Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Staff Writer

As part of Autocar’s news desk, Charlie plays a key role in the title’s coverage of new car launches and industry events.

When he's not out getting sunburnt in his Mk4 Mazda MX-5, he's usually found typing up a story for the magazine or Autocar website. 

He’s also a regular contributor to Autocar’s social media channels, providing video content for its Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and X channels.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association. He previously contributed to The Intercooler and placed second in Hagerty’s 2019 Young Writer competition with a feature on the MG Metro 6R4.

Before training to become a journalist, Charlie studied History at the University of Winchester. He wrote his dissertation on the impact that more affordable cars and motorcycles had on British society in the mid-20th Century.

Charlie is an expert in:

  • The UK’s car industry
  • Electrification and alternative fuels
  • New car news
  • Issues for new and young drivers

What was your biggest news story?

Thus far, it was probably covering the death of the Ford Fiesta, but I’m sure my biggest story has yet to be written. Maybe it’ll be the return of the Fiesta in 20 years’ time. Who knows?

What’s the best car you’ve ever driven?

The Alpine A110 GT. It’s become something of a cliché among motoring hacks, but I do think it’s about as close to perfect as anything I’ve driven.

It’s rapid but doesn’t overwhelm, and the steering feels wired directly into your brain. It helps that it’s great at all the mundane day-to-day stuff too: I averaged 44mpg on the motorway driving one from London to Spa-Francorchamps and back! 

I don’t mind its lack of a manual gearbox, either. The auto is plenty snappy and meant that it was one of very few cars I’ve driven that didn’t frustrate me driving the length of London’s perma-gridlocked North Circular road.

My only real complaints about it are those inherent to mid-engined sports cars, in that I can’t take all my family out in it, and that I can’t afford one.

What will the car industry look like in 20 years?

Who knows? In recent years it looked dead set that battery-electric cars would be the only option that we'd be offered in a couple of years’ time. However, multiple manufacturers have since thrown their weight behind hybrids, so there might be life in the old internal-combustion engine yet.

I reckon EVs will still eventually win over most buyers as prices fall and charging infrastructure improves, but I'd like to think there will also be genuinely sustainable ways of keeping petrol-powered sports cars and classics on the road, too.

News

New Toyota RAV4: boxy looks, tech upgrade and PHEV-only in UK

Family SUV will go on sale next spring, priced above the current car's £44k

New Toyota RAV4: boxy looks, tech upgrade and PHEV-only in UK
News

BMW hints at Z3 M-inspired concept car for Villa d’Este 2025

New creation appears to be a rakish shooting brake based on last year’s Skytop convertible concept

BMW hints at Z3 M-inspired concept car for Villa d’Este 2025
News

Hyundai to build 50,000 cars annually in Saudi Arabia

New joint venture makes Hyundai the first major foreign manufacturer to set up in the Gulf country

Hyundai to build 50,000 cars annually in Saudi Arabia
panda pop
New Pop trim loses roof rails and swaps alloy wheels for trimmed steel wheels...
News

Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid gains new £18k trim level

Steel wheels and clear glass cut price of new petrol-engined miniature crossover by £1000

Fiat Grande Panda Hybrid gains new £18k trim level
Aston Martin Apple Carplay maps on both screens
Apps such as maps can now be mirrored on the car's instrument panel as well as its infotainment screen
News

Aston Martin is first to bring new Apple CarPlay Ultra infotainment

CarPlay now runs across two screens and can control various in-car functions in latest Aston Martin models

Aston Martin is first to bring new Apple CarPlay Ultra infotainment
News

Cloth seats and steel wheels cut Peugeot 208’s price to £20k

New 208 Style is one of a select few cars that you can still buy brand new for less than £20k

Cloth seats and steel wheels cut Peugeot 208’s price to £20k
News

Hot new Vauxhall Mokka GSe primed as sub-brand goes EV-only

Racier version of small crossover is most likely to borrow hardware from its Abarth 600e cousin

Hot new Vauxhall Mokka GSe primed as sub-brand goes EV-only
Lamborghini Temerario charging rear
The new Lamborghini Temerario is a plug-in hybrid using three Yasa motors – two up front, and one at the engine
News

British motor maker Yasa to become EV sports car superpower

Firm plots huge growth as its tech is used in new models from Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and Ferrari

British motor maker Yasa to become EV sports car superpower
News

First look at new Fiat 500 Hybrid - with manual gearbox

Petrol-powered city car will finally enter a new generation after 18 years, using electric 500e underpinnings

First look at new Fiat 500 Hybrid - with manual gearbox
News

Envision wins £1 billion funding for Nissan Sunderland battery plant

Japanese battery maker will receive £680m of UK government-backed funding and £320m from private equity

Envision wins £1 billion funding for Nissan Sunderland battery plant

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