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Mike Rutherford

Mike Rutherford was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988 and remains the title's longest-serving journalist. 

He has served time as the motoring editor on four tabloid newspapers - London Evening News, The Sun, News of the World & Daily Mirror. And from the 1990s-2010s he was a weekly columnist on several broadsheet papers - Daily Telegraph, The Independent/Independent on Sunday and The Sunday Times. 

The Economist Intelligence Unit and International Herald Tribune have used him as a motor industry consultant/author. And he has presented over 1,000 motoring, sports or current affairs programmes for LBC, talkRADIO, talkSPORT and ITV. 

Currently, he is: the Chief Columnist at Auto Express where he still writes a weekly column; Judge (& Founding Director) at Europe/Asia-based BestCarsOfTheYear.com - The New Car World Champions; Chairman Emeritus of North America’s World Car Awards; and President of The British Motor Show.  

Additionally, Mike remains a contributor to the BBC, Sky, GB News, LBC, talkRADIO and other national and international stations such as CBS.

His claims to fame are that he has interviewed four British Prime Ministers, worked as a ghostwriter for Martin Brundle & Stirling Moss, and driven thousands of road, concept and racing cars including a Tyrrell F1 Car and world-record-breaking Bugatti. 

In recognition of his 40-year full-time career in the media and automotive worlds, he was presented with the coveted Newspress Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Away from cars, Mike has repeatedly travelled to Zambia, Botswana and other counties in central southern Africa where he helped establish libraries and personally delivered thousands of books and writing materials to schools and orphanages.  

He also serves as a proud Trustee at the Marcus Rutherford Foundation/Young Adult Cancer Trust which now incorporates and safeguards The Forest of Marcus.

E-mail: mike.rutherford@carwow.co.uk

“Parties are doing their bit to ban diesel and petrol cars”

“Parties are doing their bit to ban diesel and petrol cars”

With politicians seemingly trying to ban the car, Mike Rutherford tries his luck with public transport
Opinion
29 Oct 2017
“F1 needs greater vision and higher entertainment levels”
Opinion - F1

“F1 needs greater vision and higher entertainment levels”

What can be done to improve F1? Mike Rutherford gives us a number of proposals, which includes ditching cars for running shoes
Opinion
22 Oct 2017
‘There are political moves afoot to stop low-cost rides'

‘There are political moves afoot to stop low-cost rides'

Uber’s ban from London robs young people of their social mobility, argues Mike Rutherford
Opinion
9 Oct 2017
'Samsung was about as profitable last year as Ford'
Samsung - Mike Rutherford

'Samsung was about as profitable last year as Ford'

Mike Rutherford reflects on the rise and rise of Samsung and thinks the Korean company has a big part to play in the automotive industry
Opinion
1 Oct 2017
‘I fear Frankfurt and other massive shows are unsustainable'

‘I fear Frankfurt and other massive shows are unsustainable'

Mike Rutherford believes that carmakers’ big-budget displays at motor shows are untenable
Opinion
25 Sep 2017
Ford and Mahindra enter new partnership
Ford Edge - Ford badge

Ford and Mahindra enter new partnership

Ford has joined forces with Mahindra in a deal that will allow it to explore emerging markets
News
21 Sep 2017
Land Rover will be in the hunt and hoping to steal the WCOTY

Land Rover will be in the hunt and hoping to steal the WCOTY

Mike Rutherford talks over the World Car of the Year candidates, which includes his hot favourite...the Range Rover Velar
Opinion
17 Sep 2017
'Suzuki is doing nicely with a small workforce'

'Suzuki is doing nicely with a small workforce'

Mike Rutherford examines the profits of top vehicle manufacturers, and thinks the future is looking bleak for Mazda
Opinion
10 Sep 2017
‘The Rexton is pretty much a Swiss Army knife on wheels’
Opinion - SsangYong Rexton

‘The Rexton is pretty much a Swiss Army knife on wheels’

Mike Rutherford reflects on the unglamorous, durable SsangYong marque compared to the likes of Land Rover
Opinion
3 Sep 2017
'For every price published, there are several tempting ones'
Opinion - Prices

'For every price published, there are several tempting ones'

Thinking of buying a new car? Mike Rutherford takes a closer look at the official published price lists
Opinion
27 Aug 2017
‘Picking the best driving tunes is a near impossible task'

‘Picking the best driving tunes is a near impossible task'

Music journalist turned motoring writer Mike Rutherford lists his 12 greatest driving tracks of all time
Opinion
20 Aug 2017
‘Now it’s free of GM, Vauxhall must find its own niche’

‘Now it’s free of GM, Vauxhall must find its own niche’

Mike Rutherford says that after escaping GM, Vauxhall could replicate Jaguar’s post-Ford era success
Opinion
13 Aug 2017
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‘The Government and the DfT are more out of touch than ever'

‘The Government and the DfT are more out of touch than ever'

Mike Rutherford says the Government needs to get its priorities straight when it comes to improving our roads
Opinion
6 Aug 2017
“As an engine supplier in F1, Honda is an embarrassment”
Opinion - McLaren Honda F1

