The beginnings of the automobile industry in Great Britain may be traced all the way back to the 19th century. By the beginning of the 1950s, this nation had already established itself as the world’s second-largest manufacturer of transportation, behind only the United States in that regard. It was a major exporter of automobiles; nevertheless, it slowed down the rate of expansion of the sector at a time when other states were aggressively raising their production levels after many decades.
What exactly is meant by “British Car Brands”?
This is a distinct category of automobile brands that are available for purchase in international markets. Even if they were only recently purchased by automakers from other countries, they are still held by firms that are registered in the UK. Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Aston Martin are just few of the numerous brands that are produced in Britain (but some already have foreign owners).
As a direct consequence of this, the automobile sector in Great Britain fell far behind, and by 2008, it ranked just 12th in terms of sales throughout the global market. Since the 1990s, the vast majority of automobile brands originally produced in Britain have been acquired by businesses based in other countries. As an example, Rolls-Royce is the owner of BMW, Bentley is the owner of Volkswagen and Land Rover, and Jaguar is the owner of Tata. Additionally, foreigners are the owners of the rights of dormant trademarks.
Luxury Automobile Manufacturers
Because of the impression of warmth, comfort, and confidence that they exude, ultra-luxury automobiles are in high demand in the chilly latitudes of the United Kingdom. Who else but proper Englishmen would want to blend modern conveniences with the utmost in opulence? In the end, they were successful in this regard. Take, for instance, the illustrious Bentley and Rolls-Royce: these automobiles are the embodiment of perfection, encased in a fortress of steel. A true exclusive!
Bentley
Despite being in the luxury submarket of the automobile industry, the establishment of the brand took a long time and was challenging once it was introduced in 1919. The firm has mostly concentrated on producing sports automobiles. There is a good reason why all of the well-known variations of racing vehicles are believed to be “descendants” of the Bentley Speed Six and 412 Liter versions. Volkswagen is the company that now owns the brand.
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Rolls-Royce
The German automaker BMW owns the whole firm, which produces premium passenger vehicles in the United Kingdom. In the past, Bentley and Rolls-Royce were affiliated with one another. They had been a part of the same organisation in the past, but later changed hands to other owners while maintaining their emblems and other visual identifying marks.
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Lagonda
1906 marked the beginning of Lagonda’s career as a car manufacturer; the following year, he debuted his first vehicle. And with that, she was crowned the winner right away, having previously triumphed in the Moscow–St. Race in 1910. Petersburg. The success led to a demand for automobiles in Russia that had never been seen before. Not until 1914 did the boom begin to slow down.
Brands of Luxury Automobiles
Because luxury in England is defined not by a way of life but by exceptional comfort, the country’s residents place a high value on luxury automobiles. This concept is brought to life by engineers in the form of luxury passenger automobiles such as Land Rover, Mini, and Jaguar, which are representative of this class.
Landrover
The company’s history dates back to 1948 when it was founded as a part of Jaguar Land Rover. Today, the brand is owned by the Indian business Tata Motors. It is in the business of producing sport utility vehicles, customised cars, and four-wheel-drive automobiles. King George VI presented the firm with the Royal Warrant in 1951, and Queen Elizabeth II bestowed the Queen’s Award for Enterprise upon them in 2001.
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Jaguar
This firm has been through significant changes recently, which have had an effect on the products it offers. It was once known as the Swallow Sidecar and its primary emphasis was on car bodywork and motorcycle sidecars. After that, the business started manufacturing passenger automobiles under the name Jaguar Cars and changed its name to reflect this shift. The company was rebranded as Jaguar Land Rover Limited on the initiative of Tata Motors (in January 2013). All of this helped to reinforce its position, and items bearing its brand name have often earned the highest royal prizes given out by Elizabeth II and Prince Charles.
Mini
After beginning as a line of automobiles produced by the Rover Group firm, the brand eventually evolved into an independent business, and the name of the line was used as the company’s primary brand name. The premium miniature vehicle manufacturer has been under the ownership of the German automotive conglomerate BMW since the year 1994.
