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 – [...]
UK signs trade pact with Thailand in bid to boost exports September 18, 2024 The UK has signed an enhanced trade pact with Thailand in an effort to boost British exports and drive investment. Trade minister Douglas Alexander inked the enhanced trade partnership (ETP) agreement with Thai commerce minister Pichai Naripthaphan in Bangkok this morning (Wednesday). It came during the Blair-era minister’s first visit to Asia after being re-elected [...]
Porsche 911 S/T 2024 review: Combining the 911’s best bits September 9, 2024 Mehr-minder, literally translated as ‘more-less’, was Porsche’s official name for the M471 option package. Ticking that box back in 1970 would transform your 911 S into a lightweight, stripped-out ST, with Plexiglass windows and body panels made from aluminium, glassfibre or thinner-gauge steel. In essence, it was a road-legal racing car. Only 33 examples of [...]
Revealed: Aston Martin Vanquish roars back with 835hp V12 September 2, 2024 Aston Martin has unveiled its new Vanquish GT car, marking the return of a famous name for the first time since 2018. Replacing the DBS Superleggera, the reborn Vanquish promises to deliver tremendous performance, aided by a new twin-turbocharged V12 engine. Lawrence Stroll, executive chairman of Aston Martin, said: “With the introduction of Vanquish we [...]