4 ICONIC BRITISH CARS

For a relatively small Island, Great Britain has done a brilliant job at producing some of the finest automobiles the world has seen. We’ll discuss 4 cars so British that by the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll feel like queuing up for fish and chips in the rain.

Range Rover Evoque

The Range Rover Evoque was born from a humble doodle sketched up by Land Rover Head of Design Julian Thompson. His design depicted a premium SUV look that drew inspiration from one of Thompson’s previous creations, the Lotus Elise. The Evoque’s distinctive design offered drivers something unique; a sturdy off-road vehicle that remained classy and luxurious. In 2009 the British Government lent a hand in the production of the Evoque, providing Land Rover with a £27 million grant to help produce a new model. This was under the condition that it would be manufactured at Liverpool’s Halewood Body & Assembly site. Following its 2011 launch, the newly named Evoque accounted for 10% of Land Rover sales worldwide, soaring to 35% in 2012 and 2013. The Evoque has maintained iconic status ever since.

Jaguar E-Type

The most beautiful car ever made, according to Enzo Ferrari. The Jaguar E-type is undoubtedly a gorgeous piece of engineering that would make any modern automobile jealous. With its graceful proportions and sleek silhouette, there’s no wonder the E-type is still heralded as a motor icon. It’s also more than just a pretty face. The E-type was one of the first cars to feature an independent rear suspension and had a top speed of 150mp, making it the fastest production car in the world at the time. The E-type featured in James Bond’s ‘Thunderball’, Audrey Hepburn’s “How to Steal a Million”, and even made a cameo appearance at the 2018 Royal Wedding. You can’t get any more British than that!

Aston Martin DB5

James Bond and the Aston Martin DB5. You’d have a hard job trying to think of a more quintessentially British duo. Styled by Carrozeria Touring Superleggera of Milan, the DB5 delicately combines automaking prowess with class. The Vantage engine could produce 325bhp, which made it one of the most powerful engines in the world. Like the aforementioned E-type, it was also capable of reaching speeds of around 150mph. Despite their many similarities, the DB5 cost considerably more than the E-type, largely because it was constructed by hand.

Vauxhall Astra Mark 2

Whilst maybe not nearly as glamorous as the other cars on this list, the Mark 2 Astra deserves an honourable mention when discussing British automaking history. Launched in

’94, the Mark 2 was released to compete with the Ford Escort. It utilised the same engine as the previous version of the Astra but featured a sportier, more modern design praised for its improved efficiency. The Mark 2 never quite managed to reach the heights of the Escort but got noticeably close. It was even voted European Car of the Year in 1985. A survey launched in 2005 found that the Mark 2 Astra, and its later released Saloon variant (the Belmont), were the two most stolen cars in Britain. Make of that what you will.

Credit: Wasim U