Skip advert
Advertisement

2024 was a roller coaster of surprises, shifts and game-changing moments

Paul Barker takes a look back at the past 365 days

Opinion - 2024

We’ve somehow reached the last issue of 2024, and looking back at our review of the year, there’s been plenty going on! 

Resurrected names have been a theme of the past 12 months, with the Ford Capri, Vauxhall Frontera and two returning Renaults – the new 4 and 5 – while Jaguar has gone the whole hog and will reinvent itself completely in 2026 after ending sales of its entire model range and giving us a glimpse of an all-electric future. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

We saw the first electric cars from Alfa Romeo and Suzuki this year, meaning it’s pretty much just Land Rover without an EV, something that will change in 2026 with the electric Range Rover’s arrival. But this year brilliant new cars, such as Skoda’s Kodiaq and Superb, and the Dacia Duster, showed there’s still a strong demand for good internal combustion engine models, too. 

Our New Car Awards overall winner proved you can have it both ways, with the Citroen C3 available in petrol and electric form, and it’s excellent value in both. At the other end of the pricing scale, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren all revealed new cars that most of us can only dream of driving and owning.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

There were big changes at Auto Express, too. First, we gave the magazine a significant facelift in September, freshening the look alongside a new website. This final issue of the year also marks the end of an era for our fantastic products coverage. 

Our industry-leading tests have been overseen by Kim Adams for more than 25 years, but he’s decided now is the time to take a well earned break. We’re grateful for everything he has done for Auto Express across so many years, and it’s his hard work and thorough testing that have made our product tests the best in the business. I’m delighted to say that his replacement, our incoming new Products Editor Tom Barnard, is someone who’s been associated with Auto Express since the nineties, and has been working closely with Kim for a number of years, so he’s been taught all the tricks and techniques to make sure our product tests will remain the best in the business! 

All that’s left is to say thank you for continuing to enjoy Auto Express and to wish you a brilliant Christmas and Happy New Year. We’ll be back with our next issue on 1 January.

Subscribe to the UK's favourite car magazine: get Auto Express delivered every week...

Skip advert
Advertisement

As Editor, Paul’s job is to steer the talented group of people that work across Auto Express, Carbuyer and Driving Electric, and steer the titles to even bigger and better things by bringing the latest important stories to our readers. Paul has been writing about cars and the car industry since 2000, working for consumer and business magazines as well as freelancing for national newspapers, industry titles and a host of major publications.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range
Leapmotor badge

Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range

The Stellantis-backed brand will launch a Volkswagen ID.3-rivalling small car with almost 20 per cent more range
News
23 Apr 2025
New Renault Clio prepares for launch: And it's not an EV
Renault Clio Mk6 (camouflaged) - front 3/4 tracking

New Renault Clio prepares for launch: And it's not an EV

The Clio isn’t going anywhere despite the reemergence of the Renault 5
News
22 Apr 2025
New Subaru Outback is “simply unsellable in Europe” for one very simple reason…
Subaru Outback front 2025

New Subaru Outback is “simply unsellable in Europe” for one very simple reason…

Subaru has confirmed that the new seventh-generation Outback will not be coming to the UK, or anywhere in Europe for that matter
News
23 Apr 2025