Debunking the Myth: Does Concrete Really Drain Your Car Battery?

Debunking the Myth: Does Concrete Really Drain Your Car Battery?

You may have been given advice that leaving a car battery on a concrete floor would cause it to discharge, but is that still the case? Let's take a look.
Audi A5 E-Hybrid: A Fresh Take on Executive Performance and Efficiency

Audi A5 E-Hybrid: A Fresh Take on Executive Performance and Efficiency

Audi A5 E Hybrid 2025 Review front tracking 24 The renamed compact executive car's line-up expands with a new E-hybrid PHEV powertrain You can now buy a new Audi A5 Avant, and that’s neither a typo nor the promise of some sort of coupé-based shooting brake.Audi briefly decided to shake up its model-naming structure so that all the odd-numbered cars had combustion engines while all the even-numbered cars had batteries and electric motors. But after the move proved generally confusing, it has already ditched that approach – although it won't rename models already released, so some oddities remain.This means that, after being known as the 80 for 25 years and the A4 for 20 years, Audi’s compact executive saloon/estate now prefers to be known as the A5 – and, as per tradition, there’s a faster Audi S5 version, which we've reviewed separately.There's also a new plug-in hybrid powertrain, which will carry the new E-hybrid label. Audi says the branding is designed to make the new PHEVs “recognisable at first glance”. We're not fully sure it does, but it's definitely a welcome step forward compared with the whole odd/even thing and Audi's previous model-numbering system that was so loosely related to power output that it rivalled Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff equation for befuddling opaqueness.  
Unlocking the Power of Premium: Is High-Octane Fuel Worth the Extra Cost?

Unlocking the Power of Premium: Is High-Octane Fuel Worth the Extra Cost?

Just about every gas station has a choice of regular, mid-grade, and premium fuels. So what is the benefit of the more expensive octane mixtures?
Aston Martin Unveils Valkyrie LM: The Ultimate Track Day Hypercar Experience

Aston Martin Unveils Valkyrie LM: The Ultimate Track Day Hypercar Experience

Aston Martin Valkyrie LM 17 Ten well-heeled customers will take delivery of the world's ultimate track day car, with its screaming V12

Aston Martin has launched the Valkyrie LM as a screaming V12-engined, Le Mans-spec track toy that could be the world's ultimate automotive plaything.  

Unlike the Valkyrie AMR Pro, a track-only version of the Valkyrie road car, the Valkyrie LM is based on Aston's LMH hypercar that will race at La Sarthe this weekend.

That means it draws 697bhp from the same 6.5-litre Cosworth V12 and drives the rear wheels through a seven-speed semi-automatic sequential gearbox.

But Aston Martin has made a number of modifications to tailor the Valkyrie LM to track day use, starting with making the V12 compatible with readily available fuel.

It has also removed the ballast and FIA-regulation electronic systems, along with the racer's torque sensors. 

Otherwise, though, this is a top-class Le Mans car that can be run around a track of its owner's choosing. It still has a carbonfibre race seat with six-point harness, a fire suppression system and bespoke track tyres from Pirelli.

Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s head of endurance motorsport, said: “It is important to emphasise that the Valkyrie LM is close to identical to the race car that is currently competing in WEC and IMSA, with only a few minor deviations to ensure it is a non-homologated variant and is accessible for customers to experience and enjoy.

"Valkyrie LM represents the most authentic hypercar track experience that is now available.”

Similarly to Ferrari's original XX track car programme, Aston Martin will store and transport the cars as part of a support programme for owners that aims to offer the "ultimate top-flight motorsport experience".

Included as part of that, the company will also supply a team of engineers to set up the car and maintain it during the track days.

It will also provide professional driver coaches and simulator sessions to ensure customers can "explore the limits of a machine designed to operate in excess of 200mph on the fast, flat-out kinks of the most famous race track in the world".

Owners will be able to drive their cars for the first time at an "exclusive handover event" in the second quarter of 2026, before being invited to track days at Formula 1-standard circuits later in the year.

Tackling Swollen Lug Nuts: Solutions for a Smoother Tire Change

Tackling Swollen Lug Nuts: Solutions for a Smoother Tire Change

If your lug nuts have started to swell, changing a tire can be a major hassle. Here's why the problem can develop and what you can do to fix it.
A Chilling Addition: Why Tesla Owners Are Installing Emergency Rip Cords

A Chilling Addition: Why Tesla Owners Are Installing Emergency Rip Cords

If you get in a Tesla and notice a cord near the door handle, it's something the owner added after purchase. And there's a scary reason for it.
Is Your Car Burning Oil Too Fast? Key Signs to Watch For

Is Your Car Burning Oil Too Fast? Key Signs to Watch For

It's normal for your car to use up the oil added to it, but if it is doing so too quickly it could be a cause for concern. Here's what you should look for.
George Lucas and the Cinematic Revolution of Grand Prix

George Lucas and the Cinematic Revolution of Grand Prix

The 1966 racing film "Grand Prix" revolutionized cinematography, and we've got George Lucas to thank for it.
The Buzz Behind the Beehive: Uncovering Utah State Patrol's Unique Emblem

The Buzz Behind the Beehive: Uncovering Utah State Patrol’s Unique Emblem

The beehive emblem on the side of Utah State Patrol cars may seem a little whimsical, but there's a lot of history behind it. Here's the story.
Revive Your Ride: Essential Steps After a Jump Start

Revive Your Ride: Essential Steps After a Jump Start

Sooner or later, just about every driver experiences a dead car battery. Thankfully the jump start process is fairly dependable, but what should you do next?