Oem Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Front Tower Strut Bar on 2040-parts.com

The Mini is 50 years old today

  Today - 08/05/2009 - is the 50th anniversary of the first Mini rolling off the production line. To celebrate, and for a bit of free publicity (see, we’re playing the game) BMW has shipped the first Mini to roll of the production line back to Cowley to celebrate (picture at the bottom). 621 AOK, a Mini Minor, in Old English White, looks as fresh as the day it rolled off the production line half a century ago (although I wouldn’t mind betting it doesn’t have it’s original sills – they always rusted through – or copes with its original distributor and leads – one splash of rain and the car ground to a halt!).

Global car launches at Pebble Beach 2013

Not content with playing host to hundreds of the world’s rarest classic cars, the 2013 Pebble Beach motoring week in Monterey, California, also saw the first global public outings of several new cars and concepts. Here’s our pick of these high-profile unveilings with cars from established mega brands like BMW, Aston Martin and Cadillac as well as exotic specialists like fiercely independent Dutch brand Spyker and Moroccan supercar marque Laraki.

Tesla Roadster 2.5 breaks cover

Perhaps feeling a bit of chutzpah after a wildly successful stock offering this week, Tesla is demonstrating on Thursday that it still has an eye toward product, revealing the updated Tesla Roadster. And it's available for order now. Called the Roadster 2.5, the car features minor enhancements, including a new front fascia with different diffuser vents (the change is actually apparent) and new rear diffuser.