Freda Lewis-Stempel, Motoring Reporter

Freda Lewis-Stempel joined Daily Mail and ThisisMoney as Motoring Reporter with a wealth of experience across the automotive industry. Freda has written and presented both in-house and freelance across the sector - for luxury EV companies, e-commerce car dealers including cinch and Cazoo, OEMs and household magazines such as Country Life Magazine. She specialises in electric cars and sustainability.

Coverage: Cars Electric Cars

MOST RECENT ARTICLES FROM FREDA LEWIS-STEMPEL

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China's smash hit cheap G-Wagon: The £22k electric ICaur V23 is a mini SUV that could be heading to UK roads - we've driven it

02/11/25 08:00

Chinese car giant Chery launched its iCaur 4x4 EV brand last year to a huge sales success - and it could be about to break the UK market too. Daily Mail and This is Money Motoring Reporter Freda Lewis-Stempel was given exclusive access to test drive the new V23 model to see if could be a hit in Britain too....read

Is a new car shortage imminent? Chip crisis that strangled production during Covid pandemic on the brink of repeat
31/10/25 01:33
European car producers could run out of semiconductor chips by the end of next due to ongoing Nexperia chip supply crisis. New car production could halt and used car prices shoot up.
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From luxury single-seat pods to the return of Godzilla: These are the 11 crazy Japanese concept cars unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show
30/10/25 01:13
From Lexus making a single-seat premium pod to get around town, to Mazda's new combustion engine technology that's cleaner than an electric vehicle, there's a lot to digest.
The best used car is ELECTRIC! Skoda EV beats almost 1,200 models to take second-hand motor award
30/10/25 08:00
The What Car? Used Car of the Year has been revealed... and It's an EV. Dating back 47 years, this is the first time the award has been handed to a battery-powered vehicle.
Parking and bus lane fines in London jump 13% as borough councils rake in £1bn a year from 'money making exercise'
29/10/25 08:24
Year-on-year, penalty charges for contravened parking, bus lane and moving traffic regulations rose by 13.5% to 9.4m. Compared to 2010 figures, that's a 70% jump in charges issued.
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'Blinding' LED headlights to be reviewed by the government as survey shows four in five drivers worry about being dazzled by them
28/10/25 11:21
An assessment of the causes and remedies of glaring LED lamps will be launched after their increasingly common fixture in new vehicles has made it hazardous to drive in the dark.
- 365 comments
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Blinding lights: Four in five drivers worry about being dazzled by headlights
28/10/25 12:01
As the clocks go back driving at night becomes a big issue. New research has found that 82 per cent of motorists are worried about being blinded by headlights. Here are our tips to avoid it.
- 259 comments
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New Volvo ES90 review: What to know
21/10/25 12:05
Volvo's rejoined the saloon market with a premium EV offering - the ES90. Will this EV with over 400 miles of range and a luxurious interior steal SUV sales? Freda Lewis-Stempel reviews it.
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Volvo ES90: Is this luxury electric saloon enough to convince people to step away from SUVs?
21/10/25 07:00
Volvo's rejoined the saloon market with a premium EV offering - the ES90. Will this EV with over 400 miles of range and a luxurious interior steal SUV sales? Freda Lewis-Stempel reviews it.
Review: Is the Volvo XC90 the quiet luxury car to have?
20/10/25 12:06
Volvo is pushing to be the upmarket car maker of choice, embodying countryside cool. Do the XC90 SUV and EX30 Cross Country SUVs hit that mark? Freda Lewis-Stempel finds out.
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Double yellow line fines soar amid parking shortage
20/10/25 06:28
1.6 million Penalty Charge Notices were issued to drivers who parked on single or double yellow lines in 2024, but 52% of drivers say more parking spaces would prevent this.
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Volvo's gone from sensible to cool: We review the new Volvo XC90 and EX30 Cross Country
20/10/25 06:00
Volvo is pushing to be the upmarket car maker of choice, embodying countryside cool. Do the XC90 SUV and EX30 Cross Country SUVs hit that mark? Freda Lewis-Stempel finds out.
