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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

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
SEAT insists anything is possible with Samsung
Opinion SEAT/Samsung

SEAT insists anything is possible with Samsung

One of the most important and symbolic events from Geneva 2015 was the marriage between SEAT and Samsung, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
20 Mar 2015
New drug-driving laws are a grotesque, ill-considered mess"
Drug driving OPINION

New drug-driving laws are a grotesque, ill-considered mess"

We need separate drug-drive laws for legal and illegal users, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
13 Mar 2015
"The UK should be the motor show capital of Europe"
Geneva opinion

"The UK should be the motor show capital of Europe"

The huge cost of visiting Geneva is pricing it out of the market, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
27 Feb 2015
"Germany’s number one when it comes to building the best"
Opinion World Car Awards

"Germany’s number one when it comes to building the best"

As Mike Rutherford has voted in 2015’s World Car Awards, he thinks the Germans have the market cornered, but Brits aren’t far behind
Opinion
20 Feb 2015
Taught by the fuzz: the ex-cops who'll teach you to drive

Taught by the fuzz: the ex-cops who'll teach you to drive

Two former police officers are using their skills to teach learners. How different is their driving school?
Features
14 Feb 2015
"Annual driving appraisals should be compulsory"
Opinion Mike driving appraisal

"Annual driving appraisals should be compulsory"

Mike Rutherford thinks a compulsory driving appraisal every year could be one of the best investments a motorist can make
Opinion
13 Feb 2015
"Affordable cars shouldn't be underestimated"
Opinion World Car Awards

"Affordable cars shouldn't be underestimated"

Mike Rutherford gives his run-down of some of the contenders for this year’s World Car Awards
Opinion
4 Feb 2015
If I was PM... Mike’s Motoring Manifesto
Mike's Motoring Manifesto

If I was PM... Mike’s Motoring Manifesto

With a general election looming, and the roads and transport set to be key issues, Mike Rutherford spells out changes that need implementing
Features
3 Feb 2015
“Merc, BMW and Audi have had their moments of glory"
Jaguar XE Opinion

“Merc, BMW and Audi have had their moments of glory"

With the arrival of the brand new XE, Jaguar is threatening to play the Germans at their own game, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
28 Jan 2015
"I’d choose an old banger over an electric car any day"
Opinion chargers

"I’d choose an old banger over an electric car any day"

Electric vehicles and charging points just aren’t up to the job, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
23 Jan 2015
"Transport is real a day-to-day issue"
Transport policy opinion

"Transport is real a day-to-day issue"

Getting transport policy right is crucial for the upcoming election, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
16 Jan 2015
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"My New Year’s resolution is to never pay full retail price"
Money saving, cash, hands, sale, rutherford, opinion

"My New Year’s resolution is to never pay full retail price"

Auto Express columnist Mike Rutherford is looking forward to a pound-pinching 2015
Opinion
7 Jan 2015
Halfords bids to muscle in on dealer servicing market
Halfords Autocentre

Halfords bids to muscle in on dealer servicing market

Halfords Autocentre car servicing network expands and boss claims prices are lower than at dealers
News
2 Jan 2015
"The car rental revolution has begun"
Opinion: rental revolution

"The car rental revolution has begun"

Great car rental deals may spell the end for car ownership as we know it but that could still be great news for consumers
Opinion
26 Dec 2014
Car of the People 2014/2015
Citroen C4 Cactus: opinion

Car of the People 2014/2015

Mike names his Car of the People 2014/2015
Opinion
12 Dec 2014
"For motorists today, hydrogen cars are irrelevant"
Opinion hydrogen

"For motorists today, hydrogen cars are irrelevant"

The tech is there, but the energy industry and governments aren't investing enough in hydrogen, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
5 Dec 2014
Opinion: manufacturers' EV range claims are unrealistic
Opinion Kia Soul EV

