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Richard Meaden

A motoring journalist and racer for over 20 years, Dickie is one of the founder members of the evo team, a former editor, and current columnist. He made his race debut in 1993, and since then has raced in various one-make series with Ginetta, Vauxhall, Renault and Porsche, and has competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours since 2006. In 2007 and 2008 Dickie competed in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in 2011 set a new world record for a production sedan at Bonneville Speed Week… in Skoda Octavia vRS. The speed? 227.08 mph. Yes, honestly.

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opinion

'Why roofless collectables tarnish the image of the cars that inspired them'

I cannot conceive of any moment where you wouldn't look like a complete pillock in any of them

17 Mar 2020

supercars

'Who wouldn't want Ferrari to build something akin to a slightly scaled-up Alpine A110?'

Meaden feels the big boys should look to bike manufacturers for some 'less is more' inspiration

4 Feb 2020

Bugatti Chiron coupe

Bugatti Chiron review

Chiron sets a new benchmark for performance, capability and technology. Crucially it now adds driving enjoyment and engagement to the mix

9 Jan 2020

Skoda Octavia vRS

'Top speed may ultimately be pointless, but it’s still fun chasing that childhood rush'

Doing the best part of 230mph in a Skoda Octavia vRS was strangely undramatic

7 Jan 2020

Renault Megane RS

'The new Trophy-R deserves to be celebrated, however much it costs'

Why am I smitten? Because it's a car conceived and created by engineers and racers

28 Nov 2019

Porsche 911

Porsche 911 GT3 vs GT3 RS vs GT2 RS - track battle

Porsche’s GT3, GT3 RS and GT2 RS are the most hardcore of the 911 breed, but pitched head‑to‑head which will we crown champion?

15 Nov 2019

electric cars

'They may impress in some ways, but electric cars mostly leave Meaden cold'

Put simply, EVs don't live and breathe or require much in the way of effort or connection

30 Oct 2019

Porsche 911

Porsche 919 Hybrid review - driving one of Stuttgart's most successful racers

Porsche’s 919 Hybrid is one of the most successful endurance racers of modern times. But what’s it like to drive – properly? We get the once-in-a-life…

18 Oct 2019

Aston Martin Vanquish

2019 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake review

Extrovert, extravagant and extraordinary to drive, this might just be the world’s ultimate estate car

16 Oct 2019

Aston Martin

'Hypercars at Le Mans will look magnificent, but how genuine will the racing be?'

Far from being a gloves-off clash of the titans, the new Hypercar class will also be a battle of Balance of Performance

2 Oct 2019

Reviews

Miltek Volkswagen Up GTI review

VW’s Up GTI is already a favourite of ours. Can Milltek’s upgrades improve it further?

16 Sep 2019

Opinion

'A classic British (and Italian) job will always be Meaden’s kind of Mini adventure'

The Mini's handling and the sheer tenacity of its road-holding were revelatory

27 Aug 2019

Opinion

'Porsche 911s are now some kind of genetic throwback'

Sadly, the submissive new 911 now sits dutifully in the shadow of Porsche’s money-spinners

23 Jul 2019

Audi

Formula e cars driven on track

Formula E has come a long way and so have the cars, we test the latest Audi Formula E car against its predecessor to gauge the progress made

13 Jul 2019

Opinion

'Old cars reconnect us to what we love about driving'

Stop the pace race! If you’re listening, manufacturers, less can actually be more

3 Jul 2019

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

New Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante review

Removing the roof adds another dimension of enjoyment to the DBS without detracting dynamically. A truly fabulous machine

3 Jul 2019

Opinion

'The Aston Martin Valkyrie is a truly extraordinary project'

Concorde was the product of boundless ambition; Aston Martin's Valkyrie represents that same spirit too

18 Jun 2019

Opinion

'Think race circuits are scary? Try a test track...'

Once the barrier lifts you enter a different realm. One entirely different, often vaguely military

4 Jun 2019

Opinion

'Supercar launches used to be something special'

Supercar launches used to be something special, now they’re a monthly occurrence

22 May 2019

Opinion

The biggest thrills often come from the simplest of things

The most enjoyable and rewarding thing with four wheels and an internal combustion engine is a kart

7 May 2019

Opinion

The 488 Pista's not a patch on the ‘flawed’ F40'

The demands the F40 places on you to keep it on the boil would never be sanctioned today

23 Apr 2019

Opinion

'Reborn classics are a hark back to simpler times'

There's a powerful craving for cars that are compact, characterful and beautiful

11 Apr 2019

Opinion

The erosion of our ability to enjoy the open road isn’t new

It’s the prescience of his observations and the relevance almost half a century later that really resonates

26 Mar 2019

Opinion

Alpine’s leading a lightweight revival with the A110

What excites me most is that it could be the beginning of a new and thrilling family of sports cars

12 Mar 2019