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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

Multiple wins for Auto Express at Newspress Awards
Autovia team at Newspress Awards ceremony

Multiple wins for Auto Express at Newspress Awards

The annual Newspress Awards saw us take home individual and group wins
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21 Jul 2022
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20 Jul 2022
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19 Jul 2022
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19 Jul 2022
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18 Jul 2022
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8 Jul 2022
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7 Jul 2022
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6 Jul 2022
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6 Jul 2022
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The Renault 5 Diamant is an all-electric recreation, featuring a horsehair dash and marble steering wheel
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5 Jul 2022
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Best-selling cars in the UK 2021
Vauxhall Corsa

Best-selling cars in the UK 2021

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5 Jul 2022
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1 Jul 2022
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1 Jul 2022
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The new Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer is a good all-round package, but fails to stand out against some talented estate rivals
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1 Jul 2022
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29 Jun 2022
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28 Jun 2022
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28 Jun 2022
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27 Jun 2022
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27 Jun 2022
Goodwood Festival of Speed 2022: review and new cars
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This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed was another great celebration of the automotive world
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26 Jun 2022
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24 Jun 2022
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Mercedes has broken the record for the longest trip without recharging in its Vision EQXX
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23 Jun 2022
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Ford Pro Electric SuperVan is the fastest Ford Transit you’ve ever seen
Ford Pro Electric SuperVan

Ford Pro Electric SuperVan is the fastest Ford Transit you’ve ever seen

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23 Jun 2022
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22 Jun 2022
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21 Jun 2022
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21 Jun 2022
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20 Jun 2022
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19 Jun 2022
New Alpine A110 Tour de Corse 75 limited edition is a tribute to rally
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Alpine’s memorable performance at the 1975 Tour de Corse has spawned the A110 Tour de Corse
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16 Jun 2022
2022 Renault Megane E-Tech Electric UK pricing announced
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2022 Renault Megane E-Tech Electric UK pricing announced

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15 Jun 2022
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Lynk & Co aiming for UK launch in 2023

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15 Jun 2022
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15 Jun 2022