BRITISH-based manufacturers stole the limelight at the Detroit Motor Show, with a series of stunning unveilings and new models.

Among the Brit pack that grabbed all the attention at the event was the new Rolls Royce, revealed on Fleet NewsNet last week and the new Aston Martin AMV8, which the Ford-owned firm is looking to aim at Porsche 911 customers, taking the brand into the relatively low-cost sector.

The MINI Cooper was also named North American Car of the Year 2003 by a panel of American motoring journalists. It is the first ever British-built car to win the award. MINI UK general manager Trevor Houghton-Berry called the decision 'a real coup'.