Car review

THE STEERING COLUMN

17 new cars worth waiting for in 2026

New electric cars from unexpected quarters and some defiantly old-school machines make next year an enticing one for car fans and practical buyers alike 

The Zeekr 009 Deluxe is impossibly smooth on the go, richly appointed and unapologetically focused on the experience of those sitting in the back.
THE STEERING COLUMN

Zeekr 009 Deluxe review: Power, prestige and a puzzle

The model now comes in Deluxe trim, which loses power, clings to prestige and continues to puzzle

This new Aceman has a chilli red roof, black skirts, a chunky tailgate spoiler and chequered-flag logos.
THE STEERING COLUMN

Mini John Cooper Works Aceman review: Feisty, and fat-shaming with it

The Mini JCW Aceman is brimming with personality, but does it live up to its own legend?

The 296 Speciale is a sharper, leaner, louder evolution of the 296 GTB – a plug-in hybrid that serves as the brand’s entry-level sports car.
THE STEERING COLUMN

Ferrari 296 Speciale review: A conundrum for collectors

Hybrid tech wins approval from regulators for the 296 Speciale, but will Ferrari collectors give it the nod?

Ferrari CEO, Benedetto Vigna (left), and executive chairman, John Elkann, examining components of the upcoming Ferrari Elettrica at Capital Markets Day.
THE STEERING COLUMN

Elettrica: Secrets of the Ferrari without an engine

The Elettrica will be a Ferrari without an engine, but engineers promise it will have a soul

The IM6 is an early example of what the industry calls a software-defined vehicle – one where the car’s behaviour, features and user experience are driven more by lines of code than by mechanical hardware.
THE STEERING COLUMN

IM Motors IM6 review: When software creates a Porsche rival

The IM6 Performance is 778 horsepower Chinese EV programmed to be a ballerina one moment, a luxury barge the next

After a facelift, the BMW iX still looks mostly the same, with its slab-sided body and carbon shell, but the grille now lights up and the headlights look a bit sharper.
THE STEERING COLUMN

BMW iX M70 review: Too hard to sell? 

The most powerful BMW EV isn’t headed for showrooms here. Here’s what we’re missing out on

The Ioniq Concept Three looks taut and mischievous, with a ducktail spoiler, muscular haunches and a stance that would turn any racer's head.
THE STEERING COLUMN

Hyundai Ioniq Concept Three: An electric hot hatch with ‘medicinal’ qualities

The car company’s design chief says they want not just for owners of the model to smile, but ‘for people to see it drive pass and feel cheered up’

The A5 has a stylish silhouette and is agile and supple without being squishy.
THE STEERING COLUMN

2025 Audi A5 review: Fun but underfunded

Part of this sleek, compact executive car makes you want to take the long way home. The other part might not

The iX3 is a clean-sheet approach to what a BMW should be in the coming years.
THE STEERING COLUMN

With more than 800 km of range, the new BMW iX3 is set to go far

The first Neue Klasse model debuts on Sep 9, as BMW faces rising EV rivals, trade turbulence and the pressure to reinvent itself