Car News

At heart, this is a Lotus Seven – just one with 666bhp per tonne and Le Mans-grade materials tech You descend into the cockpit of the Donkervoort F22 to find Sabelt harnesses but also, if specified, heated seats. At just 750kg wet, it is light enough to belong in the super-lightweight clique, yet the contact patch is almost to Ferrari 430 Scuderia spec. Then there is the power-to-weight ratio, which is a satanic 666bhp per tonne, though engineers on the project insist the car is capable of rewarding those of a more saintly disposition (or simply unable to take it by the […]

Munich’s 50-year-old executive car icon goes boldly into the electric age Before we delve into the various strengths and weaknesses of the BMW i5, let’s rewind.After all, executive saloons have over previous decades gained a reputation for conservatism that, while hard to shake, is now entirely unjustified.Twenty-five years ago, company car buyers wanted efficient diesel engines in packages priced and equipped just so. They didn’t want expensive powertrain technology. They didn’t even want riskier shades of paint.At the time, BMW played to that brief spectacularly well. But now the executive car market has changed out of sight, under the pressure of CO2-based tax regimes.And […]

European Commission's pledges come as "it is very clear now that it is time for action on a number of priorities" Car makers could have longer to hit CO2 targets and join forces on an autonomous vehicle push as part of plans to make the industry in the EU more competitive and robust. The pledges were announced by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen ahead of the release of its Future of the Automotive Industry bill on Wednesday. “It is very clear now that it is time for action – action on a number of priorities,” the German said. At the forefront of the pledges […]

Project 95-59 design is the work of McLaren P1 exterior designer Paul Howse Three-seater based on McLaren platform commemorates 30 years since the specialist’s win at Le Mans Lanzante, the Petersfield-based specialist behind the F1-engined Porsche 911 TAG Turbo, will build a three-seat supercar with a whopping 700bhp per tonne. Codenamed Project 95-59, it has been conceived as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the company’s victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The name references the year in which it won (1995) and the number 59 worn by the triumphant McLaren F1 GTR. Lanzante said it will […]

Steve Hicks and Sanka De Silva effectively swap roles at the Korean car maker Welcome to Movers and Shakers, a new Autocar Business feature covering the latest job moves from across the automotive industry. This page will be updated regularly with all the biggest transfers, promotions and departures in the sector, covering everything you need to know. Names: Steve Hicks, Sanka De Silva Company: Kia UK Roles: Marketing director, sales director Kia UK has appointed Steve Hicks (left) as its new marketing director and Sanka De Silva as sales director – both effectively swapping roles. Hicks, previously sales director for Kia UK, joined the business […]

Gone are the days when buying an EV meant pottering around in a Nissan Leaf. Now, EVs are proper speed machines When electric cars first launched into the mainstream, they utilised early technology and didn’t exactly push the boundaries of performance.  The likes of the Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-Zero, launched in 2009, were a sign of things to come, but they were notoriously slow (both to drive and to charge).  Things have come a long way since then and some electric cars have risen into the upper echelons to become the world’s fastest cars.  Now, the latest generation of […]

Bosch’s brake-by-wire still uses hydraulics to operate the calipers A recent Bosch test drive of over 2000 miles in a mix of climatic conditions on public roads has paved the way for the market launch of a brake-by-wire system this autumn. Orders are already in place from various vehicle makers and Bosch expects 5.5 million vehicles globally to be equipped with brake-by-wire by 2030. Drive-by-wire is a seemingly exotic concept whose essence is to remove the driver from direct mechanical or hydraulic contact with the car’s steering or brakes. Instead, the driver’s inputs through the steering or brake pedal send […]

New MG S5 EV is already on sale in China, badged as the ES5 New crossover – being detailed in full tomorrow – is based on same platform as MG 4 electric hatchback The new MG S5 EV, the replacement for the MG ZS EV, will arrive in the spring, MG Motor UK has confirmed. The new electric crossover has already been revealed in the brand’s home market of China, where it's badged ES5.  It's based on the same SAIC platform as the MG 4 EV hatchback, named MSP, which makes it slightly longer (at 4480mm) and wider (1850mm) than the […]

The showdown: which 4×4 is the king of the class? Does Toyota's perennial off-roader have what it takes worry the Land Rover Defender and Ineos Grenadier? We may not be in the same league as the indigenous peoples of North America when talking about snow, or those of the Middle East about sand. But depending on which regional dialect you zoom in on, you may find as many as 30 synonyms for mud in the various tongues of the British Isles. Clag, clart, gunk, mire, ooze – call it what you will, it seems we are notorious global experts on it. And […]

Dacia Duster is more than capable driving on the rough stuff… If you’re not willing to pit your expensive 4×4 against Mother Nature, consider these used alternatives instead Ah yes: depreciation. It has been working tirelessly for years, taking chunks out of the pricing of large, expensive cars in order to make them more accessible. And our old friend has been working overtime when it comes to 4x4s. The cars on this list are proper workhorses, too, perfect for tackling muddy trails, snowy backroads or, erm, a Tesco car park. Our favourites comprise of legendary off-roaders and a few left-field choices, but all are […]