Alastair Crooks

Alastair Crooks is a senior news reporter at Auto Express who covers performance cars, electric vehicles and the technology that shapes how people drive and own them. His coverage is defined by clear, accessible explanations of complex powertrain and platform engineering, paired with an emphasis on driver involvement and day-to-day usability. A keen petrol-head with a background in car sales and a degree in journalism, he joined Auto Express in 2019 and moved into the news and reviews team before taking on his current role. He writes news, reviews, features and opinion pieces, ranging from vans and SUVs to hot hatches and supercars, and contributes to sister titles focused on electric cars and consumer buying advice.

Performance cars and driver involvement

Crooks frequently reports on high-performance models, using them to explore how engineering choices affect driver engagement. In his coverage of the BMW M3 CS Handschalter, he focuses on the addition of a six-speed manual gearbox to a previously automatic-only flagship, underlining how the change is “built for maximum driver involvement” and targeted at BMW M purists in North America. He sets this in market context by noting that very few new cars in the United States now offer manual transmissions, framing the Handschalter as a rare option for enthusiasts who value a traditional stick shift.

His reporting on the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV details headline performance figures alongside technical systems such as adaptive air suspension, rear-axle steering and a virtual gearbox that models the behaviour of a V8-powered AMG GT R, showing how software and hardware are combined to deliver agility and stability. In long-term tests of cars like the MINI John Cooper Works, he returns repeatedly to how a performance model looks, feels and behaves over months of everyday use, not just on paper, highlighting strengths and compromises in real-world driving.

Opinion pieces on topics such as learner drivers using hot hatches rather than mainstream superminis extend this focus on involvement, arguing that sportier cars can help develop better drivers when they are used and understood properly.

Electric vehicles and new architectures

Electric-car technology is a core strand of Crooks’s beat, and he covers both individual EV models and the platforms that underpin them. His Mercedes-AMG GT SUV story unpacks the new AMG.EA architecture in detail, explaining how it supports a range of dual- and tri-motor setups from 536bhp up to 1,153bhp and uses axial-flux motors developed by Yasa to deliver much higher power density than conventional radial units.

He links those motors to features such as ultra-rapid 600kW DC charging on a 106kWh battery, translating those figures into practical benefits like adding more than 250 miles of range in around 10 minutes. On sister EV-focused titles he writes news and reviews of cars such as the Smart #3 and a new all-electric Mercedes SUV, assessing range, charging performance, cabin technology and build quality while flagging where software or finish falls short of expectations.

Across these pieces he presents the rapid progression of EVs and charging infrastructure in straightforward language, showing how emerging technology affects performance, ownership and the broader shift away from combustion power.

Buying, owning and learning to drive

Crooks also writes consumer-focused opinion and guidance on buying, owning and learning to drive, using specific scenarios to explain practical trade-offs. In his argument for learner drivers to move beyond the traditional Vauxhall Corsa and consider hot hatches, he sets out how exposure to more capable cars can improve skills, provided drivers are taught to respect and manage performance.

His piece on selling cars online contrasts new digital platforms with established routes, urging readers not to rely on a single channel and instead to explore every option when deciding how to buy or sell a vehicle. When discussing whether it makes sense to buy a left-hand-drive car in the UK, he lays out the steps and considerations involved, offering structured insight into a niche but realistic ownership choice rather than treating it as a novelty.

These articles show him applying his technical understanding to everyday decisions, connecting market trends and vehicle capabilities with the realities of learning, buying and living with cars.

Long-term tests, SUVs and everyday shortcomings

Long-term testing is another area where Crooks differentiates his coverage, examining how cars perform over extended periods rather than in a single launch drive.

In his third “fleetwatch” report on the KGM Actyon K50, he describes how cumulative experience brings its shortcomings versus rival SUVs into sharper focus, particularly in value and everyday refinement. He uses that long horizon to judge how far the Actyon plays the mainstream game and where it falls behind, turning daily frustrations into clear lessons for buyers weighing it against better-known competitors.

His MINI John Cooper Works long-term report takes a similar approach from a performance perspective, using time with the car to scrutinise styling, practicality and driving character beyond initial impressions. Alongside this work, his broader author biography notes regular attendance at car shows and track days, reinforcing that his evaluations are informed by a steady stream of exposure to diverse vehicles and driving conditions.

Across news, reviews, opinion and long-term tests, Crooks brings together performance insight, technical understanding and grounded consumer advice, with a particular focus on the technology that links driver experience, EV progression and ownership decisions.