What Makes British Cars So Special?
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British cars are famous the world over, with their sleek designs and luxury appeal. Their heritage has helped them establish an international reputation that continues to this day, with people lining up to buy the latest models from these renowned brands. From Jaguars to Rolls Royce, these British-made cars are in high demand around the world.
One of the best known British brands is the iconic Mini, which was made in Britain at Oxford, Swindon and Hams Hall until the company was sold to BMW in 2000. The MINI is still one of the most popular cars made in the UK, with the Clubman and Cabrio among its many variations.
The MG sports car is another well-known name from the British automotive industry, with a line of models stretching back to 1909. The brand is now owned by Geely and produces the svelte MG TF roadster and the plush Eletree SUV.
Luxury is at the heart of what makes a british car, and Rolls-Royce has a great reputation in this sector with its Ghost, Phantom and new Cullinan. The brand has a long history in the motorsport industry and currently makes its range of cars at Gaydon in Warwickshire.
Nissan is another of the largest car companies to make cars in the UK. Their Sunderland factory has been producing cars since 1986 and they currently make the Qashqui and Juke in the UK. In the luxury sector, Aston Martin makes its Cygnet and DB9 models at its Gaydon headquarters in Warwickshire.
The 1960s was a good time for the British automotive industry, with large family cars like the Ford Cortina and Austin/Morris Marina proving extremely popular. Smaller sports cars like the MG B and Triumph Spitfire also had healthy sales.
Foreign car makers began to gain ground in the market during this period, with Japanese brands such as Nissan’s Datsuns gaining popularity for their cheap running costs and high equipment levels.
In the 1970s, BL started to rationalise, with the rebadging of its existing models (the Morris Marina became the Austin Allegro and the Triumph Acclaim became the Honda Ballade). This continued until BL was finally broken up in 1979.
Today, many British manufacturers are thriving, with Nissan and BMW both making cars in the UK. Jaguar is a particularly successful company, with its XF, XJ and XK models all built in the UK at Castle Bromwich. And of course, you can’t forget the Land Rovers, which are made in Solihull and Halewood. The Rover Group, now part of Tata Motors, is one of the most recognisable names in the UK. The name and logo are instantly recognisable thanks to the choice of deep green for the colour, which is used on all their vehicles to represent a sense of adventure and exploration. This is a great way to convey the image of this prestigious marque. The Rover Evoque is an excellent example of a modern and stylish design that has won countless plaudits.