Paul Barker

2 weeks ago | autoexpress.co.uk | Paul Barker

I feel sad for SEAT. While the other Volkswagen Group bands have exciting new small cars to look forward to – such as the VW ID.1, ID.2 and ID.2 X, Cupra’s Raval, the Skoda Epiq and Audi’s Q2 e-tron – the Spanish stalwart is sat on the outside looking in. And now it’s leaderless, too, with Brit-born CEO Wayne Griffiths’ abrupt departure being announced late last month, only a couple of weeks after saying that he was there for the long haul, and that SEAT and Cupra were in his heart.

3 weeks ago | autoexpress.co.uk | Paul Barker

Affordable Audis will live on into the electric era with the reveal of a new entry SUV next year. Slotting in below the Q4 e-tron, the new model will potentially be badged Q2 e-tron and would give the premium manufacturer a £35,000 starting point for its EV offering, taking on the likes of Volvo’s EX30 and the MINI Aceman. It also means a future for small Audis is back on the cards, after the firm announced that the petrol-powered A1 and Q2 would end production this year.

3 weeks ago | autoexpress.co.uk | Paul Barker

Spanish brand SEAT is facing an uncertain future, with the inability to make costs add up on a new small electric car leaving the brand devoid of all-new models in the coming years. The brand’s head of research and development, Werner Tietz, confirmed to Auto Express that SEAT won’t launch another new internal-combustion model, although the Ibiza and Arona will receive heavy revisions to take them to the end of the decade.

3 weeks ago | autoexpress.co.uk | Paul Barker

Few kinds of car offer as much visual appeal as a proper two-door coupe, and plenty of these svelte machines boast an equally exciting driving experience, too. Unfortunately, the coupe market has dwindled a bit in recent years, so there are fewer brand-new options for buyers than there once were. However, for a budget of £38,000 you can pick up a factory fresh BMW 2 Series - a genuine driver’s car that’s worthy of the BMW badge.

4 weeks ago | autoexpress.co.uk | Alastair Crooks |Paul Barker

Bentley is embarking on an all-electric future and its first model to utilise EV power will be an ‘Urban SUV’, which we’ve just spied on the road. You might notice that the prototype Bentley we’ve spotted is utilising a vaguely familiar body. It’s actually the upcoming Porsche Cayenne EV (which we saw testing earlier this year).