Phil McNamara
Phil McNamara is editor-at-large at Auto Express, where he focuses on the global car industry through deeply reported coverage of new models, electric vehicles and car company strategy. His work is distinguished by close access to car makers and senior executives, giving readers clear explanations of what is happening behind the scenes with new technologies, product plans and car design. He brings more than 25 years of motoring journalism experience to this beat, having previously held senior roles at major automotive titles and contributed to specialist outlets on car design and consumer technology.
New cars, electric vehicles and ranked guides
McNamara’s core output combines launch coverage of new cars with structured guides that rank and compare electric vehicles and key segments.
He writes series such as “Every new EV ranked” that sort dozens of battery-electric models into tiers, using metrics like range and efficiency to help readers understand how different cars stack up against each other. He also covers individual EV launches in detail, such as a small Audi that returns as an electric model with a focus on urban efficiency, explaining battery sizes, range figures and how the car fits into the brand’s line-up.
His reporting extends to award-focused pieces, including coverage of the Nissan Leaf as Car of the Year 2026, where he sets the winning car in the context of broader market trends and rivals. Alongside pure EV content, he co-authors guides to sectors like luxury SUVs, blending conventional and electrified models and highlighting how technology and comfort features differentiate contenders. The confirmed Hyundai i20 N hybrid story shows he also pays close attention to performance-oriented mainstream cars, outlining how hybridisation changes their character and appeal.
Chinese car brands and global competition
A recurring strand in McNamara’s work is the rise of Chinese car brands and what that means for established manufacturers and UK buyers. He has produced an in-depth guide to Chinese car brands available in the UK, setting out who the major players are and what their products offer, positioned as an essential reference for anyone considering a car from these companies.
In opinion pieces, he argues that the Chinese car boom can be positive for the UK market while warning that Western brands must raise their game to stay competitive, framing the issue as both an opportunity and a strategic threat.
He analyses partnerships such as Ford’s collaborations with Geely and other firms, exploring how these alliances might underpin a European revival and reshape the balance of power in the industry. His coverage of Renault Group’s turnaround uses that case as a template for how European car makers can respond to intense competition, emphasising management decisions, product strategy and financial discipline rather than just individual models. Together, these articles show a consistent focus on competition, industrial strategy and the business realities behind the cars on the road.
Awards, consumer guides and long-term testing
McNamara plays a visible role in Auto Express’s awards and long-form consumer content, linking product verdicts to wider trends in the car market. In the New Car Awards 2026 coverage, he sets out the winners while explaining how the awards have evolved and what they say about shifts in technology, segments and buyer priorities.
His Car of the Year 2026 feature on the Nissan Leaf combines verdict and context, showing how the model’s strengths in electrification and usability made it stand out against a crowded field.
He contributes to “best of” guides such as the best luxury SUVs, where he assesses refinement, performance, practicality and technology to help readers navigate complex, high-value choices. Beyond snapshot reviews, he undertakes long-term testing, exemplified by his extended evaluation of the Volvo EX90 Ultra Twin Motor Performance.
That piece follows the car over months, looking at real-world usability, efficiency, comfort and software behaviour, and illustrating how an advanced EV fits into daily life. Across awards, guides and long-term tests, his hallmark is connecting individual verdicts to broader patterns in electrification, branding and consumer expectations.
Opinion, design and the future of the industry
Opinion writing is another defining part of McNamara’s portfolio, and it is grounded in his stated mission to get close to car companies and explain the stories that matter to both readers and the industry. He regularly explores how design and heritage influence the future of electric cars, including analysis of Audi, Renault and VW deploying retro-inspired models as “secret weapons” in the EV arms race.
In these pieces he links styling choices to brand identity, regulatory pressure and the need to make electric cars emotionally appealing, rather than treating design as a superficial topic. He writes about the return of major European motor shows, arguing that physical events still offer car makers an important stage for launches and strategy communication despite the rise of digital channels. His author biography emphasises a particular interest in car design and new technologies, and his published opinions show him connecting those themes to corporate decision-making and market dynamics.
Over time, this combination of access to car bosses, design awareness and industry analysis sets his coverage apart from a standard model-by-model beat and makes him a point of reference for stories that need both product detail and strategic context.
McNamara’s background underpins this broader approach: he has reported on cars for more than a quarter of a century, previously working as editor of Car magazine, as news editor at Autocar and writing for specialist platforms such as Car Design News and T3.
Auto Express highlights his expertise in mainstream cars, premium cars, electric cars and wider car industry issues, along with experience in developing digital audiences, all of which are reflected in the mix of launches, guides, tests and opinion pieces he produces. For story pitches, he is most aligned with topics that combine new vehicles or technologies with clear implications for car makers’ strategy, competitive positioning and design direction.
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Alan Dowds
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Alan Feldberg
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Alastair Crooks
Alastair Crooks is a senior news reporter at Auto Express who covers both new cars and the infrastructure that will support them, tying factory-scale developments to driveway-level reviews. He focuses on electric cars, mainstream launches and UK pricing, reporting on new and electrified models entering the market, their spec, positioning and what they change for buyers. His road tests of SUVs and saloons assess ride, range, interior space, value and running costs, with clear, sometimes blunt verdicts backed by specifics rather than general impressions. He writes news, reviews, features and occasional opinion columns on driving behaviour and in-car tech, drawing on his background as a car salesman, his degree in journalism and his enthusiast experience at car shows and track days. Some of his work also appears in magazine-style formats.