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Hugo Griffiths

A former English teacher and project manager, and a lifelong petrolhead, Hugo joined automotive journalism four years ago, and hasn’t looked back since. As consumer editor of Auto Express Hugo keeps a close eye on the stories affecting motorists in their day-to-days lives, investigating subjects such as car crime, road safety, and wider government legislation, sniffing out exclusive stories on overlooked but important subjects. With a keen eye for crisp prose and original stories, Hugo also helps curate Auto Express’s weekly features.

e-mail: hugo_griffiths@autovia.co.uk 

One in seven drivers would jump a level crossing

One in seven drivers would jump a level crossing

Drivers risking lives, as well as three penalty points, by jumping level crossing lights. New campaign and video highlight dangers
News
4 Oct 2018
Motorway petrol stations face pricing enquiry
Motorway fuel price signs

Motorway petrol stations face pricing enquiry

Analysis of average fuel prices shows motorway service areas force drivers to pay through the nose for petrol and diesel
News
4 Oct 2018
VinFast SUV and saloon launch at Paris Motor Show
VinFast A2.0

VinFast SUV and saloon launch at Paris Motor Show

Vietnamese car maker showcases new models with styling from Pininfarina
News
2 Oct 2018
Severn Bridge tolls to be scrapped on 17 December
Traffic

Severn Bridge tolls to be scrapped on 17 December

The move is estimated to save regular users £1,400 a year, and boost the local economy by £100m a year
News
2 Oct 2018
Electric car charging may lead to blackouts
BMW X5 vs Porsche Cayenne - charging

Electric car charging may lead to blackouts

Scottish energy manager says electric vehicle charging could cause blackouts if network investment is held back
News
2 Oct 2018
New Mazda electric car to get rotary range-extender tech
Mazda-Hazumi-concept-front-quarter

New Mazda electric car to get rotary range-extender tech

Mazda’s compact Wankel rotary engine will be used to charge batteries in future EV; company confirms pure EV also headed for production
News
2 Oct 2018
Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine failures
Ford Fiesta - front

Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine failures

Ford to pay repair costs for overheating 1.0-litre EcoBoost engines, and will “re-examine previous cases”
News
1 Oct 2018
Plug-in hybrid car sales stopped amid WLTP delays
Volkswagen Passat GTE - charging

Plug-in hybrid car sales stopped amid WLTP delays

Tough new WLTP tests see PHEVs withdrawn from sale as manufacturers prioritise certification of volume-selling models
News
28 Sep 2018
New Ford and Vodafone tech warns of emergency vehicles
eCall Plus

New Ford and Vodafone tech warns of emergency vehicles

Ford and Vodafone are testing a system to alert drivers of upcoming incidents, and instruct them to clear path for emergency services
News
25 Sep 2018
No-deal Brexit will require insurance Green Cards in EU
Car insurance policy laptop

No-deal Brexit will require insurance Green Cards in EU

Government’s contingency planning flags insurance issue; motoring body warns of “restrictions that go straight back to the 1960s”
News
24 Sep 2018
Emergency vehicles could go electric and autonomous
Autonomous emergency vehicles

Emergency vehicles could go electric and autonomous

Health body says organisations should choose low-emission vehicles, while Motorola files patent for self-driving police cars-cum-courtroom
News
21 Sep 2018
Ultimate Jaguar XJ road test: XJ6, XJ12, XJ40 and XJR 575
Jaguar XJ years: XJ6, XJ12, XJ40 and XJR 575 driven header

Ultimate Jaguar XJ road test: XJ6, XJ12, XJ40 and XJR 575

We take a drive through the Jaguar XJ's history, sampling Sir William Lyons’ XJ6 and the Queen Mother’s XJ12 S1 amongst others
Features
15 Sep 2018
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BMW develops new insurance rating for semi-autonomous cars

BMW develops new insurance rating for semi-autonomous cars

German car maker and insurance company Swiss Re devise algorithm that takes advanced safety features into account
News
14 Sep 2018
Long-term test review: SEAT Arona FR
SEAT Arona FR - front

Long-term test review: SEAT Arona FR

Final report: the SEAT Arona SUV crossover is a great all-rounder, but we’ve struggled to bond with it in its time on our fleet
Long-term tests
14 Sep 2018
UK refrigerated truck emissions equal to 1.8 million cars
HGV refrigerated truck

UK refrigerated truck emissions equal to 1.8 million cars

Our investigation uncovers the £100 million Government subsidy for heavily polluting diesel refrigeration generators fitted to HGVs
News
12 Sep 2018
Jaguar Land Rover boss warns no-deal Brexit could cost jobs
JLR tech showcase

