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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 BMW Z4 facelift now on sale from £43,795
BMW Z4 2022 facelift

New BMW Z4 facelift now on sale from £43,795

BMW’s two-seater sports car has received a mild tweak for 2022
News
9 Nov 2022
New Aston Martin AMB 001 Pro superbike unveiled in Milan
New Aston Martin AMB 001 Pro - front

New Aston Martin AMB 001 Pro superbike unveiled in Milan

The AMB 001 Pro is a superbike created by Aston Martin and bike specialist Brough Superior
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8 Nov 2022
New 2023 BMW XM: pricing, specs and performance
BMW XM - front action

New 2023 BMW XM: pricing, specs and performance

The new 644bhp BMW XM super-SUV is on sale now
News
7 Nov 2022
Caterham Seven 340 revealed in S and R form
Caterham Seven 340R - front tracking

Caterham Seven 340 revealed in S and R form

The new Seven 340 replaces the 275 and sits in the middle of the Caterham range
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7 Nov 2022
New Range Rover Sport SVR to be fastest version yet
Range Rover Sport SVR test car - front

New Range Rover Sport SVR to be fastest version yet

The hot SVR-badged Range Rover Sport could gain BMW X5 M power
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7 Nov 2022
Lexus Electrified Sport concept will be an all-electric LFA successor
Lexus Electrified Sport concept on stand at SEMA 2022

Lexus Electrified Sport concept will be an all-electric LFA successor

The Lexus supercar concept receives its public debut at SEMA 2022
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7 Nov 2022
New soft-top Toyota Aygo X Air Edition launched 
Toyota Aygo X Air Edition - Ginger Beige

New soft-top Toyota Aygo X Air Edition launched 

Roofless motoring returns to Toyota’s smallest car with new Aygo X Air Edition
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3 Nov 2022
New Bentley Bentayga Odyssean Edition revealed
Bentley Bentayga Odyssean Edition - front

New Bentley Bentayga Odyssean Edition revealed

Only 70 will be built and each will be powered by Bentley’s V6 plug-in hybrid drivetrain
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1 Nov 2022
Volvo S60 future undecided after removal from UK line-up
Volvo S60

Volvo S60 future undecided after removal from UK line-up

Volvo could axe the compact executive from its UK line up for good
News
1 Nov 2022
Nissan reveals six new concepts for SEMA show
Nissan Sunny pick-up concept

Nissan reveals six new concepts for SEMA show

The group includes an electric pick-up truck, a retro SUV and a purpose-built racer
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1 Nov 2022
New range-topping Dacia Duster Extreme SE launched
Dacia Duster Extreme SE - front

New range-topping Dacia Duster Extreme SE launched

Dacia’s budget SUV gains interior and exterior revisions for Extreme SE variant
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1 Nov 2022
New 2022 BMW X1: specs, pricing and engines
BMW X1 - front

New 2022 BMW X1: specs, pricing and engines

BMW’s smallest SUV returns with a starting price tag of £33,775
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31 Oct 2022
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Bentley Continental Mulliner Riviera Collection revealed
Bentley Continental Mulliner Riviera Collection - three cars by a Marina in Monaco

Bentley Continental Mulliner Riviera Collection revealed

The Continental GT-based Mulliner Riviera Collection cars will only be available through the firm’s Monaco hub
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28 Oct 2022
New 2022 Mercedes B-Class on sale from £35,100
Mercedes B-Class - front

New 2022 Mercedes B-Class on sale from £35,100

The Mercedes B-Class MPV gains exterior tweaks, new interior technology and electrified powertrains
News
27 Oct 2022
Revised Mercedes-AMG A 45 hot hatch priced from £63,140
Mercedes-AMG A 45 - front

Revised Mercedes-AMG A 45 hot hatch priced from £63,140

Both the A 45 and less powerful A 35 will gain updates inside and out
News
27 Oct 2022
New Mercedes A-Class facelift: specs, pricing and powertrains
Mercedes A-Class - front

New Mercedes A-Class facelift: specs, pricing and powertrains

Mercedes’s premium hatchback has been given an mid-life update for 2022
News
27 Oct 2022
Next-generation Jeep Renegade to continue with pure-electric power
Jeep Renegade EV render

Next-generation Jeep Renegade to continue with pure-electric power

The retro-styled Jeep Renegade be turned into an EV, thanks to Stellantis technology
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27 Oct 2022
New MINI Edition comes to brand’s entire range of models
MINI 3-door - blue

