Bob Harper

London

Loves cars, former editor of BMW Car magazine... now accepting freelance commissions! Usually has a slightly decrepit M car on the drive...

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Articles

2026 Alfa Romeo Stelvio to offer EV, petrol and hybrid options to fight BMW X3 | Evo

Mar 21, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Bob Harper

Amid reports that the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Giulia models aren’t long for this world come testing images of the Stelvio’s hybrid and electric replacements undergoing winter shakedown runs at Arjeplog in Sweden. The all-new Stelvio will be presented by the end of 2025 and while parent company Stellantis has previously spoken about an electric and hybrid future for the model recent comments to sister title Auto Express suggest that the Quadrifoglio range-topper will retain a combustion engine.
The fastest ever Volkswagen Golf GTI set to debut at the Nürburgring | Evo

Mar 21, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Bob Harper

Volkswagen will celebrate the Golf GTI’s 50th birthday this year with what it describes as ‘a sporty special model’ which will be revealed at the Nürburgring Nordschleife over the weekend of 19th to 22nd June. Details of what constitutes ‘sporty’ and ‘special’ are few and far between but we have been reliably informed that ‘it won’t just be a sticker pack’, indicating this could be the most focused Golf GTI since the seminal Golf GTI Clubsport S. The best news?
New Bugatti Tourbillon option pack costs more than a Porsche 911 Turbo S | Evo

Mar 20, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Stuart Gallagher |Bob Harper

As Bugatti Tourbillion customers begin to spec their exclusive 1775bhp €3.8 million hypercars Bugatti has revealed a motorsport-themed ‘Équipe Pur Sang’ configuration as one possible personalisation option.
ZEV mandate explained: What is it and how does it affect performance cars?

Mar 18, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Bob Harper

We’ve all heard the term ‘ZEV mandate’ being bandied about and it’s all too easy to think it’s not important if you’re not in the market for an electric car. But when Toyota says we’re not going to be getting what looks like the best Supra of its generation in the UK because of the ZEV it’s time to sit up and take notice. To understand why this is the case first you must understand what the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is all about.
Superchargers explained – how do they give cars more power? | Evo

Mar 14, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Bob Harper

‘The last of the V8 Interceptors’ could be the way many young boys of as certain age learned about the existence of superchargers. Images of Mad Max, aka Mel Gibson, at the wheel of the Ford Falcon in Mad Max 2 with a huge supercharger sticking out of the bonnet, the V8 bellowing and all overlaid by the iconic whine of the supercharger struck a chord with impressionable lads who dreamed of owning a supercharged V8 one day.
New Mercedes CLA revealed – BMW 2-series rival packs EV and hybrid power | Evo

Mar 13, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Bob Harper

Mercedes has revealed the all new third-generation Mercedes CLA, the German marque's rival to the BMW 2-series and a car that it’s calling ‘the cleverest Mercedes-Benz ever made.' It's also the first model in a completely new family of vehicles, based on Mercedes’ new MMA platform and has been designed both as a BEV and an MHEV. The mild hybrid 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine which will be available in three different states of tune.
Revised Dallara Stradale is a BAC Mono alternative for people who have friends | Evo

Mar 13, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Bob Harper

Dallara’s Stradale has been treated to a host of updates and improvements for 2025 concentrating on aerodynamics, suspension, brake cooling and fuel delivery all aimed at enhancing the Stradale’s already impressive credentials. Additionally, Dallara now offers the Stradale in two distinct configurations – ‘Laps and Landscapes’ – depending on how civilised you want your Dallara to be.
Porsche's EV U-turn means more new petrol cars, including exclusive 911s

Mar 12, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Bob Harper

Petrol could be back on the menu in Stuttgart, with Porsche at its annual year-end conference announcing plans to expand its product portfolio over the coming years, including additional models with combustion engines and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The Lotus Emira First Edition took three years to replace – Emira V6 and Turbo arrive

Mar 4, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Bob Harper

Lotus has announced a series of revisions and updates to its Emira line-up replacing the First Edition models with the Lotus Emira Turbo SE and the Emira V6, both with 400bhp despite their very different powertrains. Lotus’s diminutive sports car has been with us for three years now, originally available with the Toyota 3.5-litre V6 which was joined by the AMG-powered four-cylinder model in 2023. While updates to the V6 are limited it’s the Turbo SE that sees the greatest changes.
MacPherson strut suspension explained: what are they and what do they do?

Feb 28, 2025 | evo.co.uk | Bob Harper

If you’ve driven a car that was manufactured sometime during the last 80 years then it’s pretty much nailed on that you’ve experienced MacPherson struts in action. Yes, they’re that ubiquitous. Just about every BMW up until the arrival of the F10 generation of 5-series utilised them, and many models still do. Virtually every Porsche 911 has used them. Put simply, the MacPherson strut is one of the most widely used suspension systems in modern automotive design.