Kickin' Tyres

What does AION's new UT super mini bring to an increasingly crowded EV market? And what have Adam and Tim learned from ten episodes of Kickin' Tyres? In the series one finale of Kickin' Tyres, Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay do something they haven't done before — record together in person, live from the AION UT media launch in High Wycombe. The AION UT is the brand's second model in the UK, a B-seg...

What's it really like to travel halfway around the world for a car launch? And how do Chinese brands stack up against Japanese stalwarts when you put them side by side? In Episode 9 of Kickin' Tyres, Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay are back from China — tired, busy, and with plenty to say about the XPeng G9L preview, the Geely EX2, and what the trip revealed about where the automotive industry is he...

Is the XPENG L03 the car that takes Chinese EVs mainstream in the UK? And what was it really like to be at a global world premiere with a thousand guests in Munich? In Episode 8 of Kickin' Tyres, Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay are fresh from the XPENG L03 global launch in Munich — and they've got plenty to say about the car, the event, and what it means for the EV market. The L03 is XPENG's most im...

Is the XPeng G6 a genuine Tesla Model Y rival? And what's it really like to live with for a week? In Episode 7 of Kickin' Tyres, Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay catch up ahead of a busy few weeks — Tim's just back from a Jeep launch in Germany covering the Avenger and Compass, while Adam shares his real-world verdict on the XPeng G6 long range after a week on test. Adam gives an honest assessment of...

What's it really like to make a living as a freelance motoring journalist in 2026? And is the Polestar 3 still worth buying after its shock US ban? In Episode 6 of Kickin' Tyres, Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay catch up after a longer gap than usual — Adam's back from a much-needed holiday and reflecting honestly on burnout, freelance life, and the dangers of never stepping off the treadmill. Adam s...

Are car brands making a mistake by chasing influencer reach over earned media? And what does it take to build lasting relationships in this industry? In Episode 5 of Kickin' Tyres, Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay get honest about the state of motoring journalism — the good, the frustrating, and the truths nobody else wants to say out loud. Adam and Tim both attend SMMT Test Day 2026 at Millbrook Pro...

Are EVs really cheaper to run? And what's it actually like living with one day to day? In this episode of Kickin' Tyres, Adam and Tim swap press launch stories and get refreshingly honest about the realities of motoring — both as journalists and as everyday drivers. Tim heads to Scotland for the third-generation Mazda CX-5 launch, reporting back on why Mazda's global bestseller still deserves its...

Are flying cars and fully self-driving tech closer than we think? In this episode of Kickin’ Tyres, Adam and Tim compare two very different trips—one to XPENG’s cutting-edge facilities in China, and the other to Marseille for a first drive of the new Peugeot E-408. Adam shares his experience witnessing a real flying “land aircraft carrier” in action, alongside a deep dive into XPENG’s VLA 2.0 full...

Can electric SUVs now rival the very best petrol-powered luxury cars? In this episode of Kickin’ Tyres , Adam and Tim recap a hectic run of three car launches in three days, including first drives of the MY26 Polestar 3, and a comparison with the Bentley Bentayga Speed. They explore whether high-performance EVs are finally delivering on their promise, or if traditional luxury SUVs still hold the e...

Are Chinese electric cars taking over? In the debut episode of Kickin' Tyres, motoring journalists Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay cut through the marketing spin to bring you the truth about the latest automotive launches. From the tech-heavy MG Tech Day in Frankfurt to "hooning" the new Changan Deepal S05 on a UK airfield, we break down what these new brands mean for British drivers. We aren't tied...

"It’s a sore subject—I don’t want to talk about it." Welcome to the official teaser for Kickin’ Tyres , the brand-new motoring podcast hosted by veteran journalists Adam Gray and Tim Barnes-Clay . In this teaser, we dive into the irony of our name—starting with Adam’s encounter with a pothole the size of a "trench" and Tim’s harrowing story of hitting a diesel spill on a 995cc motorbike. We discus...