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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

"Which European country produces the most vehicles?"

"Which European country produces the most vehicles?"

Forget the football - Mike Rutherford's rounding up the car-manufacturing championships - and some of the finalists may surprise you
Opinion
10 Jul 2016
'VW Group has a 300+ model range - that's unmanageable'

'VW Group has a 300+ model range - that's unmanageable'

Germans do efficiency better than anyone, but VW Group needs to trim the fat in the wake of its emissions cheating, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
1 Jul 2016
"The state is now financially punishing diesel drivers"

"The state is now financially punishing diesel drivers"

With diesel engines under fire, Mike Rutherford is worried that owners who bought their cars in good faith will soon face penalties
Opinion
26 Jun 2016
'In or out of the EU: it'll make no difference to motorists'

'In or out of the EU: it'll make no difference to motorists'

Whether our next PM is Boris or Dave, and we're in or we're out, life for the UK's 50m motorists won't change, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
13 Jun 2016
'Rallycross is now the most exciting motorsport out there'

'Rallycross is now the most exciting motorsport out there'

F1 is more about tech than the drivers, WRC has lost its identity and touring car races fail to excite, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
10 Jun 2016
"The BBC owes the public coverage of real-world motoring"

"The BBC owes the public coverage of real-world motoring"

With its vast resources, the BBC should concentrate more on affordable motoring for real people, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
5 Jun 2016
"A solution to overcrowded cities? The Urban Car"

"A solution to overcrowded cities? The Urban Car"

Mike Rutherford's taken responsibility for the World Urban Car award at WCotY 2017, which aims to solve the issues of overcrowded city roads
Opinion
31 May 2016
"The London Motor Show was the motoring event of the year"

"The London Motor Show was the motoring event of the year"

Mike Rutherford visited the London Motor Show, and he thinks it's set to become one of the hottest events in the motoring calendar
Opinion
22 May 2016
'Car insurance is a minefield, here's how to get it cheaper'

'Car insurance is a minefield, here's how to get it cheaper'

After speaking to AA insurance guru Ian Crowder, Mike Rutherford shares some advice on how to get the cheapest premium you can
Opinion
16 May 2016
"SsangYong's the company that wants to hear from all comers"
Mike Opinion - SsangYong

"SsangYong's the company that wants to hear from all comers"

Stuffy motoring execs and jealously guarded secrets aren't the order of the day at SsangYong, as Mike Rutherford's been finding out
Opinion
8 May 2016
"Reunified Korea would be in the top 3 global car builders"
Mike Opinion - Korea

"Reunified Korea would be in the top 3 global car builders"

Mike Rutherford's looking into the relationship between the Koreas... and found that in car manufacturing, they get along surprisingly well
Opinion
1 May 2016
The reborn IAM will be better than ever - or so it says

The reborn IAM will be better than ever - or so it says

Mike Rutherford reckons that the rebranded IAM should try to appeal to young drivers - and tell the 'clueless' DfT to step aside
Opinion
24 Apr 2016
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"London deserves its own motor show - now it's got one"

"London deserves its own motor show - now it's got one"

It might not be as big as the New York motor show, but it will be of great benefit to Britain as a whole, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
17 Apr 2016
'JLR ranks as one of the most daring car firms in the world'

'JLR ranks as one of the most daring car firms in the world'

JLR is giving rivals a real lesson in creativity, along with taking care of costly third-party activities, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
8 Apr 2016
"It's been left to PSA to build the most fuel-efficient car"

"It's been left to PSA to build the most fuel-efficient car"

After a weekend in the UK's most economical car, Mike Rutherford wonders why other manufacturers can't catch up in the economy race
Opinion
3 Apr 2016
"Mazda, Suzuki, Ssangyong and Subaru - destined for glory?"
Mike Opinion - Subaru

"Mazda, Suzuki, Ssangyong and Subaru - destined for glory?"