Manufacturers of Sports Cars
As a result of the British love of both luxury and speed, the manufacture of sports vehicles makes up the largest segment of the British automotive sector. In addition to this, they are effective in bringing everything together. A notable illustration of this may be seen in the automobiles produced by the companies McLaren, Aston Martin, Lister, and Arash, amongst many others.
The illustrious Aston Martin
The illustrious British sports vehicle manufacturer was established in 1913. In 1947, he purchased the company and got identified with James Bond’s famed DB5 model when it was featured in an episode of a superhero epic. This led to his association with the James Bond mythology. Today, Aston Martin automobiles are regarded as both a representation of British culture and one of the world’s quickest vehicles.
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McLaren
Due to the fact that Formula One driver Bruce McLaren was the company’s founder, this British automobile manufacturer produces mainly sports vehicles. The automobile company of today operates both manufacturing facilities and a technological centre, where it designs, develops, and tests its many pieces of machinery. At the moment, the assortment offered by the business may be broken down into three primary groups: Ultimate, Super, and Sports.
Lotus
Due to the vehicles’ low weight and high degree of manoeuvrability, this manufacturer has taken home seven Formula 1 championships. Following the death of the firm’s founder, Colin Chapman, the ownership of the business has changed many times until finally landing in the hands of the Chinese company Geely, which is in the automotive business.
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Morgan
Beginning in the year 1910, Morgan has a very lengthy and illustrious history. It has been in the ownership of Italians, namely the Investindustrial investment group, as of the year 2019. About 850 vehicles are produced each year by the facility, which specialises in the hand-built assembly of racing and rally cars. Because of this, there is often always a very lengthy line for such autos. The length of time spent on the waiting list might range anywhere from a few months to many years. Wooden components are always included in the body, which adds a certain touch of character to the product.
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Noble
The British producer of sports cars is a privately owned firm that only has a few of workers. It was established in 1999 in Leeds, although its current headquarters are in Leicester.
Arash
Arash Farboud is credited with establishing the non-public firm. It was originally known as Farboud Limited, but later on, in order to commemorate the person who started the company, the name was changed. 1999 saw the beginning of the company’s work on its first sports vehicle, the Farboud GT, which was eventually released the following year in 2001.
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Ascari
The year 1995 marked the beginning of operations for the corporation, which went out of business in 2010. It was named after Alberto Ascari, who was the first driver to win the World Championship of Drivers on two separate occasions.
TVR
TVR Motors Company Limited was established in 1946 as a British automobile company specialising in sports cars. Europe is its primary source of automobile sales. The vast majority of them are low-slung sports vehicles equipped with potent engines (coupes and convertibles).
Ginetta
It is a privately owned and operated racing and sports vehicle manufacturer. In 1958, four brothers named Walklett established the business in Garforth, which is located in West Yorkshire.
Lister
The automobile brand was established in 1954, and it quickly became famous for the first Lister-Bristol and Lister Storm sports cars it produced. Race car racer and business founder Brian Lister got his start in the sport.
Zenos
The fledgling carmaker is only manufacturing one model at this time, which is the Zenos E10, and it comes in three different configurations. Since 2012, he has been in the business of designing, collecting, and selling these items.
AC
It is a privately owned automobile manufacturing company that was established in 1901. It went through several owners, vanished for a while, and then resurfaced under a new moniker as a result of financial difficulties. The current location of its headquarters is in Thames Ditton, which is in the county of Surrey (UK).
Atalanta
The vehicle manufacturer, which debuted in 2011, is in fact nothing more than a relaunch of the same corporation that existed in the 1930s and had the same name. During the Second World War, she manufactured just 21 different pieces of equipment before she ceased making passenger automobiles.
BAC
This producer of high-performance vehicles goes by the full name Briggs Automotive Company. Neil and Ian Briggs, who are brothers, established the company and established its headquarters in Liverpool. Two years later, in 1952, the Mono was introduced as the first automobile.
Suffolk
The company has offices in the vicinity of Woodbridge. She was actively involved in the production of replicas of vintage Jaguar vehicles. As a result of a legal dispute with Jaguar Land Rover over an outstanding debt of 850 thousand pounds, the firm has been shut down.