Double yellow line parking fines soar as drivers blame lack of spaces in busy town centres
19/10/25 11:01
1.6 million Penalty Charge Notices were issued to drivers who parked on single or double yellow lines in 2024, but 52% of drivers say more parking spaces would prevent this.
- 94 comments
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Is this the UK's smallest restaurant? 66sq-ft Korean eatery in an EV
17/10/25 11:51
Hyundai has converted an Inster EV into a dining experience on wheels for one day only next week in Soho, London where people can eat the best of Korean cuisine - and sit in a tiny restaurant.
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Is this the UK's smallest restaurant? Head to Soho next week to try Korean cuisine... in the back of a tiny electric car
17/10/25 07:57
Hyundai has converted an Inster EV into a dining experience on wheels for one day only next week in Soho, London where people can eat the best of Korean cuisine - and sit in a tiny restaurant.
Pressure mounts on Government to introduce mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70
17/10/25 06:00
The Association of Optometrists wants the UK's system changed so that drivers must undergo routine eye tests to ensure fitness to drive, as evidence mounts that lives are put at risk.
- 600 comments
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EV charging cable theft: The organised crime you didn't know about
15/10/25 03:44
Electric vehicle charging cable theft is a growing problem, according to a new report. Here's how network operators are taking on this new crimewave.
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Waymo races Uber to bring self-driving taxis to London next year - would you dare ride in one?
15/10/25 09:00
Waymo, the famous US self-driving ride-hailing has announced it will come to London in 2026. The autonomous vehicles are already serving hundreds of thousands of users each week in America.
EV charging cable theft: The rise of organised crime that could hit the brakes on EV uptake
14/10/25 11:02
Electric vehicle charging cable theft is a growing problem, according to a new report. Here's how network operators are taking on this new crimewave.
- 582 comments
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Review: Nissan Leaf third generation
14/10/25 12:22
The Nissan Leaf started EV uptake. But it got left behind - until now that is. It's back for a third-generation and we test drove it on its launch to find out if its back to being a leading EV.
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Nissan Leaf third generation: We review new version of the first mass-market EV that started it all
14/10/25 06:00
The Nissan Leaf started EV uptake. But it got left behind - until now that is. It's back for a third-generation and we test drove it on its launch to find out if its back to being a leading EV.
Pup my ride: This is how much drivers spend pet proofing their cars
12/10/25 08:26
Motorists are spending thousands of pounds over their dog's lifetime to make sure their car is pet proof. Some 57% of dog owners regularly spend extra on pet-related expenses and cleaning fees.
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Car giant debuts EV battery 'health passports' allowing second-hand buyers to easily check condition
10/10/25 02:12
It is the first car manufacturer to publicly trial an EV battery passport to improve trust in battery health.
The 10 most unreliable cars revealed
10/10/25 01:15
Over 30,000 motorists have had their say on the cars they own to reveal the most unreliable models, and these are the ten that were reported to have caused the most headaches.
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The 10 most unreliable cars revealed: Popular small SUV voted worst of all by owners due to huge repair bills
10/10/25 06:00
Over 30,000 motorists have had their say on the cars they own to reveal the most unreliable models, and these are the ten that were reported to have caused the most headaches.
Tesla unveils 'Standard' Model Y and Model 3 that are $5K cheaper
08/10/25 11:26
It comes following years of promises from Elon Musk to debut a cheaper car to appeal to more cost-conscious customers.
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Tesla unveils 'Standard' Model Y and Model 3 that are $5k cheaper in bid to revive dwindling sales - but they're not coming to the UK...yet
08/10/25 08:29
It comes following years of promises from Elon Musk to debut a cheaper car to appeal to more cost-conscious customers.
Has the Government's electric car grant ignited an EV sales boom? September sees record registrations
07/10/25 03:19
EVs were snapped up in record numbers in September as the Government's Electric Car Grant boosted sales. Some 20,000 people have benefitted from the grant so far the DfT says.
- 275 comments
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Is China already taking over the UK car market as it claims three of the best-sellers?
06/10/25 04:27
Three of the ten best selling new cars in Britain last month were Chinese brands. And September saw Chinese models reach a 10% market share for the first time on record.
