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Alastair Crooks

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews. Days off are also car-related for Alastair, regularly attending car shows and track days.

Alastair says…

“As a Staff Writer for Auto Express I speak with leading figures in the automotive industry and see what changes are in store for the future. It’s fascinating to see how different firms are planning ahead, especially with the switch to electric cars. I also get the opportunity to test the latest cars, which is always a real honour. The unique benefit of working for Auto Express is our strength in depth, we cover everything from vans to supercars!”

Alastair’s main areas of expertise

  • News writing
  • Reviews
  • Feature writing 
  • Social media

Alastair Crooks Q&A 

Q: What was your first car?

A: “My first car was a Mk1 Ford Focus. It was a Zetec model with a 99bhp, 1.6-litre petrol under the bonnet. It wasn’t fast by any means but it felt solid enough and had a great balance to it. I’d like to think my skills behind the wheel have improved since I parted with my Focus so I’d love to revisit it again to see if the driving experience still holds up.”

Q: What is your dream car? 

A: “I won’t ever give a straightforward answer to this question because it’s purely mood dependent. I simply have to drive an E46 M3 at some point to see if it lives up to the hype (although the same could be said of every JDM icon from the 1990s), but I also love estates and the king of the genre is undoubtedly the V10 M5 Touring.” 

“Away from BMWs, I drove a Ferrari 458 many years ago and that is a car that’s always stuck with me. The Speciale version would probably do me just fine.”

Q: If you could change one thing about cars, driving or the car industry today what would it be?

A: “Whenever I come back from driving in Europe I’m always reminded that UK roads are atrocious. I’m not just talking about poor driving etiquette but rather actual road surfaces simply inadequate for cars. Oh, and if fuel prices could come down a bit as well that would be nice.”

Social media and e-mail 

e-mail: alastair.crooks@carwow.co.uk

New Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid priced from £44,595
Alfa Romeo PHEV - front tracking

New Alfa Romeo Tonale plug-in hybrid priced from £44,595

PHEV joins ranks of Alfa Romeo’s small SUV with more power and 49 miles of electric range
News
20 Jan 2023
Two new Alpine SUVs coming with all-electric power
Alpine badge

Two new Alpine SUVs coming with all-electric power

Alpine boss Laurent Rossi gave details on the firm’s expanding line up
News
20 Jan 2023
New Peugeot 308 diesel 2023 review
New Peugeot 308 diesel - front

New Peugeot 308 diesel 2023 review

Peugeot is still catering for diesel buyers with the new 308 1.5 BlueHDi family hatch
Road tests
20 Jan 2023
New 2023 Mercedes CLA facelift unveiled with updated technology and exterior design
Mercedes CLA

New 2023 Mercedes CLA facelift unveiled with updated technology and exterior design

Mercedes has given its the CLA, CLA Shooting Brake and AMG CLA models a mid-life facelift
News
19 Jan 2023
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and 35 gain fresh tweaks for 2023
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 group

Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and 35 gain fresh tweaks for 2023

Exterior redesign and tech update for performance versions of the CLA four-door coupe
News
19 Jan 2023
New Bentley Continental GT to receive facelift this year
Bentley Continental GT facelift - front cornering

New Bentley Continental GT to receive facelift this year

Bentley is giving its luxury grand tourer a mid-life refresh and we’ve spied it testing
News
17 Jan 2023
New 2023 DS 3 facelift on sale from £25,900
DS 3 - front tracking

New 2023 DS 3 facelift on sale from £25,900

DS ditches the ‘Crossback’ name for the DS 3 small SUV as part of a 2023 update
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16 Jan 2023
Mercedes-AMG reveals new SL 63 Motorsport Collectors Edition
Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Motorsport Collection - front

Mercedes-AMG reveals new SL 63 Motorsport Collectors Edition

The special edition SL pays tribute to the 2021 W12 Mercedes F1 car
News
12 Jan 2023
Suzuki Jimny five-door version unveiled for 2023
Suzuki Jimny 5-door - static display car

Suzuki Jimny five-door version unveiled for 2023

The larger, more practical version of Suzuki’s retro SUV should be just as capable off-road
News
12 Jan 2023
Sporty new Honda Jazz Advance Sport arrives with extra power
Honda Jazz Advance Sport - front tracking

Sporty new Honda Jazz Advance Sport arrives with extra power

Exterior tweaks and a revised hybrid powertrain for new Jazz Advance Sport
News
12 Jan 2023
New Suzuki eVX concept points to firm’s first all-electric car
Suzuki eVX unveiling

New Suzuki eVX concept points to firm’s first all-electric car

Suzuki says a production version of its EV concept will arrive in 2025
News
11 Jan 2023
New Renault Megane R.S. Ultime is the last of the Renaultsport line
Renault Megane R.S. Ultime - front

New Renault Megane R.S. Ultime is the last of the Renaultsport line

47 years of Renaultsport has come to a close with a special edition of the Megane R.S.
News
11 Jan 2023
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New Porsche 911 Dakar receives three more heritage liveries
Porsche 911 Dakar heritage

New Porsche 911 Dakar receives three more heritage liveries

Porsche unveils potentially its wildest 911 to date, with plenty of nods to its rallying history
News
11 Jan 2023
New 2023 Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140: pricing, performance and release date
Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140