Jaguar Land Rover boss warns no-deal Brexit could cost jobs

Ralf Speth tells conference “we will not be able to build cars if the motorway to and from Dover becomes a car park.”
News
12 Sep 2018
UK aims to lead the world in low emissions transport
BMW X5 vs Porsche Cayenne - charging

UK aims to lead the world in low emissions transport

PM earmarks £106 million for battery tech and green vehicles, says she wants Britain “leading from the front” with zero-emissions cars
News
10 Sep 2018
80mph limits held back by “public opinion”, says road chief
New 80mph speed limit

80mph limits held back by “public opinion”, says road chief

Highways England chief executive says some motorways could operate at 80mph, but that shift looks unlikely
News
10 Sep 2018
Most congested UK cities (excluding London) revealed
Traffic

Most congested UK cities (excluding London) revealed

Experts sidestep the gridlocked Capital in their countdown of the 10 most traffic-clogged cities in the UK
News
7 Sep 2018
Toyota recalls a million Prius and C-HRs over fire risk
A to Z guide to electric cars - Toyota Prius Plug-in

Toyota recalls a million Prius and C-HRs over fire risk

32,393 UK cars are affected, but the majority of the recalled cars are located in Japan and America
News
5 Sep 2018
Government invests £10m in digital tech to beat roadw
Roadworks app

Government invests £10m in digital tech to beat roadw

New Street Manager planning system could work with Google Maps and Waze to help drivers avoid roadworks and traffic jams
News
3 Sep 2018
Ford Mondeo safe for now as company seeks to stem losses
Ford Mondeo - front static

Ford Mondeo safe for now as company seeks to stem losses

As rumours circulate of the Mondeo’s demise, Ford admits its European operations require a “major redesign”
News
3 Sep 2018
Petrol and diesel cars banned from areas in London
Audi Q3 - exhaust

Petrol and diesel cars banned from areas in London

Two London boroughs have launched Ultra Low Emission Streets banning petrol and diesel cars during peak hours
News
3 Sep 2018
Pedal car for adults: bringing exercise to your commute
FitCar pedal-powered vehicle header

Pedal car for adults: bringing exercise to your commute

Looking for exercises to do in the car? We try a one-off car controlled by bicycle-style pedals
Features
1 Sep 2018
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Hangovers can make you unsafe to drive
Drink driving

Hangovers can make you unsafe to drive

Academic study reveals attention and driving abilities were impaired during a hangover, even after alcohol has left the system
News
25 Aug 2018
Police could take tougher approach to speeding
Penalty points, police, speeding

Police could take tougher approach to speeding

Chief constable says 10 per cent plus 2mph buffer zone guideline gives the impression “it is OK to speed”
News
19 Aug 2018
Ford Go Faster: stunt car driving experience
Ford Go Faster: stunt car driving experience – header

Ford Go Faster: stunt car driving experience

Driving a stunt car on camera is the ideal way to learn real-life car control. We find out more on Ford’s Go Faster driving experience
Features
11 Aug 2018
Highways England to test “in-vehicle signage” on A2 and M2

Highways England to test “in-vehicle signage” on A2 and M2

Trial for connected and autonomous vehicles will display road signs on screens inside cars
News
30 Jul 2018
Electric bikes and micro vehicles could replace vans
White van

Electric bikes and micro vehicles could replace vans

Department for Transport says “a wave” of electric cargo bikes, vans, and micro vehicles could replace vans in UK cities
News
30 Jul 2018
Car makers may already be manipulating new emissions tests
Exhaust

Car makers may already be manipulating new emissions tests

European Commission says manufacturers may be increasing emissions artificially so future limits are easier to meet
News
25 Jul 2018
England's best and worst motorway services revealed
Tebay motorway service station

England's best and worst motorway services revealed

Norton Canes on the M6 toll gets the best rating, but M25’s Thurrock services most heavily criticised by customers
News
24 Jul 2018
Electric car charging could cost more at peak times

Electric car charging could cost more at peak times

Ofgem says 60 per cent more electric cars could be charged up if owners plug in during off-peak periods
News
23 Jul 2018
UK’s first pay-per-mile car insurance launches

UK’s first pay-per-mile car insurance launches

By Miles sees drivers pay per-mile rate plus flat annual fee to cover their car, targeting those driving less than 7,000 miles per year
News
19 Jul 2018
LEGO Bugatti Chiron: how was the 3,599-piece model designed?
LEGO Bugatti Chiron and Bugatti Chiron

LEGO Bugatti Chiron: how was the 3,599-piece model designed?

We find out how LEGO turned the Bugatti Chiron hypercar into a beautifully detailed scale model
Features
19 Jul 2018