Top Car News 2011
It’s the first day of 2012, so it seems like a good time to look back at the top car news stories of 2011.
Instead of looking at the most read stories overall of 2011 on Cars UK, we thought we’d have a look at the top story for each month. Each month had a clear winner in terms of the top story, apart from March and September where it was too close to call, so we’ve looked back at both stories that were most popular in those months.
Of course, with all the shenanigans going on at Saab through the year we’ve probably seen more pages viewed on the Saab saga (especially if you include Vladimir Antonov in that) than anything else. But this is a look at the most popular stories of the year for each month.
January 2011
Pagani Huayra: First real Huayra photo – EXCLUSIVE!
Pagani Huayra First Photo
We have the first of the official photos of the new Pagani Huayra – a week before the Zonda’s replacement is revealed.
We’d been sitting on an official photo of the new Pagani Huayra for a while, but when some murky scans were published on Teamspeed, we thought we may as well jump in and publish the first official photo of the new Huayra…in the world!
February 2011
Hyundai i40: On sale UK in June & first i40 interior photo
The first official photo of the Hyundai i40 interior
The production-ready European Hyundai i40 will debut at Geneva and go on sale in the UK in June. Plus we have the first official Hyundai i40 interior photo.
In a clear sign of how popular Hyundai has become, the biggest story in February was the news that the European version of the i40 would debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and the first photo of the i40’s interior.
March 2011
Two stories just about tied for the top car news story of March, so we thought they both deserved a reprise:
BAC Mono: Single-seat road thrills
BAC Mono - the world's first single-seat production road racer
Briggs Automotive Company has revealed the BAC Mono, a single-seat road racer with a 2.8 second 0-60mph and 170mph. Costs £67k +tax.
The world has seen many track cars for the road come and go, but the BAC Mono stood out as a real quality product with serious performance. And the photos of the BAC Mono have been some of the most viewed on Cars UK this year.
Koenigsegg Agera R: Geneva photos & video
Koenigsegg Agera R at Geneva
We update the info on the Koenigsegg Agera R with video and photos from Geneva and ask – Is the Agera R a serious contender for star of the show?
We’d run previous stories on the Agera on steroids that is the Agera R, but the story we ran from Geneva got almost as much interest as the BAC Mono story.
April 2011
Range Rover Evoque Price: An Evoque for under £28k
The Range Rover Evoque finally gets a price in the UK - from £28k
Land Rover has finally revealed UK prices for their new baby – the Range Rover Evoque – which will start at £27,955 and rise to £44,320.
2011 was very much the year of the Range Rover Evoque, and the reveal of UK prices and details for Land Rover’s new stylish baby struck a chord with readers. As did many other Evoque photos and stories throughout the year.
May 2011
Aston Martin V12 Zagato revealed
Aston Martin V12 Zagato - at Villa d'Este
Aston Martin has revealed the Aston Martin V12 Zagato – based on the V12 Vantage – ahead of its debut at Villa d’Este.
The Aston Martin V12 Zagato is a limited edition of the V12 Vantage with Zagato styling and being built by CPP. We’d trailed the story before this, but it was the official reveal that got your attention.
June 2011
2012 BMW 1-Series – it’s official
2012 BMW 1-Series - now from BMW
Just 24 hours from the leak of the 2012 BMW 1-Series, BMW manage to release official details of the new 1-Series, and a stack of photos.
The new BMW 1 Series was a big deal, and this story has continued to get a lot of views, as have the photo galleries and other stories on the 1-Series.
July 2011
CPP buys Zagato
Ferrari 550 GTZ - built by CPP
In a further acquisition, specialist car builder CPP (Coventry Prototype Panels) has acquired Milanese Car Design House Zagato for an undisclosed sum.
Another Cars UK exclusive story that got a lot of coverage and a lot of reads. CPP were keen to point out that the Zagato deal was in fact a ‘Partnership’.
August 2011
Pagani Huayra on sale in the U.S.? We don’t think so.
Pagani Huayra - not bound for the USA any time soon
We’ve been hearing for some time that the Pagani Huayra is nowhere near ready to be federalised. Will the Pagani Huayra ever be legal in the U.S.? We don’t think so.
We’d been hearing for some time that Pagani couldn’t make the Huayra road legal in the US – despite the US being their prime target as a new market. Shortly after we ran this story Pagani confirmed they wouldn’t be able to get the Huayra to the US until 2013, despite taking deposits.
September 2011
Another month we couldn’t slip a fag paper (that’s a British ‘Fag’, for the benefit of our colonial cousins) between the two top stories of the month. But it was a clean sweep for Jaguar Land Rover.
Jaguar C-X16 Revealed: It may be the XE, but it’s no E-Type Jag
Jaguar C-X16 - innovative under the skin
The new Jaguar C-X16 – which may become the Jaguar XE – gets revealed ahead of Frankfurt, complete with hybrid powertrain.
Actually, if you put this story on the new small Jaguar sports car – the Jaguar XE, or whatever it’s going to be called – with the follow-up story when the CX-16 actually arrived at Frankfurt, the CX-16 story was the big winner for September.
Land Rover DC100 Sport – it’s the Sporty new Defender
Land Rover Defender gets funky with the DC100 Sport
Land Rover has revealed a cool and sporty version of the new Land Rover Defender. The DC100 Sport is an open ‘Speedster’ Defender.
Land Rover’s Lifestyle take on the next generation Defender got a lot of interest. Not quite as much as the Jaguar, but it was so close we thought the New Defender deserved a look-in.
October 2011
Is Aston Martin up for sale?
How much longer can Aston Martin keep recycling old technology?
The rumours are continuing to grow that Aston Martin are scouring the car world for a buyer, despite denials from AML.
An editorial piece speculating on the uncertain future at Aston Martin, we wondered what the future holds for a company with ancient platforms and engines and basically just one model. A surprise hit.
November 2011
Cold Fusion: Has the Holy Grail of Energy arrived in E-Cat?
Scientists Andrea Rossi talks about his Cold Fusion E-Cat
It may not be directly about cars, but the demonstration by Italian scientist Andrei Rossi of Cold Fusion Energy production E-Cat could change the car world.
A surprise hit, this was an odd story about a mad Italian scientist who claims to have cracked cold fusion. The implications for the future of cars is huge, but the project is far from proved.
December 2011
Hyundai Veloster UK (2012): Photos and video
Hyundai UK deliver a bumper load of photos and video of the new Veloster
Hyundai UK has been busy taking photos and video of the new Veloster Coupe – due in showrooms in 2012 – and we have plenty of both.
Despite only being published on Christmas Eve, this story on the 2012 Hyundai Veloster – and its photo gallery and video – have kept plenty of you busy over the holiday period.
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