Steve Cropley

1 month ago | autocar.co.uk | Steve Cropley

I guess it helps that the very first motorsport event I attended in this country upon emigrating was a hillclimb – a short-course speed event for more than 100 disparate cars, all of which were given several chances to set their fastest time of the day. It struck me immediately as the perfect form of amateur motorsport, since it took entries from new cars and old, road cars and racers, brilliantly skilled drivers and beginners. Everyone had the same chance.

2 months ago | autocar.co.uk | Steve Cropley

Close Pity the emerging generation of car designers. They grow up obsessed like the rest of us, but with the usual desire to drive and own cars overlaid by a burning need to create inspirational designs of their own. When these budding Giugiaros get to university, they put three or four years into learning how to create unique vehicles, yet many will graduate without ever working on a real, live project.

2 months ago | autocar.co.uk | Steve Cropley |Charlie Martin

Close The successor to the Morgan Plus Six will be called Supersport - and the flagship sports car will be revealed on March 11. The news was confirmed today by the British car maker in a social media post with Richard Hammond (below)First pictures of the car were shown last month. These revealed it as a rakish coupé, melding the classical styling of the Plus Six and its four-cylinder Plus Four sibling with elements of the Aero cars that bowed out in 2018.

2 months ago | autocar.co.uk | Steve Cropley |Matt Prior

Close The day’s second big surprise comes when Gordon Murray strolls in. Although his name is on the building, Murray isn’t the person we’ve been expecting. We’re relaxing in The Engine Room – a spacious waiting room adorned with V12 murals and displays off the reception area of the magnificent new Gordon Murray Group (GMG) headquarters, near Windlesham in Surrey – soon to begin interviews with CEO Phillip Lee and chief test driver Dario Franchitti.

Jan 30, 2025 | autocar.co.uk | Steve Cropley |Charlie Martin

The new model will use an evolution of the Plus models’ CX extruded-aluminium chassis, plus a version of the outgoing Six’s 3.0-litre BMW-derived turbocharged inline six, which currently makes 335bhp but is thought to be reliably capable of considerably higher outputs. Even at its current power rating, a Plus Six can hit 60mph from rest in 4.2sec and exceed 160mph. Extra power, perhaps as much as 380bhp, could easily lift performance further towards supercar levels.