Citroen e-C5 Aircross: Does the market need another electric SUV?
02/10/25 01:58
Citroen's new flagship family SUV for the electric car buyer has arrived. With big claims about range, comfort, tech and practicality, can it live up to its billing? We test it.
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Citroen e-C5 Aircross review: Is it really the 'most practical, comfortable and high-tech SUV' Citroen's ever made?
02/10/25 07:51
Citroen's new flagship family SUV for the electric car buyer has arrived. With big claims about range, comfort, tech and practicality, can it live up to its billing? We test it.
Blue badge parking fraud on the rise, investigation finds
30/09/25 11:32
Paul Slowey, from the Blue Badge Fraud Investigation agency says the scheme is being 'thoroughly abused' by those wanting free parking.
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Blue badge parking fraud on the rise, investigation finds
30/09/25 10:05
Paul Slowey, from the Blue Badge Fraud Investigation agency says the scheme is being 'thoroughly abused' by those wanting free parking.
- 165 comments
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Millions of motorists lie to their insurer including using 'postcode porky pies' to get cheaper cover
30/09/25 06:00
Almost seven million motorists are lying to their insurers, with fibs about where a car is parked most common. So, are you accidentally at risk of invalidating your insurance?
- 115 comments
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I tried an electric sauna van made for wild swimmers: Is Ford's unique e-Transit the ultimate health-kick EV?
27/09/25 06:00
Ford has turned an e-Transit van into an infrared sauna on wheels. Is this the future of EVs where they're made for outdoor enthusiasts? Freda Lewis-Stempel finds out..
Stellantis launches simplified battery tech to make EVs affordable
26/09/25 04:10
Stellantis has developed a new integrated battery system for its electric cars which the car giant claims will make them cheaper for customers to buy.
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Will this help slash new EV costs in the future? Stellantis develops new battery said to be lighter and more efficient
26/09/25 09:28
Stellantis has developed a new integrated battery system for its electric cars which the car giant claims will make them cheaper for customers to buy.
- 169 comments
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August saw a fall in car production, ahead of cyber attack impacts
25/09/25 06:21
Car production fell 10.2% in August, latest figures show. But future production issues from JLR's cyber attack won't be reflected until at least September.
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Car production falls in August and cyber-attacks could make September a wash out
24/09/25 11:01
Car production fell 10.2% in August, latest figures show. But future production issues from JLR's cyber attack won't be reflected until at least September.
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Meet the Chinese-built U9 Xtreme that hit 308.4mph
23/09/25 05:28
The 'fastest car on the planet' is the Yangwang U9 Xtreme. The EV hypercar hit a lightening speed to beat a petrol Bugatti. It's created by BYD's sub-brand.
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Cheapest electric cars to insure that qualify for new grant
23/09/25 12:03
The new Electric Car Grant reduces the price of new EVs but insurance can still be sky high. New research has found the average premium is £741..
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Fastest car on the planet is now electric: Meet the Chinese-built U9 Xtreme that hit 308.4mph
23/09/25 10:38
The 'fastest car on the planet' is the Yangwang U9 Xtreme. The EV hypercar hit a lightening speed to beat a petrol Bugatti. It's created by BYD's sub-brand.
Cheapest electric cars to insure that qualify for new grant - we rank 24 models with a warning on hatchbacks
23/09/25 06:00
The new Electric Car Grant reduces the price of new EVs but insurance can still be sky high. New research has found the average premium is £741..
- 210 comments
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Nissan's London Design Centre to downsize as cost saving continues
19/09/25 02:47
Nissan's is downsizing its London design studio, and shutting two international design centres as part of its ongoing cost-saving plan. It follows 20,000 job cuts and seven factory closures.
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Kia's new executive hatchback K4
19/09/25 02:31
Kia is taking on the Volkswagen Golf by launching its new, sleek K4 hatchback. The petrol-powered car will arrive later this year and likely be priced between £25k and £28k.
