Road test rebooted

As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains

- MATT SAUNDERS

Keeping something up to date without significantly changing what it is in the process isn't an easy brief. Just ask any ageing rock musician, grand hotel proprietor... or car maker.

Everything must change, of course, and only products that are relevant and well attuned to their purpose can retain their value.

The Autocar road test has changed quite a lot over what we now know (thanks to the research of the estimable Keith Jones, p52) to be more than a century, taking in close to 6000 fully instrumented tests. Its content has necessarily morphed and developed as the cars it was conceived to scrutinise have evolved. If it hadn't, we'd still be fretting over how much physical pedal effort it takes to stop a Porsche 911 GT3 from 70mph, or how much engine oil the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI might consume in a week.

As the automotive landscape has changed quite radically over the past 10 years, we're now making a few more changes to the road test, so that it can continue to provide what we believe to be the best, most relevant and most thorough assessment of a new car anywhere in the world.

We were also delighted to find out, as a result of a recent reader survey, that you broadly agree with these sentiments, and rank the road test among the most valuable and successful things that Autocar does. The road test editor thanks you for the vote of confidence (we like it too, btw).