Skip advert
Advertisement
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 Smart #5 will be unveiled on 28th August as a Skoda Enyaq rival
Smart #5 testing - front tracking off road

New Smart #5 will be unveiled on 28th August as a Skoda Enyaq rival

Official images from Smart gives us a new look at the all-electric SUV
News
5 Aug 2024
Toyota Proace Max van goes on sale from £41,580
Toyota Proace Max

Toyota Proace Max van goes on sale from £41,580

Toyota’s largest van is now available to order in a multitude of bodystyles
News
2 Aug 2024
Updated Audi e-tron GT goes on sale with 912bhp RS model
Audi RS e-tron GT Performance - front

Updated Audi e-tron GT goes on sale with 912bhp RS model

Audi’s all-electric four-door coupe opens at just over £107k, topping out at nearly £170k
News
1 Aug 2024
New Hyundai Ioniq 6 facelift set for a boost in range
Hyundai Ioniq 6 facelift soyshot 1

New Hyundai Ioniq 6 facelift set for a boost in range

The updated Hyundai Ioniq 6 will borrow technology from the revised Ioniq 5
News
1 Aug 2024
Is Rimac planning a storm at Monterey Car Week? 
Rimac Nevera

Is Rimac planning a storm at Monterey Car Week? 

The all-electric hypercar maker could use Monterey to launch a new version of the Nevera 
News
31 Jul 2024
Recaro folds and wheels come off BBS as financial trouble strikes car part brands

Recaro folds and wheels come off BBS as financial trouble strikes car part brands

Famous car-seat maker Recaro has applied for bankruptcy while wheel firm BBS has become insolvent
News
30 Jul 2024
New BMW iX5: name trademarks, Neue Klasse design and latest details
BMW X5 tracking front

New BMW iX5: name trademarks, Neue Klasse design and latest details

The BMW X5 is likely to gain an all-electric version with production expected to start by 2027
News
30 Jul 2024
Mercedes-Maybach SL spied as grand touring convertible goes even more upmarket
Mercedes-Maybach SL - front 3/4

Mercedes-Maybach SL spied as grand touring convertible goes even more upmarket

The SL will soon get the Maybach treatment with plenty of glitz
News
30 Jul 2024
New Volkswagen ID.7 GTX performance EV gets £61,980 price tag
Volkswagen ID7 GTX - front tracking

New Volkswagen ID.7 GTX performance EV gets £61,980 price tag

The hot Volskwagen ID.7 GTX is available in hatchback and ‘Tourer’ estate bodystyles
News
30 Jul 2024
Cheaper, rear-wheel drive Audi Q4 35 e-tron to hit the UK in 2025
Audi Q4 35 e-tron - front 3/4

Cheaper, rear-wheel drive Audi Q4 35 e-tron to hit the UK in 2025

Audi’s mid-size electric SUV will soon gain the option of a smaller battery for a lower starting price that could be under £40,000.
News
29 Jul 2024
Genesis Electrified GV70 set for a dramatic overhaul as part of 2024 facelift
Genesis Electrified GV70 facelift - front 3/4

Genesis Electrified GV70 set for a dramatic overhaul as part of 2024 facelift

The Genesis GV70 premium electric SUV should get a revised cabin to go with fresh exterior design
News
29 Jul 2024
Kia Sorento review
Kia Sorento Hybrid - front

Kia Sorento review

The Kia Sorento is a top-class family SUV with plenty of kit and space, although it's expensive to buy
In-depth reviews
29 Jul 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement
New BMW M5 shouts about its 716bhp with M Performance Parts
BMW M5 with M Performance parts - front and rear 3/4

New BMW M5 shouts about its 716bhp with M Performance Parts

The controversial M5 is the latest BMW M car to be offered with the ‘retrofit products’
News
29 Jul 2024
Morgan’s electric future laid bare: British firm plots a truly exhilarating EV
OB x Morgan Super 3 - front badge

Morgan’s electric future laid bare: British firm plots a truly exhilarating EV

The Morgan CEO tells us that a fully-electric Morgan “will come without compromise”
News
19 Jul 2024
New Kia Sorento Hybrid 2024 review: family favourite SUV ups its game
Kia Sorento Hybrid - front

New Kia Sorento Hybrid 2024 review: family favourite SUV ups its game

The popular seven-seat Kia Sorento SUV gets a new look, and a lower starting price
Road tests
19 Jul 2024
New Kia Picanto 2024 facelift review: classy small car keeps big car appeal
Kia Picanto facelift UK - front

New Kia Picanto 2024 facelift review: classy small car keeps big car appeal

Kia's revised Picanto city car remains a grown-up choice with plenty of appeal for buyers
Road tests
19 Jul 2024
The Dacia Sandero is Europe’s best selling car, so far 
Dacia Sandero - front

