Cars

Researchers observing a new study found that 'vehicular control during the ten seconds immediately after resuming manual driving was generally poor in the case of all participants'. It added: 'The drivers were seen braking and accelerating erratically, and wavering in their lanes in the immediate aftermath of taking back manual control of the vehicle.'

The all-new Dacia Spring is the cheapest EV in the UK by almost £10k. Before deliveries commence in October, we test drove it on launch to find out if this bargain budget EV really can put the world on cheap electric wheels. With 140-mile range, two trims but basic driving needs covered, will this EV make zero emissions driving affordable before the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars?

Ford has taken the bold decision to relaunch the iconic nameplates after 40 years away. But not all fans will be happy to see it used for a £40k+ electric SUV baring little resemblance to the original. Ford says the battery powered Capri 'continues the story of the iconic cult classic' and 'will inject some soul into the world of EVs'. The car maker added: 'The legend is back,' - a phrase used by Eric Cantona (pictured bottom right) during a podcast appearance with Gary Lineker as it is revealed that the former Manchester United player's recent series of viral goat stunts have been orchestrated by Ford to promote Capri's renaissance.

With today's EV market being propped up by huge fleet demand , the manufacturer has slashed its prices to increase appeal for private buyers. The biggest saving in excess of £7,000 is on the company's smallest EV model it seems eager to shift in greater numbers.

What should motorists taking to the road under a Keir Starmer led government expect once the dust settles? We have pulled together all the ways a Labour government will impact drivers, from restating the 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars to hiking fuel duty.

The top 10 best-selling new cars of 2024 so far have been confirmed by official industry figures - and it confirms Ford's return to top spot. Registrations data collated by the SMMT lists the top models by sales figures in Britain last year - and among the 10 most in-demand motors are seven SUVs. But a few hatchbacks have broken through the ranks, with premium small but practical cars injecting a bit of entry-level luxury into a sea of affordable family crossovers. Here's the rundown of the 10 most-bought new cars of 2024 so far...

A 1.1% rise in registrations in June has pushed 2024's half-year sales to 1,006,763 - the first time it has eclipsed one million by the half -year point since the pandemic. Last month's increase has been stimulated by electric vehicle uptake and fleet sector sales. However, private retail demand has fallen across the board - now industry is calling for the next government to 're-energise the market' by unveiling EV incentives on the day we head to the polls.

As of 7 July 2024, new vehicles will need to have Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems fitted as standard as part of an EU safety regulation mandate. While the same law does not apply in Britain, almost all models sold here will ultimately have the same speed-limiting technology installed by manufacturers. We explain how it works, why it is being introduced, if the UK Government is also considering a mandate and explain if you can manually override the system or turn it off entirely.

One of Britain's most popular electric cars has a 'potentially dangerous' issue that could put drivers and other road users at risk, according to a consumer watchdog. Product testing group Which? says it identified the problem with the UK's second best-selling EV during controlled and repeated tests that it carries out on over 100 different cars each year. It found that the £27,000 EV's lane-assist system - which is designed to keep the car in its lane to stop drivers veering over the white lines - pulled the vehicle onto the wrong side of the road, which potentially puts motorists at risk of driving head-on into oncoming traffic.

Currently, there are at least 18 different types of speed camera being used across Britain . Three of these are not only capable of catching motorists over the legal speed limit, they can also detect other offences such as handling a phone, not wearing a seatbelt, running a red light and even tailgating another road user. Find out how they work as new figures show there has been a 90% spike in the number of motorists convicted for illegally handling a device while in control of a vehicle.

MG's all-new Cyberster roadster is here and the EV costs less than £60,000. It has been billed by many as the spiritual successor to the classic MGB for an electric generation. But can it replicate the charms of the 'B' and cars from its history? We test drove the Cyberster on launch in Aberdeenshire to see if the modern take on iconic roadster heritage will change the minds of EV doubters...

She took a road trip from London to Scotland to see if you can beat range anxiety and only charge with renewable energy. Testing out the new Tesla Model 3, and prioritising sustainable accommodation, how green can you make driving your EV?

Ben Pearson, a former police interceptor and traffic officer, told us: 'You don't need to make your car the hardest car to steal in the world - just the hardest one to steal on your street. Today's thieves are often sophisticated and well-practiced but if there is an easier target around they are much more likely to try their luck with that vehicle instead.' Ben has listed his six top tips to minimise the risk of your car being an easy target for thieves.

