Motor City UK

About Motor City UK

Motor City UK tells the story of the city Coventry's relationship with the motor car. From the cycle workshops of the 19th century to the birth of the British car industry, from the boom years of mass production to the challenges of decline, and on to today’s reinvention as a global hub for electric, autonomous and advanced automotive technology development. This documentary-style podcast explores the people, places and ideas that have shaped Coventry’s automotive identity. Along the way, we hear from historians, engineers, designers, artists, event organisers and innovators - those who were there in the days of high volume manufacturing, and those defining what comes next. Motor City UK is about more than factories and machines. It’s about culture, creativity and community. About why cars mattered - and still matter - to this city, and how Coventry retains it place at as the UK's original Motor City. New episodes coming in 2026.

Publisher

Rob Capaldi

Category

history · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Jan 2026

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Motor City UK | EP11 – From Research to the Workshop Floor: The Future of UK Manufacturing

   Coventry's Manufacturing Technology Centre works in the space between research and industrialisation, helping businesses understand how emerging technologies can be used in real factories. In this episode of Motor City UK, we visit the MTC to explore what advanced manufacturing means for the future of Britain's automotive industry. The discussion moves from UK manufacturing competitiveness and automation to one of the MTC's more unusual projects: developing intelligent robotic systems capable of dismantling electric vehicle batteries at the end of their life. Topics include: Advanced manufacturing in the UK Automotive robotics and automation Artificial intelligence and physical AI EV battery recycling and remanufacturing Digital twins and machine vision Coventry's changing automotive industry A look at the engineering that sits between an innovative idea and something capable of working reliably at industrial scale. Motor City UK explores the people, places and technologies shaping Britain's original Motor City. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) --------------------------------------- The Manufacturing Technology Centre (https://www.the-mtc.org/) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Motor City UK | EP10 - Behind the Scenes at the British Motor Museum

   What does it take to preserve Britain’s automotive history? Motor City UK goes behind the scenes at the British Motor Museum to explore how historic British cars are collected, conserved, restored and kept running. Rob Capaldi joins the museum’s curatorial and workshop teams at Gaydon to investigate the decisions behind one of the world’s most significant collections of historic British vehicles. From deciding which cars deserve a place in the permanent collection to balancing originality against restoration, the episode explores what it really means to preserve a motor car — including why some museum vehicles are deliberately still driven. Topics include: The origins of the British Motor Museum collection and British Leyland heritage How museums decide which historic cars to preserve Restoration versus conservation and the importance of originality Keeping historic vehicles operational and preserving engineering skills The changing definition of an historically important car How today's EVs and concept cars become tomorrow's automotive history Motor City UK explores the people, places, engineering and culture behind Coventry and Britain’s relationship with the motor car. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) --------------------------------------- British Motor Museum (https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

3. 

   10 Jul 2026

   Motor City UK | EP09 – The Wells Vertige - The Modern British Sportscar

   Modern sports cars continue to evolve through performance, size, and technology, yet a parallel conversation remains around simplicity and driver involvement. This episode of Motor City UK explores that tension through the story of Wells Motor Cars and its exciting, lightweight, Vertige. In a workshop deep int he Warwickshire countryside, a different approach to sports car design takes shape, one focused on restraint, proportion, and engagement rather than scale. Topics covered include: UK low-volume automotive manufacturing Coventry and Warwickshire automotive heritage Lightweight sports car design philosophy Driver engagement vs modern performance trends The development of the Vertige The future of small British sports car makers A detailed look at how one project fits into a much longer regional and industrial story. Motor City UK explores the people, places and technologies shaping Britain's original Motor City. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) --------------------------------------- Wells Motor Cars Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/wellsmotorcars.co.uk/) Wells Motor Cars Webpage (https://wellsmotorcars.com/) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

4. 

