Skip advert
Advertisement
Ellis Hyde

Ellis is the news reporter for Auto Express, which means his job is to find out about all the exciting new cars that are coming soon, before anyone else. Whether we’re talking pint-sized city cars, family SUVs or million-pound hypercars with more firepower than most nations’ militaries, Ellis has the in-depth knowledge of what every manufacturer has planned.  He’s travelled all over the world to chase scoops and enjoys interrogating the automotive industry big wigs on the hunt for his next story. 

When Ellis isn’t writing news stories for Auto Express, he’s road testing the latest new car models on the market, contributing his thoughts and impressions to our library of in-depth reviews. Or he’s presenting videos for the Auto Express YouTube channel – trying very hard not to forget his lines!

Ellis cut his teeth as the content editor for our sister title DrivingElectric , where he quickly learned the difference between his kilowatt and kilowatt-hours, and drove every EV he could get his hands on. He even won the 2022 Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award for his work on the website. He then became the online reviews editor for Auto Express and was responsible for keeping all our in-depth car reviews up-to-date and collating our team’s verdicts on the hundreds, if not thousands, of cars we’ve tested.

Ellis says…

“It’s sometimes the small details that sets a car apart or makes it better to live with than the competition, and I enjoy finding those unique features and quirks when I review new models. I like that, at a time when so many people are embracing electric cars, Auto Express is making sure discussions about charging speeds and range aren’t getting lost in translation."

Ellis Hyde’s main areas of expertise

  • Electric vehicles 
  • Chinese cars
  • Newsgathering
  • Testing cars
  • Photography

Ellis on video

 

 

Ellis Hyde Q&A

Q: What was your first car?

A: "I’ve yet to buy my first car. I know, as a motoring journalist that’s almost shameful, but I did own a Ducati Scrambler 800 motorbike which caused me just as many headaches as any Italian car probably would. In fact, I learnt to drive in my sister’s 2010 Fiat 500, and my hatred of that beast is part of what got me into reviewing cars.”

Q: What is your dream car? 

A: "I grew up reading about the car culture in southern California, so hot rods and restomods, which I’ve always loved the idea of marrying modern technology with a classic car. Plus, after driving my first Porsche 911 a few years ago I’ve been hooked on them, hence why my dream car is probably a Porsche 911 reimagined by Singer.”

Q: What’s the biggest news story you’ve ever written?

A: “At the very start of 2025, I wrote a story about Peugeot potentially making a new hot hatch that it could use to revive the iconic GTi badge, and not six months later the fiery E-208 GTi was unveiled at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where I got to see it up close. I like to think Auto Express and our readers played a small role in Peugeot returning to its hot hatch roots, and getting that made.”

Q: If you could change one thing about cars, driving or the car industry today what would it be?

A: "That’s easy: make electric car charging points more reliable and easier to use. If drivers were having just a tenth of the number of issues with petrol pumps that EV owners are having with public chargers, there would be riots in the streets. Things need to improve, and fast!"

Social media and e-mail

Tesla Model Y claims UK’s best-selling EV crown as car brands complain about targets
Tesla Model Y Performance 2025

Tesla Model Y claims UK’s best-selling EV crown as car brands complain about targets

Close to one-in-four new cars registered in 2025 were EVs, however, sales failed to reach the target set by the Government’s ZEV mandate
News
6 Jan 2026
New electric Mercedes S-Class will replace the EQS… eventually
Mercedes EQS - front tracking

New electric Mercedes S-Class will replace the EQS… eventually

The next iteration of the S-Class will give its affluent customers the choice of combustion or electric power
News
5 Jan 2026
New Volkswagen ID. Polo: interior images and latest details on 2026 EV supermini
New Volkswagen ID. Polo - interior, front

New Volkswagen ID. Polo: interior images and latest details on 2026 EV supermini

The Renault 5 rival is due to be revealed in full this spring and will hit the streets before the end of the year
News
4 Jan 2026
Car Deal of the Day: Alfa Romeo Junior for a pint-sized £220 per month
 Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida - front 3/4

Car Deal of the Day: Alfa Romeo Junior for a pint-sized £220 per month

The desirable Alfa Romeo Junior has never been this affordable before, so it had to be our Deal of the Day for 3 January
News
3 Jan 2026
Fiat 500e now one of the cheapest EVs on sale as brand slashes prices across its range
Fiat 500e - front cornering

Fiat 500e now one of the cheapest EVs on sale as brand slashes prices across its range

Fiat has cut up to £4,000 off the price of its EVs, including the hot Abarth versions
News
2 Jan 2026
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2026, 2027 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2026, 2027 and beyond