It might seem like just yet another electric SUV launch to the public, but for Ford there's a lot hinging on the success of the Explorer EV. Not only is it Ford's first electric car designed with European customers in mind, its arrival comes at the expense of a staple of Britain's roads - the Fiesta. Ford's popular small car - bought by 4.8million drivers in the UK during its 47 years on sale -  last year became collateral damage when it was axed so that Ford could turn its Cologne production site into a state-of-the-art EV-only assembly line, with the Explorer its debut battery-powered product. It means there's a great weight of pressure on the haunches of the electric family SUV. With this in mind, we've travelled to Slovenia to drive it before it arrives in UK dealerships to find out if it can deliver.

The new hybrid-powered Continental GT Speed coupe has set an electrified top speed record for a production model driving 'underwater'... though it's not entirely as it seems. Hailed as 'the most powerful Bentley ever', the fourth generation British-built grand tourer is also one of the greenest Bentleys to hit the road. And, surprise surprise, it's not cheap. Here's the low down on the new British luxury sports car.

It's hard to say exactly when it happened, but a Volvo is now a cool car to have parked on your driveway. The Swedish carmaker has ditched its long-time reputation for making boring, practical, boxy motors and the waiting list to get your hands on some Volvos runs to an extensive four months. So, how did a Volvo become a statement of cool and object of middle-class desire? Our Motoring Editor Rob Hull takes a look.

We look through Labour, Conservative, Reform, Liberal Democrat and Green manifestos' to see what your vote as a motorist will mean on July 4 General Election. Which party is motorist-first? From ULEZ to EVs, fuel prices and potholes, This is Money has broken down all the manifesto policies that apply to YOU the driver, so you know where your motoring vote will go.

Last year 6,243 drivers were paid for damage unrepaired roads caused to vehicle - but 65% of claims were rejected. The average driver got just £172 in compensation.

Bugatti has unveiled its new hybrid hypercar, the Tourbillon. Its named after a Swiss-French watchmaking patent, and will succeed the Chiron. Only 250 cars will be made and only the most wealthy can have one. How green is it? Here's how far it can go in electric-only mode.

Not everyone agrees the future of motoring is solely battery electric cars, some believe hydrogen fuel cells may have an important role to play. Freda Lewis-Stempel visited the Ineos Road to Decarbonisation event at Millbrook Proving Ground, in Bedfordshire, to put the prototype hydrogen fuel cell Grenadier through its paces on the off-road course.

One in three used car buyers say they've bought a motor that still has personal data belonging to the previous owner stored in it. With the majority of modern models fitted with infotainment systems that can link to an owner's smartphone and allow them to input their home address in the sat-nav as well other private details, many drivers are forgetting to wipe this information from the vehicle before they sell it on. Carwow says this has the potential to be a future data privacy issue for dealers who sell used motors.

The numbers have been counted and verified and the world's best-selling car of 2023 can now officially be confirmed; the Tesla Model Y has taken the crown! The SUV from Elon Musk's American electric vehicle brand topped the global sales charts with 1.22m examples bought by customers worldwide. We reveal which 25 models were purchased in biggest volumes last year.

Cheap Chinese electric cars could soon become more expensive to buy after the European Union announced plans to hit EV imports with additional tariffs of almost 50% from next month. It comes after the European Commission last year launched an investigation into the Chinese EV sector on the back of concerns from EU car makers that they are gaining an unfair 'competitive edge' thanks to their government-subsidised cheaper prices. The decision now risks triggering a trade war with China if the issue cannot be resolved in the coming days.

French performance brand Alpine has just unveiled a game-changing EV that promises to bring fun to the electric car market. The new A290 hot hatch promises compact proportions and driving thrills that will spark warmth under the collars of petrol heads - and without an emission from a tailpipe. Battery range is estimated to be around 236 miles on a single charge and there's even an 'Overtake' button on the steering wheel (pictured bottom right). Prices are likely to hover just below the £40k mark to rival its EV competition, the Abarth 500 and Mini Cooper SE.

