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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

'UK government to create a new car company after Brexit'

'UK government to create a new car company after Brexit'

If Brexit happens then the government should use it to create a UK-run car company, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
30 Mar 2019
'The world may never see 100 million new car sales'
OPINION new car sales

'The world may never see 100 million new car sales'

86 million new car sales in 2018 is impressive but the 100 million barrier may be out of reach says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
23 Mar 2019
Missing manufacturers from Geneva
OPINION Geneva

Missing manufacturers from Geneva

Several manufacturers were missing from this year's Geneva Motor Show, and have all lost out on big sales, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
18 Mar 2019
'Volkswagen needs to sell a £5k car in Britain'
OPINION VW Passat

'Volkswagen needs to sell a £5k car in Britain'

The Geneva Motor Show showed us that new models are too expensive and something needs to be done about it, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
10 Mar 2019
‘Ugly designs and F1 failure are taking their toll on Honda’

‘Ugly designs and F1 failure are taking their toll on Honda’

Honda is a shadow of its former self, but Swindon deserves better, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
3 Mar 2019
Jaguar advertising
OPINION-Jaguar

Jaguar advertising

Jaguar's advertising agency needs to be making more of a song and dance about how world-class its cars are, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
24 Feb 2019
Despite everything happening now, the UK car industry is sti
OPINION - Aston Martin Vantage

Despite everything happening now, the UK car industry is sti

Despite all the negativity about the UK car industry, Mike Rutherford thinks it's still better than its American and Japanese counterparts
Opinion
17 Feb 2019
“Train travel was rubbish a decade ago”
Opinion - Trains

“Train travel was rubbish a decade ago”

Mike Rutherford thinks the colossal rail industry subsidies would be better diverted into roads, cars and motorway service areas
Opinion
9 Feb 2019
'The best car ever made doesn't even exist'
OPINION best car

'The best car ever made doesn't even exist'

The best car can't be named or driven as it is a car that simply doesn't exist, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
3 Feb 2019
'An alliance between JLR and Hyundai-Kia would get my vote'
Opinion - VW-Ford alliance

'An alliance between JLR and Hyundai-Kia would get my vote'

Mike Rutherford thinks the VW-Ford alliance will be selling to around one third of UK buyers, leaving rival groups and firms unhappy
Opinion
26 Jan 2019
With 2.4m buying or leasing a car 2018 was hardly disastrous
Opinion - MG

With 2.4m buying or leasing a car 2018 was hardly disastrous

Although car sales were down in the UK in 2018, Mike Rutherford still thinks there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic
Opinion
20 Jan 2019
2019 will be the most exciting year yet for cars
OPINION 2019

2019 will be the most exciting year yet for cars

Time to leave talk of Brexit and Dieselgate in the past and look forward to an exciting 2019, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
13 Jan 2019
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"Kids aren’t learning to drive"
Opinion - driverless pod

"Kids aren’t learning to drive"

The car industry is set to undergo a radical change in the next five years, but Mike Rutherford wonders if that's a good thing...
Opinion
6 Jan 2019
“Demand for off-street parking is about to explode”
Opinion - off-road parking

“Demand for off-street parking is about to explode”

As EVs grow in popularity, Mike Rutherford thinks drivers without an off-street space would be wise to search for bays they can buy
Opinion
30 Dec 2018
The Suzuki Jimny is more of a head turner
OPINION WCOTY

The Suzuki Jimny is more of a head turner

Could the Suzuki Jimny be the 2019 World Car of the Year? No. Don’t be daft, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
17 Dec 2018
“LA 2018 was the auto show that shocked”
Opinion - Genesis LA Motor Show

“LA 2018 was the auto show that shocked”

Some established names were obsessed with being cool in LA, turning their backs on conventional cars. Big mistake, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
9 Dec 2018
Misguided protesters hurt regular folk
OPINION Traffic

Misguided protesters hurt regular folk

The law abiding public need to fight against the disruptive pockets of protesters on our roads, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
4 Dec 2018
‘Motor shows will never die, despite what everyone thinks’
OPINION motor show

‘Motor shows will never die, despite what everyone thinks’

Mike Rutherford thinks motor shows are not dead just yet and are, in fact, even more important in this day and age
Opinion
25 Nov 2018
'Why build HS2 for £403m per mile?'

