Steve Cropley

Steve Cropley Autocar
Title: Editor-in-chief

Steve has been testing and writing about cars for 50 years, spending more than half that time as editor-in-chief at London-published Autocar, the world’s oldest car magazine, founded in 1895.

Cropley began working in journalism in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1967. He joined the staff of Sydney-based Wheels magazine in 1973, working for then-editor Peter Robinson who he has always regarded as the world’s greatest motoring journalist. He moved to the UK in 1978 to join the staff of Car magazine, was appointed editor in 1981 and held the job until 1988, during which time Car became Britain’s best-selling car magazine.

In 1989 he launched his own magazine, Buying Cars, which was bought two years later by Haymarket Media Group, who used its contributors and content to augment its existing titles What Car? and Autocar. He has worked “very happily” at Haymarket ever since. His Autocar column “A Week in Cars” has been a prominent part of the magazine for nearly 30 years.

In 2005 Cropley helped found the world’s first postgraduate course in automotive journalism at Coventry University, where he was appointed a visiting professor. He is also a Trustee of the British Motor Museum, Gaydon. Since 2005 he has organised and chaired a series of technical panel debates for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers at various universities in the West of England, and in 2013 was made a companion of the institution. Cropley claims he remains as much in love with cars - and the industry that creates them - as he was on day one. 

Bentley EV front three quarter
The brand's first EV will be one of five; its design details are being finalised
News

First Bentley EV will feature unique distinctive design

Robin Page talks to Autocar about 2025-bound EV, as well as future concepts and working with VW

First Bentley EV will feature unique distinctive design
Catesby Tunnel Ariel Atom 4R front three quarter
Prior and Cropley tested the Atom with a series of sprint runs
News

Aero testing the new Ariel Atom 4R in Catesby tunnel

Catesby is a 1.7-mile disused railway tunnel turned aero test facility - we help Ariel get some drag coefficients

Aero testing the new Ariel Atom 4R in Catesby tunnel
Car review

Mercedes-Benz EQV

Electric version of V-Class seeks to deliver an even more luxurious service to wealthy passengers

Mercedes-Benz EQV
Renault 4 prototype testing on snow 3
Renault 4 prototype reveals a higher ride height than that of the 5
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New Renault 4 to be "Swiss army knife" of small SUVs

Practicality-focused electric crossover will ride higher and have softer suspension than Renault 5

New Renault 4 to be "Swiss army knife" of small SUVs
Renault 5 revealed at geneva motor show 19
Unlike some reboots, there are clear links to the original design
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New Renault 5 design can last "20 years", say designers

Renault design boss Laurens van den Acker hints at same sort of longevity as Fiat 500 or Porsche 911

New Renault 5 design can last "20 years", say designers
News

How Renault's Lego gearbox changed the hybrid game

Nicolas Fremau built a Lego model at Christmas - then Renault scaled it up into the radical E-Tech Hybrid system

How Renault's Lego gearbox changed the hybrid game
Long-Term Review

Jaguar F-Type 2024 long-term test

This type of car has had its time. We’re about to find out if that time’s come too soon

Jaguar F-Type 2024 long-term test
News

Richard Hammond on classic cars, TV, and the future of EVs

We chat to The Grand Tour host at his workshop to talk the future and his dream for this summer

Richard Hammond on classic cars, TV, and the future of EVs
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Beating ULEZ with a 46-year-old Ford Capri

Can you daily a classic car? Steve Cropley finds out.

Beating ULEZ with a 46-year-old Ford Capri
Opinion

Our favourite cars of 2023: BMW i4 M50

M-badged electric coupe revealed true depth of character on hillclimb adventure

Our favourite cars of 2023: BMW i4 M50
Morgan XP 1 front quarter
Morgan XP-1 gets 134bhp motor and promised range of around 150 miles
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Electric Morgan Super 3: sub-700kg and 150 miles of range

Morgan returns to EV development with fully functioning concept created by a dedicated in-house team

Electric Morgan Super 3: sub-700kg and 150 miles of range

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