If you thought Teslas were quick, check out the new fastest electric car in the world. The Aspark Owl, a battery-powered hypercar, has just set a new record for the highest speed clocked by an EV you can legally drive on the road. The £2.5million Japanese two-seater recently obliterated the previous EV speed record of 258mph (415kph) after being officially measured travelling at an eye-watering 272.61mph (438.73 kph).

Is the picture of an EV battery graveyard true? We look at second life EV battery initiatives, recycling developments and battery passports to see how environmentally sound the future of EV batteries is. From warranties to home energy storage solutions, this deep dive into EV battery recycling covers all the practical and environmental questions.

Polestar - the Swedish racing-inspired EV brand - has finally got more than one car to offer buyers. We review the new Polestar 3 in Madrid, to see if driving performance, range, practicality and design is worth the £75k+ price tag.

Every new EV sold in Europe from 2027 will require a battery passport to prove the origins of the raw material they contain, how much of the content is recycled and their lifecycle carbon footprint. But one mainstream brand is introducing battery passports for its EVs from this year. The information stored on the digital system will need to be updated by vehicle repairers and owners can access their EV's battery details by scanning a QR code in the car.

The International Council on Clean Transportation has released a ranking of the world's biggest auto makers by EV strategy and performance based on each's electric car plans and models on sale in 2023. See which brands are leading the charge and which are dropping back.

With petrol and diesel prices showing no sign of dramatically falling anytime soon, filling up at forecourts is set to be a strain on finances in 2023. That's why learning 'hypermiling' techniques will benefit all drivers. This is the name given to a series of energy efficient measures motorists can put into practice to save petrol, diesel or electricity (if you own an EV). Here's our top 10 hypermiling tips.

The Lotus Eletre S is the new hyper-SUV from the British-now-Chinese-owned-brand. The Eletre starts Lotus' electric era, taking the brand's synonymous driving dynamism into the SUV world. After decades of struggling financially, will this car help launch the company's renaissance? And at £104,500 does it have the Lotus heart as well as family-friendly practicality and day-to-day range to match? It's time to find out if the Lamborghini Urus has an electric rival in the performance SUV market...

The variety of different battery-powered vehicles in showrooms has grown by more than 500% in the last decade, with only 16 electric variants on sale in the UK back in 2014. However, the wider selection available to motorists comes at a period when public demand for EVs appears to have gone into reverse and manufacturers are desperately calling on government to intervene to provide incentives.

Keepers of one EV brand own them on average for less than two years, while keepers of a particular supercar company ditch them after 24 months. We reveal which motors UK owners are getting rid of after the shortest amount of time - is yours on this list?

When the Dacia Duster first burst onto the UK market in 2013, its sub-£10,000 starting price grabbed headlines. Launched as a no-frills compact family car, it provided a tempting choice for motorists who cared more about the reserves in their bank balance than they did for modern luxuries, the latest technology or the upmost refinement from a vehicle. Fast-forward a decade and the Romanian car maker - owned by Renault - has unveiled its third-generation Duster. And for 2024, there is a distinct move up market. But has Dacia now put at risk Duster's unique selling point of offering the absolute minimum requirements from a car to guarantee a market-busting low price? We've been driving it in Spain to find out...

New safety tests due to arrive in 2026 will put fresh pressure on car makers to dial back confusing touchscreen systems that can be distracting for drivers to use on the move. From January 2026, crash testing body Euro NCAP will introduce rules that downgrade the safety ratings of new vehicles that do not have buttons on the dashboard to control simple operations such as indicating and activating hazard warning lights. Brands including Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Volkswagen and Volvo are today offering larger, more advanced touchscreens with more controls embedded into them that are convoluted to use while driving.

Read what some classic car enthusiasts are writing online, and you'll come to one conclusion: prices are falling. Sell-through rates at auction [when a car changes hands after a successful winning bid] have also declined over the past 12 months and advertised values are down. The obvious synopsis would be that the market's bubble has finally burst after prospering through Covid and beyond. But is that really the case? This is Money's guest writer and classic car expert, John Mayhead, explains all.

According to new data from Hagerty, some of these famous classic cars may have become more affordable over the past few years as the number of people who remember them when new dwindles. Here's 10 head turners from an increasingly forgotten era that may be more accessible today than you think.

One in three motorists pay over the odds for their car insurance - and the worst thing you can do is simply renew. We reveal ten tips to get the cheapest car insurance deal and show you the places to go to compare car cover and potentially save hundreds of pounds.