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Ronan Kavanagh

Automotive Reporter

205 Articles

About Ronan

Ronan reports on the automotive sector: production, demand, the EV transition and the supply chains underneath it. He is interested in the gap between announced targets and delivered vehicles, and in what the industry's turns mean for jobs, prices and buyers.

Areas of Expertise

Carmakers EVs suppliers mobility

Latest Articles

Bugatti Destrier: A Sculptural Masterpiece Built for One
Automotive

Bugatti Destrier: A Sculptural Masterpiece Built for One

Bugatti unveils Destrier — the third unique creation of its Solitaire program — stripping the Bolide of its racing aggre...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 48 💬 0
Great Wall's Tank 400 Hybrid Debuts in Russia at 7 Million Rubles
Automotive

Great Wall's Tank 400 Hybrid Debuts in Russia at 7 Million Rubles

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor has launched the hybrid version of its Tank 400 SUV in Russia, priced at 6.999 millio...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 60 💬 0
Spain’s Electric Motorcycle Industry Hits Critical Mass as Domestic Brands Dominate H1 2026
Automotive

Spain’s Electric Motorcycle Industry Hits Critical Mass as Domestic Brands Dominate H1 2026

Spanish electric two-wheeler registrations grew 7.5% in H1 2026, with local manufacturers Silence, Velca, Nuuk, and Star...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 85 💬 0
How the Porsche 918 Spyder Paved the Way for the 1,250-HP Corvette ZR1X
Automotive

How the Porsche 918 Spyder Paved the Way for the 1,250-HP Corvette ZR1X

A decade and a half after Porsche’s hybrid hypercar debuted, the Corvette ZR1X shows how electrification has become the ...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 48 💬 0
Smart #1 Gains 800V Architecture, Charges 10-80% in 12 Minutes
Automotive

Smart #1 Gains 800V Architecture, Charges 10-80% in 12 Minutes

The updated Smart #1 switches to an 800V system, slashing rapid-charge times to 12 minutes and lifting power to 328 bhp....

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 56 💬 0
Lamborghini to Reveal Revuelto SV Hypercar at Monterey Car Week as V12 Legacy Enters Hybrid Era
Automotive

Lamborghini to Reveal Revuelto SV Hypercar at Monterey Car Week as V12 Legacy Enters Hybrid Era

The Italian marque prepares to unveil a track-focused, more powerful variant of its flagship Revuelto plug-in hybrid at ...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 66 💬 0
Stellantis SRT's eBoost Air electric supercharger aims to give turbo engines Hellcat-like feel
Automotive

Stellantis SRT's eBoost Air electric supercharger aims to give turbo engines Hellcat-like feel

A prototype system cuts turbo lag to 0.65 seconds, allowing a recalibrated inline-six to pump out 620 hp. The technology...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 65 💬 0
Dodge Expands Custom Factory Paint with ‘Color Jailbreak’ Program and Smokescreen Concept
Automotive

Dodge Expands Custom Factory Paint with ‘Color Jailbreak’ Program and Smokescreen Concept

Dodge previews Color Jailbreak, an expanded custom-paint program for the masses, alongside a blue Durango Smokescreen co...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 51 💬 0
Volvo EX90's Rocky Start: Charging Faults, Broken Seats Plague $96,000 Long-Term Tester
Automotive

Volvo EX90's Rocky Start: Charging Faults, Broken Seats Plague $96,000 Long-Term Tester

MotorTrend’s 2026 Volvo EX90 three-row electric SUV suffered a Level 2 charging failure at just 1,830 miles and has non‑...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 57 💬 0
Brazil's Vehicle Sales Jump 17.9% Year-to-Date; Exports Slump 20.8%
Automotive

Brazil's Vehicle Sales Jump 17.9% Year-to-Date; Exports Slump 20.8%

Domestic registrations hit 1.7 million units in Jan-Jul 2026, driven by light vehicles, but imported models captured 22....

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 51 💬 0
Dodge Unveils 2027 Charger Super Bee with 600-HP Twin-Turbo Inline-Six
Automotive

Dodge Unveils 2027 Charger Super Bee with 600-HP Twin-Turbo Inline-Six

Dodge introduces a high-performance Super Bee variant of its gas-powered Charger, packing 600 horsepower, track-ready ha...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 57 💬 0
Chinese EV Onslaught Sends German Auto Profits Tumbling as Xiaomi, BYD Eye Europe
Automotive

Chinese EV Onslaught Sends German Auto Profits Tumbling as Xiaomi, BYD Eye Europe

Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW saw first-half profits plunge 30 % or more as Chinese sales collapsed and domestic EV ...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 46 💬 0
Skoda Reportedly Eyes Lake District Rebrand as ‘L&K District’ in Latest Marketing Stunt
Automotive

Skoda Reportedly Eyes Lake District Rebrand as ‘L&K District’ in Latest Marketing Stunt

A satirical report suggests the Czech carmaker may rename England’s famous lakes after its luxury trim, complete with am...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 47 💬 0
Mercedes CLA Electric Tests Consumer Tech Appetite with Screen-Filled Cabin and 452-Mile Range Claim
Automotive

Mercedes CLA Electric Tests Consumer Tech Appetite with Screen-Filled Cabin and 452-Mile Range Claim

A first drive reveals the new Mercedes CLA EV is packed with screens, subscriptions and software—and a real-world range ...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 43 💬 0
Mercedes-Benz CEO: More Screens Coming, But the Button Purge Is Over
Automotive

