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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

"Hyundai and Kia should recruit ex-VW Group bosses"

"Hyundai and Kia should recruit ex-VW Group bosses"

Top-end Genesis models could go up against Bentleys with the right people behind the brand, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
20 Nov 2015
Diesels seem to be appropriate for politicians - but not us
David Cameron OPINION

Diesels seem to be appropriate for politicians - but not us

Politicians are bullying diesel owners- but they use diesels themselves, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
13 Nov 2015
'Buick is dependable in the US - so why can't we buy them?

'Buick is dependable in the US - so why can't we buy them?

US reliability reports say Buick is the most reliable brand across the pond; Mike Rutherford asks why they aren't in the UK...
Opinion
6 Nov 2015
'Car manufacturers building our houses is a great idea'

'Car manufacturers building our houses is a great idea'

Could car makers diversify into building homes? Mike Rutherford wouldn't bet against it...
Opinion
30 Oct 2015
"Apologies from Volkswagen mean little at times like this"

"Apologies from Volkswagen mean little at times like this"

Worldwide damage limitation in the wake of the VW scandal won't come cheap, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
21 Oct 2015
"We need more car plants to bring hope"
Jeep factory OPINION

"We need more car plants to bring hope"

More car plants would bring hope and prosperity to more corners of the world, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
16 Oct 2015
We need new tests to give real-world mpg figures
Opinion: real world mpg testing

We need new tests to give real-world mpg figures

Mike Rutherford calls for the UK to set up its own independent testing agency to give consumers real-world mpg and emissions figures
Opinion
9 Oct 2015
"Buyers need to be careful of optional extras"
Opinion new cars

"Buyers need to be careful of optional extras"

Too often new car buyers don’t think about optional extras - and that’s a big mistake, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
2 Oct 2015
"The door's left open for makers who've built in Britain"
Opinion British cars

"The door's left open for makers who've built in Britain"

No other nation would display 50 per cent of its flag when promoting its products, says Mike Rutherford - why is Britain?
Opinion
26 Sep 2015
"A win, win, win is possible for JLR at World Car Awards"
Opinion JLR

"A win, win, win is possible for JLR at World Car Awards"

For the first time, Jaguar Land Rover is going for gold at the World Car Awards and the Germans should be worried, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
18 Sep 2015
I love SsangYong’s determination to deliver value for money
Opinion SsangYong

I love SsangYong’s determination to deliver value for money

Mike Rutherford thinks SsangYong is, in many respects, enjoying great success thanks to the likes of Hyundai and Kia moving upmarket
Opinion
11 Sep 2015
“The franchised new car garage as we know it is wrong”
Opinion dealers

“The franchised new car garage as we know it is wrong”

The customer experience and business models of tired, traditional franchised dealers need a revolution, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
4 Sep 2015
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Maybe if UK had a Trump-type, MG Rover wouldn't have failed
Opinion factory

Maybe if UK had a Trump-type, MG Rover wouldn't have failed

Mike Rutherford can’t get a straight answer on official view on Brit-based car makers building plants overseas and hiring workers there
Opinion
28 Aug 2015
"Supermarkets are at war - and you're merely a pawn"
Fuel OPINION

"Supermarkets are at war - and you're merely a pawn"

Low supermarket fuel prices aren’t about being generous to drivers, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
21 Aug 2015
Brands spend fortunes attracting buyers & treat them badly
Opinion bad dealers VW

Brands spend fortunes attracting buyers & treat them badly

As Driver Power reveals, big brands need to stop the arrogance and deliver better quality service, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
14 Aug 2015
"Politicians want 'supercar Asbos'"
Opinion London super car 'asbos'

"Politicians want 'supercar Asbos'"

Local authorities want crackdown on ‘anti-social’ supercar owners, despite providing support for UK economy says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
7 Aug 2015
"Toyota needs the world’s number one designer"
Toyota OPINION

"Toyota needs the world’s number one designer"

