Best British cars 04/25/2011
England isn't typically known for its automotive industry, as most of the world's car manufacturing is handled by Germany, Japan or the U.S. Still, the U.K. has given us some pretty memorable brands and models over the years. Many of these brands are now owned by non-British companies, but there's still something about them that makes them decidedly British.
Mini Cooper
Purists will argue that the modern Mini Cooper, owned by BMW, isn't the same as the British company that came to prominence in the 1960s, and that's true. Yet even though BMW now handles the manufacturing duties, this is still the first car that comes to mind when many think of British vehicles, and rightfully so. The Mini Cooper's unique and innovative design easily earns it a spot on the list.
Jaguar XK
If we were going back through history, we'd go with the famous Jaguar E-Type - it was a favorite of Austin Powers, after all. But for modern Jaguars, we prefer the XK. Sleek and stylish with plenty of horsepower, the XK is everything a luxury car should be - and represents everything a British car should be.
Aston Martin One-77
Okay, so nobody is actually purchasing this one, but it still deserves to be mentioned. There's only 77 of these machines in the world, making it one of the rarer cars of all time. Estimates vary on the actual price - it's one of those "if you have to ask, it's too much," kind of things, but nearly all sources agree that it costs well over $1 million. For that money you get a V12 engine producing 750 horsepower and rocketing the car to 60 miles per hour in less than 3.5 seconds. That kind of ridiculousness nets it the title of best British car of all time.