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

New Mazda CX-5 teased, and this time it’s official
New Mazda CX-5 official teaser

New Mazda CX-5 teased, and this time it’s official

Mazda’s all-new generation of the phenomenally successful CX-5 is just around the corner
News
1 Jul 2025
Renault Austral review
Renault Austral - front

Renault Austral review

The Austral’s Google tech and efficient hybrid system are rather appealing, but that’s not enough to conquer the ultra-competitive family SUV market
In-depth reviews
27 Jun 2025
Marcos is back! British sportscar brand’s big plan, and swirling controversy
Marcos, interior

Marcos is back! British sportscar brand’s big plan, and swirling controversy

Development is already underway on the first all-new Marcos cars in roughly 20 years
News
27 Jun 2025
Renault Symbioz review
Renault Symbioz - front tracking

Renault Symbioz review

The Renault Symbioz is an attractive offering for family buyers, and should be a very easy car to live with
In-depth reviews
26 Jun 2025
Luxury Mercedes ‘leather’ made from old tyres is great news for the planet, and cows
‘Labfiber Biotech Leather Alternative’ - tyre and leather

Luxury Mercedes ‘leather’ made from old tyres is great news for the planet, and cows

The new material was first seen in the radical AMG GT XX concept, but will be used in the brand’s road cars
News
26 Jun 2025
Kia Niro review
Kia Niro HEV - main image

Kia Niro review

Efficient, practical and boasting excellent on-board technology, the Kia Niro is a family SUV that offers great value for money
In-depth reviews
25 Jun 2025
Car Deal Alert! Visit Leapmotor in London, get a free bungee jump
Visit Leapmotor in London, get a free bungee jump

Car Deal Alert! Visit Leapmotor in London, get a free bungee jump

Taking the phrase ‘leap of faith’ to a new heights, customers who visit Leapmotor’s London pop-up have the chance to dive off a 160ft crane
News
24 Jun 2025
New MG electric SUV all set for Goodwood Festival of Speed
MG electric SUV rival to the Tesla Model Y, which will be revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

New MG electric SUV all set for Goodwood Festival of Speed

MG plans to unveil two new EVs next month, both expected to be re-badged models from premium sister brand IM Motors
News
24 Jun 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Fully loaded Vauxhall Mokka can be yours for just £175 per month
New Vauxhall Mokka Hybrid

Car Deal of the Day: Fully loaded Vauxhall Mokka can be yours for just £175 per month

Our Deal of the Day for 21 June is this top-of-the-range version of Vauxhall’s recently updated, style-focused small SUV
News
21 Jun 2025
Six new BYD cars by 2026, but they won’t all be EVs
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort - front cornering

Six new BYD cars by 2026, but they won’t all be EVs

The Chinese brand intends to double the size of its UK line-up by the end of next year
News
19 Jun 2025
New Genesis GV60: same on the outside, very different on the inside
Genesis GV60 - front end

New Genesis GV60: same on the outside, very different on the inside

The electric coupe-SUV has been updated three years after it launched, with sales due to start on 1 July
News
18 Jun 2025
New Suzuki e Vitara smashes the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3 on price
Suzuki e Vitara - front tracking

New Suzuki e Vitara smashes the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3 on price

The compact Suzuki e Vitara electric SUV is priced from a whisker under £30,000, and comes with the option of all-wheel drive
News
17 Jun 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement
Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival
Smart Roadster exclusive image

Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival

The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look
News
16 Jun 2025
Seismic update means XPeng G6 EV can charge to 80% in 12 minutes
New XPeng G6 front 3/4

Seismic update means XPeng G6 EV can charge to 80% in 12 minutes

The Tesla Model Y rival could already charge at up to 280kW, but the new version maxes out at 451kW
News
12 Jun 2025
New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai
Renault Symbioz hybrid - front angled

New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai

The Renault Captur has also been fitted the new full-hybrid powertrain, which gets a bigger battery for more pure-electric driving
News
12 Jun 2025
New all-electric BYD Dolphin Surf is one of the UK’s cheapest cars
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort - front static

New all-electric BYD Dolphin Surf is one of the UK’s cheapest cars

Known elsewhere as the BYD Seagull, the electric supermini is only slightly more expensive than a petrol-powered Citroen C3
News
11 Jun 2025
New Caterham Seven 310 Encore is an ode to one very special engine
Caterham Seven 310 Encore - front 3/4 static

New Caterham Seven 310 Encore is an ode to one very special engine

Only 25 examples of the Seven 310 Encore will be made, each powered by the now-retired 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine
News
11 Jun 2025
Renault 4 to the rescue! New Vision 4Rescue concept is a hi-tech toolbox on wheels
Renault Vision 4 Rescue concept - front

Renault 4 to the rescue! New Vision 4Rescue concept is a hi-tech toolbox on wheels

This new Renault 4 concept features four-wheel drive, technology to restore communications after a disaster, and its own observation drone
News
11 Jun 2025
New 2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport updates suggest SUV is far from retirement
Land Rover Discovery Sport MY26 - front

