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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.

Ferrari 4×4 Hybrid system on the drawing board

One of the drawings Ferrari has submitted to the European Patent Office for a 4x4 Hybrid System [ad#ad-1] Actually, the headline is quite literal. It would appear that Ferrari is working on four wheel drive hybrid propulsion systems after plans submitted to the European Patent Office were uncovered by Autocar. It’s been known for some time that Ferrari has been working on Hybrid and 4WD systems, but these drawings show that Ferrari is in fact looking at a simpler system designed more to aid handling than to benefit the environment.

Aston Martin Rapide – First official image – again!

As we’ve said before, the Aston Martin Rapide has been so long coming it feels like it’s already here. But it’s not, despite the spy pictures of the Rapide we’ve seen, and now comes the first official picture – apparently. We’ve seen an ‘official’ Aston Martin Rapide image before, but this looks more convincing, even though it is obviously a rendering.