Meet the writer: Lucy Abbott

In this series, we will be turning the microphone on ourselves to put the editorial team behind CDN in the spotlight. In the interview, we get to know Lucy Abbott. 

How long have you been writing for CDN? 

I joined in February 2025, at a turbulent political time within the car industry – *cough* tariffs *cough*. My first few months consisted of a flying visit to Paris to witness the glory of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E, a new launch from Changan and admiring the next generation of talent at the Coventry Automotive design degree show. 

What did you do before getting into car design? 

I worked at a publishing company that reported on the cruise industry – writing everything from cruise reviews to deep-dive investigations on sustainability and alternative fuels. Before that, I studied Journalism at the University of Leeds – a city that still holds a special place in my heart, despite my move back to London.  

When did you become interested in cars? 

Growing up I spent a lot of time in the garage with my dad watching him tinker away on his latest project car, where I’d totter back into the house covered in engine oil – much to my mother’s dismay. My fondest memories as a child are speeding down the motorway in his Mazda MX-5 (yes, a mid-life crisis car, I know) or hopping on the back of his Suzuki GSX-R750 with a helmet that was definitely too big for an eight-year-old. This naturally led to an addiction to fast vehicles – something that the cruise industry could never give me with an average cruise ship speed of 20-25 mph.   

What does a typical week look like as an assistant editor? 

Each week is different – which is the beauty of the job. You’ll either find me getting my teeth stuck into a meaty feature, keeping on top of the news for the week or speeding down the Autobahn on a press trip. Variety is the key to life after all.  

What inspires you, design-wise? 

In my spare time, I’m an avid oil painter and most weekends you’ll find me at a new exhibition or traipsing along a walking trail to capture the perfect landscape to take back to my easel. Therefore, much of my inspiration comes from artists – portrait artists like Ania Hobson, with her psychologically-inspired textured oil portraits, and Jenny Saville’s figurative paintings to Giacometti’s sculptures and Werner Bronkhorst’s hyper-realistic paintings of miniature people among large landscapes. I could go on…  

What do you bring to the car design industry? 

Alongside my editorial experience, need for speed and artistic inclination, I invest a lot of my time into reading a wide range of feminist literature and research. In an industry that has historically been male-dominated, I think this perspective heightens our already fabulous editorial coverage to actively pursue a wider variety of voices within the design industry.  

What was (is) your first car? 

After learning to drive during the pandemic (conducting my driving test with a face mask on in 30 degree heat was not pleasant; to say the least), I got my first car only a few years ago – a black 2016 Kia Picanto Eco Dynamics 1.2L. Why? Cheap insurance and an oddly aggressive-looking face for such a small car. She may not be able to climb hills, but she sure can… let me get back to you on that.