British International Motor Show
Encyclopedia
The British International Motor Show is an automobile show held biennially in the United Kingdom
. It is recognised as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles
. The 2008 was the last event with no news of a return of the British International Motor Show. The 2010 show was cancelled due to an economic downturn, and the 2012 show subsequently cancelled.
(SMMT) was held at Crystal Palace
, London
in 1903. It subsequently moved to Olympia
in London, where it was held each year for 32 years. From 1937 until 1976, it was held at Earl's Court
in London, before moving to the National Exhibition Centre
(NEC), Birmingham
in 1978. The NEC hosted the show every other year until the last show there in May 2004.
The 2004 show was moved from the traditional October date to May to avoid conflicting with the other two major autumn motor shows in Frankfurt and Paris. In 2006 the motor show was returned to London, taking place at ExCeL in London Docklands. The 2008 motor show was to be the second and last at ExCeL, with the 2010 cancelled in 2009 due to the economic climate,
and then the 2012 show cancelled in 2010.
Once the International Motor Show became a biannual event with the move to the Birmingham NEC for the 1978 show, a new London motor show, called Motorfair, was created and alternated with the international show, and ran from 1977 to 1999 at Earls Court. A smaller, non-international show called the London Motorexpo was established in 1996 at Canary Wharf
and is an annual event that still runs.
from 1905 to 1936.
Being the first motor show since the end of World War II
there were a large number of significant car launches, and received 562,954 visitors. Vehicle introductions:
Vehicle introduction:
Vehicle introduction:
Vehicle introductions:
For the first time since 1948, 1967 saw an increase in the normal daily admission charge which was raised from 5 shillings (GBP 0.25) to 7 shillings and 6 (old) pence (GBP 0.375).
Vehicle introductions:
The opening ceremony was performed by Princess Alexandra
at 10 am on Wednesday 16 October.
Vehicle introductions:
The Citroën CX
had been launched a few weeks earlier at the Paris Motor Show and was scheduled for inclusion in the 1974 London show. It was withdrawn at the eleventh hour, possibly because the manufacturers found themselves unable to schedule rhd production of the car till well into 1975. The model nevertheless went on to win first place with motoring journalists voting for the European Car of the Year
a few months later.
Vehicle introductions:
in Birmingham, and attracted record crowds of 908,194.
Vehicle introductions:
Vehicle introductions:
Vehicle introductions:
Vehicle introductions:
1998 was also the year that the then BMW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder
made an impromptu speech about the future of the Rover Longbridge plant
which would then lead to the sell of the brand in 2000 and its collapse in 2005.
, MG SV and TVR T350
.
Motorshow Live, was held from 27 May - 6 June, instead of the usual October.
Vehicle introductions:
Dock rock performers:
models. "The Electric Vehicle Village" brought together one of the largest collections of zero-emissions vehicles ever seen in the UK, with a display of more than 20 vehicles which are propelled solely by battery power. The motor show displayed a number of high-priced, high-performance electric cars such as the Lightning GT
and Tesla Roadster
.
Car Introductions:
Concept Cars:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is recognised as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles
Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles
The Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, commonly abbreviated OICA , is a federation of automobile manufacturers, based in Paris, founded in 1919...
. The 2008 was the last event with no news of a return of the British International Motor Show. The 2010 show was cancelled due to an economic downturn, and the 2012 show subsequently cancelled.
History
The first British Motor Show organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and TradersSociety of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is the trade association for the United Kingdom motor industry. It "promote the interests of the UK automotive industry at home and abroad".-History:...
(SMMT) was held at Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1903. It subsequently moved to Olympia
Olympia, London
Olympia is an exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, on the boundary between The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, London, W14 8UX, England. It opened in the 19th century and was originally known as the National Agricultural Hall.Opened in 1886,...
in London, where it was held each year for 32 years. From 1937 until 1976, it was held at Earl's Court
Earls Court Exhibition Centre
The Earls Court Exhibition Centre is an exhibition centre, conference and event venue located in west London, United Kingdom in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea . It is the largest exhibition venue in central London. It is served by two underground stations, Earl's Court and West...
in London, before moving to the National Exhibition Centre
National Exhibition Centre
The National Exhibition Centre is an exhibition centre in Birmingham, England. It is near junction 6 of the M42 motorway, and is adjacent to Birmingham International Airport and Birmingham International railway station. It has 20 interconnected halls, set in grounds of 628 acres making it the...
