News : Detroit motor show gallery
January 13, 2012
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Keith Adams · 
16 Comments
Words: Keith Adams Photography: Newspress/HeadlineAuto
The Brits were less in evidence at Detroit as they have been in recent years – an understandable situation given our amazing 2011. Last year was most definitely the year of the concept, with Jaguar Land Rover basking in the limelight of the C-X16 and DC100 concepts, and 2012 will be all about developing these for production (as the V6- and V8-powered Jaguar XT, and an as-yet unnamed new Land Rover). Geneva will see more action for the Brits – as we ramp up for the summer unveils of cars, such as the Jaguar XF Sportsbrake, MG3 and 5 – but we still managed a couple of new product reveals, all the same.
Of course, it’s probably a matter of raised expectations after such an amazing 2011 – and there were still two notable debuts.
MINI Roadster
AROnline readers have already voted with their mice and keyboards on the MINI Coupe styling, by proclaiming it a little too challenging for their tastes. But at AROnline Towers, we love its individuality and bravery. However, shorn of its roof, and turned into the two-seat Roadster, there’s no denying the latest MINI derivative has considerable appeal.
Detroit was the UK-built Roadster’s public debut, and although we already know it’s going to be available in Cooper, Cooper S and JCW form (122, 184 and 211bhp respectively), and will be followed up by the first press drives in the upcoming weeks. Expect a UK on sale date sometime around the late spring.
Bentley Continental V8
The Bentley Continental GT V8 also had its first public airing at Detroit. It’s a useful engine downsizing (although currently, the V8 will sit below the W12 in the range, rather than replace it), although with 500bhp and 481lb ft from its 4.0-litre engine, it’s far from second-best. Early test drive indications are that the V8 loses nothing to its fuller-sized brother. Bentley claimed a 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds, and a maximum speed of 188mph.
For the first drive, check out Octane magazine.
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- The best of new British iron at the Detroit Motor Show
The best of new British iron at the Detroit Motor Show
Related posts:
- Gallery : Paris Motor Show 2010
- Gallery : Geneva Motor Show 2009
- Events : NEC Classic Motor Show 2011 gallery
- MINI : Coupé set for launch at Frankfurt Motor Show in September
- MINI : Coupe Concept to star at Frankfurt Motor Show
16 Responses
I have to say put a pic of the new mondeo on – the front looks like a dead ringer for an aston
What’s the ancestry of the Bently V8? Is it all new, the classic 6.0 litre bored down or the W12 with one bank of cylinders sawn off?
Lot’s of lovely white teeth in those images, any shots of of half naked men just to balance things out?
Mini, Mini, always Mini. And Triumph, please?
@Milly,
Sadly there weren’t any available for download…
Funny how the MINI roadster looks so much like my daughters EV!
http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Bikes-and-Rideons/Battery-Powered/6V-Mini-Cooper-S-Pink-Car(0080071)
Yes enough MINI already give us a proper Triumph branded roadster
Fully agreed with you Chris!
That idea was on the drawing board in the mid-2000s, but it seems to have gone really quiet now, sadly.
Half changed my opinion on the MINI roadster. Saw my first one in real life a few days ago. With the lid ON I think they look an unbalanced mess, but with the lid OFF – as shown here – they look pretty good.
did you notice the awd feature of the Bently power train? alex
A two door Mini with no roof…that’s like having a cramped Volvo that’s unsafe. Pointless.
Nick, the Bentley V8 is a new engine, but mainly Audi based
That MINI roadster looks pretty sharp, much nicer than the coupe
MINI Roadster looks great, another direct hit from BMW. Ironic how our three BL marques – Jaguar, LR, and MINI go from strength to strength under foreign ownership, not too mention the amazing progress of Bentley and Rolls Royce.
Hopefully, in a few years time we will be able to add MG to that list.
@Ianto Rolls had their best year ever and that’s without Bentley
@ KeithB, I know it is incredible to see how these brands have flourished under good (foreign) management, just hope that SAIC will prove.to be good managers of the MG brand.
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