Mike Brewer's Column

Time to puff up our chests and go patriotic

Auto Express Car Reviews

30th September 2006

So another blistering summer is quickly fading into autumn. And like the dead leaves that will be falling from the trees, I expect a flutter of money to cascade into UK showrooms. This year, the British car industry has pulled out all the stops and made the country and me very proud. I know we have our familiar scare stories, such as Jaguar going to the wall and Ford having a tough time. But with enough Bulldog Spirit, there's always hope on the horizon - Jag is still British, there's interest in the sleeping cat from UK-owned JCB and Ford is looking to turn its fortunes around. What's got my chest really puffed out, however, is the raft of new metal currently leaving our factory gates that has a truly global market.


	So it's not all doom and gloom. Without the talent of British workers, the flair of its designers and the quality that we have come to expect from manufacturing centres around our nation, car makers would take their products elsewhere.

The latest Transit, built in Southampton, should put some much needed cash back into the blue oval's coffers, as I expect it will take Europe by storm. And the new Rolls-Royce coupé is sure to have the wealthy Americans and rich oil barons of the Middle East emptying their wallets.

However, it's the more humble offerings that will keep our exports up, and the nice thing is that when you see one, no matter where you are on the planet, you know it was born in Britain. I dare you to find a holiday hire company in Europe next year which won't have a fleet of new Vauxhall Corsas on its books. This car makes even the funky Ford Fiesta look old!

The latest Land Rover Freelander has been more than an evolution of the old model. It's country miles ahead in terms of quality and feel, and I'm sure will be a massive success. I don't think there's much to worry about for Jaguar, either. With the likes of the new XK arriving and Head of Design Ian Callum drawing the next new models, it should be good news on the road ahead.

Let's not forget that Britain still produces some of the best 'foreign' cars. The fresh Honda Civic has won praise by all who've driven it, including Auto Express, and we can take pride that it's made in Swindon, Wiltshire. Toyota continues to assemble its Avensis and Corolla at Burnaston in Derbyshire and Nissan, which seems to own most of Sunderland, produces half its model range using the grandsons of British mill workers. But the UK's biggest success has to be the MINI, built in Cowley, Oxford. Owner BMW keeps the plant going 24/7 to satisfy demand, but hasn't taken its eye off the ball, with a revised model in the wings and the Traveller estate soon to come.

So it's not all doom and gloom. Without the talent of British workers, the flair of its designers and the quality that we have come to expect from manufacturing centres around our nation, car makers would take their products elsewhere. The sole disappointment this year has been the French, with Peugeot stripping from the hard-working people of the Midlands its most successful car in the 206, and moving production of the 207 away. I hope it doesn't come to regret that decision!

With so many great vehicles pouring out of Britain, the cash tills should keep ringing at the showrooms. And next time someone complains that UK manufacturing is falling behind the rest of the world and we don't produce cars like we used to, tell them to think again. Because we do.

Mike Brewer presents ITV's Wrecks to Riches and Revved Up, the British Rally on Channel 4 and Wheeler Dealers on Discovery Real Time