1954 Lincoln Road Lamps Fog Lights Accessory 54 Lincoln on 2040-parts.com

Mini is 50: a Mini celebration by CAR writers and readers

By Tim Pollard Motoring Issues 13 October 2009 12:45 Mini is 50 this year and we've published a 33-page Mini special in the new November issue of CAR Magazine – packed with memories, drives and analysis of and with the cars and people that made Mini great.  Here we've asked some of CAR's top writers to remember their personal highlights from the past five decades. Gavin Green explains why he recently drove across Australia in a modern Mini, while Anthony ffrench-Constant recalls why crashing a classic Mini caused him to start a lifelong nicotine habit. Click on the links below for our new Mini stories – and don't forget we want YOUR Mini memories too.

Porsche GT3 to launch at Geneva

The next in line for the mid-life facelift (Gen 2) of the Porsche 911 is the GT3, following on from last year’s revisions to the Carrera and Targa. The GT3 has had only minor modifications to its looks, instead the detail, as you would hope, has gone on under the skin. The engine has gone up in size from the old 3.6 litres to 3.8, yielding an increase in bhp – up to 435bhp.

Mazda prices 2012 Mazda 5 from $19,990

Mazda will sell its six-passenger 2012 Mazda5 van for a base price of $19,990, including shipping, when it goes on sale in January. The 2012 Mazda5, which Mazda calls a multi-activity vehicle, saw its North American debut at the Los Angeles auto show earlier this month. Mazda increased the base price by $730 compared to the 2010 Mazda5.