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Ronart
Designer and producer of one-of-a-kind racing vehicles that are made to customer specifications in limited numbers. His collection of vehicles includes both high-performance sports cars and high-speed vehicles designed for use on public highways. 1984 was the year that saw the launch of the brand.
Ultima
Ultima Sports Ltd, a British company with headquarters in Hinckley, is responsible for the production of the Ultima GTR, a two-door coupe-style lightweight sports vehicle. He provides the option of purchasing it completely equipped or having it constructed on demand.
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Gardner Douglas
It is a brand of subcompact sports cars that is headquartered in Grantham, England in the United Kingdom. It is capable of producing replicas of AC Cobra and Lola T70 models.
Brooke
It also acquired the rights to the automobile manufacturer Brooke Kensington in the year 2002. Devon is the location of the company’s headquarters.
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Marlin
Paul Moorhouse, who would later go on to build the firm, first created automobiles for his own use before going on to start mass manufacture of the vehicles. 1979 marked the beginning of commercial sales.
Roadsters
Because the British are known to be romantics who like spending time together while enjoying the open air, roadsters are in high demand in the country. There are a number of manufacturers who create two-seater automobiles that have a roof that can be retracted. There is also the Caterham, the MEV, and the Elva.
Elemental
The RP1 sports automobile was the impetus for the establishment of the company, which served as both its designer and manufacturer. It is a component of the organisation of the same name, Elemental Group Ltd., and can be found in Hambledon, which is situated in the United Kingdom.
Caparo
Originally known as Freestream, Caparo Vehicle Technologies was established with the intention of concentrating on specific innovations within the automobile sector. In 2019, the firm that had previously produced its own own sports automobile, known as the T1, went out of business.
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Caterham
The Caterham Seven (or 7) sports vehicle served as the inspiration for the debut of the brand in 1973. It is headquartered in Crawley, which is located in the county of Sussex in the UK.
Westfield
The British firm, which began operations in 1982, has been involved in the manufacturing of factory as well as individual roadsters since its inception. Her area of expertise is in Lotus Seven automobiles.
Elva
The name of this automobile manufacturer comes from the French word “elle va,” which translates to “she drives.” The range of products offered by this firm includes two-seater sports vehicles and racing automobiles.
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MEV
The Mills Extreme Vehicles firm, which is based in Mansfield and has given its name to the acronym that constitutes the trademark (UK). The business was established in 2003 and is now involved in the production of automobiles of the Replicar and Exocet brands.
MK
After producing suspensions and other components for the Locost chassis, this firm went on to design and build their roadster (in 2000). It was given the name Indy.
Different Brands
There is a further classification of British automobile manufacturers. It comprises a limited edition model, as well as versions for a specific purpose and for local distribution. This also covers formerly unsuccessful or very tiny enterprises that have been acquired by larger corporations.
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Vauxhall
In the year 1857, the business was first established. At this time, the multi-national firm Stellantis is the owner of the property. The brand provides automobiles for the mainstream market that are similar to Opel models but are solely distributed inside the United States.
MG
This company is a maker of compact automobiles. Following a string of mergers and acquisitions, he was eventually absorbed by the Nanjing Automobile Group, which, in 2008, merged with SAIC. The British automobile manufacturer MG was established in 1924.
Ariel
The corporation had its beginnings in 1870 and served as the foundation for this little automobile manufacturer. In 2001, it was resurrected in Krukern and began producing passenger vehicles under the Ariel Atom brand.
Brown, David
This brand is known for producing limited edition automobiles. David Brown, a successful businessman, is the proprietor of the firm that bears his name and operates it from its headquarters in Silverstone.
Keating
2006 saw the beginning of production for the TKR supercar by the automobile manufacturer located in Manchester. At the moment, she is the proud owner of four automobiles of her own design.
LEVC
This British corporation is really owned by the Chinese automobile manufacturer Geely, which makes it a subsidiary. It is a company that provides engineering services and is based in Coventry. In addition, the company is famous for producing black cabs in England.
