Auto Express magazine covers - pictures

We're looking back at 30 years of Auto Express magazine with a retrospective of some of our past covers. <h2><a href="http://subscribe.autoexpress.co.uk/?utm_source=AEX_brand_site&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=sitewide_he

The first issue of Auto Express, on sale on 23 September 1988, set the template for the following 30 years with an exclusive cover story, a road test and plenty of consumer advice. Our main picture combined a spy shot with some artisti

Auto Express launched as a weekly, so nealy 12 months later, Issue 50 arrived with a very unconventional cover star. The Lada Samara Turbo went on to become a footnote in automotive history, but our other cover stories about high fuel

For our centenary issue, Auto Express lined up a traditional test, as the all-new Ford Escort took on the Vauxhall Astra, VW Golf and Toyota Corolla, plus we brought along a previous generation Escort for comparison. There were prizes

As a consumer advocate, Auto Express has prided itself on questioning those in power about their views on motoring. In Issue 150, we quizzed Department for Transport Undersecretary Christopher Chope about his office's charter to improv

Auto Express has conducted many campaigns over the years, and one of the most successful was to legislate against so-called 'Cowboy Clampers', as highlighted in Issue 200. We also had spy shots of the new Ford Sierra (nee Mondeo), whil

In 1993, Vauxhall and Saab were both part of General Motors, and our tortuous title was trying to describe the arrival of the Vectra-based 9-3 hatchback. Unfortunately the car itself came up short for executive car buyers and Saab fans

A theme we've revisited many times in Auto Express is the summer drop-top special. For Issue 300, we gathered a set of open-top 4x4s including the Vauxhall Frontera, Daihatsu Fourtrak and Jeep Wrangler (who needs a Range Rover Evoque?)

Seven years on from Issue 1, and Issue 350 carried the first spy shots of the all-new Rover 200. Once again, some artistic licence was given to the spy pic on the cover, but our rendering proved accurate to the final product. We also b

For Issue 400, we repeated a test from Issue 1, this time with the Peugeot 406 facing the Vauxhall Vectra and Ford Mondeo in a repmobile triple test. But the real cover star was Ford's Transit Supervan 3. Not to be outdone by the Espac

By the time Issue 450 of Auto Express came around, the design of the cover logo and layout had become established and remains largely the same today. What was unusual was the cover star, the Dodge Copperhead concept, which was designed

Ford has always been popular in the UK, which is why so many of its cars have appeared on our covers. For Issue 500, it was the Touring Ka, a five-door version of Ford's city car created by in-house design firm Ghia. Issue 500 was also

Issue 550 of Auto Express was power-packed, with first drives of the new Honda S2000 roadster and 996-era Porsche 911 GT3, plus spy pictures of the forthcoming E46-generation BMW M3. It didn't end there, as the new Peugeot 206 GTi took

While the new millennium had arrived, Auto Express stuck to a tried-and-tested formula of first drives and spy shots. We reported back on how the new Mercedes C-Class drove, although all was not as it seemed with the cover star – look

When Auto Express has early access to a new car, we try and make the most of it. When the new Peugeot 307 arrived in 2001, we managed to grab the keys for a first drive, but we also managed to corral three rivals from Vauxhall, Volkswa

For Issue 700, Auto Express used its industry contacts and insider knowledge to reveal BMW's plans to introduce a new Focus-rivalling hatchback some four years before the 1 Series hit showrooms. Considering how advanced the knowledge w

Another artists' impression graced the cover of Auto Express Issue 750, this time it was the Peugeot 207 hatchback. The nose treatment was a little off with the position of the badge, and so was the standfirst - instead of building the

Another landmark reached, and another Ford graces the cover of Auto Express. This time we had news on the new Mondeo and its SUV and MPV spin-offs. While the cover image wasn't much different from the Mk2 model on sale at the time, and

We don't always get our predictions right. For Issue 850 of Auto Express, our cover star was the Bentley 'Azure'. That was the rumoured name for the drop-top version of the Continental GT, but while the artists' impression was pretty c

2006 saw Auto Express hit Issue 900, and there were plenty of flights of fancy on display on the cover. The image of the new Ford Fiesta Mk6 was clearly created by grafting the nose of the Galaxy MPV on the existing model, so wasn't on

It was another Ford on the cover of Auto Express 950, with the Ka Mk2 getting the crystal ball treatment. Clearly based on the Mk1 Sportka, unfortunately our artists' impression was rather wide of the mark. Much better was Auto Express

We revealed the all-new Ford Fiesta in full with exclusive access to the model for our landmark Issue 1,000. The issue coincided with the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, so there were show stars aplenty and a competition to win a Fiat Bravo, w

Issue 1,050 of Auto Express had the usual varied content, including one of the first appearances of Tesla, when a Roadster featured in our 0-60mph shootout. We also had a drive of Porsche's first diesel (but now the firm has canned all

Fast Fords dominated the cover of Auto Express Issue 1,100, with two generations of Focus RS under the spotlight. The first was a run-out model for the RS Mk2, and while the white and blue paint didn't make production, the matt-black,

In 2011 we were in the midst of the economic slump, so the idea of getting just as much enjoyment from a car that's half the cost triggered our Half-Price Heroes feature - although pairing the Range Rover Evoque with the forthcoming Po

When pictures of the new Porsche Boxster arrived, it went straight on the cover of Issue 1,200. But the dark brown car in the press pictures didn't appeal, so the expert Auto Express art department had it digitally 'repainted' in red t

At the start of 2013, the rise of the small SUV was in full effect. We took a punt on how the next Yeti would look - and got pretty close to the final look of the Karoq - while the new Peugeot 2008 was also revealed. Look closely and y

Another landmark issue saw another new Ford revealed. This time, the Focus Mk3 took pride of place on the cover, although the position of the number plate - which was added in post-production - was a little off. Another model that was

Skoda has changed beyond all recognition since Auto Express started 30 years ago, and no more proof is needed than our preview image of the Superb Mk3. We used inside information for our image, while an early drive of a pre-production

A render of the BMW i5 electric SUV graced the cover of issue 1,400. That milestone issue number also happened to coincide with our annual Christmas double issue with its review of the year, and a special feature on the Vauxhall Astra.

It was on the front of Issue 1,000 in Mk6 guise, and 450 editions later, the all-new Ford Fiesta Mk7 was our cover star. We had full details of the new model ahead of its release later in 2017, while the issue also carried plenty of de

Issue 1,500 of Auto Express arrived in September 2017, and it proved that the British car industry was still in rude health. While Tesla tried to take headlines with its&nbsp;new Roaster, the cover gave pride of place to an important n