THE car world has changed hugely since 1988, but we’ve been there every step of the way to make sense of it all for you. Here we look back at some of the major events and stories of the past 35 years.
1988 – AUTO Express accelerated on to the news stands in September with a first issue that shook up the motoring-media landscape. Its mix of news, road tests, exclusive spy shots and consumer advice proved an immediate hit with readers, and successfully set the template for what was to come.
1989 – WE’VE been a major supporter of the UK car industry from the outset, so the sale of one of the country’s most high-profile manufacturers was big news. Ford’s purchase of Jaguar for $2.5billion promised a bright new era for the brand, although rivals argued it was overpriced. Jaguar went on to become a pillar of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, with Aston Martin, Lincoln and Volvo.
1990 – LITTLE did we know it then, but a contract signed by the Czechoslovakian Government in December was to have big implications for the car industry in general and the UK market in particular. It gave the green light for the Volkswagen Group to buy Skoda in 1991, paving the way for the transformation of the marque into a brand beloved of buyers who prioritise practical motoring at sensible prices.
– THE arrival of Kia in the UK, with its underwhelming Pride supermini, was recorded with a sense of duty rather than much enthusiasm. But the emergence
