british cars
Report: European MINIs Get Updates for 2010 Including Larger, More Efficient Base Engine
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MINI has just announced a list of engine enhancements for its European lineup in 2010, many of which are expected to be carried over to other markets. For starters, both the Cooper and Cooper S models get a slight boost in power. The Cooper gets a 3-hp jump to 122-hp, while torque is rated at…
Report: Lotus Evora Cup Car Launches With New Spec Series
Lotus has just announced the introduction of the Evora Cup car, which will compete in its own spec series in 2010. Stripped-down and powered-up, the Evora Cup car weighs just 2,645 lbs and features a larger 4.0-liter V6 engine that makes an impressive 395-hp. The race car is built to FIA GT4 specs and will…
Detroit 2010: Lotus Evora, Morgan AeroMax Share Booth Space in Detroit
On display at the Detroit Auto Show, Lotus showed its new flagship sports car, the Evora, alongside another rare British auto, the Morgan AeroMax. The AeroMax sports a BMW sourced 4.8-liter V8 engine and can accelerate to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. It retails for a whopping $180,000. As for the Evora, it’s Lotus’ all-new…
Detroit 2010: MINI Coupe, Convertible Concepts Confirmed for Production
Essentially a foregone conclusion at this point, MINI has confirmed that both the MINI Coupe Concept and MINI Convertible Concept will see production in the near future. Officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show last year, sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson confirmed the production plans at the Detroit Auto Show, while unveiling the company’s…
Detroit 2010: MINI Beachcomber Concept, First Live Photos
MINI’s new Countryman crossover hasn’t even officially debuted and yet the creative minds at the fun British car company have already turned the platform into a new concept: the MINI Beachcomber Concept. Based on the Countryman’s platform, the MINI Beachcomber Concept takes the crossover’s capable ALL4 all-wheel drive system and sets it free on the…
Report: Patent Filing Reveals Lotus Planning 7-Speed Dual-Clutch Transmission
A filing by Lotus at the U.K. Patent Office has revealed that the British sports car maker is working on a dual-clutch transmission. The quick-shifting unit is reportedly a lighter unit than anything on the market and is a simpler design although you’d never guess it from the details of the patent filing, shown above…
Report: Lotus Exige S Type 72 Celebrates British Brand’s Return to Formula One
To help celebrate the brand’s return to the pinnacle of motorsports, iconic British sports car maker Lotus has just announced the release of the Exige S Type 72. As the name suggests, it’s inspired by the Type 72 F1 car, which was driven by drivers like Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson and Jacky Ickx,…
New Photos: Mansory Cyrus Carbon Fiber Aston Martin DB9
First unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the carbon fiber bodied Aston Martin DB9 (first thought to be a DBS), drew crowds even when competing with the launch of exotics like the Ferrari 458. Needless to say, not all those examining the ultra-thick carbon fiber weave were in favor of the modification. Germany tuner Mansory…
Detroit Preview: MINI Beachcomber Concept
***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** With MINI almost set to unveil its Countryman Crossover, the British brand is already looking towards its next project with the MINI Beachcomber Concept. This open-air vehicle is based on the same underpinnings as the Countryman: the Crossover Concept. It also features the brand’s new ALL4…
Lotus Hires Another Ferrari Exec, This Time to Head-up Design Department
Lotus has just announced the appointment of Donato Coco as the company’s Director of Design in what seems like the latest step in transforming Lotus into Ferrari. Coco, you see, comes with an excellent record of employment, which includes a stint at Ferrari as the Italian automaker’s Director of Design and Development, where he worked…
Rumor Mill: New Lagonda Concept Pics Hint That Aston Martin Hasn’t Shelved Idea of Resurrecting Brand
With the release of a new selection of photos of its much-maligned Lagonda Concept, Aston Martin seems to be re-testing the waters to see if there is interest in a luxury SUV, marketed under the slightly more affordable Lagonda brand. The vehicle was first shown at the Geneva Auto Show last March and was not…
Report: Land Rover to Launch Diesel Hybrid Range Rover Sport Model in 2012
Land Rover is currently developing a diesel hybrid version of its Range Rover Sport model with a targeted sales date in 2012. A small fleet of five vehicles is expected to be road-ready and testing next year. Currently Range Rover has an excellent luxury and off-road image, but a terrible reputation when it comes to…