Grinnall
After a year of selling historic automobiles, the business transitioned to selling tricycles, which are vehicles with three wheels instead of two. 1991 is generally regarded as the year that this brand was established, since it was the year that the first model was released.
Prodrive
David Richards, a successful businessman, established a racing vehicle plant in Banbury in the year 1984. It now develops, assembles, and tests automobiles for well-known firms like Volkswagen, Mini, and Aston Martin by using cutting-edge technology in all of these processes.
Radical
In 1997, two racing vehicle developers and automotive engineers named Mick Hyde and Phil Abbott established their company as a manufacturer and developer of racing cars. They set out to develop high-performance vehicles that could be used on public roads as well as specialised racing circuits. The SR3 is the most outstanding model offered by the brand.
Bowler
The racing-class SUVs on sale are produced by a firm that has been in business since 1985. The Range Rover and Land Rover Defender chassis serve as the foundation for their production. The company’s headquarters may be found in Belper (UK).
It’s a JBA Motors
The manufacturer is well known for its high-end automobiles, which it has been manufacturing in Norwich since the year 1982. The first letters of the names of the people who founded the firm are incorporated into the abbreviation that is used in the name: Jones, Barlow, and Ashley.
Axon
Since 2005, this maker of toy cars has been competing in the tiny vehicle industry despite its youth. Wellingborough is the location of the company’s headquarters.
Bristol
The first of this brand’s high-end automobiles hit the market in the year 1945. It was purchased by Kamkorp in 2011, and since then, they have been working to revive the manufacture of premium handmade automobiles.
Daimler
Automakers that are no longer in business
The history of the British automobile industry is a self-contained framework that adheres to the overarching principles of survival, decline, prosperity, and progress. Therefore, just like in the automobile sector of every nation in the world, there are seasoned and advanced manufacturers, as well as those who were unable to survive the assault of either external or internal conditions. As a direct consequence of this, a distinct collection of businesses emerged, all of which eventually went out of business for various reasons. Among them are Rover, which continued to run until 2005, Marcos and ERF, which shut down in 2007, and Eterniti (ceased to exist in 2014).
Eterniti
The Eterniti Motors firm only operated for a total of four years and was only successful in producing one model of automobile: the Hemera, which was renamed Artemis later on. It was a super SUV that came equipped with a drink cooler, lambswool carpets, and a roof made of clear acrylic. They were modelled after the Porsche Cayenne in both their physical look and their mechanical characteristics. The well-known model was given their own unique spin by the engineers that worked on the premium vehicle. The letter “E” in the calligraphic font with curls was accompanied by the word “ETERNITI” written in thin, exquisite script, and it was customarily placed inside the coat of arms. The logo was also reminiscent of luxury. The arrangement of the stripes gave the impression of a wing, which suggested a high rate of speed. Beginning in 2014, the firm completely withdrew from the market.
ERF
In 1933, the automobile company ERF was established. Edwin Richard Foden, who was terminated from his prior position at Foden Trucks owing to conflicts with the board of directors, is honoured with this name for the company. The truth of the matter is that Edwin wanted to design vehicles that were powered by diesel engines, but his coworkers were against the idea. He went into retirement so that he could work on his project on his own, and he was successful: ERF vehicles have gained notoriety both in the UK and internationally. However, when compared to its rivals, the corporation fell short in many respects. She procured all of the necessary components from several vendors but could not brag about having big sales volumes. Before it was discontinued, the ERF brand went through a series of transitions that culminated in its transfer to MAN. First, the lineup was altered, and then the new owner made the decision to completely do away with the previous trademark and its logo, which had the letters “ERF” in red and was separated by two diagonal lines of the same colour.
Marcos
In 1960, the automobile manufacturer Marcos Engineering unveiled its very first sports vehicle. The novelty had a highly peculiar appearance at first, but by the time manufacturing had begun, the designers had streamlined the car’s exterior to conform to the norms that were already in place. The frequent relocation and revamping of the company’s manufacturing facilities has a severe impact on its overall financial health. She had many bouts of financial ruin, yet she was spared the consequences of being bankrupt. The last time anything like this occurred was in the early 2000s, when a businessman from the United States resumed manufacturing again. In spite of all efforts, the business went out of business in 2007. At the same time, the final vehicles were produced with the Marcos brand emblem, which consisted of an oval plate that displayed the brand name and was embellished with a curly silver frame.
