C O V E R S T O R Y

By Jason Ang
Photos Courtesy of Mini, MG, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin

Germans may be credited with inventing the automobile, and Americans with popularizing the car, but the British have certainly done their share to impart a sense of occasion to the motorcar. The word itself implies a wafting, serene drive in the British countryside but the diversity of cars storming out of England belies this conception. British cars have taken on every form, from the late oddball three-wheeled Reliant to the screaming silver-and-black McLaren MP4/16 that’s Mika Hakkinen’s favorite drive. All current F1 chassis except the Ferraris are made in the U.K.

The first British invasion took place after WW2, when Americans brought home with them the MGs and Lotus Elans that they enjoyed so much in Britain. The compact, agile roadsters were a counterpoint to the huge, waddling American convertibles.

Fast forward to the present. Most British carmakers may have been taken over by foreign companies, but instead of killing off the brands, the new owners have wisely let their charm and distinct driving characteristics come through. Now the world is set for the first British car invasion of the 21^st century. Let’s scan the horizon, beginning at the small end of the scale.

Mini Cooper

The Austin Mini was the world’s first supermini. It not only embodied the name; it created the spirit! The Mini revolutionized small cars when it was born, eyes bulging, in 1959. Its tiny bodyshell contained a cabin that was roomy for four persons. The transverse engine and front wheel drive helped free up the space. The car soon sported other variants like the Cooper, which went on to win rallies and the loyalty of millions of followers worldwide. Like the Beetle, it remained in production until the late 1990s—a lot of the Minis continued to be exported to the Japanese, who seem to love most things Brit.

The 2001 Mini looks just like the original, but there the similarity ends. The Mini is thoroughly modern, inside and out, but lavished with retro touches to make the car look and feel unique. Exterior styling cues make this look just like a 21^st century take on the original. The large headlamps and wide grille may look familiar, but the inside the round lenses hide xenon headlamps and behind the grille is a twincam 1.6 liter engine good for 90 bhp on the Mini One, 115 bhp on the Mini Cooper, and a full 163 bhp in the Cooper S. The spats (mudflaps) on the fenders are carbon fiber. Options include a navigation computer and Harman/Kardon sound system. Surprised that all of these can come on a Mini? Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that this Mini is actually a BMW.

The Mini was the only car that BMW retained when it sold the Rover group in 2000 for all of £1. BMW certainly did a great job on the styling. The wide stance, unbroken sweep of the glasshouse and wheels-at-the corners approach make the car look much larger than it really is. In reality, it measures a diminutive 3626 mm long, 1687 mm wide and 1416 mm tall, compared to the Toyota Echo’s 3615 mm / 1660 mm / 1500 mm.

Even David Coutlhard's McLaren-Mercedes is almost all British. The chassis and the engine are all built in England. In fact, most of the modern Formula One cars are either made or designed in Britain (including Honda).

THE British icon is now back. Popularly known as the Bean Mobile, the Mini is actually one of the best cars the Brits have come up with. In fact, since 1959 the old version was sold until 2000. Now, the all-new Mini has come out.

Clearly a take from the old design, the all-new Mini Cooper boasts that it will not stray from the original values that made the first one so successful: performance at a price that's a bargain.

The overall profile of the car is clearly the original Mini, and this makes this new one so desirable. Inside, some retro cues such as the central-speedo comes from the original Mini Cooper.

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