Automotive history
For more than 130 years, the car has dominated almost every aspect of our lives. Automotive history has become global history. Whether it's economics, culture, politics or even religion, cars and the automotive industry have driven our society. The automotive industry played a key role in shaping the 20th century, and will do so again in the 21st century. The Car Expert looks at some of the key moments, men (and women!), manufacturers and models from automotive history.
Six SUV pioneers that blazed the trail for today
How did the modern SUV come to be? We list the six crucial vehicles that (at least in Europe) helped bring the crossover into the mainstream.
Why Aston Martin had to change – and is still changing…
Since becoming Aston Martin CEO in 2014 Andy Palmer has tranformed the brand from loss-maker to profit, with new desirable cars and much more to come.
Driving BMW’s greatest roadsters
With the all-new BMW Z4 on its way, we take a look back at – and have a drive of – some of its predecessors, from the 327 to the most recent Z4.
A short history of Honda Type R
The launch of a new Honda Civic Type R this month continues a glorious history of performance cars from the Japanese brand.
Nissan Qashqai – Ten years on
A decade after the Nissan Qashqai went on sale, not even the most optimistic prophet could have expected the dramatic way this car changed the market.
Top ten blink-&-you-miss-them cars
Developing a new car is a very expensive business, so you would think manufacturers would do all they could to make sure they get it right. Sadly not...
50 years on from Bluebird’s last run
It is now 50 years since Donald Campbell died on Coniston Water in his Bluebird boat, ending a brave quest for Land and Water world speed records.
A short history of McLaren – not featuring F1 cars…
Supercar manufacturer McLaren Automotive has achieved a great deal in the six years since it was created, and the pace is only getting faster...
Insight – 75 years on, Jeep looks forward
Jeep was rescued by Fiat in 2009 and the original 4x4 brand is now very much on the up, halfway through an ambitious five-year growth plan.
Insight: 45 years on, Audi is still all about Technik
Three new model launches show Audi's technology-based slogan is still highly relevant today.
Subaru marks half century of boxing clever
Subaru is celebrating 50 years of its horizontally-opposed ‘Boxer’ engine, so called due to the pistons resembling the punch-counterpunch motion of a boxer.
The sexiest cars of the ’60s
In a golden age of music legends, supermodels and miniskirts, car designs of the 1960s became pieces of art - and they're now worth a lot of money.