British

Back in 2005, Jaguar's hottest selling model of all time ended its production run. That car was the XK. In the spring of 2006, the 2007 model emerged as a completely reworked vehicle that Jaguar hoped would continue to see record sales. The challenge for the company has been competing in a segment - Large Premium Sports Cars - that doubled from the mid 90s to the mid 2000s. Jaguar sought to blend the two major groups - grand tourers and sports cars - into a single kickass car.  

That generation ran through 2009 offering a 4.2-liter V8 good for 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque as well as a supercharged variant providing 420 hp and 412 lb-ft of torque. But with everyone stepping up their game, Jaguar quickly realized that even though they had satisfied their goal, they certainly had no BMW M6 or Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG killer…

Ahead of its official debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Bentley has unleashed the goods on its latest creation. The 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible now reigns supreme as the world's fastest four-seater drop-top. Basically, this is a cloth-top version of Bentley's powerful sports coupe and uses the same twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 engine making 621 horsepower with 590 lb-ft of twist.

Like its brethren, the Convertible is a flex-fuel vehicle and can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 202 mph using any combo of E85 or gasoline. In fact, all of the 2011 Bentley Continental models will offer FlexFuel, which in the case of the Convertible, helps reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70%.

Ever do something that was perfectly safe, totally harmless, and fun for all parties involved, yet somehow made you feel bad? That is how I feel when I watch this video. Snow drifting is to me what adopting children is to Brangelina; I do it as often as possible, wherever possible, and don't care what people think of it. And yet, this video makes me feel dirty. A Rolls Royce Phantom power sliding in the snow just feels wrong.

The Mini Beachcomber Concept made its debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show today and made a big impression. Featuring an all-wheel drive powertrain, the Beachcomber is a throwback to the original Mini Moke sans doors and roof.

Some of you may remember the Moke (based on the ancient dialect name "donkey") or may even have driven one while on vacation in the Caribbean, where these cars are used as beach buggies. That said, the original design was for a lightweight military vehicle, but somehow key essentials like ground clearance and appropriate tires were missing from the equation. It was therefore relegated to work duty as as cheap, utility vehicle with production beginning in 1964 and running through 1993.

A few weeks ago we brought news of the Aston Martin Cygnet concept. It has now been reported that these petite luxury commuters will only be available to current owners. The Cygnet is essentially a plush and upgraded version of the Toyota iQ and will use the same 1.33-liter engine good for 97 hp and 91 lb-ft of torque. Surprisingly, a top speed of 105 mph is attainable.

Aston Matin's head honcho, Ulrich Bez, has been quoted as saying, "This concept is akin to an exclusive tender for a luxury yacht." The company has decided to go this direction now that environmentally friendly city cars are top of mind.

The all carbon-fiber Manory Cyrus may be a little too much for some folks, but Aston Martin definitely recognizes the strong draw for blacked-out supercars sporting exotic materials. Aston Martin has introduced Carbon Black Special Editions for their DBS and V12 Vantage coupes, each rocking a metallic black finish.This magnificent paint is formulated to glimmer differently from various angles and requires 50 hours of additional labor.

In the case of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, the strake in the fender vent is made out of carbon-fiber with black mesh for an added touch of flare. Gloss black 10 spoke diamond turned alloy wheels complete the ominous look. A bright finished grille and front parking sensors provide a nice bit of contrast.

As competition increases and additional revenue streams are sought by automakers, many companies are forced to make compromises that seemed highly unlikely several years ago. Just look no further than Porsche and their Cayenne SUV to see a perfect example of a vehicle that everyone baulked at until its release, which actually ended up a resounding success, both financially and for the brand itself.

Aston Martin is no different in its pursuit of attracting new markets. The company has just released the first images of their new Cygnet concept, a tiny commuter that at first glance seems to go against everything the company stands for - lavish supercars capable of breakneck speed. But the green movement is here to stay and eco-consciousness is now a part of every OEM's lexicon.

The flurry of announcements is heating up prior to the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Details on the 2010 Lotus Exige Stealth or 2010 Lotus Exige Scura (depending on what market you are in) have just been released and my heart is aflutter. But let me take a step back and explain the excitement. When the Lotus Exige first emerged on the scene, there was an individual in LA who immediately took his car to a custom shop and got the body repainted in matte-black along with carbon-fiber highlights. Strangely enough, I came across this Lotus quite often and it was this particular Exige that got me pumped about these fierce urban racers. I remember searching far and wide to try and find out whether or not Lotus offered this as an option and was disappointed with the answer. However, that is all about to change.