February's Top Headlines

Here's the headlines you may have missed from February's automotive news.

Battery-powered cars may be on the rise but the story on two wheels is somewhat different, with just over 3,000 of the 93,922 motorbikes, scooters and mopeds sold here last year powered by electric motors. Could Honda – currently the world’s biggest manufacturer of internal combustion engines – be the one to turn that around? As we write we’re out in Spain riding the WN7, its first full-size electric motorcycle, to find out. And while you might think of Honda as a car company it’s worth remembering a staggering 20m of the 28m products it sold globally last year were powered two-wheelers of some description or other, a statistic mirrored here in Europe where its bikes out-sold its cars at a rate of five to one! With scale like that if the WN7 is a success it could be seismic in the world of electric two-wheelers, building on the success of Honda’s existing battery-powered scooters the EM1:e and CUV:e. The WN7 is a full-size motorbike, though, and its adoption of a car-style CCS rapid charging could prove to be an absolute game-changer, given previous struggles charging other electric motorbikes we’ve tried, given their reliance on slow three-pin domestic sockets or AC chargers. The fact you can also ride the WN7 on a basic A1 licences and L-plates requiring just a day’s training also makes it much, much more accessible for urban-dwelling youngsters perhaps considering an upgrade from Lime bikes or the like and wanting a cool, clean and faster way to get around town. But with the performance and range to take you much further. Look out for our full review on the WN7 next week!

Chinese powerhouse Chery, owner of Omoda and Jaecoo, has quickly gained momentum in the UK and now the state-owned company has confirmed it will be launching a fourth brand here. Enter Lepas, which is aimed specifically at European markets with a focus on ’new energy vehicles’ – essentially electric cars and plug-in hybrids. The name is a combination of ‘leopard’, ‘leap’ and ‘passion’ and Lepas describes itself as “bolder, more imaginative, and packed with smart technology and thoughtful design”. But will Lepas be distinctive enough to stand out in a crowded market? According to the data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo collectively contributed to six per cent of new car registrations in January 2026. They are clearly catching the attention of buyers and Lepas will be hoping to take a further slice of the pie when it arrives later this year.

In December 2025 Jaguar ceased production of internal-combustion engine and hybrid models as the final F-Pace
rolled off the production line. This marked a significant milestone in the brand’s reset as it heads towards an electric-only future. Is it really the end of petrol-powered Jaguars, though? As we await the launch of Jaguar’s hotly anticipated electric four-door GT, rumours have been circulating Jaguar could be considering using range-extender hybrid technology. According to reports by The Sunday Times, slow take-up of EVs has caused Jaguar to explore using small petrol engines as generators to extend the range of its new electric models. However, Jaguar strongly denies this claim, reportedly telling Autocar: “Our plans to reinvent Jaguar as an electric-only luxury automotive brand are unchanged” and describing the suggestion as “rubbish”. As tests of the prototype GT model continue, we will have to wait for the finished car to be revealed to find out what Jaguar really has up its sleeve. - Catherine Kent.

When theCupra Born first arrived it took the foundations of the Volkswagen ID.3 and added a sporty Spanish spin. Now, Cupra has shared the first glimpse of a freshly updated model ahead of the full reveal next week. Cupra is giving very little away, so all we’ve see is this image of the rear light bar, but it is promising “striking design, improved interiors and greater technology”. Watch this space for more information to follow… - Catherine Kent

Van and pick-up truck news now… and 2026 begins with a January dip in new light commercial vehicle registrations caused, according to the SMMT, by a slump in pick-up truck demand following the tax changes now affecting double cabs. Although there is some good news: electric light commercial vehicles are on the up as demand rose to over 10 per cent in January. Great! But that still needs to be tempered by saying it’s far short of the mandated 24 per cent. However, I say it’s too early to be all ‘doom and gloom’ on the outlook for 2026 if you peruse the list of exciting products making an impact this year. For example, Kia’s PV5 electric van will have its first full year in-market, and it’s priced lower than some small diesel vans. And KGM’s Musso EV electric pick-up truck is not only well built and provides a strong range, but it also undercuts the big players with its sub-£40K price tag. So, my prediction is that the market will bounce back quickly, and electrics will continue to improve their share… yes, I’m playing it safe. Moving on sharply, the final bit of news this week is Volkswagen’s reveal of its new super-spec Transporter medium van – the Sportline. This new top trim level adds dramatic flare and new tech to the existing van’s Panel and Kombi models with prices starting around £63K… which is eye-watering and I hope it’s worth that. And a super-duper special edition of the Sportline, the Sportline 75, will also be available in limited numbers (75, to be precise) to celebrate 75 years of the Volkswagen bus. It looks great, probably smells great, and my gut says the pricing will present it with some problems… but I’ll save my judgement until I get my hands on one. - Tom Roberts.

Pick-up truck news now, and Mitsubishi has confirmed the L200 Series 7’s pricing, and it’s exactly what I expected at around £37K (OTR ex VAT) for entry-level Double-Cab or Commercial models. Returning to the UK’s pick-up truck market will not be an easy thing to do, especially now. You’ve got Toyota about to launch a new generation of Hilux, Isuzu just facelifted the D-Max, KGM’s Ranger still outsells everything, and GWM’s Poer300 can do everything the big brand trucks can do but for many thousands of pounds less. So, where does Mitsubishi’s L200 fit in after five years away? Hmmm, I guess it’s another pick-up from another brand people generally see as reliable? Sarcasm never looks good on me, so I’ll brush it aside and state that I think the decision to make a dedicated commercial version of the L200 is Mitsubishi’s best shot of grabbing share. The L200 Commercial is a two-seater version of the Double-Cab with the back seats levelled off to create an internal cargo space separate from the main external load space. The conversion complies with all UK commercial vehicle legislation, meaning users will get the full plant and machinery allowance and a flat BIK rate of £4,020. Anyone looking for comfort can go for the Double-Cab, but anyone looking for a pick-up to be their primary work vehicle has a great potential option in the Commercial. So, a warm welcome back to Mitsubishi, with a warning that the pick-up market has gotten a bit crowded since you were last here… and decent pricing is only half the battle, the metal has to win them back over. - Tom Roberts.

Next month we're expecting all the latest on from the Spring Statement, plus a new VED rates announcement and plate change - check back for the lowdown on everything you need to know on that.