2009 Mini Cooper S Jcw Tuning Kit on 2040-cars

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Autoblog editors choose their favorite racecars of all time

If you like cars, there is a good chance that you like racecars. There's something about the science and the art of going faster, of competition, of achievement, that accelerates the hearts of enthusiasts. It doesn't matter the series, the team or the manufacturer – there's something about racing that stirs emotions and lifts spirits. It's that way with many of you, and it's that way with our editors. With that in mind, we offer a list of our favorite racecars of all time. Of course, we'd like to hear some of yours in the comment section below. 1970 Porsche 917 Compared to some of the obscure choices by my colleagues, I feel like the Porsche 917 is almost so obvious a pick as to not be worth mentioning. Still, when coming up with my answer, my mind invariably went back to this classic racer – specifically in its blue-and-orange Gulf livery – while watching Le Mans on DVD and later Blu Ray with my dad. Long, low and curvaceous, few vehicles have ever looked sexier lapping a track than the 917. More than just a pretty face, this beauty had speed, too, thanks to several tunes of flat-12 engines over the course of its racing life. In the early '70s, Porsche was a dominant force throughout sports-car competition, and the 917 (shown above at the 1970 24 Hours of Daytona) was the tip of that spear, including back-to-back victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Largely without dialogue or really much of a traditional plot, Le Mans is like a tone poem of racing goodness. While the 917's importance to motorsports history is undoubtedly fascinating, it's still this cinematic depiction of the Porsche racer that draws me in most, especially with the volume cranked. – Chris Bruce Associate Editor 1964 Mini Cooper S How could everyone not be selecting the 1964 Mini Cooper S piloted by Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon? That car, 33 EJB, took the first of British Motor Corporation's four Monte Carlo Rally wins (it should have been five, but French judges got the British Minis [and Fords] disqualified on a technicality regarding headlights... which its own car, the winning DS, was also in violation of). The tiny red car and its white roof beat out Ford Falcons, Mercedes-Benz 300SEs and scores of Volvos, Volkswagens and Saabs. This, along with the several years of dominance that followed, cemented the idea that not only could the tiny, two-tone Mini be a real performance vehicle, but that family-friendly city cars in general could be fun.

Mini Coopers make the best Pac-Man ghosts in Pixels movie trailer

The concept of fighting off real-world incarnations of classic arcade game characters out to destroy the Earth sounds like a rejected idea for an SNL Digital Short. But it's coming to theaters this summer in a film called Pixels starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James. Based on the trailer, it seems the premise of the film is that aliens receive a message from Earth and decide to fight back with vintage arcade characters, including ones from Space Invaders, Q*bert and Donkey Kong. To defeat these baddies, Sandler and Co must beat them in the style of their respective games. When it comes time to take out the giant glowing-yellow Pac-Man, their plan includes outfitting a quartet of Mini Cooper S models as the ghosts. Squint at the cars' license plates to spot a subtle, visual joke. They are called Inky, Pinky, Blinky and Clyde – the nicknames of the enemies in the arcade. While it could be argued that Sandler and James haven't quite been at the top of their games recently, the story here appears to boil down to Ghostbusters with video games, which could work purely on a nostalgic level if it's properly handled. Check out the trailer to spot even more vintage arcade references.

2022 Mini Hardtop Brick Lane Edition is inspired by London's East End

Mini announced three special-edition models in February 2022, and it's not stopping there. It unveiled a fourth car called Brick Lane Edition that draws inspiration from London's East End to give the two- and four-door variants of the Hardtop Cooper S more flair. Visually, the Brick Lane Edition stands out from the standard Hardtop with White Silver Metallic exterior paint, a Soul Blue roof panel, black door mirror caps, and chrome trim. Soul Blue, Frozen Blue, and Mint graphics on the hood add a finishing touch to the look while creating a link between the car and the bricks that Brick Lane gets its name from. Mini also added 17-inch wheels painted black, decals above the rocker panels and edition-specific badges on both sides. These changes are relatively minor, but they give the Mini a cool look. Leather-upholstered and heated front sport seats are among the highlights in the cabin. The long list of standard features also includes a panoramic moonroof, piano black interior trim, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and a Harman-Kardon surround-sound system. You won't find bricks or blue accents in the engine bay. Power comes from a stock, Cooper S-sourced 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that's turbocharged to develop 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. It spins the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, but a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic linked to a pair of shift paddles is available at no extra cost. Mini dealers across the nation will begin receiving the Hardtop Brick Lane Edition in March 2022. Pricing starts at $36,525 for the two-door model and $37,525 for the four-door, figures that include a surprisingly reasonable $850 destination charge. This isn't the first time that a British brand unveils a special-edition model inspired by London's East End. In late 2021, Triumph channeled the "the vibrant, custom-classic motorcycle culture of London's East End" into the head-turning Street Twin EC1 Special Edition. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.