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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

'Formula E could be on course for victory in its battle with F1'
Formula E opinion

'Formula E could be on course for victory in its battle with F1'

Mike Rutherford thinks there can only be one winner out of Formula One and Formula E
Opinion
1 Aug 2021
‘The British Motor Show ain’t optional. It’s compulsory’
Opinion British Motor Show

‘The British Motor Show ain’t optional. It’s compulsory’

A masked Mike Rutherford will be at the reborn event - and reckons you should be there, too. No excuses!
Opinion
25 Jul 2021
'Subsidies for drivers to switch to electric cars are nothing short of essential'
Opinion EV car sales

'Subsidies for drivers to switch to electric cars are nothing short of essential'

With the 2030 ban looming, Mike Rutherford thinks the government needs to be doing more to incentivise new electric car buyers
Opinion
18 Jul 2021
“Hyundai wiped the floor with the opposition at the 2021 New Car Awards”
Opinion - Hyundai Ioniq 5

“Hyundai wiped the floor with the opposition at the 2021 New Car Awards”

Mike Rutherford is impressed with just how far Hyundai has come in the last 10 years
Opinion
11 Jul 2021
‘As we become more reliant on electricity, rationing it might be necessary’
Opinion - EV charging

‘As we become more reliant on electricity, rationing it might be necessary’

Mike Rutherford does not believe the UK Power Network will be able to cope with the demands of EV drivers
Opinion
4 Jul 2021
“A wholesale switch to electric cars is ultimately up to real-world car buyers”
Mobility future

“A wholesale switch to electric cars is ultimately up to real-world car buyers”

Hyundai-Kia and Toyota-Lexus are already thinking way beyond electric cars, and Mike Rutherford thinks we’d be daft not to listen to them
Opinion
27 Jun 2021
'A top footballer works minutes for his car, but the average worker must graft for 12 months'
Opinion - average car

'A top footballer works minutes for his car, but the average worker must graft for 12 months'

Mike Rutherford says it's increasingly easy for them, and far harder for us, to earn enough for our new cars
Opinion
20 Jun 2021
'The hydrogen underdog disruptor is back in town'
Toyota Mirai opinion

'The hydrogen underdog disruptor is back in town'

Mike Rutherford says hydrogen-powered cars could still be a frequent sight on UK roads
Opinion
13 Jun 2021
'GM taking over Honda would be a disaster'
Honda opinion

'GM taking over Honda would be a disaster'

Mike Rutherford is worried about Honda's future, despite its recent motorsport success
Opinion
6 Jun 2021
'Joe Biden is now America's most important auto industry dude'
Ford F150 Joe Biden

'Joe Biden is now America's most important auto industry dude'

Mike Rutherford thinks Joe Biden deserves praise for his hands-on approach to the American car industry
Opinion
30 May 2021
'Carlos Tavares is the heavyweight champion of the automotive world'
Opinion

'Carlos Tavares is the heavyweight champion of the automotive world'

Mike Rutherford praises the Stellantis CEO's realistic ambitions of electric motoring
Opinion
23 May 2021
'Just because impressive tech is available, it shouldn’t necessarily be installed in cars'
Opinion tech

'Just because impressive tech is available, it shouldn’t necessarily be installed in cars'

Mike Rutherford says designers, car makers and politicians need to consult motorists more often
Opinion
16 May 2021
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‘The greatest change in motoring history is coming - but we don’t want it’
Opinion driverless cars

‘The greatest change in motoring history is coming - but we don’t want it’

Mike Rutherford reckons that instead of telling us what they think we should have, manufacturers and politicians must ask us what we’d like from our c…
Opinion
9 May 2021
‘WCOTY-winning Volkswagen ID.4 is good, just not as good as I expected’
Opinion VW ID4

‘WCOTY-winning Volkswagen ID.4 is good, just not as good as I expected’

Mike Rutherford asks if there was a more deserving winner of this year’s World Car of the Year award
Opinion
2 May 2021
'From now on I’ll be looking at Euro NCAP’s scores closely'
Opinion Euro NCAP

'From now on I’ll be looking at Euro NCAP’s scores closely'

Mike Rutherford questions new changes brought in to Euro NCAP testing
Opinion
25 Apr 2021
'The UK Government should part-fund our own British Car Company'
Opinion Bcc

'The UK Government should part-fund our own British Car Company'

Mike Rutherford thinks Britain's new independence makes it perfectly poised to invest in car production
Opinion
18 Apr 2021
'Some traditions need to be abandoned, and working 9-5 is one of them'
Opinion commute

'Some traditions need to be abandoned, and working 9-5 is one of them'

