-
1 week ago | 
hagerty.com | Stefan Lombard |Richard Dredge
In the history of long-forgotten automotive projects that never quite got off the ground, there are plenty that simply didn’t deserve to succeed, either because they were badly engineered, poorly made, optimistically priced, or some combination of them all. But none of these things applied to the Spectre R42, because it was well engineered, fabulous to drive, and sensibly priced, even though it was up against some very stiff competition.
-
2 weeks ago | 
autocar.co.uk | Richard Dredge
He's been called the most influential car designer of all time Giorgetto Giugiaro entered his work into a student exhibition in 1955, where it was spotted by Fiat's technical director Dante Giacosa; the rest as they say is history.
-
2 weeks ago | 
autocar.co.uk | Richard Dredge
Think you know your Fords? Well feast your eyes on this lot – all feature Ford engines, but without a blue oval in sight. Ever since Ford built its first vehicle in 1903, the company has been a major player in the global car market. But as well as a vast array of models produced over the years wearing Ford badges, Ford engines have provided the motive power for a massive number of specialist cars - many of them British thanks to the country's long-standing fondness for all-things Ford.
-
2 weeks ago | 
autocar.co.uk | Richard Dredge
German car brands are some of the most aspirational in the world. Synonymous with quality but no longer priced out of reach, German cars are now churned out in huge volumes and as a result have become far more accessible. But if you had to name a dozen German car brands dead or alive, you'd probably run out of steam before you were even half-way there.
-
1 month ago | 
autoexpress.co.uk | Richard Dredge
The Hyundai Bayon doesn’t leave its rivals trailing in its wake, but of you add up all the car’s pros and weigh them up against the cons, it’s likeable and easy to recommend. When we pitched the Bayon against the Renault Captur and Citroen C3 Aircross in 2021, the Hyundai came last, largely because it was the most expensive of the three, and its interior quality couldn’t match its rivals’.
-
1 month ago | 
autoexpress.co.uk | Richard Dredge
The Mercedes C-Class is undoubtedly a very desirable family car, and it’s as expensive to buy as you’d expect a Mercedes to be. That, and the fact that fleet buyers are embracing electric cars more thanks to financial incentives, mean that the fifth-generation C-Class isn’t as common on the used market as you might expect. As a result there are no bargains to be had, and that’s the way things are likely to stay, as fewer ICE cars are sold.
-
1 month ago | 
autoexpress.co.uk | Richard Dredge
The latest Vauxhall Astra is the most accomplished yet in terms of design, safety, refinement, choice of powertrains and build quality. As a used buy it can also represent excellent value, especially if you’re buying electric, although these are likely to fall the furthest in value over the next few years as the supply of ICE models becomes restricted. We still reckon that the petrol models are the sweet spot in the range.
-
1 month ago | 
hagerty.com | Stefan Lombard |Richard Dredge
At almost a century, the lifespan of Hans Glas’s manufacturing empire was quite long, but in that period it made cars for little more than a decade, so it’s perhaps no wonder that his is a marque now forgotten by all but the most ardent motoring anoraks. Based in Dingolfing, Bavaria, Hans Glas GmbH was founded in 1883 to make agricultural machinery.
-
1 month ago | 
autoexpress.co.uk | Richard Dredge
While everyone else has been focusing on electric SUVs, MG snuck in with its electric estate and cornered the market. No, the sector isn’t all that big, but when you have it pretty much to yourself, it doesn’t matter. The thing is, while the MG5 offers undeniably great value, especially as a used buy, the ownership experience can be problematic. Sure there’s a long warranty, but reliability and dealer service can be patchy.
-
1 month ago | 
autoexpress.co.uk | Richard Dredge
In 2016 the MINI was crowned Best Premium Small Car at our New Car Awards for the third time in a row. It was our overall Car of the Year in 2014. When it won we said: “The MINI hatch is the perfect Car of the Year – it’s a small car that’s big on talent.We love the way it drives, the quality, the efficiency and the big car tech on board.
