Kris Culmer

Kris Culmer
Title: Chief sub-editor

Kris Culmer is the chief sub-editor for Autocar, meaning he is responsible for editing and fact-checking all articles published both online and in print. 

He has more than six years of experience of reporting on the car industry, having joined What Car? in 2016 and then moved to sister title Autocar in 2020. 

Kris also frequently writes news and reviews for Autocar, his specialist subject being motorsport. He trained as a journalist at the Brighton Journalist Works, where he earned his NCTJ Gold Standard in 2016. 

Having a strong passion for history, Kris also manages Autocar’s office archive, which dates back to 1895, and regularly produces retrospective insights. 

Prior to joining the automotive media, Kris was a freelance contributor of news and sports reports to local newspapers in his home county of East Sussex. 

Kris is an expert in:

  • Motorsport, particularly Formula 1
  • The history and development of the global car industry
  • New car news
  • New car reviewing
  • Smaller and more obscure automotive companies

Kris Culmer Q&A

What was your biggest news story?

Long gallery-style pieces on the histories of car brands’ emblems and the dates of brands’ introduction on the UK required a lot of research but were rewarding, digging a lot of interesting information out of obscurity. And travelling to 2022 pre-season testing in Spain to get an exclusive view of the new Formula 1 cars also resulted in an interview with Esteban Ocon and a scoop on the F1 aero of the Alpine A290.

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

I adore bespoke sports cars, especially if they’re light, don’t go overboard with power and allow me to do the gear changes. The Subaru BRZ, Toyota GR86, Alpine A110, Porsche 911 and Mazda MX-5 therefore all stand out – but the best has to be a BMW M2 on track at Goodwood.

What will the car industry look like in 20 years?

Everyday cars will all be battery-electric, bloated with connectivity and driver-assistance technology, and all will look very similar indeed. Almost all of them will be crossovers and SUVs, sadly, and none of them will stir an old soul with their driving experiences. Thankfully, though, there will be an even more thriving old-car scene than there is today to keep us petrolheads happy.

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Muck Rack

70mph limit
Transport minister Tom Fraser introduced the limit for a trial period
News

On this week in 1965: 70mph limit imposed on UK motorways

We take a look at the voices for and against an issue that remains contentious to this day

On this week in 1965: 70mph limit imposed on UK motorways
Lotus Cortina front three quarter
Some 3000 Cortina Lotuses were made; another 4000 in Mk2 form from 1966
News

From the archive: on this day in 1963

Lotus turns the Cortina into a delightful GT, rallies come to UK forests, Dartford's tunnel opens

From the archive: on this day in 1963
Honda FSX
The Honda FS-X was a large, sporty, American-style saloon with a very efficient 3.5-litre V6
News

From the archive: on this day in 1991

Booming Japanese car makers go crazy with concepts at the Tokyo motor show

From the archive: on this day in 1991
Daimler front three quarter
Daimler boss’s wife ‘inspired’ feminine One-O-Four model
News

From the archive: on this day in 1955

The fight for women's equality proves how far we've come since the early days

From the archive: on this day in 1955
London motor show converage
Many thousands of Brits perused cars from all over Europe and America
News

From the archive: on this day in 1928

157 specialist brands gather at the London motor show, with new-age tech and leaps in refinement

From the archive: on this day in 1928
Seat Malaga front three quarter
Seat expanded its horizons into the UK with its Ibiza, Malaga saloon (pictured) and Malaga hatch
News

From the archive: on this day in 1985

Seat arrives in the UK as a "nuisance", the Isuzu Piazza Turbo worries us and we meet Ayrton Senna

From the archive: on this day in 1985
Long-Term Review

Peugeot 408 2023 long-term test

Is this all-new hatch a case of alluring innovative style over substance? Let’s find out

Peugeot 408 2023 long-term test
Armour plated mercedes two
Belgian forces pioneered the use of armoured cars
News

From the archive: on this day in 1914

Cars were used for all kinds of purposes during the Great War - we took a look at exactly what

From the archive: on this day in 1914
Getty Images Jaguar MK VII
37,397 Mk1s were built from 1955-59; spats signal smaller engine
News

From the archive: On this day in 1956

Jaguar Mk1 road tested, US government acts on safety, Western Zündapp arrives and the East makes a Horch

From the archive: On this day in 1956
Alpine A110 front three quarter rally
Five factory-prepared A110s were among no fewer than 13 Alpine entries
News

From the motorsport archive: on this day in 1968

Alpine finally wins the Alpine Rally against a string of competition from Porsche, Alfa Romeo and Lancia

From the motorsport archive: on this day in 1968
Fiat 124 front three quarter
The Fiat 124 Sport Coupé had peaky power and handling "near to perfection"
News

From the archive: on this day in 1968

Fiat's outstanding sports car, Morgan goes V8, and the first in-car cassette player

From the archive: on this day in 1968

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