IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT…

Every year, we try to pull off the

GOLF R TO GET HARDCORE CLUBSPORT MAKEOVER

Extra power and sharpened dynamics will make tuned, lighter version the most capable and potent Golf yet

DS N°8 FLAGSHIP KICKS OFF BOLD REINVENTION

Rebrand aims to combat lacklustre sales with a serious push upmarket

RENAULT 5 TURBO REBORN AS 500BHP REAR-DRIVE EV

Two in-wheel motors will transform agility; 0-62mph in less than 3.5sec

DE MEO PLAYS DOWN EXIT TALK

Tavares has quit as CEO of Stellantis, having

NISSAN COULD BE KEY TO A RIGHT-HAND-DRIVE TWINGO

Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo “wants” to

A110 EV TO BE LIGHTER THAN PETROL RIVALS

The next-generation Alpine A110, due in 2026, will

MK1 ESCORT RS RETURNS WITH FORD’S BLESSING

Two-door gets an extensive high-tech makeover – and petrol power

ASTON VALHALLA HIKED TO 1079BHP FOR PRODUCTION

ASTON MARTIN’S LONGawaited Valhalla supercar will enter production

ELECTROGENIC TURNS MX-5 INTO AN EV

The original Mazda MX-5 can now be

LAMBO STICKS TO PURE-EV PLANS

Four-seat electric GT will arrive in the next five years to join three hybrids

HOW PORSCHE GAVE ITS GT3 RS A TONNE OF DOWNFORCE

Manthey and Porsche produced an extreme aero kit

STEPHAN WINKELMANN ON…

MAKING A HYBRID HYPERCAR “We have a lot

V8 IS AS SMALL AS LAMBO WILL GO

While the V8 Temerario has two fewer cylinders

Grapevine MARK TISSHAW

Mercedes says 80% of a car’s development can

Steve Cropley

Last year, signing off here, I reckoned “big

Matt Prior

Would you judge somebody by which brand of

Damien Smith

Where would you even start if given access

Testing, testing

New RS6 special provides the sensory excitement to

Why I love... DRIVING HOME FOR XMAS

The tradition started when I was at university,

YOUR VIEWS

WRITE TO autocar@haymarket.com NOTES FROM SPACE I

THE END OF MY TETHER

Is there anything that can better demonstrate the

The next issue

ON SALE 31 DECEMBER

Digging into 75 years of rising car prices

A90 wasn’t quite the 1950s Qashqai it can

What you could have bought in the past if you currently drive a…

RENAULT CLIO £18,395 Sorry, guv’nor, but you’ll be

ROAD TEST RESULTS

Autocar’s history of the independent, objective and empirical

Xmas road tests revisited

1978 BRITISH AEROSPACE HARRIER T4 Royal Air Force

VAUXHALL FRONTERA ELECTRIC

Cost-saving platform allows new 188-mile compact SUV to undercut electric rivals – and sibling models

VAUXHALL FRONTERA HYBRID

The hybrid version costs the same as the EV, so which should you go for?

HONDA HR-V

TESTED 26.11.24, HAMPSHIRE DELIVERIES NOW

AUDI A5 AVANT 2.0 TDI

This A4-replacing estate ignores the zeitgeist in more ways than one

BMW 3 SERIES

Bigger battery for 330e PHEV is main event in model-year changeover

CITROEN E-BERLINGO

Better battery and motor for MPV

CUPRA TERRAMAR

Pacy 4WD SUV argues petrol’s case

Just giving

Our annual automotive Secret Santa lunch is a chance for Autocar’s road testers to show their caring, sharing side, with a select choice of carefully curated motors as the main course

A present to myself

STEVE CROPLEY My choice would be an MG

My ideal Boxing Day drive

STEVE CROPLEY I keep meaning to take a

Highlights of the year

Overnighting in an SUV up a mountain, driving classic icons, sports car racing, meeting industry stars… Staffers pick their top moments of 2024

Let there be light

Power flows both ways, according to Genesis. On a stargazing trip to Exmoor, JOHN EVANS finds out just how useful our cars might soon be

Christmas pickings

The used car market’s seasonal selection has never been more enticing. RICHARD BREMNER picks his favourites, from family haulers to V12-powered GTs

RADIO GAGA

Radio-controlled car racing could be among the wildest and most wonderful motorsport you will find on the UK calendar. STEPHEN DOBIE visits a race meeting that’s more serious than you might expect

Pride and joy

The Gay Bikers club is approaching its 50th birthday. STEPHEN DOBIE meets the club’s members and finds out why its support remains crucial

O, Christmas Tiree O, Christmas Tiree (how lovely are your beaches)

A century ago, a Scottish explorer brought the first Christmas tree to the remote – and treeless – Scottish island of Tiree. RICHARD WEBBER sets out to reprise her adventure with the help of an Ariel Nomad 2

We are gathered here today

The Tannistest is an annual celebration of the year’s new cars, attended by motoring’s great and good. MARK TISSHAW was on the guest list

Heeere’s Johnny!

Grand prix and Le Mans winner Johnny Herbert talks to DAMIEN SMITH about his career, today’s drivers, being an F1 steward and that crash

On your marks, get set, Lego

Three staffers compete to create the best car using Lego. MATT PRIOR brings you the results

THE A TO Z OF CAR NAMES

Many model names are inspired by places found on a map. With some lexicographic leaps of logic, JAMES ATTWOOD completes the alphabet

Treats you can’t resist

Low on mileage, high on character. No, not RICHARD BREMNER but rather the survivors he has found after a simple search online

Hidden treasures

If a backstreet lock-up is your idea of heaven, prepare to be amazed. JOHN EVANS opens the door on the rarefied world of luxury garages

I’ VE SEEN THE FUTUR E

Seer of seers, prognosticator of prognosticators, JAMES ATTWOOD has returned from his vision quest to tell us how 2025 will unfold

Focus on the positives

Stunning imagery is just as important to Autocar as engaging prose. Photographers MAX EDLESTON and JACK HARRISON share their 2024 highlight reels

Best renderings

I enjoyed applying BMW’s emerging Neue Klasse design

Best concept cars

The Alisea isn’t a new Pagani model

Hello, ducky

A North American trend called Duck Duck Jeep is said to be hitting the UK. Is that true – and what is it? JAMES ATTWOOD breaks out the Christmas quackers

Christmas away, part 2

In 1933, The Autocar columnist The Scribe suggested some hotels fit for a Christmas break from the norm. STEVE CROPLEY retraces his steps

Our scribe’s wheels

THE SCRIBE WOULD have loved our car choice

Put on your best anorak

Only the most dedicated car spotters will be able to correctly answer all 50 of Autocar’s Christmas quiz questions this year. Are you among them?

JCB DIGATRON MONSTER TRUCK

Part drag car, part rally car, part low-flying aircraft. So we yump it

Fleet review

More than 20 cruisers, flagships and luggers were in commission this year, but which served most capably? Their captains report to admiral FELIX PAGE

THE CONSOLATION PRIZES

The awards we invented so that no one goes home empty-handed

THE ONE WHERE FERRARI WENT FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE

V12, four seats, SUV-style boot space, 4WD: it truly is an everyday Ferrari

How to get one in your garage

AN OWNER’S VIEW GREG DURRANS “I bought my

There’s a reason my 911 keeps improving

I n almost all of its iterations, the

I’m confident my Alpine A110 is a keeper. Probably

It’s now three years since our 21-plate Alpine

CAUGHT IN THE CLASSIFIEDS

FERRARI MONDIAL T 1990, 51,000 miles, £49,945