Toyota is celebrating 50 successful years in Britain, but columnist Mike Rutherford thinks it needs some new blood
Opinion
31 Jul 2015
"The London Motor Show will be a sell-out success”
Opinion London Motor Show

"The London Motor Show will be a sell-out success”

The London Motor Show is set to be one of the UK’s great car-related events that's not to be missed, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
24 Jul 2015
"Only a matter of time before major UK cities ban all cars"
Opinion traffic

"Only a matter of time before major UK cities ban all cars"

Motorists are being squeezed out of busy towns and cities - and politicians are to blame, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
17 Jul 2015
"Turn defunct rail routes into new roads with cycle lanes"
Opinion rail roads

"Turn defunct rail routes into new roads with cycle lanes"

Disused railway lines are usually broad enough for a bike path, a no overtaking car lane and a hard shoulder
Opinion
10 Jul 2015
“Think long and hard about bargain-basement tyres”
Opinion tyres

“Think long and hard about bargain-basement tyres”

Buyers think less about tyres than baby seats, airbags and braking systems, says Mike Rutherford - but they’re just as important
Opinion
3 Jul 2015
"My Young Adult Cancer Trust van is a true one off”
Opinion Rutherford

"My Young Adult Cancer Trust van is a true one off”

Mike Rutherford now has a van he thinks could become a venue for blood tests, screening and more to raise awareness of cancer-related issues
Opinion
24 Jun 2015
"Motorists are too much of a soft touch"
OPINION potholes

"Motorists are too much of a soft touch"

Driver lethargy is the reason why our roads are underfunded, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
19 Jun 2015
Reports of the death of the motorist are greatly exaggerated

Reports of the death of the motorist are greatly exaggerated

The growth of driverless cars doesn't mean the end of the motor industry, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
12 Jun 2015
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“The 20-year warranty could come to the UK"

“The 20-year warranty could come to the UK"

On a recent trip, Mike Rutherford visited a Miami auto mall to find a 20-year warranty on offer. Could it be coming to the UK?
Opinion
5 Jun 2015
Toyota has put one over the VW Group when it comes to profit
Toyota OPINION

Toyota has put one over the VW Group when it comes to profit

Mike Rutherford is impressed by hugely profitable Toyota, with it small number of brands beating VW's wide range
Opinion
29 May 2015
"A Motorists' Party for Britain is needed"
Motorists party opinion

"A Motorists' Party for Britain is needed"

Britain - or some parts of it - needs a political party for motorists, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
22 May 2015
Ten minutes with Audi chairman Rupert Stadler

Ten minutes with Audi chairman Rupert Stadler

Our man grabs a quick chat with Audi boss Stadler and covers Apple, F1, BMW, Mercedes and the Korean government...
Opinion
11 May 2015
DIY car washing is on its way out
Car wash OPINION

DIY car washing is on its way out

Columnist Mike Rutherford has noticed a new phenomenon of hand car washes in the UK
Opinion
1 May 2015
“Car people are non-existent to our political parties"
Opinion election

“Car people are non-existent to our political parties"

Cars, car drivers, car buyers and car industry employees are conspicuous by their absence from political manifestos, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
24 Apr 2015
Mercedes has risen to the top of the tree in 2015
Merc opinion

Mercedes has risen to the top of the tree in 2015

A World Car of the Year hat-trick is a big win for Mercedes, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
20 Apr 2015
The driverless car industry will kill more jobs than it make
Driverless cars OPINION

The driverless car industry will kill more jobs than it make

We need a more realistic approach to driverless cars, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
11 Apr 2015
“Cameron must do better if he’s to win votes of 30m drivers"
Opinion election

“Cameron must do better if he’s to win votes of 30m drivers"

With an election imminent that could oust David Cameron, it’s no surprise to Mike Rutherford that the PM is trying to befriend motorists
Opinion
1 Apr 2015
Britain's state of the art models
JLR models OPINION

Britain's state of the art models

The UK might be small but we produce some of the world's best cars, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
27 Mar 2015