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Mike Rutherford

Mike Rutherford was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988 and remains the title's longest-serving journalist. 

He has served time as the motoring editor on four tabloid newspapers - London Evening News, The Sun, News of the World & Daily Mirror. And from the 1990s-2010s he was a weekly columnist on several broadsheet papers - Daily Telegraph, The Independent/Independent on Sunday and The Sunday Times. 

The Economist Intelligence Unit and International Herald Tribune have used him as a motor industry consultant/author. And he has presented over 1,000 motoring, sports or current affairs programmes for LBC, talkRADIO, talkSPORT and ITV. 

Currently, he is: the Chief Columnist at Auto Express where he still writes a weekly column; Judge (& Founding Director) at Europe/Asia-based BestCarsOfTheYear.com - The New Car World Champions; Chairman Emeritus of North America’s World Car Awards; and President of The British Motor Show.  

Additionally, Mike remains a contributor to the BBC, Sky, GB News, LBC, talkRADIO and other national and international stations such as CBS.

His claims to fame are that he has interviewed four British Prime Ministers, worked as a ghostwriter for Martin Brundle & Stirling Moss, and driven thousands of road, concept and racing cars including a Tyrrell F1 Car and world-record-breaking Bugatti. 

In recognition of his 40-year full-time career in the media and automotive worlds, he was presented with the coveted Newspress Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

Away from cars, Mike has repeatedly travelled to Zambia, Botswana and other counties in central southern Africa where he helped establish libraries and personally delivered thousands of books and writing materials to schools and orphanages.  

He also serves as a proud Trustee at the Marcus Rutherford Foundation/Young Adult Cancer Trust which now incorporates and safeguards The Forest of Marcus.

E-mail: mike.rutherford@carwow.co.uk

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Opinion - Kia

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots

Mike Rutherford thinks new cars are simply too expensive, but some manufacturers are starting to do something about it
Opinion
19 May 2025
F1 drivers racing road cars on standard tyres would be absolute TV gold
Opinion - F1 and road cars

F1 drivers racing road cars on standard tyres would be absolute TV gold

Mike Rutherford thinks support races featuring F1 drivers racing Honda Civics and Renault 5s would be great to watch
Opinion
11 May 2025
The Renault 5 is the perfect car to kickstart the EV revolution
Opinion - Renault 5

The Renault 5 is the perfect car to kickstart the EV revolution

Mike Rutherford believes the Renault 5 is the most credible and convincing electric car yet
Opinion
4 May 2025
UK car production is in a sorry state, and it’s likely to get even worse
Opinion - UK car production 2025

UK car production is in a sorry state, and it’s likely to get even worse

Mike Rutherford takes a look at car production figures across the globe
Opinion
27 Apr 2025
UK car prices could actually fall thanks to Donald Trump’s tariffs
Opinion - Range Rover Sport SV

UK car prices could actually fall thanks to Donald Trump’s tariffs

With car companies hinting they could divert stock from the USA to Europe, Mike Rutherford thinks car prices will inevitably fall in the UK
Opinion
20 Apr 2025
Donald Trump is the most powerful car bloke on the planet
Opinion - Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the most powerful car bloke on the planet

Mike Rutherford wonders why many car companies remained quiet when Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs
Opinion
13 Apr 2025
‘Lewis Hamilton, the founder of BYD and me, a lot can happen in 30 years’
Opinion - BYD

‘Lewis Hamilton, the founder of BYD and me, a lot can happen in 30 years’

Our Chief columnist Mike Rutherford celebrates 30 uninterrupted years of Auto Express columns with a look back, and forward
Opinion
6 Apr 2025

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Eddie Jordan was an extraordinary man who did so much for so many
Eddie Jordan - opinion

Eddie Jordan was an extraordinary man who did so much for so many

Mike Rutherford pays tribute to legendary motorsport maverick Eddie Jordan
Opinion
30 Mar 2025
The smart money is being spent on hybrid cars
Opinion - Toyota Yaris Cross

The smart money is being spent on hybrid cars

Mike Rutherford thinks hybrids sit in the sweet spot between cheaper petrol and diesel models and more expensive pure-electric cars
Opinion
23 Mar 2025
Nobody really knows the 2025 F1 drivers’ salaries but we can have a good guess
Opinion - Mav Verstappen

Nobody really knows the 2025 F1 drivers’ salaries but we can have a good guess

Our chief columnist Mike Rutherford looks into what Grand Prix drivers are allegedly earning this year
Opinion
21 Mar 2025
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Top F1 drivers earn silly money, but give very little back to charity
Opinion - Mav Verstappen

Top F1 drivers earn silly money, but give very little back to charity

With F1 drivers earning huge sums of money, Mike Rutherford thinks it’s time they starting giving some of it back
Opinion
14 Mar 2025
A job in the exciting UK car industry is a great career choice
Opinion - apprenticeship

A job in the exciting UK car industry is a great career choice

Mike Rutherford thinks there are plenty of career opportunities in the UK for those who love cars
Opinion
9 Mar 2025
Dacia, Renault and VW are delivering new cars at the right prices
Opinion - VW Golf

Dacia, Renault and VW are delivering new cars at the right prices

Mike Rutherford takes a look at new car sales figures across Europe
Opinion
2 Mar 2025
The 2030 new petrol and diesel car ban is a half-baked idea that most people don’t want
Opinion - EVs

The 2030 new petrol and diesel car ban is a half-baked idea that most people don’t want

Mike Rutherford is urging political leaders to rethink the 2030 new petrol and diesel car ban
Opinion
23 Feb 2025
It’s not just electric cars that are overpriced
Opinion - expensive cars

It’s not just electric cars that are overpriced

Not matter how good a new car might be, Mike Rutherford thinks it will ultimately fail if it's overpriced
Opinion
16 Feb 2025
It’s catastrophic that UK car production has fallen so dramatically
Opinion - car factory

