Max Power (magazine)
| Frequency | Monthly |
|---|---|
| First issue | May 1993 |
| Final issue | January 2011 |
| Company | Bauer |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Based in | Peterborough |
| Website | www |
Max Power was a British magazine, based in Peterborough, which covered the performance-tuning and car market, boy racers
Launched in 1993 by EMAP, it was also published under license in Greece, Denmark, Norway, South Africa, and in France under the name ADDX. After EMAP acquired Petersen in 2000, a U.S. edition was published based on its existing title MaxSpeed and featuring cars from America and the UK. This ceased publication in 2001 when EMAP sold its U.S. arm to Primedia, but lives on as Euro Tuner.
The magazine was the first to feature cruises and the more notorious side of the modified car scene, as well as being instrumental in introducing UK readers to Japanese and American car culture. Feature cars were heavily customised, including powerful in car entertainment (ICE) systems, custom body-work and performance-focussed changes to the chassis and engine. The format would also go on influence other magazines including Fast Car, and the now defunct Revs and Redline.
Former staff members include Fifth Gear presenters Jonny Smith and Vicki Butler-Henderson, who was one of the original staff in 1993.
Max Power quickly became notorious for its outspoken attitude to motoring issues, and one of its main criticisms was its promotion of unauthorised cruise events. The magazine had a rating system that scored these in several areas including the size of the police presence, the behaviour/attractiveness of the girls and the number of "burnouts" performed.
The magazine also occasionally campaigned against the presence of speed cameras and elderly drivers, and despite disclaimers was often criticised for printing articles about dangerous driving on public roads, including drifting and exceeding 200 mph on the A1. Another criticism, despite being not the first magazine to do so, is due to a large content of half naked women the publication is often referred to as bottom-shelf porn. The 2007 relaunch was aimed at reversing this criticism, but glamour shoots were reintroduced towards the end of its life.
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