british cars
MINI Rocketman Reportedly Shelved
Oh how quickly things can change. Just last month we were teased with the thought that MINI would be producing its Rocketman Concept and now new reports are suggesting that the Rocketman has been canceled, at least for now. The latest issue of CAR magazine features a collection of new MINIs that BMW had recently…
Peel, World’s Smallest Car To Be Revived [Video]
While small cars have had a difficult time catching on in North America, it seems as if cars in the UK market could never be small enough. A group of businessmen in the United Kingdom decided to resurrect the Peel brand and are now taking orders for both the Trident and P50 models. 0-60 times…
Facelifted Rolls-Royce Phantom Spied
Rolls-Royce has been quietly planning a faelift for its flagship Phantom model, as our spy photographers found out when they came across a camo-clad version of the luxury behemoth testing in Europe. At first look it appears to be a “regular” old Rolls. A closer look at the headlights in these spy photos, however, reveals…
MINI Seeks to Rejuvenate Roadster Segment
With the launch of its new Roadster model MINI is seeking to rejuvenate the struggling segment says U.S. brand boss Jim McDowell. The Roadster and its sibling, the new MINI Coupe, were developed in tandem, but to appeal to very different segments of the population. And perhaps more importantly, they were developed to bring in…
McLaren F1 Successor to Borrow MP4-12C Engine, Add KERS
When the McLaren MP4-12C debuted, it was seen as a disappointment by many. Certainly the car’s performance was amazing, but not the Bugatti-beating numbers some had expected. That’s because it was never built as a Veyron rival but rather a Ferrari 458 killer. A proper successor to the McLaren F1 would come, however, and according…
Lotus-Parent Proton Sold to Private Conglomerate DRB-Hicom
In a deal eclipsing $410 million, DRB-Hicom purchased a 43 percent stake in Proton, a Malaysian automaker better known for its ownership of the famous British sports car brand, Lotus. Originally, the stake belonged to Malaysia’s state-owned Khazanah Nasional Bhd. However, as Proton has not made a profit in the last two years, multiple prospective…
MINI Roadster Unveiled as Your MX-5 Alternative: 2012 Detroit Auto Show
MINI is bringing a race inspired convertible into the market with the unveiling of the Roadster at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. This is the first two seater open topped vehicle in the English brand’s history and makes the MINI lineup six vehicles strong after the recent introduction of the Coupe (read our review here)….
Proton Could Sell Lotus Admits CEO
Rumors of the sale of Lotus by its Malaysian parent company Proton have increased steadily since the appointment of CEO Dany Bahar, who has done little to dissuade the rumors. Rather than a sign of instability, Proton has committed to funding the “new Lotus”, and Bahar’s actions have helped keep the small sports car maker…
Bentley SUV Confirmed, Lamborghini To Follow
Thanks to Bentley‘s strongest sales performance since 2008, the gentlemen of Crewe are looking to expand their line-up with the introduction of a new luxury SUV by 2014. Known for its generous application of wood and leather, Bentley does not intend to compete against the likes of Cayenne or Range Rover. Instead, Bentley aims to…
Bentley Sales Spike by 37% in 2011, US Still Largest Market
The recession has not been kind to most luxury car manufacturer’s. After all, with the economy on a downturn, even those who can still afford luxuries shy away from frivolous spending. While the recession was the final nail in Maybach‘s coffin, Bentley has soldiered on and managed to survive the tough economic climate. Not only…
2014 MINI Cooper to Get “Modern” Look, Deliver Up to 45 MPG
The launch of the next generation MINI Cooper has been reportedly been pushed back, but according to reports, it will be well worth the wait. Sharing a platform with the next-generation 1 Series, the BMW will arrive first with the MINI (code named F56) being revealed in late 2013. While similar, insiders say the two…
MINI Cargo to Debut at 2012 Geneva Motor Show
MINI will make its way into the commercial vehicle market soon when it releases a cargo-oriented version of the Clubman. The car, officially called the MINI Cargo, is set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March and will essentially be the same as the Clubman (pictured above), but with the back seats replaced…
Lotus Named Featured Brand at 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Every year an automaker is chosen to be celebrated at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with an artistic installation directly in front of the historic Goodwood house in West Sussex, England, and a host of classic and shiny new cars on display. For 2012 it will be the iconic English brand Lotus. This acknowledgement comes at important time in…
Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster to Bow at Geneva Motor Show
Lamborghini won’t be the only exotic car maker debuting a convertible at the Geneva Auto Show this March, with a new report that Aston Martin is planning a drop-top reveal. According to one source, the maker of British exotics will undress a convertible version of its V12 Vantage model. The same chassis that is shared…
Mini Launches Driving Excitement App
MINI continues to use technology and connectivity to enhance the Mini driving experience with the release of a new app, called Driving Excitement, for its Mini Connected infotainment system. This new app allows the driver to do more than record their vehicle’s diagnostics. The first mode in the Driving Excitement app is the Condition Check….
