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Wild Aston Martin Dreadnought V12 military 4x4 is set for Call of Duty debut!As unlikely partnerships go, Aston Martin a...
17/07/2026

Wild Aston Martin Dreadnought V12 military 4x4 is set for Call of Duty debut!

As unlikely partnerships go, Aston Martin and the hugely popular video game series Call of Duty is right up there – but together, the pair have produced the suitably mad Dreadnought.

Available in the latest ‘Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare’ game, there’s also a full-size model of the Dreadnought on show at the Fanatics Fest convention in New York City this week.

While Aston Martin already has an off-roader of sorts in its portfolio in the form of the DBX SUV, the Dreadnought is as far removed from the British luxury sports car brand as you can imagine. Drawn up by the company’s design team – who apparently “enjoyed the freedom of working without the restraints of the physical world”, according to the firm – the Dreadnought is a ‘tactical all-wheel-drive SUV’ with a V12 engine.

Read more: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/aston-martin/370029/wild-aston-martin-dreadnought-v12-military-4x4-set-call-duty-debut

Are Chinese cars really cheaper? True buying and running costs for top models uncovered 🇨🇳💰❓Price is the number-one fact...
16/07/2026

Are Chinese cars really cheaper? True buying and running costs for top models uncovered 🇨🇳💰❓

Price is the number-one factor when it comes to buying a new car. But where that car is assembled is neither here nor there for British consumers: according to YouGov, more than half of us would consider an emerging Chinese brand – if it offered competitive pricing. As a result, new entrants such as Jaecoo, Omoda, Chery and BYD are exploding in popularity, taking more than 10 per cent of the new-car market in 2026.

Chinese car prices can be around 10 per cent lower than for their European, American, Korean and Japanese rivals, but are the former really cheaper to own? Research by our sister brand Carwow has already revealed Chinese cars can be trickier and more expensive to insure – so how does that translate into other running costs, such as servicing, fuel and depreciation?

We’ve done the maths to investigate whether Chinese cars really are as cheap as they seem. We’ve picked out top-selling models from five of Britain’s most popular Far-East brands and pitted them against rivals, finding out how much they cost to run over the course of three years and 30,000 miles, the average lease or ownership period.

The cost of charging has been determined by using the July Ofgem Energy Price Cap, combined with the ZapMap average cost for rapid charging, at a domestic to public charging ratio of 84:16 – the typical usage pattern for most EV drivers. We’ve also compared the cost of buying with cash or leasing – the former with residuals sourced from industry expert, cap HPI, and the latter using the best ‘Available to Order’ deals we found on the Auto Express Buy A Car service.

New Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider review: king of the convertibles 🪟😍With no discernible drop-off in the coupe’s outrage...
15/07/2026

New Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider review: king of the convertibles 🪟😍

With no discernible drop-off in the coupe’s outrageous performance, driveability or usability combined with the bonus of more exhilarating, open-air motoring, the Ferrari 849 Testarossa is even more joyous in Spider form. True, the looks – which are perhaps more dramatic in this drop-top – might not suit all tastes. But while there is a real sense of occasion with the Spider, it’s still a supercar you can genuinely use every day.

BREAKING NEWS: New Volkswagen ID. Cross electric SUV revealed with 278-mile range 😄😲😍Here’s Volkswagen’s small electric ...
15/07/2026

BREAKING NEWS: New Volkswagen ID. Cross electric SUV revealed with 278-mile range 😄😲😍

Here’s Volkswagen’s small electric car for families, the VW ID. Cross SUV, with a maximum range of 273 miles. The big brother to the new ID. Polo hatchback is set for UK launch in early 2027, costing from around £28,000.

One look at the Volkswagen ID. Cross’s exterior, combining an elevated ride height, plastic body protection and roof rails, makes clear exactly how it’s positioned. “This is one of Volkswagen Group’s electric urban car family, like the ID. Polo,” product manager Florian Schrader told Auto Express. “But it’s a bigger car with more space and more usability. It’s a true SUV, rolling on larger wheels.” They span 17 to 20 inches in diameter.