(NEC), Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1978. The NEC hosted the show every other year until the last show there in May 2004.
The 2004 show was moved from the traditional October date to May to avoid conflicting with the other two major autumn motor shows in Frankfurt and Paris. In 2006 the motor show was returned to London, taking place at ExCeL in London Docklands. The 2008 motor show was to be the second and last at ExCeL, with the 2010 cancelled in 2009 due to the economic climate,
and then the 2012 show cancelled in 2010.
Once the International Motor Show became a biannual event with the move to the Birmingham NEC for the 1978 show, a new London motor show, called Motorfair, was created and alternated with the international show, and ran from 1977 to 1999 at Earls Court. A smaller, non-international show called the London Motorexpo was established in 1996 at Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
and is an annual event that still runs.
1905-1936
The British International Motor Show was held annually at OlympiaOlympia, London
Olympia is an exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, on the boundary between The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, London, W14 8UX, England. It opened in the 19th century and was originally known as the National Agricultural Hall.Opened in 1886,...
from 1905 to 1936.
1948
27 October 1948–6 November 1948 Earls Court, London.Being the first motor show since the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
there were a large number of significant car launches, and received 562,954 visitors. Vehicle introductions:
- Austin A70 Hampshire
- Austin A90 Atlantic
- Hillman MinxHillman MinxThe Hillman Minx was a series of middle-sized family cars produced under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group between 1932 and 1970...
- [LAGONDA 2.6]- Fully independant syspension
- Jaguar XK120Jaguar XK120The Jaguar XK120 is a sports car which was manufactured by Jaguar between 1948 and 1954. It was Jaguar's first sports car since the SS 100, which ceased production in 1940.-History:...
- launched, and was the world's fastest production car at the time - Morris OxfordMorris OxfordAfter the Second World War the Oxford MO replaced the 10. It was introduced in 1948 and was produced until 1954. The design was shared with Nuffield Organisation stable-mate Wolseley 4/50....
- Morris Six MSMorris Six MSThe Morris Six MS was a six-cylinder midsize car from the Morris Motor Company made from 1948 to 1953. It was the company's first post war six cylinder car. At launch the car was priced at £671 on the UK market....
- Singer SM1500Singer SM1500In September 1954 the car was re-branded as the Singer Hunter with a traditional radiator grille and fibreglass bonnet lid until 1955. The Hunter was well equipped with twin horns and screenwash as standard. A horse-head mascot was fitted over the radiator...
- Sunbeam-TalbotSunbeam-Talbot-Background history:The Sunbeam Motorcar Company Ltd was formed in 1905 to separate the Sunbeam motorcycle and bicycle maker from the new car manufacturer....
80 - Sunbeam-Talbot 90Sunbeam-Talbot 90The Sunbeam Talbot 90 was a sporting car built by the Rootes Group in Ryton Coventry under their Sunbeam-Talbot brand.The car was launched in 1948 along with the smaller engined Sunbeam-Talbot 80 but many features dated back to the pre war Sunbeam-Talbot Ten. The body was completely new and...
- Vauxhall VeloxVauxhall VeloxThe classic four-door saloon boasted a newly developed straight-six-cylinder engine of 2275 cc, with overhead valves. The power output provided for a claimed top speed of...
- Vauxhall WyvernVauxhall WyvernThe Vauxhall Wyvern is a medium sized family car introduced by Vauxhall in 1948 as a successor to the Vauxhall 12. The name comes from the mythical beast the Wyvern and may be due to a mis-identity of the heraldic Griffin on the Vauxhall badge....
- Wolseley 4/50Wolseley 4/50The Wolseley 4/50 and similar 6/80 were Wolseley Motor Company's first post-war automobiles. They were rushed into production in 1948 and were based on the Morris Oxford MO and the Morris Six MS respectively...
- Wolseley 6/80
1951
19 October 1951–29 October 1952 Earls Court, London.Vehicle introduction:
- Austin A30Austin A30The A30 was a compact car produced by Austin Motor Company in the 1950s. Introduced in 1951 as the "New Austin Seven", it was Austin's answer to the Morris Minor...