   12 Jun 2026

   Motor City UK | EP08 – MotoFest LIVE - The People Behind the Cars

   MotoFest brings thousands of people into Coventry city centre each year, but beyond the cars themselves lies a much bigger story. In this special episode of Motor City UK, recorded on location throughout Coventry MotoFest 2026, we explore the people who keep the city's automotive culture alive today. From concours judges and classic car enthusiasts to grassroots motorsport organisers, educators, historians and civic leaders, we hear how Coventry's relationship with the motor car continues to evolve. Along the way we discover forgotten stories, celebrate iconic vehicles, explore the future of automotive skills, and ask what car culture means in a city that helped shape the industry for more than a century. Featuring: Roger Bailey, Lord Mayor of Coventry James Noble, Festival Director, MotoFest Mike Riley, Riley Cars Archive Heritage Trust Organisers of the XJ40@40 celebration Coventry College Loughborough Car Club Concours judges Iain Tyrrell, Marc Allum and Dominic Taylor-Lane Motor City UK explores the people, places and technologies shaping Britain's original Motor City. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) --------------------------------------- Coventry MotoFest (https://www.coventrymotofest.com/) Loughborough Car Club (https://www.loughboroughcarclub.co.uk/) XJ40 Register (https://xj40register.com/) Welcome to the Riley Cars Archive Heritage Trust (https://rileycarsarchive.org/) Coventry College (https://www.coventrycollege.ac.uk/) Iain Tyrrell (https://www.instagram.com/iain_tyrrell/#) Marc Allum (https://www.instagram.com/marcjallum/) Dominic Taylor-Lane (https://www.instagram.com/aohe_domtaylorlane/) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

5. 

   29 May 2026

   Motor City UK | EP07 – How Forza Horizon Is Creating the Next Generation of Car Enthusiasts

   Can a video game inspire a lifelong passion for cars? In this episode of Motor City UK, we explore how Forza Horizon, the British Motor Museum and the wider West Midlands automotive ecosystem are helping shape the next generation of enthusiasts. Recorded at the British Motor Museum's Forza Horizon: The Experience launch event, this episode examines the growing overlap between gaming, engineering, automotive heritage and modern car culture. From developers and museum leaders to drifters, journalists and vehicle builders, we explore how digital and physical automotive worlds increasingly connect. Forza Horizon and Playground Games British Motor Museum Coventry and West Midlands automotive heritage Automotive engineering careers Drift culture and motorsport Arctic Trucks and enthusiast communities Motor City UK explores the people, places and technologies shaping Britain's original Motor City. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) --------------------------------------- British Motor Museum (https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/) Forza Horizon 6 (https://forza.net/forzahorizon6) Playground Games (https://playground-games.com/) RDX Drift Academy (https://www.rdxacademy.co.uk/) Arctic Trucks (https://arctictrucks.com/) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

6. 

   15 May 2026

   Motor City UK | EP06 – Coventry in the 20th Century: Reconstruction and the Car Industry

   Coventry’s post-war reconstruction reshaped not only the city itself, but the wider British motor industry. In this episode of Motor City UK, we explore how wartime shadow factories, industrial expansion and large-scale manufacturing transformed Coventry into one of the defining automotive centres of post-war Britain. Joined by historian Damian Kimberley at Coventry Transport Museum, the episode traces the growth of Jaguar, Rootes, Standard Triumph and more in Coventry, alongside the gradual shift from industrial confidence towards consolidation, labour disputes and the end of mass car production in the city. Coventry Blitz and post-war reconstruction Shadow factories and wartime production Jaguar at Browns Lane Rootes Group British Leyland, Chrysler and Peugeot LEVC and the future of Coventry manufacturing Motor City UK explores the relationship between transport, industry and identity in Britain’s original motor city. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) --------------------------------------- Damien Kimberley's books on Coventry's transport heritage: Coventry's Motorcar Heritage https://amzn.to/4cdovpm (https://amzn.to/4cdovpm) Coventry's Bicycle Heritage https://amzn.to/4qSLpWq (https://amzn.to/4qSLpWq) Coventry's Motorcycle Heritage https://amzn.to/4s6lcEX (https://amzn.to/4s6lcEX) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

7. 

   1 May 2026

   Motor City UK | EP05 – The Untold Role of Women in Jaguar’s Rise

   Jaguar’s history is often told through its cars — but the people behind the brand reveal a very different story. From early employees in Coventry to global figures shaping international markets, women played a critical role in Jaguar’s rise. In this episode, Motor City UK explores the untold contributions of women in Jaguar’s early years, from sales leadership and business development to motorsport success and global expansion. Jaguar history and origins in Coventry Women in the automotive industry (1930s–1950s) XK120 and post-war export strategy Motorsport heritage and Alpine Rally success Global expansion and European distribution Cultural shifts in the UK automotive sector A deeper look at the people who shaped one of Britain’s most iconic automotive brands. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) The Women who made their Marque’ can be found online HERE (https://www.jaguarheritage.com/the-women-who-made-their-marque-exhibition/) --------------------------------------- You can find the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust online at the following locations: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jaguardaimlerheritage.trust/) Website (https://www.jaguarheritage.com/) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

8. 

