Mercury Bravo Out Drive Skegless ( 76214-5 ) Zinc on 2040-parts.com

Classic Mini voted 'best British car'

THE ORIGINAL Mini, first introduced in 1959, is the best-ever British car, according to a survey of Autocar readers. The poll also named Norfolk-based Lotus as the most popular British manufacturer, with seven of its models making the 100 best British cars list. Following the Mini at the top of the list was the McLaren F1, with the Jaguar E-type third and the Range Rover fourth.

GM stokes El Camino gossip . . . again

Let the rumors of a new U.S.-market El Camino begin to swirl once again. It was Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, who opened the floodgates, commenting to www.drive.com.au, an Australian car site. “I've lived in Australia, and I've seen where fuel prices are $5 a gallon,” Reuss said.

Mini Life Ball (2011): Mini's latest one-off charity special

This is the Mini 'Red Mudder'. a one-off custom Mini created by Canadian fashion designers DSQUARED² for the Life Ball, an annual AIDS charity event held in Vienna. Mini Life Ball (2011): the lowdown (err, jacked-up) DSQUARED² are Canadian twin brothers Dean and Dan Caten, who launched their first fashion collection in 1995 and have been flummoxing sub-editors of non-fashion publications with their company name ever since.