For much of the car's history, two cylinders were enough. Small, light and relatively simple, twin-cylinder engines powered everything from basic family transport to some of the world's most distinctive small cars. The Citroën 2CV, Fiat 500 and Subaru 360 helped mobilise millions, while later examples showed just how far the idea…

Six months ago, nobody knew quite what the British summer would bring. Forecasts and long-range predictions could point us in a direction, but they couldn't tell us what would actually happen. Fast-forward to August and England and Wales have experienced their driest July on record, with drought affecting much of the country.

Twenty years ago, Hyundai was still fighting to prove that it could match the established European and Japanese brands. Today, that description feels almost unrecognisable. Hyundai has become a genuinely global manufacturer, producing everything from affordable small cars to sophisticated EVs, large SUVs and increasingly serious performance models. Now it wants to…

Stellantis has built one of Europe’s biggest commercial vehicle operations, with familiar names from Citroën, Fiat, Peugeot, Opel and Vauxhall covering almost every corner of the van market. But the automotive world is changing faster than the traditionally slow-moving commercial vehicle cycle. Battery technology continues to improve, hybrid powertrains are finding new…

Around 20 years ago, Nissan changed the shape of the mainstream car market. The Qashqai replaced the dependable but forgettable Almera and helped turn the crossover into a family-car staple. The Juke followed, proving equally disruptive, while in 2010 the Leaf brought electric motoring to the masses. All three were game-changing cars…

With the new 76 registration arriving on 1 September, thousands of buyers will be preparing to collect a brand-new car. But having the latest number plate can come at a considerable cost. Today, the choice of new cars costing less than £16,000 is remarkably limited, with just three models starting below our…

The Dacia Spring has become one of Europe’s most important affordable EVs, proving that electric cars do not need huge batteries, enormous power outputs or premium prices to make sense. But deciding what replaces it could be considerably more complicated. Dacia now has the striking Hipster concept exploring an even smaller, more…

Jaguar is preparing to launch arguably the most important car in its modern history. The production version of the Type 00 concept promises dramatic styling, enormous performance and a completely new direction for a brand that has spent years struggling to win sufficient market share against its premium rivals. Yet the car…