New NCAP crash tests target "annoying" ADAS, reward buttons

NCAP doubles down on real-world car safety in response to consumer criticism of "intrusive" ADASVehicle safety body Euro NCAP is dramatically changing the way it tests cars, primarily to better evaluate the effectiveness of cars' driver assistance systems and the usability of their cockpits.
NCAP says this is the biggest change it has made to its testing programme since 2009. The new procedure overhauls the way cars are tested and scored – under four new core pillars of safety: safe drivin

This this rev-hungry hot hatch was destined for hillclimb sprints until a rule change rendered it unusable
Dave Partridge bought his Peugeot 106 1.3 Rallye to compete in motorsport events - and then the rules were changed. "I bought it 14 years ago for £450 with the aim of going sprinting and hillclimbing in the up-to-1300cc category," he says.
"I renovated and fitted Bilstein Group N Tarmac suspension to it everything I could do in the regulations to hillclimb it. Then they changed the re

"We are exploring what's next after the SUVs," says CEO, as firm considers a new take on the estate carPeugeot is mulling a successor to the 508 estate as it looks to once again expand its line-up into segments besides its current hatchback and crossover offering.
The 508, Peugeot's mid-sized executive offering, was launched in 2010 as a rival to the Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb and Volvo S60/V60, and was available as a four-door fastback and a more popular estate.
It lasted two generations b

Russell Carr has been involved in numerous projects in his career - from forklift trucks to superbikesIn this week's bonus episode of the Autocar podcast, Autocar Meets Russell Carr, design director at Lotus.
Talking at an event in London to Autocar's editor-at-large Matt Prior, the pair discuss lightweight design in an electric age, what's going on at Hethel, and how Lotus fits into a multinational company like Geely.
The regular My Week In Cars podcast will also be with you throughout Christma

This pairing wasn't quite as preposterous as it might appearWhen Mondeo meets McLaren: Our annual driver's car showdown unearths unlikely handling heroesThink of Autocar's annual Britain's Best Driver's Car (BBDC) test and your mind will rightly project visions of Porsche 911s, V12-fired Ferraris and scaffold-like lightweights.
But once in a blue moon, something entirely ordinary slips into the field. Not even a GTI, ST or anything to that effect, but common-or-garden machinery that lines the na

These two fine sportsters have been battling it out since the early 2000sWhile our road testers were rigorously testing the latest metal for Britain’s Best Driver’s Car 2025, photographer Jack Harrison and I decided to mark the occasion in our own way – by reuniting two former BBDC contenders from a very different era. 
Last year I bought a 2005 Renault Clio 182 Trophy, and have spent the past year returning it to factory order by refitting its trick Sachs remote reservoir

Another year, another 10 contenders line-up to battle for the title of Britain's Best Driver's CarPastures new beckoned for this year's Britain's Best Driver's Car shootout – and that isn't something we've been able to say very often.
There are few UK motorsport circuits that BBDC hasn't visited before – mostly because this annual gathering of the year's best new enthusiast's cars, for a hedonistic few days of road and track driving, has such a long history.
Since the first runn

The Dodge Venom concept. I remember it. Always thought the brand needed a Ford Mustang/Chevrolet Camaro fighter.Sure, the reborn Challenger would come along later, but that was more of a retro-inspired muscle car really. The Venom, a Neon with Viper aspirations, could've been that pony car.With the Camaro and Challenger gone, should Dodge build something to fight the Mustang? Or nah?You know the drill -- sound off below.[Image: Dodge]Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features

We have another recall for you, this one involving 2026 Ford Super Duty F-250 and F-350 models. Ford is recalling 6,819 model-year 2026 Super Duty F-250 and F-350 trucks due to a potential issue with the right rear axle shaft. The axle shaft may have been improperly heat-treated during manufacturing, which could cause it to break. If the axle shaft fails, the vehicle could lose drive power or roll away when placed in park, increasing the risk of a crash.Dealers will inspect the right rear axle s

Last week we reviewed the exterior of the “all-new”Cadillac Eldorado of 1992. Though the body was indeed new on the outside, bones underneath were the same as the old one: the platform, wheelbase, and engine were all carried over from the ‘91. While the exterior proved a messy mixed bag of new, old, and throwback design cues, the interior was a more solid step forward. It was apparent even from a casual glance that GM wanted to be taken more seriously as a competitor to establi