Mike Rutherford reflects on some of the manufacturers that don't receive the praise he thinks they deserve
Opinion
28 Mar 2016
90m cars a year don't go far when the population is 7.4bn

90m cars a year don't go far when the population is 7.4bn

Mike Rutherford thinks that record breaking car production figures simply aren't enough for the growing population
Opinion
19 Mar 2016
"EU member or not, Britain's car industry is in rude health"
Mike Opinion - EU

"EU member or not, Britain's car industry is in rude health"

Whether we vote in or out of the EU, Mike Rutherford reckons the car industry has nothing to worry about
Opinion
13 Mar 2016
"Eye-watering R&D spending really can pay off"
Mike Opinion - R&D

"Eye-watering R&D spending really can pay off"

Mike Rutherford's been looking into manufacturer's research budgets... and it's clear to him who's spending the money well
Opinion
6 Mar 2016
"For new vehicles, depreciation remains a financial killer"
Mike Opinion - Porsche

"For new vehicles, depreciation remains a financial killer"

Trying to buy cars as appreciating assets is doomed to failure, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
27 Feb 2016
"It's the DfT's job to know accident stats - but it does
Opinion - crash

"It's the DfT's job to know accident stats - but it does

Are the roads getting safer or more dangerous? Mike Rutherford wants to know - but the DfT doesn't seem to
Opinion
19 Feb 2016
"Toyota needs Daihatsu's cleverness in the small car sector"
Opinion Daihatsu

"Toyota needs Daihatsu's cleverness in the small car sector"

Mike Rutherford thinks Daihatsu's bonkers ideas are what Toyota needs to compete in the booming city car segment
Opinion
12 Feb 2016
'Genesis needs 'Made in Britain' tag to help premium image'

'Genesis needs 'Made in Britain' tag to help premium image'

In order to truly rival Jaguar, Bentley and Rolls-Royce, Hyundai will need that desirable 'Made in Britain' tag, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
5 Feb 2016
'JLR's growth is an unprecedented breakthrough for UK PLC'

'JLR's growth is an unprecedented breakthrough for UK PLC'

Global car production and sales have skyrocketed, with Jaguar Land Rover doing particularly well for Britain, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
29 Jan 2016
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'Every dog has its day - even the Detroit Motor Show'

'Every dog has its day - even the Detroit Motor Show'

American brands like Cadillac and Chevrolet, and even the city's motor show are now irrelevant to UK car buyers, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
22 Jan 2016
UK motor industry turns to Europe for top talent

UK motor industry turns to Europe for top talent

Skills gap in UK leads manufacturers to head to continent for skilled engineers, claims SMMT
News
21 Jan 2016
"I didn't see a single police car during the festive period"

"I didn't see a single police car during the festive period"

It's safe to conclude that only a few hundred traffic patrol cars are 'policing' Britain's 40 million vehicles, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
15 Jan 2016
Private firms forced to fund their own traffic cops
Police

Private firms forced to fund their own traffic cops

Police cutbacks mean businesses and residents are directly footing the bill for UK police officers
News
11 Jan 2016
"Motorists deserve respect in 2016, but they won't get it"

"Motorists deserve respect in 2016, but they won't get it"

2015 ended on a high note, but 2016 won't be easy for motorists, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
8 Jan 2016
'SEAT and Spain are going places in the car world in 2016'
Opinion: SEAT badge

'SEAT and Spain are going places in the car world in 2016'

Mike Rutherford has had a look at the next generation of SEAT cars and thinks the Spanish brand is one to watch in 2016
Opinion
31 Dec 2015
'We don't have enough roads for 65m people and 40m cars'
Opinion: real world mpg testing

'We don't have enough roads for 65m people and 40m cars'

Mike Rutherford says basic sums confirm that there simply isn't enough road space for all the people and cars in this country
Opinion
28 Dec 2015
"Without access to a car, I felt like a prisoner"

"Without access to a car, I felt like a prisoner"

Our man Mike Rutherford gave up driving for a month and didn't much care for it...
Opinion
11 Dec 2015
"American cars aren't as desirable as they used to be"

"American cars aren't as desirable as they used to be"

Cars from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler look "too American" to appeal worldwide, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
4 Dec 2015
The US can keep its guns but we'll take its motoring ideas
OPINION - american ideas

The US can keep its guns but we'll take its motoring ideas

Mike Rutherford would like to bring some aspects of American motoring culture to UK shores but leave others...
Opinion
27 Nov 2015