Shafiq Abidin
Shafiq Abidin turns complex motoring rules, technology and new‑car developments into clear, practical guidance for everyday drivers. He works as a content editor within the What Car? and Carbuyer group, focusing on consumer advice, in‑car tech and news on compact and electrified models. His coverage is built for people making real-world decisions about buying, running and upgrading cars, rather than for industry insiders.
Consumer guides on rights, insurance and everyday mistakes
Abidin’s core output at Carbuyer is detailed explainers on the rules and protections that govern car ownership.
He breaks down the Consumer Rights Act and the process of rejecting a faulty new car, spelling out time limits, refund options and replacement rights in step‑by‑step terms. He covers black box car insurance with equal specificity, weighing the pros and cons, the rules that apply to young drivers and how telematics policies can cut premiums. When drivers put the wrong fuel in a car, his co‑authored guide sets out exactly what to do, from stopping the engine to arranging a safe drain of the tank, avoiding jargon while still addressing the mechanical risks.
Across these pieces, he focuses on what owners are allowed to do, what they must not ignore, and how to avoid turning small mistakes into expensive problems.
Explaining in‑car tech, apps and camera systems
A recurring strand in Abidin’s work is explaining the technology that drivers interact with every day but rarely see clearly described. He writes guides to dash cams that cover what they are, how they work, what they record and why more motorists are fitting them, linking practical installation advice with the implications for evidence and insurance.
His explainer on MirrorLink sets out how the system connects a smartphone to a car, the features it enables and how it differs from other phone‑mirroring platforms. He also demystifies navigation apps, including Waze, outlining how the app sources live traffic data, the key features it offers and what drivers need to know before relying on it as their main sat nav. These pieces are pitched at non‑technical readers, but they still engage with the underlying systems and standards so that communications about connected-car products can assume a basic level of understanding.
News and analysis on compact and electrified models
Alongside consumer advice, Abidin reports on new cars with an emphasis on compact crossovers, small EVs and everyday family transport. His news piece on the Fiat 600 Hybrid focuses on launch timing, trim structure and the combination of a 48‑volt battery with an electric motor to boost efficiency in a small crossover format. In his coverage of updates to models such as the Audi Q4 e‑tron and Audi Q8, he picks out changes to performance, range, pricing and equipment rather than treating facelifts as cosmetic side stories.
He tracks the shift to electrification in the supermini segment through stories on the upcoming Nissan Micra EV, highlighting its move to a fully electric platform and the performance‑oriented Nismo concept. At What Car?, his preview of the 2028 Citroën Ami extends that focus on compact urban EVs, pulling together timelines, expected specifications and positioning for a new generation of microcar.
Across these pieces, he treats product news as information to help buyers understand where the market is going and which models will actually fit their lives.
Mini SUVs, luxury EVs and used performance cars
Abidin’s stated expertise sits at the intersection of mini SUVs, luxury electric saloons and used performance cars, and his assignments reflect that range. On the mainstream side, he frequently covers small crossovers and mini SUVs, linking practical packaging and running costs with the latest hybrid and electric powertrains. At the premium end, he follows luxury EVs and their technology, from range and charging speeds to cabin interfaces and safety systems, connecting those details to broader shifts in the market.
His interest in used performance cars feeds into pieces that recognise enthusiast priorities such as driver engagement and value retention alongside reliability and ownership costs. Before taking on his current content editor roles, he honed this mix of consumer and enthusiast coverage at outlets focused on car culture and electric vehicles, including CarThrottle, Electrifying and The Intercooler.
The result is a journalist who can move fluently between explaining a legal right, interpreting a spec sheet and understanding why certain cars matter to committed drivers as well as to everyday owners.
4 more automobile journalists.
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Alan Dowds
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Alan Feldberg
Alan Feldberg is a fact-led automotive trade reporter who tracks how manufacturers, fleets, mobility providers and repair networks are reshaping the modern motor industry, with a particular focus on the UK car market and its supply chain. He writes concise, data-driven news for Bodyshop Magazine, having been part of its editorial team for years, including a period as Middle East editor. He covers the rise of Chinese vehicle makers, named models and market share, dealer and fleet technology, online retail platforms, leasing, remarketing and mobility networks. He also reports on repair groups, parts distributors, OEM approvals, fuel prices, employment and wider industry pressures. His pieces turn corporate announcements and market reports into clear signals for garages, bodyshops, fleets, dealers and mobility providers.
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.