'Why build HS2 for £403m per mile?'

With HS2 costs spiralling, Mike Rutherford asks if money should be put into roads instead
Opinion
18 Nov 2018
We should celebrate Lewis as the greatest British sportsman
Opinion - Lewis Hamilton

We should celebrate Lewis as the greatest British sportsman

After winning a fifth Formula One world title, Mike Rutherford thinks Lewis Hamilton is not getting the praise he deserves
Opinion
10 Nov 2018
‘The comedians running the UKs transport network repeatedly
Opinion - M11

‘The comedians running the UKs transport network repeatedly

Mike Rutherford thinks the people best-qualified to deal with transport problems are the folk who drive on our roads daily
Opinion
4 Nov 2018
Land Rover designer is into buildings and cars
Gerry McGovern opinion backchat

Land Rover designer is into buildings and cars

Gerry McGovern is deliberately provocative when designing Land Rovers, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
26 Oct 2018
UK political parties are ignoring 50 million motorists
Opinion - parliament

UK political parties are ignoring 50 million motorists

Recent party political broadcasts have hardly mentioned Britain's 50 million motorists, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
23 Oct 2018
"Peugeot is delivering the goods with confidence"

"Peugeot is delivering the goods with confidence"

Peugeot has been making electric vehicles for decades without an ounce of cockiness, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
14 Oct 2018
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Car firms should be more charitable
Opinion - Marcus Rutherford Foundation

Car firms should be more charitable

Car manufacturers should be more charitable, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
7 Oct 2018
‘Congrats are in order if you’ve still got your copy of AE’
Issue 1 opinion

‘Congrats are in order if you’ve still got your copy of AE’

Mike Rutherford celebrates how far Auto Express – and the automotive industry – has come in the last three decades...
Opinion
29 Sep 2018
police revoke driver licences
OPINION - eyesight

police revoke driver licences

It seems humble front-line cops have been given the OK to snatch licences from drivers, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
24 Sep 2018
‘Airport pick-up and drop-off fees are fleecing drivers’
Opinion Airport Pick-up Fees

‘Airport pick-up and drop-off fees are fleecing drivers’

Those who have the temerity to pick up their loved ones from the airport are being ripped off, says Mike Rutherford
Opinion
16 Sep 2018
‘Uber seems to view its drivers as a necessary evil'
Toyota – opinion

‘Uber seems to view its drivers as a necessary evil'

Uber will soon take delivery of Toyota’s autonomous cars-cum-taxis, so professional drivers should be very afraid, thinks Mike Rutherford
Opinion
9 Sep 2018
‘Are car firms’ profits really that excessive?’

‘Are car firms’ profits really that excessive?’

Toyota made $22.5billion in 2017, but that might not be as exorbitant as it seems, writes Mike Rutherford
Opinion
2 Sep 2018
‘The slow withdrawal of car dealers has already begun’
Opinion Dealers

‘The slow withdrawal of car dealers has already begun’

Car dealerships are going the same way as defunct high street retailers, believes Mike Rutherford
Opinion
26 Aug 2018
‘Britain’s roads are busier than most’, and it’s not fair
Opinion - Traffic

‘Britain’s roads are busier than most’, and it’s not fair

The UK’s road network is smaller per square mile than many other developed countries, writes Mike Rutherford
Opinion
19 Aug 2018
‘Britain is blessed with a brilliant MoT system’
Opinion - MoT System

‘Britain is blessed with a brilliant MoT system’

The ASI think tank is wrong to say our MoT system is outdated, writes Mike Rutherford
Opinion
12 Aug 2018
‘Ever wondered how many billions car firms make?’
OPINION Money

‘Ever wondered how many billions car firms make?’

With the world’s top 20 car makers raking in thousands of billions every year, Mike Rutherford analyses the figures
Opinion
5 Aug 2018