Britain needs to re-think its approach to commuting, according to Mike Rutherford
Opinion
11 Apr 2021
'We aren't building enough cars to satisfy global demand'
Car manufacturing

'We aren't building enough cars to satisfy global demand'

Mike Rutherford points out the dramatic changes happening in the world's top car producing nations
Opinion
4 Apr 2021
"Murray Walker's words were quite brilliant, clever and deliciously humorous"
Murray Walker

"Murray Walker's words were quite brilliant, clever and deliciously humorous"

Mike Rutherford laments the recent loss of Murray Walker, and thinks he deserves ‘true gentleman’ status
Opinion
28 Mar 2021
‘A 3-word verdict on UK public electric car charging: too bloody complicated’
Opinion plug

‘A 3-word verdict on UK public electric car charging: too bloody complicated’

Mike Rutherford thinks one of the biggest barriers to electric car uptake is the UK’s public charging ‘system’
Opinion
21 Mar 2021
A ‘scrap your hybrid car for a diesel’ scheme might just happen
Exhaust

A ‘scrap your hybrid car for a diesel’ scheme might just happen

Mike Rutherford says a recent study shows electrified cars aren't necessarily the greenest
Opinion
14 Mar 2021
'Gordon Murray is to the car world what David Attenborough is to Planet Earth'
Opinion GMA

'Gordon Murray is to the car world what David Attenborough is to Planet Earth'

Mike Rutherford points out how big car makers could learn plenty from smaller firms
Opinion
7 Mar 2021
'Genesis’s aim is to lure Jaguar Land Rover customers'
Genesis

'Genesis’s aim is to lure Jaguar Land Rover customers'

Mike Rutherford thinks luxury brand Genesis could take sales away from Jaguar Land Rover when it lands in the UK
Opinion
1 Mar 2021
'Highways England handles ice-covered roads just as badly as it always has'
Opinion snow

'Highways England handles ice-covered roads just as badly as it always has'

Mike Rutherford thinks Britain should be better prepared for snowy roads
Opinion
21 Feb 2021
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"The Fuel Duty increase will be a tiny price to pay"
Opinion fuel duty

"The Fuel Duty increase will be a tiny price to pay"

Mike Rutherford says average fuel bills can still be lower in 2021
Opinion
14 Feb 2021
"British brands are way behind in the race for an affordable, desirable electric car"
Opinion British EVs

"British brands are way behind in the race for an affordable, desirable electric car"

When it comes to making popular small electric cars, Mike Rutherford thinks the likes of Jaguar Land Rover need to step up
Opinion
7 Feb 2021
'Kia's name change is unnecessary and the new logo is a disaster'
Kia logo opinion

'Kia's name change is unnecessary and the new logo is a disaster'

Mike Rutherford says even Kia is prone to making mistakes
Opinion
31 Jan 2021
'It's clear that lorry drivers deserve much-improved working conditions'
Truck

'It's clear that lorry drivers deserve much-improved working conditions'

Mike Rutherford proposes some alternative options to help streamline British imports and exports
Opinion
23 Jan 2021
'At £30,000+ too many electric cars are out of reach for the average worker'
Mike Rutherford opinion

'At £30,000+ too many electric cars are out of reach for the average worker'

Mike Rutherford thinks most electric cars are out of reach for the majority of new car buyers
Opinion
10 Jan 2021
'Gordon Murray is my British motor industry person of 2020'

'Gordon Murray is my British motor industry person of 2020'

Mike Rutherford highlights his positive car industry stories of 2020
Opinion
4 Jan 2021
‘Your car may not be the most efficient tool for your new, lower-mileage life’

‘Your car may not be the most efficient tool for your new, lower-mileage life’

Mike Rutherford thinks now is the perfect time to re-evaluate your modes of transport
Opinion
20 Dec 2020
'Citroen has changed the game and changed the lives of countless consumers'

'Citroen has changed the game and changed the lives of countless consumers'

Mike Rutherford thinks the quirky new Citroen Ami is a true game-changing car
Opinion
13 Dec 2020
"Road tolls hiding beneath the cover of Covid? I wouldn’t be surprised"

"Road tolls hiding beneath the cover of Covid? I wouldn’t be surprised"

Mike Rutherford thinks UK motorists shouldn't forget they are in the majority when it comes to transport planning
Opinion
6 Dec 2020
'Power outages do nothing to inspire confidence in would-be EV buyers'

'Power outages do nothing to inspire confidence in would-be EV buyers'

Mike Rutherford thinks the switch to an all-electric UK car market hasn't been thought through
Opinion
29 Nov 2020