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Kia's new executive hatchback K4 to take on the VW Golf arrives later this year
19/09/25 06:00
Kia is taking on the Volkswagen Golf by launching its new, sleek K4 hatchback. The petrol-powered car will arrive later this year and likely be priced between £25k and £28k.
- 166 comments
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Nissan's to downsize London Design Centre and close international sites to save cash
18/09/25 01:17
Nissan's is downsizing its London design studio, and shutting two international design centres as part of its ongoing cost-saving plan. It follows 20,000 job cuts and seven factory closures.
Yet another Chinese EV arrives
18/09/25 12:38
The £40k EV designed in Turin is tech-first and comes with 295 miles of range and a unique rotating 'sunflower' screen.
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Deepal S07 electric SUV arrives in Britain with £40k price tag - is the latest Chinese EV any good?
18/09/25 10:02
The £40k EV designed in Turin is tech-first and comes with 295 miles of range and a unique rotating 'sunflower' screen.
The death of diesel? Market share drops almost 90% in 10 years
17/09/25 01:25
Diesel sales have collapsed in the last decade new research found. In 2015 one in two new cars was diesel, but today just one in 17 are. And the main reason is the Dieselgate scandal.
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Is this the death of diesel? Market share drops almost 90% in 10 years after dieselgate destroyed trust
16/09/25 11:01
Diesel sales have collapsed in the last decade new research found. In 2015 one in two new cars was diesel, but today just one in 17 are. And the main reason is the Dieselgate scandal.
The cars that aren't going electric anytime soon
16/09/25 05:25
Some sports car makers are standing firm in their commitment to the combustion engine by delaying the move to EVs as long as possible.
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New affordable EV category coming to Europe
16/09/25 01:25
The European Union is proposing to work car makers on 'E-cars': a new, small, cheap car type based on Japan's 'kei cars' which will make it affordable for people to buy city EVs.
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New affordable EV category coming to Europe with arrival of Japanese-inspired kei-cars
16/09/25 08:53
The European Union is proposing to work car makers on 'E-cars': a new, small, cheap car type based on Japan's 'kei cars' which will make it affordable for people to buy city EVs.
- 53 comments
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Cars that AREN'T going electric: The high-performance models pledging to keep petrol power alive
16/09/25 06:00
Some sports car makers are standing firm in their commitment to the combustion engine by delaying the move to EVs as long as possible.
Safety body warns drivers NOT to buy this Chinese car
15/09/25 02:14
Euro NCAP found that the seat latching mechanism on the £19,245 hybrid supermini catastrophically failed during a 'frontal offset' collision test.
- 109 comments
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Study: Britons are still 'not ready' to switch to EV
15/09/25 12:19
The AA's EV Readiness Index found that the right conditions haven't been met to help people to switch to EVs yet, despite the Government's new Electric Car Grant.
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Oil giant says new liquid solution can cut electric car charging times to less than 10 minutes - here's how
15/09/25 11:28
Shell Lubricants has developed a Gas-to-Liquid EV thermal management liquid that can help EV batteries charge from 10 to 80% in 10 minutes without deteriorating.
- 55 comments
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Britons still 'not ready' to switch to EVs because the right conditions haven't been met and 'significant barriers' remain
15/09/25 09:01
The AA's EV Readiness Index found that the right conditions haven't been met to help people to switch to EVs yet, despite the Government's new Electric Car Grant.
- 199 comments
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Labour's 'green' EV grants raise sustainability questions
11/09/25 06:21
Labour's Electric Car Grant will only be awarded to sustainable EVs. But what does this mean? How green are EVs really?
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How sustainable are EVs and why is the Government only offering grants to 'truly green' electric cars?
11/09/25 06:00
Labour's Electric Car Grant will only be awarded to sustainable EVs. But what does this mean? How green are EVs really?
The luxury electric SUV designed to look like a petrol model
09/09/25 01:39
Mercedes has revealed its new GLC EV - the electric version of the best-selling SUV and it looks like the ICE model.
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New BMW iX3 revealed as UK's longest-range EV
09/09/25 01:34
BMW's new electric car is a certainly a headline grabber. But the biggest claim in its arsenal is that from spring 2026 it will be longest-range EV sold in UK showrooms.