Here are the most important new cars from Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more that you need to know about
Best cars & vans
2 Jan 2026
KGM Actyon and Torres hybrids get a boost from BYD
KGM Torres Hybrid - side action

KGM Actyon and Torres hybrids get a boost from BYD

Korean brand’s Dual Tech Hybrid system is designed to offer an EV-like driving experience
News
2 Jan 2026
Tesla has lost its edge, but rival car brands could be made to fear it once again
Tesla comeback - opinion, header image

Tesla has lost its edge, but rival car brands could be made to fear it once again

News reporter Ellis Hyde believes Tesla is no longer a force to be reckoned with, but could be again
Opinion
30 Dec 2025
Radical Renault Filante Record 2025 manages 1,000km on a single charge, all at high speeds
Renault Filante Record 2025 - front tracking

Radical Renault Filante Record 2025 manages 1,000km on a single charge, all at high speeds

The incredibly sculptural design is inspired by record-breaking cars from Renault’s past
News
23 Dec 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Have a happy Aygo Xmas for only £187 per month
Toyota Aygo X Hybrid - front profile

Car Deal of the Day: Have a happy Aygo Xmas for only £187 per month

It’s been less than a month since the refreshed Aygo X went on sale, and now it’s our Deal of the Day for 21 December
News
21 Dec 2025
Car Deal of the Day: drive home for Christmas in a Hyundai Ioniq 6 for only £310 a month
Hyundai Ioniq 6 - full front

Car Deal of the Day: drive home for Christmas in a Hyundai Ioniq 6 for only £310 a month

Dramatically styled, hi-tech EV is a real bargain at this price. It’s our Deal of the Day for December 20
News
20 Dec 2025
New Kia PV5 Passenger and EV4 are brand’s first models to receive EV grant
Kia PV5 Passenger - front tracking

New Kia PV5 Passenger and EV4 are brand’s first models to receive EV grant

These EVs have only just launched in the UK, but they already qualify for a £1,500 discount from the Government
News
19 Dec 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement
New Fiat 600 Sport injects the chic small SUV with bad-boy attitude
Fiat 600 Sport - front cornering

New Fiat 600 Sport injects the chic small SUV with bad-boy attitude

Sport trim will be available on the hybrid and electric Fiat 600 from January 2026
News
18 Dec 2025
All-new Volkswagen ID. Cross spied as butch Ford Puma rival gets into shape
Volkswagen ID. Cross production car spy shots

All-new Volkswagen ID. Cross spied as butch Ford Puma rival gets into shape

The all-electric alternative to the Volkswagen T-Cross will go on sale before the end of 2026, and is expected to start from around £25k
News
16 Dec 2025
Nissan Micra Nismo hot hatch due as brand takes walk on the wild side
NIssan Micra Nismo exclusive image

Nissan Micra Nismo hot hatch due as brand takes walk on the wild side

A hot Nissan Micra would leverage the work done for the closely-related Alpine A290, and our exclusive image previews how it could look
News
16 Dec 2025
Nissan Nismo promises five new high-performance models
Nissan Ariya Nismo - front cornering

Nissan Nismo promises five new high-performance models

A Nissan Micra Nismo hot hatch is now on the cards as Nissan plans to double its performance line-up
News
16 Dec 2025
Renault Clio gets £1,000 price cut as the wait continues for its all new successor
Toyota Yaris vs Renault Clio E-Tech - Renault Clio front action

Renault Clio gets £1,000 price cut as the wait continues for its all new successor

The Clio now starts from £17,995 and is available in a simplified range of four trim levels
News
16 Dec 2025
First look at new Smart #2: ForTwo successor being prepared for launch in 2026
Smart #2 (camouflaged) - side

First look at new Smart #2: ForTwo successor being prepared for launch in 2026

After launching three electric SUVs, next year Smart will finally unveil the successor to its iconic ForTwo city car
News
15 Dec 2025
Jaguar Land Rover breaks silence on design boss Gerry McGovern exit rumours
JLR designer Gerry McGovern and the Jaguar Type 00

Jaguar Land Rover breaks silence on design boss Gerry McGovern exit rumours

McGovern’s sudden departure came one year on from the huge backlash at Jaguar going ‘woke’,
News
15 Dec 2025
Car Deal of the Day: turn on the style with the MINI Aceman for just £250 per month
MINI Aceman - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: turn on the style with the MINI Aceman for just £250 per month

