Peugeot pins hopes on ‘facelift’ to boost growth October 3, 2024 Peugeot is hoping that a ‘facelift’ across its most popular car models will continue the rise of its popularity in the UK. The Coventry-based brand, which is owned by giant Stellantis, outperformed the wider UK market in 2023 on the way to posting a turnover of £2.25bn. The total comes after the business reported a [...]
Autoglass owner’s profit more than doubles as sales accelerate October 1, 2024 Profit surged by 120 per cent at the owner of Autoglass as its sales jumped to almost £500m during its latest financial year. Belron International, which is headquartered in Surrey, has reported a pre-tax profit of £336.8m for 2023, up from the £155.3m it achieved in 2022.Belron International Newly-filed accounts with Companies House also show [...]
Bentley Continental GT Speed 2024 review: Need for speed October 1, 2024 The Continental GT changed everything for Bentley. In 2002, the craftspeople in Crewe – many of whom still referred to their workplace as ‘Royce’s’ ‒ hand-built just over 1,200 cars. But when the svelte new W12-powered coupe was unveiled in early 2003, dealers were inundated with 6,500 advance orders. Almost overnight, Bentley had gone from [...]
Pirelli: ‘Strong’ UK price rises helps sales near £500m at tyre giant September 30, 2024 The UK arm of Pirelli has said “strong” price rises helped its sales and pre-tax profit accelerate during its latest financial year. The company has reported a turnover of £471.3m for 2023, up from the £419.3m it achieved in 2022. Newly-filed accounts with Companies House also show its pre-tax profit improved from £11.5m to £14.3m [...]
Volkswagen Golf GTI 2024 review: The end of an era September 26, 2024 Last year, Volkswagen quietly filed a trademark application for a GTI badge in which the letter ‘I’ is replaced by a lightning bolt. The new logo suggests the GTI will live on even after the ninth-generation Golf goes fully electric in 2028. As car enthusiasts, we can all be thankful for that. A battery-powered GTI [...]
A lesson from King Canute for the EV transition: You can’t force hype September 25, 2024 European politicians need to learn a few lessons about demand, writes Paul Ormerod
Audi S3 2024 review: Grown-up hot hatch still has a wild side September 24, 2024 Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Audi S3 has undergone a host of upgrades, aimed at making it more exciting than ever before. First introduced in 1999, the Audi S3 was the forerunner of the modern premium hot hatchback. Combining all-wheel drive with a turbocharged engine, the S3 has inspired a number of imitators since. For [...]
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio review: A blast from the fast September 20, 2024 After nine years, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio should probably be shuffling off arthritically into the sunset. Instead, this old stager has come out fighting, with a second facelift designed to keep it competitive with the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63. A case of too little, too late? The Guilia has always been beautiful, so [...]
Lotus Theory 1 concept signposts future of electric sports cars September 19, 2024 The wraps are off a radical new electric concept car from Lotus, designed to showcase the ‘future of intelligent performance vehicles’. The Lotus Theory 1 demonstrates the British company’s new design manifesto – and reveals new technological innovations. From robotic textiles and haptic feedback on the inside, to recycled materials for its exterior, the Theory [...]
Caterham Seven 360R review: It’s coming home September 19, 2024 Growing up in Caterham, Surrey, at house number seven, I felt a strong connection to the local company that once lined up on the Formula One grid. It was exciting peering into the nearby Caterham Cars showroom (now a retirement home), but driving a Seven 360R – collected from Caterham’s new factory in Dartford – [...]