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New BMW iX3 will be the longest-range EV when it arrives next year - here's how far it can go on one charge
09/09/25 07:46
BMW's new electric car is a certainly a headline grabber. But the biggest claim in its arsenal is that from spring 2026 it will be longest-range EV sold in UK showrooms.
The luxury electric SUV designed to look like a petrol model: Mercedes GLC has combustion car features - but an AI brain
09/09/25 06:00
Mercedes has revealed its new GLC EV - the electric version of the best-selling SUV and it looks like the ICE model.
Polestar 5 revealed: The electric Grand Tourer for those with very deep pockets
08/09/25 06:00
Polestar has revealed its new Grand Tourer flagship EV - the 5. It delivers up to an insane 884hp and can manage over 460 miles of range. But it costs around £100k, so it's an EV for the select few.
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The most powerful Porsche 911 EVER! New Turbo S arrives with 700hp - here's how much it costs
08/09/25 07:25
Porsche has revealed its new 911 Turbo S, and it is the most powerful production 911 ever with a 0-62mph time of 2.5 seconds. Here's how much one will set you back...
- 215 comments
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EV sales hit record high as Electric Car Grant kicks in
04/09/25 04:29
EV sales rose almost 15% in August, thanks to the Government's electric car grant and manufacturer discounts. This counteracted the new car sales slump of 2%.
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New car sales fall in August but EV purchases hit a record high
04/09/25 01:50
EV sales rose almost 15% in August, thanks to the Government's electric car grant and manufacturer discounts. This counteracted the new car sales slump of 2%.
- 157 comments
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7 electric hot hatches that deliver petrolhead thrills
25/08/25 10:24
For decades, boy racers have been enjoying the thrills of hot hatches. Now, they're being replaced by souped-up EVs. Here's seven of the best options on sale now.
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Why you shouldn't apologise at the scene of a road collision: Fifth of drivers don't know how to react after a crash - here are the steps
24/08/25 06:00
New research has found that 18% of drivers don't know what to do immediately after being involved in a car accident. Here are the steps to follow - including not admitting fault.
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The EV boy racer boom is here: Seven electric hot hatches that deliver petrolhead thrills
23/08/25 06:00
For decades, boy racers have been enjoying the thrills of hot hatches. Now, they're being replaced by souped-up EVs. Here's seven of the best options on sale now.
Every EV model that qualifies for the Electric Car Grant
21/08/25 01:00
As new eligible models are being announced on a weekly basis, we've compiled all the info you need to know into one guide.
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Which EVs have been discounted by the Government? Every model that qualifies for the Electric Car Grant
21/08/25 10:07
As new eligible models are being announced on a weekly basis, we've compiled all the info you need to know into one guide.
DVLA makes 'major changes' to classic car registrations for the first time since the 1980s
20/08/25 06:55
The Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance says the 'new policy helps to safeguard the future of the UK historic vehicles industry' worth £4bn annually.
- 83 comments
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This is how much taxpayer money the Government wastes ferrying empty red despatch boxes in chauffeured cars
20/08/25 06:00
A freedom of information request has found that the Government will spend thousands of pounds already this year sending its famous red despatch boxes in empty cars.
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One in five drivers have run a red light - and you're more likely to be reported by other road users than caught by cameras
20/08/25 06:00
Last year, 19,734 drivers were issued penalty points for failing to comply with traffic light signals. But a report estimates that seven million of us have driven through red lights at least once.
Government confirms Plug-In Van Grant extension - how much can white van man save by going electric?
19/08/25 06:03
The Government has announced its Plug-In Van and Truck Grant will be extended through to at least 2027 offering discounts on commercial EVs of between £2,500 and £25,000.
- 98 comments
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Five cars that saved major brands from the brink
18/08/25 12:20
There are some car models that really did save the brands that make them. We take a look at five cars that will be remembered for the sales success they brought their struggling marques.
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Five cars that saved major brands from the brink - and one is now hoping its new models can do it again
18/08/25 08:19
There are some car models that really did save the brands that make them. We take a look at five cars that will be remembered for the sales success they brought their struggling marques.

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