The Dacia Sandero is Europe’s best selling car, so far 

Global demand for the Romanian supermini has grown alongside its huge popularity in Europe
News
18 Jul 2024
New Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets more range and sub £40,000 price tag
New 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 - front static

New Hyundai Ioniq 5 gets more range and sub £40,000 price tag

There’s a fresh design, new batteries and more equipment for Hyundai’s family EV
News
18 Jul 2024
TVR’s Wales factory deal put £14m of public funds at risk
TVR Griffith

TVR’s Wales factory deal put £14m of public funds at risk

TVR’s future hangs in the balance as the Welsh Government receives a damning statement from the Auditor General
News
16 Jul 2024
New BMW X5 can’t hide Neue Klasse influence as 2025 launch approaches
BMW X5 spy shot - front 3/4

New BMW X5 can’t hide Neue Klasse influence as 2025 launch approaches

The fifth generation of BMW’s popular large SUV is set to arrive next year and our spies have spotted it already
News
16 Jul 2024
New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe update spotted for the first time
New BMW 2 Series GranCoupe - front

New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe update spotted for the first time

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe will take inspiration from the latest 1 Series with a series of updates
News
16 Jul 2024
Volkswagen in major deal to produce solid state batteries for one million EVs
Volkswagen badge

Volkswagen in major deal to produce solid state batteries for one million EVs

VW battery subsidiary PowerCo has licenced solid state battery technology from QuantumScape with big plans to power production cars
News
15 Jul 2024
Volvo V60 review
Volvo V60 - main image

Volvo V60 review

If you want a luxurious and spacious estate, the Volvo V60 offers a relaxed alternative to German rivals
In-depth reviews
15 Jul 2024
Smart #1 Brabus gets even more radical with ‘individualisation program’
Smart #1 Brabus - front 3/4 static

Smart #1 Brabus gets even more radical with ‘individualisation program’

The Brabus-tuned Smart #1 receives a bodykit and £7,000 wheels
News
15 Jul 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement
Citroen C4 facelift to bring new family face for 2025
New Citroen C4 facelift - front tracking

Citroen C4 facelift to bring new family face for 2025

Citroen’s family crossover is about to get a makeover inspired by the new C3 supermini
News
15 Jul 2024
Omoda and Jaecoo remain flexible on 2035 ICE ban and look at UK production to dodge tariffs
New Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7

Omoda and Jaecoo remain flexible on 2035 ICE ban and look at UK production to dodge tariffs

The Chinese sister firms are open to the idea of local production to help with possible tariffs.
News
15 Jul 2024
All-electric Ford Puma Gen-E gets ready for launch
Ford Puma Gen-E spy shot - front 3/4

All-electric Ford Puma Gen-E gets ready for launch

The Ford Puma Gen-E will arrive later in 2024 with a fresh design compared to the ICE model
News
15 Jul 2024
New Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale: exclusive hypercar appears at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale Goodwood FoS 2024

New Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale: exclusive hypercar appears at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Alfa Romeo’s says “courage and madness” has helped create its new 207mph 33 Stradale hypercar
News
13 Jul 2024
New Skoda Superb iV plug-in hybrid gets 84-mile electric range
Skoda Superb iV - front tracking

New Skoda Superb iV plug-in hybrid gets 84-mile electric range

The PHEV version of the Skoda Superb will only be offered in estate form
News
12 Jul 2024
Lamborghini Temerario set for Pebble Beach reveal on 16 August
Lamborghini Temerario - front

Lamborghini Temerario set for Pebble Beach reveal on 16 August

The Lamborghini Huracan’s successor will adopt a twin-turbocharged V8 and plug-in hybrid technology
News
12 Jul 2024
New MG Cyber GTS Concept revealed at Goodwood with big hints of 2025 Cyberster coupe
MG Cyber GT Concept on display at 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed - front static

New MG Cyber GTS Concept revealed at Goodwood with big hints of 2025 Cyberster coupe

MG has strongly suggested the hardtop version of the Cyberster could arrive on sale next year
News
12 Jul 2024
Covers are off new MG HS family SUV at Goodwood Festival of Speed
MG HS on display at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024 - front static

Covers are off new MG HS family SUV at Goodwood Festival of Speed

The previous MG HS was a big-seller for MG in the UK and there are high hopes for this one…
News
12 Jul 2024
New DS 4 Hybrid arrives with posh trim levels to match premium aspirations
DS 4 - side tracking

New DS 4 Hybrid arrives with posh trim levels to match premium aspirations

The fresh DS 4 Pallas and Étoile trim levels bring new exterior and interior styling with pricing from £32,450
News
10 Jul 2024
Polestar 4 review
Polestar 4 - front

Polestar 4 review

Polestar is treading its own path in the EV world and the new Polestar 4 highlights this for good and bad
In-depth reviews
30 Jun 2024