JONNY Smith’s journey from editing car magazines to becoming a leading voice in automotive journalism is as thrilling as the cars he reviews.
Here is everything you need to know about his passion for cars.
Who is Jonny Smith?
Jonny Smith is a British motoring journalist and television presenter, born on February 24, 1979, in Taunton, England.
He began his career in automotive journalism by working for a custom and vintage VW magazine.
He quickly rose to become the editor and later worked for EMAP, contributing to well-known car magazines like Max Power, Car magazine, Revs, and Classic Cars.
His appearance on Sky One‘s Movies’ Greatest Cars in 2005 led to his discovery by North One Television, the producers of Fifth Gear.
Jonny gained significant fame as one of the presenters on Channel 5‘s Fifth Gear, a popular motoring TV show, where he worked alongside other automotive experts.
He also hosted Mud, Sweat & Gears for BBC America, Motorheads for BBC Worldwide and had his own engineering-based documentary series called Industrial Junkie.
Jonny was a presenter on the web TV show and podcast Fully Charged until January 2020, which focused on electric vehicles.
In 2013, he built an electric dragster known as “Jonny’s Flux Capacitor,” which claimed to be the world’s quickest street-legal EV at the time.
Jonny has a deep love for classic and custom cars, reflected in his personal collection, which includes a ’68 Dodge Charger, a Honda VTEC powered Austin Allegro, a 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS, a Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle and a Aston Martin DB4.
His passion for cars was nurtured from a young age, growing up in a household where he and his brother helped their father maintain the family’s Hillman Avenger estate.
His brother went on to become a leading expert in pre-war Bentleys.
When was Jonny Smith on Fifth Gear?
Jonny Smith was a presenter on Fifth Gear from 2006 to 2011.
Fifth Gear is a British television program that, originally airing on Channel 5, focuses on car reviews, performance tests, and the latest in automotive technology and culture.
The show features a blend of in-depth vehicle assessments and engaging insights into the automotive world, with notable presenters including Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler-Henderson.
What does Jonny Smith do now?
Jonny Smith remains a prominent figure in the automotive world, particularly in the realm of electric vehicles.
He runs his YouTube channel, The Late Brake Show, where he explores a diverse range of topics from modern electric cars to classic and custom vehicles.
His podcast, Smith and Sniff, is co-hosted with Richard Porter.
Smith and Sniff covers a wide range of automotive topics, including car reviews, industry news, and personal anecdotes from the hosts’ experiences with cars.
The podcast is known for its informal and humorous style, blending insightful commentary with entertaining discussions about everything from classic cars to modern vehicles and quirky automotive culture.
As of August 2024, he has 108K followers on Instagram, 53.9K followers on The Late Brake Show, and 14.8K followers on Smith and Sniff.