Getting schooled at the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Experience

You don't need snow or ice to enjoy the thrills of sliding an all-wheel-drive car sideways, as evidenced by a day at the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Experience at Infineon Raceway. The class, operated by the instructors of the Jim Russell USA Racing Drivers School, involves time on coned-lined paddock courses and a large skid pad. But the real fun comes when you put what you've learned to good use on one of the country's most fun racetracks, the 2.52-mile 12-turn Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

BAC Mono

Another name to emerge amidst the numerous English niche manufacturers, are Briggs Automotive. Taking the fight to cars like the Aerial Atom and Caparo T1, the BAC Mono is a lightweight carbon fiber tubbed single seater, proving that once again less is more in terms of performance. Boasting a kerb weight of just 540kg, the single seat ‘ultra high performance, road legal sports vehicle' was produced using race-bred technology in order to deliver a purist driving experience.

Mini aims to add 3 models by decade's end

BMW's Mini brand will add three models by the end of the decade, said Kay Segler, Mini's global boss. Segler would not disclose details about the models but said they will likely use an all-new BMW Group front-wheel-drive platform that debuts with the second-generation Mini Cooper hardtop in 2014. The added vehicles will bring the number of Mini models to 10.