New MINI Edition comes to brand’s entire range of models

MINI has brought a new trim level range to the Cooper, Countryman and Clubman
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26 Oct 2022
2023 Mazda MX-5 receives new trim levels
2023 Mazda MX-5 - side static

2023 Mazda MX-5 receives new trim levels

Mazda has revised the model lineup of its iconic roadster, but powertrains remain unchanged
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25 Oct 2022
2022 Suzuki S-Cross now available with full-hybrid option
Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid - front

2022 Suzuki S-Cross now available with full-hybrid option

The S-Cross Full Hybrid adds a new powertrain to Suzuki’s crossover
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24 Oct 2022
Mercedes C 300 d Estate 2022 review
Mercedes C-Class Estate - front

Mercedes C 300 d Estate 2022 review

We hit the road in the Mercedes C 300 d Estate to see if it's the pick of the range
Road tests
24 Oct 2022
Paris Motor Show 2022: news round-up and all the cars
Paris Motor Show 2022 header

Paris Motor Show 2022: news round-up and all the cars

We round up everything that was on display at the 2022 Paris Motor Show, from the latest production cars to the craziest concepts
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20 Oct 2022
Foxconn Model V all-electric pick-up truck unveiled
Foxconn Model V

Foxconn Model V all-electric pick-up truck unveiled

Apple iPhone maker Foxconn could still bring its EVs to Europe
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19 Oct 2022
New Audi RS 3 performance edition gets even more power
Audi RS 3 performance edition - front

New Audi RS 3 performance edition gets even more power

Limited to just 300 units, the Audi RS 3 performance edition is faster, more focused and louder
News
17 Oct 2022
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New Porsche 911 GT3 RS misses out on Nurburgring record
Porsche 911 GT3 RS 'Ring lap

New Porsche 911 GT3 RS misses out on Nurburgring record

It’s the quickest 911 GT3 RS yet, but it’s not enough to overthrow the old 911 GT2 RS at the Nurburgring
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13 Oct 2022
New £11bn investment plan for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 - front tracking

New £11bn investment plan for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis

New platforms, infotainment systems, autonomy and over-the-air updates and in store for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models
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12 Oct 2022
Jaguar F-Type 75 special edition revealed
Jaguar F-Type 75 edition

Jaguar F-Type 75 special edition revealed

Jaguar is signing off its F-Type sports car with a special ‘75’ edition
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11 Oct 2022
New Audi TT to follow R8 into electrification
Audi TT EV concept render (watermarked)

New Audi TT to follow R8 into electrification

Audi’s sporty coupe will gain electrification and a dramatic new look
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10 Oct 2022
Everrati reveals 500bhp electric Porsche 911 Cabriolet
Everrati 911 Convertible - front static

Everrati reveals 500bhp electric Porsche 911 Cabriolet

The ‘Redefined’ Porsche 911 Wide Body Cabriolet adds to Everatti’s growing number of electrified classics
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6 Oct 2022
Audi R8 successor will be fully electric
Audi R8 successor - front (watermarked)

Audi R8 successor will be fully electric

An Audi supercar is in the works and it could have even greater levels of performance
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5 Oct 2022
Vauxhall Combo, Vivaro and Movano vans get a range revamp with Prime and Pro models
Vauxhall combo

Vauxhall Combo, Vivaro and Movano vans get a range revamp with Prime and Pro models

New Prime models kicks off a new-look Vauxhall van trim level hierarchy and are applied across Combo, Vivaro and Movano van ranges
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4 Oct 2022
New Vauxhall Vivaro GS van adds some sporty flavour
Vauxhall Vivaro GS - front

New Vauxhall Vivaro GS van adds some sporty flavour

The GS trim level brings some styling tweaks to Vauxhall’s Vivaro mid-sized panel van
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4 Oct 2022
Ford Bronco gets Hennessey VelociRaptor 500 makeover
Ford Bronco VelociRaptor - front

Ford Bronco gets Hennessey VelociRaptor 500 makeover

500bhp VelociRaptor package comes to the Ford Bronco for “ultimate all-powerful off-road SUV”
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4 Oct 2022
New 2022 DS 7 facelift: prices, powertrains and trim levels
DS 7 Crossback - front

New 2022 DS 7 facelift: prices, powertrains and trim levels

The DS 7 has been given a refresh with new styling, plug-in hybrid power and revised technology
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4 Oct 2022