MINI Will Try To Conquer Dakar Rally In 2012
There are many tough races on the global motorsports calendar, but perhaps none more so than the Dakar rally. The rally started back in 1978 and was originally called the Paris-Dakar rally due to its geographic location. However, due to safety concerns, the event was moved to South America in 2009, where it has remained…
Jaguar XF Sportbrake Spied Again
With Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi offering wagon versions of their E-Class, 5-Series and A6 mid-luxury sedans, Jaguar is prepping a wagon version of its XF sedan, and like modern Jaguar‘s, it will take a slightly different approach to the traditional luxury formula. In the UK, a “Shooting Brake” denotes a sports car converted into a…
Lotus V8 Engine For New Esprit To Pack 620 Horsepower
Little development has been revealed by Lotus since they first announced their line-up revamp at the 2010 Paris Auto Show. However, sources report Lotus has got all hands on deck to make sure its dedicated in-house V-8 will be complete by late-2013. The engine is designed to serve duty in the mid-engined Esprit as well…
Tata, Owner Of Jaguar, Land Rover Names Next CEO
Tata Sons has named Cyrus Mistry as its next CEO, as current CEO Ratan Tata prepares to retire. The unmarried, childless Tata named Mistry as CEO of the holding company responsible for Tata’s numerous divisions, among them their automotive sector which owns Jaguar and Land Rover, along with the namesake Tata Motors brand. “The appointment…
Jaguar Mini-Car Wanted, Possible Says Design Boss Ian Callum
Jaguar‘s design genius and restless thinker, Ian Callum, has announced a personal desire to design a premium small car for the historically British marque. During an interview, Ian Callum told British automotive publication, What Car?, “It’s a personal view, but there’s room for a premium small car. It would be a high-end small car for…
MINI Cooper B-Spec Adds More Excitement to Budget Racing: 2011 LA Auto Show
Over a year ago Honda and Mazda got the ball rolling, announcing new B-Spec race cars based on their sub-compact Fit and Mazda2 models. Since then numerous other automakers have signed on, ranging from Fiat with the 500, to Kia with the Rio. The latest automaker to toss its tires into the ring is MINI,…
Land Rover DC100, DC100 Sport Heading to LA Auto Show, Hint at Defender’s Return
First unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Land Rover has announced it will showcase both the DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this week. More than just a regional unveiling, this announcement is an indication by Land Rover that it is looking to offer the next-generation Defender (which the…
TVR Resurrected With Rumors of an All New Model
Due to financial insolvency, Russian TVR owner, Nikolai Smolenski, split TVR into multiple entities in December, 2006. But now, the British sportscar company returns beginning with the launch of an all new website with a redesigned logo inspired by the original emblem from 1954. According to the website, TVR will provide clients with pre-owned TVR…
MINI Launches New Social Media Map App For Smartphones
MINI does social networking right. Introducing the MINI Motoring smartphone app, available for both Android and iPhone, it allows fellow drivers to share their favorite driving roads with each other. Probably the best automotive app ever created, the only complaint we have is it should have been invented sooner. After making an account, drivers can…