“As an engine supplier in F1, Honda is an embarrassment”

Mike Rutherford thinks Honda need to exit F1 and instead spend its billions more wisely
Opinion
28 Jul 2017
‘Donald Trump’s domestic auto firms are increasingly weak’

‘Donald Trump’s domestic auto firms are increasingly weak’

European and Asian car makers could soon outperform GM, Ford and Chrysler in the US, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
23 Jul 2017
‘Britain is the best place for premium and luxury cars'

‘Britain is the best place for premium and luxury cars'

Mike Rutherford believes nowhere else in the world beats the UK for cool and innovative design
Opinion
15 Jul 2017
‘A new JLR Apple group building cars might work’
Opinion - Apple car

‘A new JLR Apple group building cars might work’

Mike Rutherford thinks Apple can forget about making its own car, and should instead look at teaming up with an established manufacturer
Opinion
9 Jul 2017
Associations are too polite to say how safety is policed
Opinion - potholes

Associations are too polite to say how safety is policed

Mike Rutherford looks at what should be done to improve road safety in the UK
Opinion
2 Jul 2017
“London’s Mayor must see that some diesels are clean"

“London’s Mayor must see that some diesels are clean"

Mike Rutherford argues that clean diesel cars should be recognised as such
Opinion
25 Jun 2017
We need to remind the new Government what it should be doing
Opinion - electric charging points

We need to remind the new Government what it should be doing

Mike Rutherford looks at the fallout from the General Election and what the Government should be doing for the motorist between now and 2022
Opinion
18 Jun 2017
Ms Snow is urging motorists to not pay when wrongly accused
Opinion - parking fine

Ms Snow is urging motorists to not pay when wrongly accused

Mike Rutherford thinks motorists need better protection from potential scammers
Opinion
10 Jun 2017
It’s almost as if drivers don’t exist in the eyes of leaders
Opinion - motorways

It’s almost as if drivers don’t exist in the eyes of leaders

Mike Rutherford says it's about time political parties realised that cars are here to stay
Opinion
4 Jun 2017
“I know people who’ve borrowed money to buy cars”
Opinion - buying car

“I know people who’ve borrowed money to buy cars”

Mike Rutherford thinks the process for buying a new car on finance is too confusing for most, and needs to be simplified
Opinion
29 May 2017
'Tesla’s Elon Musk seems scary, but that's imperative'

'Tesla’s Elon Musk seems scary, but that's imperative'

Mike Rutherford praises Tesla boss Elon Musk, but thinks tougher times may be ahead for the American company
Opinion
21 May 2017
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“There are easier ways to make money than new car brands"
Opinion - Tesla superchargers

“There are easier ways to make money than new car brands"

Mike Rutherford thinks there are far easier ways for car entrepreneurs to make money than starting new brands and building new factories
Opinion
13 May 2017
All parties must clearly itemise their proposals for drivers
Opinion - David Cameron

All parties must clearly itemise their proposals for drivers

Mike Rutherford thinks parties need to clarify their views on cars, and not until then should you decide which one wins your vote
Opinion
6 May 2017
Our typical customer might move to suburbia and find that
Opinion - Koenigsegg Regera

Our typical customer might move to suburbia and find that

Mike Rutherford is in the US and finds that sales of Koenigsegg, Spyker and Rimac cars are booming as customers try to stand out
Opinion
30 Apr 2017
“At the minute, JLR is the world’s hottest car firm”
Opinion - Jaguar F-Pace

“At the minute, JLR is the world’s hottest car firm”

Mike Rutherford thinks JLR are leading the way after witnessing the Jaguar F-Pace win the 2017 World Car of the Year award
Opinion
23 Apr 2017
‘Diesel is under attack like never before'
Opinion - traffic

‘Diesel is under attack like never before'

Are diesel cars are being unfairly demonised? Mike Rutherford thinks it's time the car industry fought back before it's too late
Opinion
17 Apr 2017
Driver Power has improved car retail and service
Driver Power opinion

Driver Power has improved car retail and service

Mike Rutherford extols the virtues of the Driver Power survey, and the forum it creates for motorists to have their say.
Opinion
8 Apr 2017
Britain clung to its position as 10th largest auto producer
Opinion - manufacturing

Britain clung to its position as 10th largest auto producer

Mike Rutherford looks at the UK manufacturing industry, and where it sits in relation to the rest of the world
Opinion
25 Mar 2017
Car manufacturing wage gap: what do car plant workers earn?
GM factory

Car manufacturing wage gap: what do car plant workers earn?

Our exclusive investigation shows how salaries vary wildly in the world’s top car-making nations
Features
22 Mar 2017
'Why did the Chancellor make taxpayers fund battery tech?'

'Why did the Chancellor make taxpayers fund battery tech?'

Instead of forcing taxpayers to fund EV battery tech, Mike Rutherford asks why the battery industry isn't paying for it itself
Opinion
19 Mar 2017
'Why no Government advice on cars it recommends?'

'Why no Government advice on cars it recommends?'

Mike Rutherford questions why the Government is so vague on the future of diesel cars
Opinion
12 Mar 2017