Latest news with #Clubman
Top Gear
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Five cars reimagined in retro form by artificial intelligence
Advertisement Subtle one, this. BMC's original '59 Mini had an estate version, the Clubman, but it was a stretched two-door. The Countryman, technically a sub-compact crossover, didn't appear until 2010. So what would an Alec Issigonis-designed Countryman have looked like back in the early Sixties? Well, wonder no more – weird doors aside, you can see how good it might have looked. Images: @automotiveai Advertisement - Page continues below Here's where AI has to work hard – the Sixties were a time of innovation and Big News from the USA, with some exceptional designs. And yet Tesla as a corporate entity didn't even exist until 2003, and the Model 3 wasn't born until 2017. The AI decided that the Model 3 of the latter Sixties was still a compact executive car, but actually a two-door worthy of a poster. If only. You might like Another one that looks real. The Range Rover Sport appeared in 2005 as a mid-sized luxury SUV. The first Range Rover appeared in 1969, and was two-door only until '81, so an imagineered '74 RRS has ended up looking largely like a smaller Range Rover Classic with fat wheels and no rear doorhandles. Advertisement - Page continues below If someone distilled the Model T of 1908, boiled it down to the stylistic components and then rehydrated them for this year, this is what the result might look like. Although this seems to be a modern interpretation of a mid-Twenties pickup version of the Model T – sometimes called the Runabout – and the world's first pickup truck. The Cayenne caused controversy when it was launched in 2002 – an SUV from a maker of sports cars? The horror! And yet it largely bolstered the company's future against the slings and arrows of outrageous market forces. But the early Eighties saw an imaginary Cayenne that borrowed heavily from the 911's stylings, yet weirdly ended up with shades of a Seventies Honda Civic. Or is that just us? See more on Concept
The Star
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Naquib and Amer keep rising with 1-2 finish for Wing Hin
PETALING JAYA: Rising racers Naquib Azlan and Amer Harris Jefry continued their fine run in the Toyota Gazoo Racing GR86-BRZ Cup after taking a double podium finish over the weekend. Racing in the Clubman series for Wing Hin Motorsports, Naquib took first place with a time of 22:01.992s, while Amer was just behind in second with 22:07.949s at Sportsland Sugo in Japan.
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Taming the 'Beasts of Britain'
THE iconic MINI we see on our roads today are more expansive and stylised than the original 'tiny' car originally owned by British Motor Corp. British Motor later merged with Leyland Motor Corp in 1968 to become British Leyland. The latter subsequently became the Rover Group, which owned Rover, MINi, Land Rover and MG. BMW took control of the Rover Group and MINI in 1994. By the turn of the millennium, Rover was still suffering huge losses, so BMW decided to get rid of most of the companies - MG and Rover went to Phoenix and Land Rover was sold to Ford. But BMW kept the MINI and since the past 20 years, the vehicle has been produced in a variety of versions. They include the hatch, cabrio, Clubman, Paceman, coupe and roadster, as well as a limited edition all-electric model. Enough about some history lesson and let's move to the present day in Malaysia. On Friday, MINI Malaysia brought the legacy of heritage and bold expression to life with the MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Track Day 2025 at Gamuda Cove. Designed for MINIacs and driving enthusiasts alike, the track day offered a showcase of the latest additions to the new MINI family, delivering adrenaline-fuelled driving experiences that embody MINI's hallmark racing DNA. At the core of the track day was a tribute to the spirit of John Cooper – the visionary who transformed a humble compact car into a motorsport icon. The track day featured the latest performance-driven models, including the new MINI JCW, first-ever all-electric MINI John Cooper Works, first-ever all-electric MINI John Cooper Works Aceman and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman. These latest additions to the new MINI family combine bold innovation with MINI's racing DNA, offering purist design, electrifying performance and go-kart-like handling that reimagine the brand's legacy for a new generation. Across two dedicated zones, participants had the opportunity to test the limits of MINI's most thrilling models. The 3.4-kilometre JCW Drive Zone was built for high-speed sprints and cornering. The JCW Track Zone, meanwhile, was inspired by the legendary Kartdromo Parma circuit in Italy. The circuit is known for its tight corners and technical complexity, challenges drivers with a layout designed to push traction, control, and braking precision under pressure. Whether it is the classic MINI JCW or the fully electric MINI JCW Aceman, each model was put to the test where they can truly stand out, on the track. MINI Malaysia urged participants to unleash their "Beast Mode"' although we felt the real beasst here were the many MINIs available for test and it was up to us to tame them. At the end of the test, participants were presented with a track bred certificate to signify that our "powerful performance has made its mark on the track". Also on display at the track day were the MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper 5 Door, all-electric MINI Cooper, new MINI convertible, MINI Countryman, all-electric MINI Countryman and all-electric MINI Aceman, which were featured in two distinct editions. The all-electric MINI Aceman Track Edition features exclusive race livery on the hood, sides and rear of the vehicle and a MINI floating hub cap. This all-electric MINI Aceman Slick Edition features silver livery across the hood, sides and rear, and is also adorned with the signature floating hub cap, completing a showcase of sheer driving excitement and design individuality.
