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Mini Superleggera Vision is the all-electric roadster Mini needs to make

It could be argued that Mini has not built a pretty car since the R53, the first of the reborn Minis, was put out to pasture at the end of 2006. I've owned two R53s, so yes, I'm horribly biased. The styling situation in Oxford hasn't improved much for 2014, either, as the bigger, more frightened-looking Mini begins to arrive in dealerships, boasting a very un-Mini-like front overhang. This, though, this works.
It's called the Superleggera Vision, and straight away, we should point out that it's not designed by Mini. It's a product of Touring Superleggera, whose other creations include the stunning Disco Volante. It's a darn nice piece of design, and we're especially fond of its tiny, Jaguar D-type-like rear fin. It's also perfectly designed for it's debut location - the Concours d'Elegance at Italy's Villa d'Este.
Despite being a Mini, the Superleggera still boasts a traditional roadster layout, with a long hood and a shorter rear deck. The front end boasts a pair of traditionally styled Mini headlamps, which sit above a version of the new Cooper's gaping grille. The profile is brightened by a pair of character lines, the most noticeable of which runs from ahead and over the front wheel wells toward the back of the diminutive droptop. Of course, we can't not mention that amazing fin. It should be fitted to every Mini Roadster posthaste. The rear of the car, meanwhile, almost reminds us of an old Aston Martin Vanquish, thanks to the shape of its taillights and their rounded rectangular enclosure. And yes, those are union jacks inside the taillights. God save the queen.

2022 Mini JCW Hardtop Anniversary Edition gets British Racing Green, retro Cooper badging

Say a cheery hello to the 2022 Mini JCW Hardtop Anniversary Edition. This little Mini is here to honor 60 years of Cooper racing, as the first Mini with a "Cooper" badge on it went racing in 1961. Thankfully, it’s exclusively painted in British Racing Green. Mini says this JCW Hardtop will also feature white bonnet stripes with red outlines, a white roof and white mirror caps. In a way, it looks like a Christmas car with all of the JCWÂ’s standard red accents. The colors are supposedly derived from Cooper Car Company design motifs, and we canÂ’t deny that it looks good. YouÂ’ll notice the number 74 is plastered across both the hood and doors of the Anniversary Edition, as the first Mini Cooper to ever race was given the number 74. YouÂ’ll also notice the Cooper Car Company logo on the carÂ’s side scuttles and side sills to denote it as the Anniversary car. Inside, Mini honors the three generations of Cooper with the three signatures of those who worked closely with Mini etched into the cockpit fascia: John Cooper, John Michael Cooper, and Charlie Cooper. The steering wheel has a retro "Cooper" logo in the bottom spoke. Feature-wise, it automatically includes a panoramic moonroof and touchscreen navigation.  “John Cooper kicked off 60 years of performance innovation with the original Mini Cooper, and the Anniversary Edition honors the Cooper legacy that helped define MiniÂ’s performance pedigree over the last six decades,” said Patrick McKenna, head of marketing product and strategy for Mini USA. Mini says it will be selling this Anniversary Edition “in limited numbers,” so we donÂ’t expect to see a bunch of them. If you want one, the starting price is $40,750, including destination fee. TheyÂ’re available to order from dealers now. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

These are the cars being discontinued for 2024 and beyond

While we get new and updated car models every year, its inevitable that we'll need to say goodbye to some nameplates as well. This time around, it feels like we have confirmation or reports of an unusually large number of vehicles being discontinued in 2024 and the coming years.  We shouldn't be surprised. A large number of automakers are approaching their various target dates for electrification of their fleets. As such, some beloved internal combustion cars are going away, sometimes with appropriate fanfare like special editions. Others are slinking away quietly, killed by slowing sales and changing consumer trends. Of course, the end of production doesn't necessarily mean permanent death. Some of these models could be resurrected in later years ... and probably as an EV. With that in mind, here are the vehicles that are being discontinued in 2024 and beyond.   Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio and Stelvio Quadrifoglio Alfa Romeo ended the production of its combustion-only Quadrifoglio models in April 2024 as the Italian automaker moves toward an electrified future. This isn't the end of the Quadrifoglio entirely, though, with Larry Dominique, Alfa Romeo senior vice president and head of North America, writing, "I look forward to presenting the next chapter in the four-leaf clover’s journey."   Chevrolet Camaro GM is ending production of the Chevy Camaro after 2024, but is sending it off in style with a CollectorÂ’s Edition. WouldnÂ’t it be cool, though, if Chevy brought it back as an EV?   Chevrolet Malibu Rumors of its demise have been around for a while, but now itÂ’s official. GM will end production of the Chevy Malibu in November of 2024. The assembly line in Kansas will be retooled to build the replacement for the Chevy Bolt.   Dodge Durango The three-row Durango is slated to be replaced by the Stealth nameplate after 2024. The Durango name could make a comeback later, according to rumors, on a body-on frame SUV based on the Jeep WagoneerÂ’s platform.   Ford Edge This is the last year for the Edge in the U.S., with the final unit rolling off the assembly line in April. On sale since 2007, the Edge topped 100,000 sales in all but three full years of production.   Ford Escape Newly refreshed for the 2023 model year, FordÂ’s popular Escape compact SUV is reportedly taking its leave in 2025 in order to usher in — you guessed it — an EV in its place.