Hey there! It's podcast time! Before we get into this week's episode, a quick note of housekeeping -- because of the holiday, the next two episodes will be dropping early -- look for them on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 31.This week, Steve Elek from Consumer Reports joins us to discuss the most reliable car brands.TTAC contributor Matthew Guy stops by to discuss salt removal for floor mats and he and I dig into the NASCAR settlement. Because we record in advance, we weren't able

Top 8 Best Car OrganizersHey, you. Yeah, you with the landfill masquerading as a car. It’s time to clean it up and get organized. Having a spot in which to store all the detritus of daily life is important. It’s even more important to keep it in reach of the ankle biters unless you really like stopping every five minutes to find the juice boxes. Heck, even those of us who travel solo can use a bit of help keeping things in the car at bay.We’ve assembled an octet of car organize

Is there a better car suited to the UK's roads than a hot hatch?Not atypically for a British driving fan, I think the hot hatch is the best type of car you can buy.
For getting your dynamic kicks on our narrow B-roads, riddled as they are with crater-sized potholes, you want something that's highly manoeuvrable, practical, affordable and still exciting to drive. And in my opinion, those wearing the coveted Renault Sport badge are the undisputed champions of the game, especially when it comes to

Roma successor brings vital updates for Maranello’s entry-level carFerrari tends not to do ‘facelifts’. Updated cars usually get an entirely new name, such as with the 360 and F430 or the F12 and 812. But they do tend to be pretty big updates that incorporate some major technical changes.This brings us to the new Ferrari Amalfi, which we can all see is the facelifted version of the Roma, Ferrari’s front-engined V8 sports GT that’s a distant descendant of

Mercedes-AMG 500 SEC was one of the first Affalterbach-made models to launch in the UK
The German tuning company was an independent firm before it was acquired by Mercedes-BenzThe UK arrival of AMG in the autumn of 1982 was low-key. Strattons of Wilmslow, Cheshire, became the sole concessionaire, and Autocar dedicated just 50 words to it, buried in the data section, soberly calling AMG “a German styling and tuning firm who produce customizing and performance modifications for Mercedes

Fabrice Cambolive said Savane 4x4 variant would extend the market appeal of the compact electric crossoverA decision on whether the Renault 4 Savane 4x4 concept car will make production will be taken within the coming weeks.
Renault CEO Fabrice Cambolive said he “would be pushing” for the four-wheel-drive model to make production as one of the “cherries on top of the cake” of Renault’s new range of small EVs.
Speaking at the Car of the Year 2026 final event in Barce

Arizona might do away with speed limits on rural roads.American states have tried this before -- remember Montana and "reasonable and prudent"? It seemed like a good idea -- but how do we judge "reasonable and prudent"? Does it matter if the car is in good shape, or if the driver is driving in a manner that's safe, even at high speeds?How does that standard work if someone fights a ticket? What about finding blame for a wreck?You know what to do. Sound off below.[Image: 86Eric_Anthony_Mischke 86

Top 8 Best Torque WrenchesIf you’re doing any sort of DIY work that requires the removal and installation of nuts and bolts, a torque wrench is a great tool to have on hand. This is doubly true if you have a propensity for swapping the wheels and tires of your vehicle. Properly torquing those lug nuts is critical to avoid a potentially calamitous situation.Torque wrenches, in case you’re new to this racket, act like a regular ratchet wrench but ceases the socket’s tightening ac

The State of Arizona has pending legislation that would do away with speed limits during daytime hours on select stretches of rural road.
Arizona Rep. Nick Kupper has put forward the Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving (RAPID) Act, or House Bill 2059, which he said was modeled after rules of the German Autobahn and past laws in Montana. Driving enthusiasts probably know that Montana has occasionally dabbled with doing away with speed limits on isolated stretches of country road. However, t

Today we're going back to the '90s for this 1992 Saab 900. This one has just 109K miles on it and the seller says everything works as it's supposed to.There are some cosmetic blemishes -- the most notable being some clear-cut peeling on the hood.Other than that, the ad copy is pretty light.Still, we can tell that this car is for sale in Oregon for $3,600.Click here to see more.[Images: Seller]Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that get