Mercedes-Benz CEO: More Screens Coming, But the Button Purge Is Over

Ola Källenius says the luxury brand hasn’t hit ‘peak screen’ yet, but a return of physical controls is already underway,...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 39 💬 0
Nissan Qashqai e-Power Sets Guinness World Record With 1,230-Mile Journey on One Tank
Automotive

Nissan Qashqai e-Power Sets Guinness World Record With 1,230-Mile Journey on One Tank

The self-charging hybrid crossed Colombia from Bogotá to the Caribbean coast, averaging over 101mpg. However, real-world...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 42 💬 0
Toyota GR86 gets sharper to drive, but UK and Europe are shut out again
Automotive

Toyota GR86 gets sharper to drive, but UK and Europe are shut out again

Toyota has refined the GR86 sports car with new throttle mapping, a smoothed gearshift and fresh cabin details. The revi...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 36 💬 0
New Mercedes-AMG GT 53 EV Pairs 500-Mile Range with Six-Cylinder Soundtrack
Automotive

New Mercedes-AMG GT 53 EV Pairs 500-Mile Range with Six-Cylinder Soundtrack

The entry-level GT 53 4-Door Coupé features synthetic engine noise, 536bhp, and up to 500 miles of range, taking on the ...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 41 💬 0
Lucid Targets Tesla's Robotaxi Lead with Uber, Nuro, and Hertz/Oro Partnership
Automotive

Lucid Targets Tesla's Robotaxi Lead with Uber, Nuro, and Hertz/Oro Partnership

The EV startup is doubling down on its autonomous ride-hailing ambitions, scaling its fleet with Uber and fleet manager ...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 45 💬 0
The Ford Carousel: The Minivan That Never Was, and the Corporate Drama That Created Chrysler’s Success
Automotive

The Ford Carousel: The Minivan That Never Was, and the Corporate Drama That Created Chrysler’s Success

How Ford’s canceled 1970s minivan concept, the oil crisis, and a high-profile firing reshaped the American auto industry...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 34 💬 0
2027 Ferrari Amalfi Spider First Drive: Sharper V-8, Smarter Cabin, Everyday Comfort
Automotive

2027 Ferrari Amalfi Spider First Drive: Sharper V-8, Smarter Cabin, Everyday Comfort

With 19 extra hp, a smarter cabin, and enhanced road comfort, the 2027 Ferrari Amalfi Spider refines Ferrari's entry-lev...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 35 💬 0
2008 Nissan Altima Coupe: 350Z-Inspired Design Meets Everyday Usability
Automotive

2008 Nissan Altima Coupe: 350Z-Inspired Design Meets Everyday Usability

Nissan's 2008 Altima Coupe brought 350Z flair and V6 punch to a practical two-door. We look at how the new arrival balan...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 36 💬 0
Every Electric Vehicle on Sale in the US: A 2026 Brand-by-Brand Guide
Automotive

Every Electric Vehicle on Sale in the US: A 2026 Brand-by-Brand Guide

From Acura to Volvo, the number of electric models available to American buyers has never been greater. Here's which EVs...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 46 💬 0
California Dealer Commissions Five 'Heritage Edition' Aston Martins
Automotive

California Dealer Commissions Five 'Heritage Edition' Aston Martins

Aston Martin's Q division has built five bespoke cars — a Vanquish, two DB12s and two Vantages — in heritage colours, co...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 43 💬 0
Production-Ready McMurtry Spéirling PURE Revealed Ahead of Monterey Debut
Automotive

Production-Ready McMurtry Spéirling PURE Revealed Ahead of Monterey Debut

McMurtry Automotive shows the production-ready Spéirling PURE in new images ahead of its global debut at Monterey Car We...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 40 💬 0
Ferrari Amalfi Spider: A Brilliant Convertible Missing Its V-8 Voice
Automotive

Ferrari Amalfi Spider: A Brilliant Convertible Missing Its V-8 Voice

Ferrari's entry-level drop-top impresses with rigidity, pace and braking — but European noise rules have muted its exhau...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 37 💬 0
BMW's Spider-Man Ad on Car Displays Angers Drivers — and Breaks Its Own No-Ads Pledge
Automotive

BMW's Spider-Man Ad on Car Displays Angers Drivers — and Breaks Its Own No-Ads Pledge

BMW is showing a Spider-Man film banner on infotainment screens in more than 70 countries. Drivers are calling it intrus...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 43 💬 0
Russian Auto Market Growth Slows in July as High-Base Effect Bites, AEB Says
Automotive

Russian Auto Market Growth Slows in July as High-Base Effect Bites, AEB Says

July car sales rose just 0.3% year-on-year as high 2025 comparisons curbed a six-month growth run; AEB still expects H2 ...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 40 💬 0
Smart #2 EV City Car: Design, Range and Paris Debut Details
Automotive

Smart #2 EV City Car: Design, Range and Paris Debut Details

Smart's new entry-level electric city car, the #2, will debut at the Paris Motor Show in October with ForTwo-inspired de...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 44 💬 0
Aptera Clears EPA Hurdle as It Prepares First 40 Solar-Powered Three-Wheelers
Automotive

Aptera Clears EPA Hurdle as It Prepares First 40 Solar-Powered Three-Wheelers

Aptera's solar-powered three-wheeler has won EPA certification and moved into production prep, but federal safety approv...

Ronan Kavanagh 👁 37 💬 0