A Guide to British Cars

British cars are renowned the world over for their performance, style and sophistication. From the roar of a Jaguar V-12 to the sleek lines of a Bentley, there’s something for everyone. And while the UK may be struggling economically these days, many of the country’s most revered marques are still going strong.

In fact, it’s not unusual to see people in their 50s and 60s driving cars made by companies like MG or the venerable Mini. Despite their age, these vehicles are often a joy to drive and a source of great pride. And while the majority of British vehicles are exported worldwide, some drivers remain fiercely loyal to their local brands and will only buy cars that bear a familiar badge.

With over 775,000 cars and commercial vehicles built in the UK last year, the automotive industry is a huge contributor to Britain’s economy. And although there’s been some consolidation in the industry over recent years, there are still plenty of British manufacturers producing cars of a very high standard.

The most famous of these are probably BMW, Rolls Royce, McLaren and Jaguar but there are plenty more, too. Many of these are small manufacturers with a limited production run, but they’re all known to turn out excellent products. The Lotus logo, for example, stands out thanks to its bright yellow background that grabs attention. The green color meanwhile, conveys ideas of luxury and prestige.

Other recognizable British car logos include the Austin, Morris and Triumph logos. Sadly, these three (as well as the Rover, MG and Wolseley) were absorbed by British Leyland, which was a masterclass in mismanagement. But the marquees live on, with MG continuing to produce its smaller models and Jaguar producing the XE Project 8.

A few less well-known British car makers are also worth a mention, such as Morgan, which has a long history of creating sports cars. The company’s logo is easily recognized thanks to its unique shape that combines a circle and a triangle. This makes it look almost like a car travelling into the distance.

MG is another brand that deserves to be better-known, with its small and fast Elise model being a particularly notable success. Then there’s the Land Rover, which helped create a whole new market with its off-road capabilities and unstoppable ability. The Defender was replaced four years ago, but the original first appeared in 1948 and was used both in civilian and military roles.

The newest of the lot is the McLaren Senna, which is one of the most advanced and exciting cars ever to come out of the UK. With a central driver’s seat and 641 naturally aspirated V-12 horses this is a supercar that sets the bar for both style and intensity. If that’s not enough to impress you then you should check out the MG ZS, which is smaller than the Nissan Qashqai and makes a case for itself as an affordable route into Ev motoring.