Foden
Plant & Hancock, a manufacturer of agricultural equipment, came before Foden and was Foden’s forerunner. In 1887, in honour of the new owner Edwin Foden, the place was given its current name. Before moving on to diesel engines, the firm had been in the business of producing steam-powered vehicles for quite some time. Because there was such a strong demand for trucks, the management made plans to construct an additional facility. However, throughout the 1970s, the market for automobiles saw a decline, which resulted in monetary challenges. PACCAR, an American enterprise, finally acquired the business a further twelve years after it had been founded. He started by switching out the original automobiles with DAF models, and then he ceased manufacturing Foden trucks entirely in order to make room for more DAF goods. At the same time, the diamond-shaped emblem in black and white with a broad border and the handwritten word “Foden” was retired.
Rover
It was in the nineteenth century that the Rover firm was founded. She started off building bicycles and motorbikes before transitioning into the automobile industry. After the war, the company started shipping its wares to customers in other nations throughout the world. Take, for instance, the Rover P4 model; it’s often regarded as the most innovative product in the automotive sector throughout all of Europe. Following then, the selection went through a number of iterations as a result of the business changing hands multiple times: the BMW concern, the Phoenix Consortium holding, the Ford firm, and the Indian automobile maker Tata Motors were all proprietors of the business at different points in time. Ford should be commended for being responsible for the demise of Rover. As soon as it was clear that the company was going bankrupt, a representative of the “big three” did their best to get rid of the brand as quickly as they could. The brand name and logo for Tata Motors now belong to the company (black trapezoid with the ROVER wordmark and abstract geometric shapes).
Morris
In its early years, Morris Motors Limited had a good deal of commercial success. By 1924, it had already surpassed Ford and taken more than 50 percent of the market share for automobiles in Britain. Around the middle of the 1980s, production of models with the Morris brand name was stopped. In its present iteration, the brand is owned by SAIC Motor Corporation Limited. The now-defunct company’s first logo was based on the coat of arms of the city of Oxford, where the company’s founder, William Morris, was both born and raised. The insignia consists of a circle that is silver-blue in colour and has a red bull that is crossing the River Isis.
Triumph
The Triumph brand name was just as impressive as its emblem. It included an illustration of a laurel wreath, which is a sign often reserved for victors. Despite having lofty goals, the business failed and closed its doors in 1984. In the year 1889, Triumph started putting together their first automobiles. The selection was always growing, but the manufacturer had to get rid of some of the vehicles that weren’t selling well since they were having financial troubles. In the end, there was just the Triumph Acclaim, which was based on the Honda Ballade. After that, he ceased his production. Since 1994, BMW has owned the whole set of rights to the brand.
Jensen
In 1934, the bodybuilder WJ Smith & Sons Limited started a worldwide rebranding effort, which resulted in the formation of Jensen Motors Limited. Jensen produced a range of commercial and sporting vehicles, including as light trucks, buses, pickups, vans, and luxury cars, among other types of motor vehicles. In 1976, the brand’s automobiles were no longer available for purchase, but they reappeared on the market 22 years later. They have kept the original circular emblem that has the words “JENSEN,” “JENSEN MOTORS LTD,” and “WEST BROMICH, ENGLAND” written in gold letters, despite the fact that the firm was officially dissolved in 2011.
Singer
The history of Singer Motors includes a time when the company focused only on the production of bicycles. 1901 was the year when automobiles were finally brought to the lineup. These were the three-wheeled business vehicles that milkmen and other merchants used. 1905 was the year that saw the introduction of the first model with four wheels. Radiators used to be ornamented with a symbol that depicted a prominent “S” on a bicycle wheel. This practise continued until 1912. After then, it was taken away. In the 1950s, the firm started experiencing financial difficulties, which led to its acquisition by the Rootes Group, another automobile manufacturing company. The Singer brand was discontinued in 1970 when Rootes went out of business due to financial difficulties.