Think of the ID. Cross as a rival for the Skoda Epiq and Renault 4, and a zero-emissions alternative to Volkswagen’s petrol-powered T-Cross. At 4,153mm long, the new ID SUV is fractionally longer and has an extra 50mm between the wheels, plus it’s wider and taller to boost cabin space. It also has a larger boot, and a 22-litre storage area under the bonnet for the charging cable.

New baby Jeep SUV is set to tackle the Ford Puma 🚙🇺🇸Jeep is developing three new SUV models that’ll join the Avenger and...
15/07/2026

New baby Jeep SUV is set to tackle the Ford Puma 🚙🇺🇸

Jeep is developing three new SUV models that’ll join the Avenger and Compass in its range, bringing the total count to five by 2030. They will include a new B-segment SUV, a slightly larger replacement for the Renegade and a tough new family-sized model that could just be a cut-priced rival for the Land Rover Defender.

The stakes are high, though, because the American 4x4 specialist is at the sharp end of the massive growth plan laid down by parent company Stellantis, so each of these new models has to deliver big sales numbers if the company is to survive in Europe. That’s why each is targeting big-selling segments, rather than acting as halo products.

There is another, more unfortunate reason for this explosion of new models, though. Plans to introduce two of Jeep’s new American-made models into European markets have stalled. The Wagoneer S and Recon have both been pulled from the UK product plan before they’ve even reached dealerships.

This is in addition to another major loss in the UK and Europe. Jeep’s halo model – the Wrangler – is no longer compatible with European emissions or safety regulations, so it has also been removed from sale in the UK. The company is certain, however, that it can make up for this with this upcoming set of more Euro-friendly models, offering Jeep’s American image in cars more suited to customers here.

14/07/2026

Mazda CX-80 and its brilliant buttons

The Mazda CX-80 has a dated interior compared to many large SUV rivals but that means plenty of buttons to press and no fiddly touchscreen. Where things better in the old days?

Huge EV pay-per-mile tax details revealed: GPS tracking and price increases confirmed 😲💷💷💷Major details of the controver...
13/07/2026

Huge EV pay-per-mile tax details revealed: GPS tracking and price increases confirmed 😲💷💷💷

Major details of the controversial eVED pay-per-mile tax have been unveiled. The Government has confirmed that drivers of electric and plug-in hybrid cars will be able to opt-in to submit GPS data to get accurate readings, while the cost per mile is set to increase further from April 2029.

12/07/2026

Look at the size of that Mazda! The CX-80 is the brand's biggest SUV but how practical is it?

Is anyone picking this over a Porsche 911? (It's got double the power) 😲🤔❓The new mind-bogglingly fast Denza Z is China’...
12/07/2026

Is anyone picking this over a Porsche 911? (It's got double the power) 😲🤔❓

The new mind-bogglingly fast Denza Z is China’s answer to the Porsche 911, Mercedes-AMG GT and Maserati GranTurismo, and it’s looking to embarrass them all with a devastating amount of power.

Auto Express has confirmed the fully electric four-seater GT will be coming to the UK as part of a four-pronged attack by BYD’s premium, technology-focused sister brand, Denza, which is going to try and take on the might of Mercedes, BMW and Porsche.

The Denza Z, which made its public debut at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, will be the brand’s flagship model and it’ll be offered in three forms: the standard hard-top Coupe, a convertible Spider, and a full-throttle Racing version.

All of them feature the same tri-motor powertrain that uses one motor up front and two at the rear to produce 1,583bhp, which is about as much as in the Bugatti Chiron hypercar. That, plus 1,240Nm of torque, allows the coupe to do 0-62mph in just 2.25 seconds, reach 124mph in 6.36 seconds and go on a top speed of 186mph.

The open-top version is nearly as quick, as is the standard Racing model. However, if buyers add the optional semi-slick tyres, the GT3-inspired model is capable of 0-62mph in a ridiculous 1.96 seconds, while the top speed increases to 217mph.

12/07/2026

This year’s Coupe of the Year is a delight to drive, it’s the BMW 2 Series.

“Rear-wheel-drive handling and a range of potent four and six-cylinder engines help the 2 Series to deliver the kind of sharp and involving drive that BMW is famous for.”

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