry point has proved to be a sales success, but is its age now counting against it? Since it went on sale in 2016 the Audi Q2 has been not just a gateway to its SUV line-up, for many owners it’s the first model they’ve chosen from the upmarket brand.  That's relatively long by modern standards, and the Q2's life cycle is good news for second-hand buyers as it’s given prices of older examples plenty of time to fall. Despite some regular freshening-up, it’s feeling its age compared with the Ford Puma, Lexus LBX and Mini Countryman to highlight but […]

Torsen limited-slip differential and stiffer rear axle should make the Abarth more lively than the regular 600e Hotter version of Fiat’s small electric crossover gets power boost, reworked chassis and aggressive styling The full-fat 278bhp version of the Abarth 600e will cost £41,975 when UK order books open next month. The Fiat performance brand's Ford Puma ST rival borrows its single-motor electric powertrains from the closely related Alfa Romeo Junior. The range-topping Scorpionissima sends 278bhp and 254lb ft of torque through its front wheels via a Torsen limited-slip differential, allowing it to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in a claimed 5.9sec. The entry-level version packs […]

New model will sit on STLA Medium platform, be related to new Vauxhall Insignia and successor to DS 9 Lancia has released the first picture of the new Gamma, which will arrive as the Italian brand’s new flagship in 2026. The crossover will be based on the STLA Medium platform – which underpins other Stellantis models including the new Peugeot 3008 – and offered with both combustion and electric powertrains. The Gamma will be twinned with the upcoming successor to the DS 9 and the rebooted Vauxhall Insignia, both of which will share the Gamma’s production line at Melfi, Italy. It will continue the […]

Restructuring of German giant includes 10% salary reduction for all staff and two-year pay freeze The Volkswagen works council has outlined cost-cutting plans that threaten to reshape the company's operations in Germany. In a meeting today, council chair Daniela Cavallo told workers the company’s board plans to shutter at least three of Volkswagen’s 10 German production facilities, while reducing capacity at the others, asserting: "None are safe!" The closure of any plant would be a first for Volkswagen in its 87-year history. Together with the plant closures, the plans put forward by the board include significant workforce reductions, salary cuts and the […]