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

Renault 4 gains van variant with 254-mile range

Retro electric crossover swaps rear seats for a load tray; priced from equivalent of £25k

Renault 4 gains van variant with 254-mile range
News

New Geely EX5 lands in UK as £32k Skoda Enyaq rival

Chinese brand kicks off its UK market launch with a 267-mile, 215bhp electric crossover

New Geely EX5 lands in UK as £32k Skoda Enyaq rival
Opinion

Driving instructors deserve more love

Instructors have ice in their veins – and a foot over the dual brake pedal

Driving instructors deserve more love
News

Lotus Elise S1 reimagined as 600kg, central-seat supercar

British firm Analogue Automotive draws on Elise’s racing heritage for dramatic new restomod

Lotus Elise S1 reimagined as 600kg, central-seat supercar
News

MG 3 suffers 'critical safety failure' in Euro NCAP crash test

Latching mechanism fails in frontal offset test, causing driver's seat to twist and increasing risk of injury

MG 3 suffers 'critical safety failure' in Euro NCAP crash test
News

Solid-state Mercedes EQS drives 749 miles without charging stop

Prototype fitted with breakthrough battery tech drives from Stuttgart to Malmö without recharging

Solid-state Mercedes EQS drives 749 miles without charging stop
News

2027 Renault Clio revealed with bold new look and petrol power

Supermini given a new lease of life with concept car looks, bigger footprint and updated tech

2027 Renault Clio revealed with bold new look and petrol power
News

VW Group aims for road-ready solid-state battery by 2030

Company begins testing solid-state cells in radical Ducati motorbike; says it can be swapped into cars

VW Group aims for road-ready solid-state battery by 2030
News

New Cupra Raval hot hatch will feature 223bhp VZ variant

New electric supermini, set to be the Spanish brand's smallest and most affordable model, will arrive next year

New Cupra Raval hot hatch will feature 223bhp VZ variant
News

Ford Performance rebranded as it primes road-going racers

New Ford Racing division promises a closer link between the brand’s road and track models

Ford Performance rebranded as it primes road-going racers
News

EVs comprise more than a quarter of UK car sales

Introduction of Electric Car Grant and impending numberplate change pushed EVs to significant market share

EVs comprise more than a quarter of UK car sales

Pages