Despite having the good sense to offer modern reproduction parts for classic models, Audi has tragically not made getting them into the hands of customers based in the United States or Canada particularly easy. Fortunately, that could be changing based on a post from Audi Club North America.
The group recently made an Instagram post asking for Audi owners ( h/t TheDrive) to provide feedback that could lead to Americans eventually getting the parts they need for whatever Audi model they happen to

Joey Cohen joins the Bozi Breakdown in Episode 3 to dissect the recent Texas NASCAR race. They highlight the track's unique challenge with two distinct ends requiring compromises. They focus on the Next Gen car's "aero attitude" with underbody downforce via the rear diffuser. Joey explains the difficulty of planning for races with 35 other cars, as the car's aero sensitivity in traffic significantly differs from single-car testing.Ed. note -- this article initially ran earlier this year and has

High-riding supermini is up for renewal, with the current model having been launched seven years agoDS boss Xavier Peugeot has hinted that a replacement for the brand's smallest model, the 3, is on the horizon - but suggested that it won't be easily pigeonholed into a traditional segment.
The high-riding DS 3 supermini is up for renewal, having been launched in 2018 as the second model from the then newly independent DS marque.
Sharing its platform and powertrain line-up with the similarly sized

I bought a 1972 VW Beetle as my first car, and drove it the equivalent of two laps around the worldWhat's it like to drive a classic car every day, rather than just on high days and holidays?
Can you still use as intended a car that was built more than half a century ago, on roads that are vastly different from those it was designed for, and in the context of an automotive market that has moved on several times over?
I did - for a good few years, actually. In fact, because my 1972 Volkswagen Bee

Latest testing snaps give the best look yet at Crewe's first electric car ahead of its arrival in late 2026This is our most revealing look yet at Bentley’s first EV, which is due to be unveiled at the end of next year. 
Spied testing in the freezing conditions of northern Sweden, this mule of Crewe’s so-called Luxury Urban SUV has lost the chunky camouflage that we’ve seen used by previous prototypes. 
Without it, a Bentayga-like bonnet, production-spec front lights a

Bullish Korean brand bursts onto the van market with futuristic-looking electric MPV to rival Volkswagen ID BuzzEven by the standards of a car firm that has radically transformed its line-up in recent years, the new Kia PV5 is a hugely significant machine. Which is saying something for what is essentially a van.Actually, Kia would rather you call it a Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV), a descriptor that will be applied to the Korean firm’s new line of electric li

Electric SUV offers a lot of tech and luxury for a low price but demands some compromisesThis may be Blighty - but the recently arrived Leapmotor brand already knows that, as well as meeting the Dacias and Skodas of this world in this important battleground, much of its tussle will be with other Chinese brands, like MG and BYD. That's what introducing a mid-sized, budget-priced, electric SUV like the Leapmotor B10 is absolutely vital.And, unlike some of its competition, Leapmotor

Kia's latest EV isn't radical but should be a solid contender in a competitive classThe Kia EV5 is its maker's vegan sausage roll.Much like the pork-filled pastry, the combustion-engined Kia Sportage is a firm favourite of the British public: more than 45,000 have left showrooms across the UK this year, making it the nation's second-best selling new car.But the time has come for a more 'socially conscious' version, giving the Korean brand a competitor in the burgeoning class

Movers and shakers: Soohang Chang takes over from Marc Hedrich, who moves back to Kia FranceWelcome to Movers and Shakers, an Autocar Business feature covering the latest job moves from across the automotive industry.
This page is updated regularly with all the biggest transfers, promotions and departures in the sector, covering everything you need to know.
Name: Soohang Chang
Company: Kia Europe
Role: President and CEOSoohang Chang has been named president and CEO of Kia Europe. He mo

Softening phase-out of combustion-engined cars would better reflect market reality, said car makerFord has become the strongest voice so far among UK car companies in calling for the government to follow the European Union (EU) in softening electric car targets.
The majority, along with their representative body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), have either been more muted or declined to comment when approached by Autocar. 
Green groups and EV-focused companies meanwhi