Inside the world of cars: our best features of 2024
Our favourite features of 2024 cover every topic of the motoring spectrum
Controversial, informative, insightful, and just downright entertaining - that’s a year in features at Auto Express and 2024 has seen it all. We love bringing you the behind the scenes stories on the greatest (and not so great) cars, the people that make this industry tick, and the issues that concern our readers.
In 2024, we were there to tell you about a Formula 1 racing driver taking the wheel of a McLaren P1 made from Lego bricks and we sliced through the Alps in a 1,888bhp EV hypercar. We’ve found the best used cars for you to buy and even decided on the ultimate BMW. Picking our favourite features over the past 12 months was hard, but you’ll find them below in our round-up of most memorable moments.
January
Rimac supercar EV stuns us
While electric SUVs are cropping up left, right and centre, certain areas of the market remain largely unaffected by the unrelenting rise of electric cars. The sports and supercar segment is one of those still populated by petrol motors – even if some are supported by mild or full-hybrid tech.
So it’s with great interest that we’ve been following the story of Rimac, a Croatian brand focusing on Ferrari and Lamborghini-slaying rocketships capable of thrilling just like the old hypercars. This modern EV would leave a McLaren P1 for dust in a straight-line sprint.
To get a proper taste of what a Rimac’s like to live with, we rode shotgun on an Alpine road trip – driving (and charging) the £2.4m and 1,888bhp Nevera up past Lake Como and into the northern Italian mountains. In what can only be described as the journey of a lifetime, we experienced what the future of high-speed, cross-continent grand touring looked like.
This is a car that broke no fewer than 27 performance world records in one day. And after experiencing what 0-62mph in 1.85 seconds feels like, we wouldn’t doubt it for a moment – this sensational supercar looks and feels worth every penny. Even settling into a cruise, it was impossible to resist the power.
Thick fog in the hills gave us an opportunity to see what the Nevera could do connected to one of Ionity’s 350kW chargers. While we didn’t see that peak, the 345kW on the readout cements this as one of the fastest-charging cars in the world right now.
A day at the wheel of a Nevera means we can take comfort in the fact that even if you’re a diehard petrolhead, the future looks incredibly bright.
February
Used-car guide packed with deals and top tips
We hear you when you tell us that new cars are often too expensive. While models such as the MG3 are bringing affordability to the market, 7.2 million used cars changed hands in the UK last year.
So in February we brought you our ‘Ultimate Guide to Buying Used’, which featured more than 70 deals to suit all sorts of budgets – from less than £2,000 right up to £25,000 or more. We included everything from small models to sports cars, plus plenty of SUVs, and even threw in some top tips to help you bag the best deal.
March
Muted Geneva show is shadow of former self
Fiat’s attempt at overshadowing the Geneva Motor Show might have been considered petty by some. But in many ways we don’t blame the Italian manufacturer.
While the show has long been the cornerstone of European automotive events, this year didn’t quite see so much enthusiasm from traditional brands, instead acting more as an introductionto many Chinese manufacturers. In fact, the only established European firm with any real presence there was Renault and its new 5. No surprise, then, that it attracted most of the attention.
Our experts answer your biggest questions
Here at Auto Express, we always try to keep you well informed. And in March we took the time in to answer 108 of your most burning questions, on a variety of topics.
They included: “Is premium petrol worth it?” – yes, if you care about maximum performance and/or have a classic car that needs fuel with less ethanol – plus, “Should I buy a used electric car?” That was another yes, because heavy depreciation makes EVs a financially prudent choice – especially if you don’t need a long range.
May
Inshore Rescue gets first blue-light Grenadier
Ineos is no stranger to saving lives; the company is known for its production of medical equipment, as well as chemicals used in medicine and anti-bacterial fluids.
Its motoring arm also took up life saving in May, as the Ineos Grenadier began its new job aiding the Nith Inshore Rescue team. NIR is the first blue-light service to use a Grenadier, which replaces a 20-year-old Land Rover Defender. The lifeboat team were said to be impressed by the Ineos’s go-anywhere ability, power and comfort.
June
Turning back the clock in a 2.8i S Ford Capri
If there’s one word to summarise the relaunch of the iconic Ford Capri name in 2024, it would be ‘controversial’. Just a couple of weeks before the unveiling of the electrified, SUV-bodied Ford Capri we had a go in the original to whet appetites or fan flames, depending on your view.
We drove the sought-after 2.8i S, which meant a limited-slip differential, RS alloys, half-leather interior and a fuel-injected V6. Despite a fierce clutch, antiquated suspension and slack handling, the Capri was a charming ‘period’ driving experience.
September
We go behind the scenes of brand’s Renaulution
We took a deep dive into Renault’s self-titled Renaulution, a cheesy name for a very exciting moment in the French brand’s history.
Auto Express was granted unprecedented and unguarded access into the brand’s future plans – from an exclusive chat with design director Giles Vidal about the new Renault 5 and the Scenic’s transition from humdrum MPV to striking SUV, to an in-depth look at how recycling cars at the end of their life will vastly cut the carbon footprint of future production. It showed us that Renault is in an exciting period of change.
Lando takes Lego McLaren for a spin
Lego enthusiasts will know how advanced Technic builds have become, but our minds were blown by the full-size, and driveable, Lego P1. McLaren Formula One driver Lando Norris put the new model through its paces at Silverstone, but its 31mph top speed meant it was some way off setting a new track record.
Designer Lubor Zelinka said the car uses a lot of Lego gears, so instead of an angry yowl, it sounds more “like a swarm of angry bees”.
October
We name our favourite BMW cars of all time
BMW has produced some world-beating cars in its illustrious history, and issue 1,854 gave our team a chance to argue the case for their favourites. Among the legends picked were the timelessly stylish E38 7 Series, the iconic 2002 turbo and the M3 CSL with its glorious 3.2-litre straight six.
Chief reviewer Alex Ingram, who may have written this piece you’re reading right now, concluded that the fabulous Z1 roadster was the finest car to hail from the brand’s Munich HQ.
Which 2024 Auto Express feature was your favourite? Tell us in the comments section…