MINI’s small electric SUV has a big personality, and is our Deal of the Day for 14 December
News
14 Dec 2025
New Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 2025 review: an underwhelming celebration
Volkswagen Polo 50 Edition - front tracking

New Volkswagen Polo Edition 50 2025 review: an underwhelming celebration

This special Polo marks a half-century celebration, but VW doesn’t seem too bothered
Road tests
12 Dec 2025
Jeep Compass review
Jeep Compass - front tracking

Jeep Compass review

The Jeep Compass has a square-jawed look that’ll win fans, but there’s more to this family SUV than its ruggedly handsome face
In-depth reviews
11 Dec 2025
New Caterham Project V electric sports car edges closer to reality
Caterham Project V - front angled

New Caterham Project V electric sports car edges closer to reality

Revealed as a concept in 2023, the electric coupe will feature a Yamaha-developed drivetrain
News
11 Dec 2025
New XPeng G6 priced below £40k to undercut Tesla Model Y
XPeng G6 - front

New XPeng G6 priced below £40k to undercut Tesla Model Y

Three versions of the XPeng G6 will be available in the UK, with up to 480bhp
News
11 Dec 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement
New Volkswagen Touareg gets plush Final Edition ahead of 2027 chop
Volkswagen Touareg Final Edition - dynamic front 3/4

New Volkswagen Touareg gets plush Final Edition ahead of 2027 chop

Touareg Final Edition and Touareg R Final Edition mark the end of the line for flagship SUV
News
11 Dec 2025
New Smart #6 is coming to rival BMW's 3 Series, just not in the UK
Smart #6 - front 3/4

New Smart #6 is coming to rival BMW's 3 Series, just not in the UK

Smart’s first saloon has been unveiled in China featuring plug-in hybrid power
News
10 Dec 2025
New Mercedes CLA Hybrid 2025 review: an impressive EV alternative
Mercedes CLA 220 Hybrid - front

New Mercedes CLA Hybrid 2025 review: an impressive EV alternative

We hit the road in the hybrid version of the new Mercedes CLA to see how it stacks up against its EV brother
Road tests
9 Dec 2025
Volkswagen ID.5 review
Volkswagen ID.5 Pro Black Edition - front

Volkswagen ID.5 review

Coupe-SUV version of the ID.4 costs more, carries less and offers marginal efficiency gains over its sibling
In-depth reviews
8 Dec 2025
Dust off your safari suit! The Ineos Grenadier Game Viewer is coming to conquer the savanna
Ineos Grenadier Game Viewer - front

Dust off your safari suit! The Ineos Grenadier Game Viewer is coming to conquer the savanna

Unveiled as a prototype last year, the Grenadier Game Viewer is designed to be used by game reserves, luxury safari lodges and ranches
News
8 Dec 2025
New Mercedes GLB revealed for 2026: 7-seater gains in space and versatility, if not design
Mercedes GLB 2025 snow - front

New Mercedes GLB revealed for 2026: 7-seater gains in space and versatility, if not design

The second-generation Mercedes GLB will be launched in 2026, with a choice of hybrid or pure-electric power
News
8 Dec 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Hot damn! Athletic Alpine A290 for under £250 per month
Alpine A290 UK - dynamic front tracking

Car Deal of the Day: Hot damn! Athletic Alpine A290 for under £250 per month

With our Deal of the Day for 7 December, the only thing more appealing than this brilliant electric hot hatch is its price
News
7 Dec 2025
The Lotus Esprit is back! Encor reveals wedge-shaped restomod beauty with 400bhp V8
Encor Series 1 - front angled

The Lotus Esprit is back! Encor reveals wedge-shaped restomod beauty with 400bhp V8

British company Encor has created a carbon fibre remaster of the original Esprit S1 for us to drool over
News
5 Dec 2025
New Tesla Model Y Standard hits the UK, offering 314 miles of range for less than £42k
Tesla Model Y Standard

New Tesla Model Y Standard hits the UK, offering 314 miles of range for less than £42k

The Model Y Standard offers 314 miles of range and is £7,000 cheaper than the next version in the line-up
News
5 Dec 2025
New Jeep Avenger Stargazer is Professor Brian Cox’s D:Ream car
Jeep Avenger Stargazer - front 3/4

New Jeep Avenger Stargazer is Professor Brian Cox’s D:Ream car

The one-off creation features everything needed for stargazing, including a telescope that can be fitted to the roof
News
4 Dec 2025
KGM Musso review
2025 KGM Musso - front tracking

KGM Musso review

The KGM Musso is a simple and solid pick-up truck, but it’s let down by an awful ride and dull interior
In-depth reviews
4 Dec 2025