Riley
The Riley brothers established the Riley Engine Company in 1902 with the intention of producing two- and four-wheeled vehicles, including motorbikes. The company changed its name to Riley (Coventry) Limited in 1912 because its proprietors made the decision to expand into a new and more lucrative business field, which was the manufacturing of spoked wheels. This decision led to the company’s rebranding. In spite of this, the brothers restarted production of automobiles exactly one year later. Rapid expansion enabled the business to broaden its product offerings, which now include limos, sports cars, sedans, and passenger vehicles with coupes. Following a chain of mergers, it was finally decided to dissolve the company because its owners believed it was no longer sustainable. Despite this, the British brand automobiles that are still in production are revered as cult classics, and so is the company’s logo, which has the handwritten writing “Riley” within of a blue diamond with silver outlining.
Leyland
After being dissolved in 1968, Leyland Motors became a part of British Motor Holdings. With this union, the company’s name was changed to British Leyland Motor Corporation. Leyland used to make buses and vehicles back when it was still a separate firm. As one of her logos, she used a blue ring with a cluster of bridges that all converged in the middle. One large, italicised letter “L” was found within.
Alvis
Alvis, a private automaker, started off in the scooter, carburetor, and engine industries in 1919. After complaints from aeroplane manufacturer Avro, she was forced to redesign her emblem to avoid legal action. This was the original version of the well-known emblem, a red triangle with the letters “ALVIS” stylised within. Up until 1967, the firm had been making automobiles for the general public. The trademark later evolved into British Leyland’s military division, and images of armoured vehicles were used in the company’s logo.
Berkeley
Trailer maker Berkeley Coachworks and British engineer Lawrence Bond have partnered to form Berkeley. From 1956 until 1960, they teamed together to build a sports microcar. Affectionately known as a “cheap safe and delicate automobile,” it rose to prominence as a racing vehicle with those three characteristics. Its emblem was a capital letter “B” within a red and grey circle, inside a ring reading “BERKELEY,” and surrounded by five stars. Demand for RVs plummeted in 1960, leading to the closure of Berkeley Coachworks.
Austin
The Austin Motor Company produced a line of vehicles under the Austin name in the first part of the 20th century. In 1905, engineer Herbert Austin constructed the first prototype in his garage. He opened his luxury automobile dealership with that niche in mind. Members of the Spanish government, bishops from the Catholic Church, and Russian princes were among his clients. The firm eventually branched out to produce trucks and other commercial vehicles. As a result of their merger with Morris Motors in 1952, the firm ceased to exist. They were replaced by the British Motor Corporation holding. So, the business name and the silver logo with a handwritten “Austin” are no longer in use.
Hillman
The Hillman Company was once called Hillman-Coatalen until the year 1910. Before the renaming, the company focused on producing racing vehicles, but now it makes six-cylinder versions designed for use on public roads. Her automobiles had a red diamond logo, two white fenders, and the name “HILLMAN.” The firm amalgamated with Humber Limited in 1931.
What kinds of automobiles do the British manufacture?
The British auto industry may be in decline, but it continues to create vehicles for both the mainstream market and the ultra-luxury end of the market. In addition, not every business is British; some plants assembly automobiles for international brands. The Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla Saloon are two such examples.
Which English automobile manufacturer do you consider to be the best?
The Warwickshire-based ultra-luxury carmaker Aston Martin Lagonda was voted the finest brand in the English auto industry.
If you were to choose one automobile that represents Britain, which one would you choose?
The original Mini, which became a cultural icon in Britain, was deservingly dubbed the “most British” automobile ever made. However, BMW AG of Germany already has the rights to this name.
I’m curious as to which makes of automobile are the most well regarded in the UK.
The ultra-luxury segment is where you’ll find the best British automakers. Luxury automobile manufacturers like Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Lagonda are at the forefront of technological innovation and design for passenger comfort. However, rival premium automakers like Land Rover, Jaguar, and Mini can hold their own.
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