Detroit Preview: MINI Planning Moke Concept
***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** While we await production versions of the MINI Coupe and Roadster concepts, as well as the Countryman crossover, MINI is getting ready to unveil yet another concept car – the Moke. Based on the same chassis as the Countryman, the Moke is expected to get its…
Report: MINI Coupe and Roadster Concepts Being Fast-Tracked to Production
MINI’s Coupe and Roadster Concepts are being fast tracked through the final design phase in order to see production next year. News of these developments comes from the team over at the MINI-obsessed website MotoringFile. Both models debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show and were recently on display at the LA Auto Show and for…
Report: Aston Martin Rapide Priced from $199,950
Aston Martin has just announced that its new four-door model, the Rapide, is officially on sale with pricing starting at $199,950 ($215,000 CAD). The cost for the four-seater is vastly higher than segment rivals the Maserati Quattroporte and Porsche Panamera. The Quattroporte starts at $119,750 and tops out at 133,700, while the 500-hp Panamera ranges…
LA 2009: MINI Mum on Details for Coupe, Roadster Concepts
With California being an important market for BMW’s MINI brand, the LA Auto Show would have been a perfect place for execs to spill a few more details on the planned production versions of the MINI Coupe and Roadster Concepts. Would have been… Se we got yet another opportunity to look at the funky new…
LA 2009: Rolls-Royce Shows Off New ‘Entry Level’ Ghost Model in Los Angeles
Perhaps it’s just the relaxed West Coast way of doing things, but we were surprised at the accessibility Rolls-Royce was giving to its new Ghost model at the LA Auto Show. Normally at auto shows the public are kept away from cars and only the media are allowed up close. Except with Rolls. We’re not…
LA Preview: MINI Coupe and Roadster Concepts Ready for North American Debut in LA
MINI’s two new concept cars are slated to make an appearance at the LA Auto Show, giving Los Angeles residents and local media a first chance to see the two fun cars since their world premiere at the Frankfurt Auto Show. MINI has confirmed that the Coupe Concept will go into production along with another…
Spied: MINI Cooper S Diesel Spotted Testing in Germany
MINI may be preparing to launch a line of high-performance diesel models in Europe in the near future. The speculation comes as both a Cooper and Clubman were spotted at MINI’s test facility in Germany. Both cars happened to be dressed up like the more performance-oriented S models, but had typically diesel exhaust notes. MINI’s…
Report: Bentley Considering Sub-Continental Coupe and Crossover
Bentley is quietly examining the possibility of a new entry-level model to slot in underneath the brand’s current Continental GT lineup. Known internally as NCB for New Compact Bentley, it could debut as early as 2014 in two forms. The first vehicle would be what is often referred to as a Shooting Brake (an elongated…
LA Preview: Lamborghini And Bentley Will Be No-Shows in Los Angeles
Despite the huge concentration of exotic and high end cars in Los Angeles, many exclusive automakers won’t be in attendance at this year’s annual LA Auto Show. The latest two to drop from the list are Bentley and Lamborghini. That means attendees won’t be able to see the amazing new Reventón Roadster or the massive…
Report: MINI to Partner With Rolls-Royce for New Custom Model
BMW’s entry level MINI brand, will work together with the company’s prestigious Rolls-Royce division to create a custom and limited edition high luxury version of the sporty compact. According to a report in AutoCar, the project has been given the green light and while it sounds like the sort of one-off vehicle that might be…
LA Preview: Rolls-Royce Ghost Set to Materialize at LA Auto Show
What better venue to host the North American debut of the Rolls-Royce Ghost than the LA Auto Show? Detroit? Hardly! The Ghost is the first entirely new model from Rolls-Royce since 2003, when the flagship Phantom debuted. Slightly smaller than that uber-luxury land-yacht the Ghost is still massive and excessively luxurious. It’s real claim to…
Report: Lotus Evora Priced from $73,500
Lotus has officially announced that its new Evora sports car will be priced from $73,500 – plus a hefty $1,175 shipping cost. The car will go on sale in the first quarter of 2010, and is currently touring the entire Lotus U.S.A. dealership network. Options include items like a $1,990 Premium Package that includes a…