Opinion: manufacturers' EV range claims are unrealistic

Mike Rutherford ponders the range and price anxieties of electric cars following a drive in the Kia Soul EV
Opinion
28 Nov 2014
"Audi's gadgetry is audaciously clever"
Audi traffic lights opinion

"Audi's gadgetry is audaciously clever"

Traffic light recognition tech is incredible but requires co-operation from governments, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
21 Nov 2014
Motorists may be fooled into believing car theft is rampant
AE Opinion car crime scaremongering

Motorists may be fooled into believing car theft is rampant

It was only a matter of time before scaremongering about car crime returned, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
14 Nov 2014
"Young adults find it impossible to buy a car"
Auto Express Opinion learner

"Young adults find it impossible to buy a car"

Excessively priced insurance is the reason first-time drivers find it so difficult to run a car, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
7 Nov 2014
"Car owners are being priced off the road by our 'leaders'"
Opinion David Cameron

"Car owners are being priced off the road by our 'leaders'"

Our man wants to remind David Cameron he's broken his 'friend of the motorist' promise he made in 2010
Opinion
31 Oct 2014
"VW employees are the cleverest in the car business"
VW Passat opinion

"VW employees are the cleverest in the car business"

VW's employees are busier, cleverer and hungrier than we thought, says columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
27 Oct 2014
Sibling-style rivalry between brands is great for consumers
AE Opinion Peugeot Citroen

Sibling-style rivalry between brands is great for consumers

Our man thinks healthy rivalry between Peugeot and Citroen helps produce some of the best, most desirable real-world models
Opinion
15 Oct 2014
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"Britain is punching above its weight"
Car of the year opinion

"Britain is punching above its weight"

Britain is impressing in the draft list for the World Car Awards, says Auto Express columnist Mike Rutherford
Opinion
8 Oct 2014
"None can better the French for real-world fuel consumption"
Peugeot Opinion

"None can better the French for real-world fuel consumption"

Auto Express' Mike Rutherford believes the French have unlocked the secret to high real-world fuel economy
Opinion
30 Sep 2014
"Infiniti is offering something the German brands can’t"
Infiniti opinion

"Infiniti is offering something the German brands can’t"

Infiniti is aiming to top our Driver Power dealership survey rather than beat the Germans - a positive according to Mike Rutherford
Opinion
25 Sep 2014
Looming 2015 Election forces coalition to address motorists
Opinion - motorway

Looming 2015 Election forces coalition to address motorists

We've had morsels of good news for motorists recently but Mike Rutherford thinks we're just been sweet-talked ahead of the 2015 election
Opinion
10 Sep 2014
"Car journeys are a bargain next to the train"

"Car journeys are a bargain next to the train"

Rail fares will rise again in 2015 but Mike Rutherford thinks they're already a monumental rip-off compared to car travel
Opinion
4 Sep 2014
Nissan factory moving from England to Scotland?
Nissan English car plant relocating to Scotland

Nissan factory moving from England to Scotland?

Scottish business and political leaders urge manufacturer to move north of the border over EU dispute
News
22 Nov 2013
Hyundai Genesis expected to be sold in UK
Hyundai HCD-14 Concept

Hyundai Genesis expected to be sold in UK

Right-hand drive versions of Hyundai Genesis confirmed, UK launch expected
News
16 Oct 2013
Volkswagen XL1
Volkswagen XL1 front tracking

Volkswagen XL1

We drive the innovative new 313 mpg Volkswagen XL1 ahead of its arrival in showrooms this year
Road tests
7 Mar 2013
Kia says “maybe” to the idea of a UK car plant

Kia says “maybe” to the idea of a UK car plant

Kia could follow in the footsteps of Nissan and Honda by building a factory in the UK, Auto Express has learned
News
14 Sep 2012
Britain's depreciation winners and losers
Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

Britain's depreciation winners and losers

The new Porsche 911 will hold its value best over the next three years
News
24 Aug 2012