New 2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport updates suggest SUV is far from retirement

The new Land Rover Discovery Sport Landmark Edition celebrates SUV’s history and versatility, while range-topping Metropolitan Edition is all about st…
News
10 Jun 2025
Wunderbar! New Audi Q3 will finally be unveiled in less than a week
Audi Q3 teaser

Wunderbar! New Audi Q3 will finally be unveiled in less than a week

The next iteration of the popular compact SUV is set to be one of Audi’s last petrol-powered cars
News
10 Jun 2025
New Porsche 963 RSP is a sensational one-off racer for the road
Porsche 963 RSP - static overhead

New Porsche 963 RSP is a sensational one-off racer for the road

This road-legal racer was inspired by a similar version of the legendary Le Mans-winning Porsche 917 built 50 years ago
News
8 Jun 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Classy seven-seat Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace for only £227 per month
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace - front action

Car Deal of the Day: Classy seven-seat Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace for only £227 per month

Family-friendly SUV offers plenty of equipment and space. It’s our Deal of the Day for 7 June
News
7 Jun 2025
“World’s most efficient powertrain” to power 13 new Honda hybrid cars by 2030
Honda Jazz - front cornering

“World’s most efficient powertrain” to power 13 new Honda hybrid cars by 2030

The successors to the current Jazz supermini and Civic hatchback should be among those new models
News
5 Jun 2025
Hardcore new Lotus Emira SE models launch the British Porsche Cayman rival close to £100k
Lotus Emira V6 SE - Eos Green front 3/4

Hardcore new Lotus Emira SE models launch the British Porsche Cayman rival close to £100k

Models equipped with a dual-clutch transmission also shift more quickly and smoothly than before
News
5 Jun 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement
Leapmotor could sacrifice Euro NCAP safety rating for a better driver experience
Leapmotor C10 - front static

Leapmotor could sacrifice Euro NCAP safety rating for a better driver experience

The brand’s European marketing boss will be the first to admit its driver-assistance tech needs some serious improvement
News
4 Jun 2025
Smart to stay EV-only... but don't rule out a #5 hybrid
Smart #5 Brabus - front charging

Smart to stay EV-only... but don't rule out a #5 hybrid

The brand’s latest creation, the Smart #5, is rumoured to be getting a plug-in hybrid variant, but it seems that it’ll only be offered in China
News
4 Jun 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month
Kia EV6 - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month

Our Deal of the Day for 31 May is an extremely attractive price for this extremely capable electric family car
News
31 May 2025
Road-legal Porsche 963 RSP Le Mans hypercar on the way!
Porsche 963 teaser - name badge

Road-legal Porsche 963 RSP Le Mans hypercar on the way!

Porsche’s road-going racer will be unveiled in June, potentially at the fast-approaching 24 Hours of Le Mans
News
30 May 2025
No Renault Austral PHEV: updated SUV to stick with familiar power
Renault Austral - White front overhead with grey in the background

No Renault Austral PHEV: updated SUV to stick with familiar power

The mid-size SUV’s new look might be inspired by the flagship Renault Rafale, but it won’t be getting the same plug-in hybrid technology
News
28 May 2025
Most powerful Bentley Bentayga ever to be unveiled in a matter of days
Bentayga Bentayga teaser

Most powerful Bentley Bentayga ever to be unveiled in a matter of days

“The most dynamic Bentayga yet” will feature a hugely powerful twin-turbo V8 engine, and categorically no hybrid assistance
News
28 May 2025
New Peugeot 208 GTi hot hatch promises ‘fun and power’ as reveal edges closer
Peugeot 208 GTi render - front 3/4

New Peugeot 208 GTi hot hatch promises ‘fun and power’ as reveal edges closer

Not only is Peugeot returning to the hot hatch scene, it’s also bringing back the iconic GTi badge
News
27 May 2025
New Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 Black Editions turn family SUVs to the dark side
VW ID.5 Black Edition - front 3/4

New Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 Black Editions turn family SUVs to the dark side

Black Edition trim will be available on the two electric SUVs from 29 May
News
27 May 2025
Mazda has killed off the electric MX-30, and we can’t say we’re surprised
Mazda MX-30 R-EV - main image

Mazda has killed off the electric MX-30, and we can’t say we’re surprised

The MX-30 EV has been axed, but the Japanese brand will have another crack next year when it launches the all-new Mazda 6e saloon
News
23 May 2025
Genesis Electrified G80 to up its appeal with sharper looks and more space
2025 Genesis Electrified G80 - front 3/4

Genesis Electrified G80 to up its appeal with sharper looks and more space

Already luxurious electric saloon has had its wheelbase stretched to provide more room for rear-seat passengers
News
23 May 2025
The Fiat Panda 4x4 is back, and it's not an EV!
Fiat Panda 4x4 concept - front

The Fiat Panda 4x4 is back, and it's not an EV!

We chat to Fiat bosses about the design – and why hybrid is more suitable than electric
News
22 May 2025