   17 Apr 2026

   Motor City UK | EP04 – The Future of Mobility in the UK

   A Clean Transport Revolution with NatWest and Warwick Manufacturing Group Episode four of the Motor City UK podcast takes us to the Junction Building at Warwick University - home to the NatWest Clean Transport Accelerator. In an informative panel discussion we explore Coventry and the West Midland’s contribution to the development of new transportation technology, through the lens of the NatWest Clean Transport Accelerator. The episode features insights from experts at the University of Warwick and NatWest, with discussion focused on challenges like regulation, infrastructure, and public perception in the transition towards innovative transport solutions. The discussion highlights the importance of supporting early-stage businesses and the potential of connected, autonomous, and electric vehicles in shaping a sustainable transportation ecosystem. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) --------------------------------------- You can find our guests from this episode below: Adam Walters (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-walters-2ab0ba133/) - NatWest Accelerator Community Manager Federico Melotti (https://www.linkedin.com/in/federico-melotti/) - WMG Principal engineer David Milton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-milton-uk/) - WMG Entrepreneur in Residence --------------------------------------- If you are interesting in registering for the NatWest Clean Transport Accelerator, be sure to download the NatWest Accelerator App:: NatWest CTA (https://www.natwest.com/business/business-services/entrepreneur-accelerator.html) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

9. 

   3 Apr 2026

   Motor City UK | EP03 – Automotive Art & PopBangColour

   Episode three of the Motor City UK podcast takes us to Fargo Village on Far Gosford Street, to meet with automotive artist Ian Cook, better known as PopBangColour. Ian will be a familiar face if you have visited a car show in the UK recently, he is often seen creating unique artworks from his mobile studio at events across the country. Using radio-controlled cars, tyres and toys, he has created a completely unique artistic style that’s vibrant, colourful and full of energy. In this episode, we talk about Ian’s creative journey, the steps he has taken from school in Solihull to studying fine art at one of the UKs leading art schools to working with major automotive and sporting brands around the world. We dig into his inspirations, motivations and plans for the future while coming back to talk about Coventry and how the city and its rich automotive heritage stimulates his creativity. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) --------------------------------------- Find the PopBangColour online HERE (https://www.instagram.com/popbangcolour/) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

10. 

    20 Mar 2026

    Motor City UK | EP02 – Coventry MotoFest Explained

    The second episode of the Motor City UK podcast gives us a behind the scenes look into the ups and downs of running a city-centre motoring festival. The Coventry MotoFest is a unique blend of past and present, showcasing vintage vehicles alongside cutting-edge automotive technology. Event director James Noble shares insights into Coventry's influential role in the global automotive industry and how the Motorfest not only celebrates historical achievements but also works hard to bring the excitement of cars to a non-traditional audience. Find Motor City UK on Instagram @MotorCityPod (https://www.instagram.com/motorcitypod) --------------------------------------- Find the Coventry MotoFest online HERE (https://www.coventrymotofest.com/) --------------------------------------- Motor City UK is created, produced and hosted by Rob Capaldi, Get in touch with Rob in one of the following ways: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robcapaldi1) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-capaldi/)

11. 

    6 Mar 2026

    Motor City UK | EP01 – Origins of Britain’s Car Industry

    This first episode of the Motor City UK podcast gives a deep dive into Coventry's pivotal role in the evolution of the UK's automotive industry. We highlight the city's shift from sewing machine production to become the epicentre of motor vehicle manufacturing, the show illuminates the influential figures, events, and innovations that made Coventry a national leader in the sector.

12. 

    13 Jan 2026

    TRAILER - Motor City UK: A Journey Through Coventry's Automotive Evolution

    Coventry, a city renowned for its contributions to the automotive industry, has undergone a fascinating transformation. The introduction of car manufacturing in the 1800s established it as a pivotal hub, with local production volumes peaking in the mid-20th century. Despite the decline in manufacturing by the early 2000s, Coventry has recently reignited its place in the global automotive industry. The city is now a cornerstone for research in low carbon and self-driving technologies, driven by its world-class institutions and innovators. Join us as we delve into Coventry's automotive past, present, and future, uncovering the enterprises and people steering its current resurgence. We also dive into the city's place in automotive culture as we meet the clubs, creatives and event organisers that keep the city buzzing.

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.