New 2023 Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140: pricing, performance and release date

Seven-seat Jogger gains mild-hybrid option - the first Dacia to come with electric power
News
10 Jan 2023
2023 Vauxhall Mokka Electric gets an improved 252-mile range
Vauxhall Mokka Electric 2023

2023 Vauxhall Mokka Electric gets an improved 252-mile range

Vauxhall gives the Mokka Electric a new battery which also adds more performance
News
9 Jan 2023
Controversial Tesla yoke can now be swapped for regular steering wheel
Tesla steering wheel

Controversial Tesla yoke can now be swapped for regular steering wheel

The conventional steering wheel is now a retrofit option as Tesla Model S and Model X go beyond a yoke
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6 Jan 2023
Are heated seat belts the next big thing for electric cars?
Heated seatbelts demonstrated with thermal imaging

Are heated seat belts the next big thing for electric cars?

The new heated seat belt technology from ZF could even increase EV range
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5 Jan 2023
Lamborghini Urus review
Lamborghini Urus - front

Lamborghini Urus review

Traditional school run SUVs will be cowering in fear when you rock up to the playground in your twin-turbo V8 Lamborghini Urus
In-depth reviews
5 Jan 2023
New 2023 Mercedes EQT arrives as all-electric MPV
Mercedes EQT - front

New 2023 Mercedes EQT arrives as all-electric MPV

Mercedes broadens its EV range with T-Class-sized EQT
News
4 Jan 2023
New Mercedes-AMG S 63: price and specs for the hottest S-Class
Mercedes-AMG S 63 E-Performance - front

New Mercedes-AMG S 63: price and specs for the hottest S-Class

The latest S 63 gets 791bhp courtesy of a plug-in hybrid powertrain
News
3 Jan 2023
New BMW iX2 electric SUV spied for the first time
BMW iX2 (camouflaged) - front

New BMW iX2 electric SUV spied for the first time

BMW’s X2 coupe crossover is returning and it’ll get all-electric power from the new iX1
News
3 Jan 2023
How to design an electric car
How to design an electric car

How to design an electric car

Peugeot’s design boss explains how electrification will change his team’s work
Features
28 Dec 2022
New Bertone GB110 hypercar revealed with 1100bhp
Bertone GB110 - front

New Bertone GB110 hypercar revealed with 1100bhp

The GB110 takes inspiration from Bertone’s iconic designs
News
22 Dec 2022
Toyota bZ4X Vision FWD 2023 review
Toyota bZ4X FWD - front tracking

Toyota bZ4X Vision FWD 2023 review

The bZ4X is as good to drive with a single motor as it is with a dual setup, but this model still has some fundamental flaws
Road tests
21 Dec 2022
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Facelifted 2023 Mercedes G-Class spotted in production bodywork
Mercedes G Class (camouflaged) - front

Facelifted 2023 Mercedes G-Class spotted in production bodywork

The iconic G-Class is set for a makeover but will keep its turbocharged V8
News
21 Dec 2022
New 2023 Lamborghini Sterrato set to rival Porsche 911 Dakar
Lamborghini Sterrato - front static

New 2023 Lamborghini Sterrato set to rival Porsche 911 Dakar

Lamborghini’s newest creation is a wild Huracan-based off-roader
News
21 Dec 2022
New MINI Convertible Seaside Edition celebrates 30 years of drop-top MINIs
MINI Convertible Seaside Edition - front

New MINI Convertible Seaside Edition celebrates 30 years of drop-top MINIs

MINI has an eye on summer already with its new special Convertible Seaside Edition
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20 Dec 2022
New Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato unveiled as 533bhp grand tourer
Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato - front

New Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato unveiled as 533bhp grand tourer

Zagato’s latest project uses the powertrain from an Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm and adds a manual gearbox
News
20 Dec 2022
New 2023 Skoda Enyaq Coupe gets £44,825 entry-level price tag
Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe - front static

New 2023 Skoda Enyaq Coupe gets £44,825 entry-level price tag

Skoda’s all-electric Enyaq SUV gets a coupe variant with a longer range
News
20 Dec 2022
New Lamborghini Urus S 2023 review
Lamborghini Urus S - front action

New Lamborghini Urus S 2023 review

The new Urus S sits in the sweet spot between performance and practicality
Road tests
20 Dec 2022
All-electric Everrati Range Rover Classic priced from £230,000
Everrati Range Rover

All-electric Everrati Range Rover Classic priced from £230,000

Everrati also reveals its take on a battery-powered Land Rover Defender
News
19 Dec 2022
New 2023 Citroen e-C4 X goes on sale from £31,995
Citroen e-C4 X - front

New 2023 Citroen e-C4 X goes on sale from £31,995

The all-electric e-C4 X is a new family-friendly crossover from Citroen
News
19 Dec 2022
New Toyota Aygo X Air Edition 2023 review
Toyota Aygo X Air Edition - front

New Toyota Aygo X Air Edition 2023 review

The Air Edition adds a useful convertible option to the Aygo X range
Road tests
16 Dec 2022
New 2023 Maserati Grecale: pricing, specs and performance
Maserati Grecale - front

New 2023 Maserati Grecale: pricing, specs and performance

The premium SUV sector gains a new member in the shape of the Maserati Grecale
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15 Dec 2022