It’s catastrophic that UK car production has fallen so dramatically

Mike Rutherford wonders what can be done to boost the UK’s car industry
Opinion
9 Feb 2025
Car brands like Tesla and Vauxhall risk falling behind due to poor leadership
Opinion - Mike Rutherford

Car brands like Tesla and Vauxhall risk falling behind due to poor leadership

Mike Rutherford thinks manufacturers like Tesla and Vauxhall could be left behind due to poor management decisions
Opinion
2 Feb 2025
Donald Trump is about to seriously disrupt the automotive world
Opinion - Donald Trump

Donald Trump is about to seriously disrupt the automotive world

Mike Rutherford looks at what Donald Trump's return to power means for car companies that don't build cars on American soil
Opinion
26 Jan 2025
Motorists are rejecting electric cars, it's clear hybrids are the answer
Mike Rutherford - Motorists are rejecting electric cars, it's clear hybrids are the answer - header

Motorists are rejecting electric cars, it's clear hybrids are the answer

Mike Rutherford believes motorists will snub electric cars in favour of hybrids for years to come
Opinion
19 Jan 2025
It’s not just BYD, countless other Chinese car manufacturers will soon outsell Tesla
Opinion - BYD-Tesla

It’s not just BYD, countless other Chinese car manufacturers will soon outsell Tesla

Mike Rutherford thinks Elon Musk, Jim Ratcliffe and Carlos Tavares have all put their respective car companies in a bit of bother
Opinion
18 Jan 2025
Osamu Suzuki was a visionary who championed high-quality small cars
Opinion - Osamu Suzuki

Osamu Suzuki was a visionary who championed high-quality small cars

Mike Rutherford celebrates the life of Osamu Suzuki
Opinion
12 Jan 2025
Let’s drop the confusing EV, BEV and NEV terminology
Opinion - EV labels

Let’s drop the confusing EV, BEV and NEV terminology

Mike Rutherford explains why it's time to axe these new-age labels
Opinion
7 Jan 2025
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It’s essential to keep an open mind about EV vs ICE
Opinion - EV vs ICE

It’s essential to keep an open mind about EV vs ICE

Mike Rutherford believes that it's crucial to separate fact from fiction when it comes to motoring’s biggest debate
Opinion
22 Dec 2024
London’s poshest black cab tested: VIP super-luxury taxi takes us Christmas shopping
Clive Sutton LEVC TX - front action (night)

London’s poshest black cab tested: VIP super-luxury taxi takes us Christmas shopping

Mike Rutherford tries out a £100k VIP Taxi from luxury dealer Clive Sutton to hand over festive gifts to some very special recipients
Features
18 Dec 2024
Suicidally, Jaguar is opening the door for Tesla and BYD to pick off the best of its dealerships
Opinion - Jaguar

Suicidally, Jaguar is opening the door for Tesla and BYD to pick off the best of its dealerships

Mike Rutherford thinks it's been a difficult few months for the British car industry
Opinion
8 Dec 2024
I wonder if there are enough buyers for £100k+ luxury Jaguar EVs
Opinion - Jaguar logo

I wonder if there are enough buyers for £100k+ luxury Jaguar EVs

Mike Rutherford gives his view on Jaguar's controversial rebrand
Opinion
1 Dec 2024
We need more extreme weather mobile phone alerts to save lives on UK roads
Opinion - floods

We need more extreme weather mobile phone alerts to save lives on UK roads

After being caught in the Spanish floods, Mike Rutherford thinks the UK could benefit from regular extreme weather mobile phone alerts
Opinion
24 Nov 2024
A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success
Opinion - cheap EV

A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success

Mike Rutherford thinks there would be demand for an electric car with a modest 100-mile range if it only cost £10k
Opinion
17 Nov 2024
Tesla boss Elon Musk is wrong to think a £25k electric car is pointless
Opinion - Tesla Model 2

Tesla boss Elon Musk is wrong to think a £25k electric car is pointless

Mike Rutherford wonders why it’s just so expensive to buy and run a car in 2024
Opinion
10 Nov 2024
Will politicians never learn? Subsidised trains are for the few, while unsubsidised cars are for the many
Opinion - Rachel Reeves

Will politicians never learn? Subsidised trains are for the few, while unsubsidised cars are for the many

Mike Rutherford wonders why those in control of the UK continue to punish the motorist
Opinion
3 Nov 2024
Renault boss Luca de Meo is the perfect candidate to take over the helm at Stellantis
Opinion - Luce de Meo

Renault boss Luca de Meo is the perfect candidate to take over the helm at Stellantis

Mike Rutherford thinks Luca de Meo could do for Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Abarth, Lancia and Vauxhall what he’s already done with remarkable success…
Opinion
27 Oct 2024
Don’t rule out Hyundai selling Kia or Genesis to Toyota
Opinion - Kia

Don’t rule out Hyundai selling Kia or Genesis to Toyota

Mike Rutherford wonders whether Hyundai boss Euisun Chung is thinking of offloading some of its brands
Opinion
20 Oct 2024
Keeping electric cars within the £20k–£30k price range is key to their future success
Vauxhall Astra Electric - opinion

Keeping electric cars within the £20k–£30k price range is key to their future success

Mike Rutherford thinks competitive pricing is vital if EVs are going to become more popular in the coming years
Opinion
13 Oct 2024
Cutting-edge Hyundai-Samsung cars will soon be in the UK
Hyundai-Samsung opinion

Cutting-edge Hyundai-Samsung cars will soon be in the UK

Mike Rutherford thinks the new partnership between South Korean giants Hyundai and Samsung is a match made in automotive heaven
Opinion
6 Oct 2024