From Esprit to Exige: The highs and lows of Lotus

It is as well that Lotus was not founded a year or so earlier. For had we come to write about its 70th birthday in the early part of 2017, we may not have found too much to celebrate. A glorious past, yes, but a stuttering present and highly uncertain future.  

But now – under new ownership and management, and with Phil Popham, who was... ( подробнее )

Lucid Air: 1065bhp EV officially unveiled with 517-mile range

California-based EV start-up Lucid has revealed the production version of its Air saloon, an electric performance saloon with up to 1065bhp   and a claimed maximum range of 517 miles.  

The marque’s debut model is claimed to be “the most aerodynamic luxury car in the world”, with a drag co-efficient of just 0.21 - 0.01 less than the new... ( подробнее )

2021 Mercedes-Benz EQS: images give first look at interior

Mercedes-Benz is preparing to take on the Tesla Model S, Porsche Taycan and next-generation Jaguar XJ with its plush new EQS electric saloon, and fresh spy shots of a less-disguised prototype have emerged.  

Test cars have recently ditched the bulky body cladding and fake lights of previous testing mules, giving a glimpse of the headlight... ( подробнее )

Inside the industry: was the Aston Martin Cygnet before its time?

Remember the Aston Martin Cygnet? Launched in 2011, the quirky three-seater cost more than ?30,000, marketeers judging that a new, fancier badge, a minor restyle and some luxurious interior appointments made it worth somewhere between twice and three times the price of the Toyota iQ it was almost entirely based on.

In 2013, production of... ( подробнее )

Great car designers & their finest creations

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Car designers can have a huge effect on a company’s fortunes and leave legacies that last for generations.

While some can spend an entire career without ever contributing a complete project, others have an ability to   turn out one stunning shape after... ( подробнее )

Land Rover Defender Hard Top commercial variant goes on sale

Land Rover has opened UK order books for the Defender Hard Top, the commercial version of the new Defender 4x4.

Available in three-door, short-wheelbase Defender 90 and five-door, long-wheelbase Defender 110 bodystyles, Hard Top models eschew rear passenger seats for greater cargo capacity, while retaining the standard car\'s off-road capabilities.

Hard... ( подробнее )

New Audi Q4 E-tron Sportback: production version spotted

Audi\'s   fourth electric SUV, the Q4 E-tron Sportback, has been caught in disguise on public roads for the first time ahead of it going on sale in 2021.

The Tesla Model Y rival will be sold in both normal and Sportback coup?   form. The former was first previewed by a concept at the 2019 Geneva motor show, while the latter was shown in... ( подробнее )

Car makers risk missing deadline to publish WLTP figures

Car makers are “struggling” to publish all model-variant CO2 and MPG figures in time to hit the deadline for the new WLTP fuel economy rules on 1 January 2021, according to a report by industry consultant Jato Dynamics.  

“This isn’t about the test itself or compliance with the test but the massive data flows to inform customers and dealers... ( подробнее )

Skoda Enyaq iV: electric SUV to gain coupe version next year

Skoda’s recently revealed Enyaq iV electric SUV will soon be joined by a style-oriented coup?   version, spy images have revealed.

The Czech brand’s first bespoke, MEB platform-based electric car was first previewed by the Vision iV concept. That featured a more sloping roof design than the eventual production Enyaq, but prototype shots... ( подробнее )

Under the skin: Why anti-roll bars still hold sway

In a world   where cars have become so fiendishly complex, one key component of suspension systems still stands out for its relative simplicity. The anti-roll bar (known over the pond as a sway bar or stabiliser bar and not to be confused with a roll cage, which gives protection if the car inverts) is there to inhibit body roll in corners. In its... ( подробнее )