1962
17 October 1962–27 October 1962 Earls Court, London.Vehicle introduction:
- Ford Cortina Mark I
- Triumph SpitfireTriumph SpitfireThe Triumph Spitfire is a small English two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti...
1966
19 October 1966–29 October 1966 Earls Court, London.Vehicle introductions:
- Aston Martin DB6 VolanteAston Martin DB6The Aston Martin DB6 is a grand tourer made by British car manufacturer Aston Martin. Produced from September 1965 to January 1971, the DB6 had the longest production run up to that date of any Aston Martin model...
- debut - Ford Cortina Mark II
- Hillman HunterHillman HunterRootes Arrow was the manufacturer's name for a range of cars produced under several badge-engineered marques by the Rootes Group from 1966 to 1979. It is amongst the last Rootes designs, developed with no influence from future owner Chrysler...
- Jensen FFJensen FFThe Jensen FF was a four-wheel drive Grand Tourer car produced by the British manufacturer Jensen Motors between 1966 and 1971. It was the first non all-terrain production car equipped with 4WD and an anti-lock braking system — the Dunlop Maxaret mechanical system used hitherto only on...
- AWD super car launched. The world's first production car with anti-lock brakes. - Vauxhall Viva HB
1967
18 October 1967–28 October 1967 Earls Court, London.For the first time since 1948, 1967 saw an increase in the normal daily admission charge which was raised from 5 shillings (GBP 0.25) to 7 shillings and 6 (old) pence (GBP 0.375).
Vehicle introductions:
- Aston Martin DBSAston Martin DBSThe Aston Martin DBS is a GT car produced by the British manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. Originally produced from 1967–72, it featured in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service...
- Triumph Herald 13/60
- NSU Ro80
- Simca 1100Simca 1100The Simca 1100 is an automobile built from 1967 to 1982 by Chrysler Europe's division Simca. It was replaced by the Talbot Horizon.The 1100 was the result of "Project 928", started in 1962, finalized by engineers Philippe Grundeler and Charles Scales...
1968
16 October 1968–26 October 1968 Earls Court, London.The opening ceremony was performed by Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
at 10 am on Wednesday 16 October.
Vehicle introductions:
- Jaguar XJ6
- Austin 3-litreAustin 3-LitreThe Austin 3-Litre was a British saloon car introduced by British Leyland at the London Motor Show in 1967. However, it subsequently became apparent that BMC were not geared up to producing the car: few or none seem to have been sold that year, but by July 1968 it was reported that the cars had...
(relaunch)
1974
16 October 1974–26 October 1974 Earls Court, London.The Citroën CX
Citroën CX
The Citroën CX is an automobile produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1974 to 1991. Citroën sold nearly 1.2 million CXs during its 16 years of production. The CX was voted European Car of the Year in 1975....
had been launched a few weeks earlier at the Paris Motor Show and was scheduled for inclusion in the 1974 London show. It was withdrawn at the eleventh hour, possibly because the manufacturers found themselves unable to schedule rhd production of the car till well into 1975. The model nevertheless went on to win first place with motoring journalists voting for the European Car of the Year
European Car of the Year
The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964 by a collective of automobile magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organisers of the award are Auto , Autocar , Autopista , Autovisie , L'Automobile Magazine , Stern and Vi Bilägare .The voting jury consists of motoring...
a few months later.
Vehicle introductions:
- Aston Martin LagondaAston Martin LagondaThe Aston Martin Lagonda was a luxury four-door saloon built by Aston Martin of Newport Pagnell, England, between 1974 and 1990. A total of 645 were produced. The name was derived from the Lagonda marque that Aston Martin had purchased in 1947...
(long wheel-base, four-door version of the Aston Martin V8) - Lotus Esprit (Worldwide launch)
- Lotus Eclat (2+2)Lotus EclatThe Type 76 and Type 84 Lotus Eclat, built from 1974 to 1982, was a front engine rear drive coupe. It was based on the Lotus Elite but had a fastback body style which offered more practicality with storage in the boot ....
(Worldwide launch) - Panther De VillePanther De VilleThe Panther De Ville was a neo-classic luxury model from Panther Westwinds, the British specialty maker. Offered from 1974 to 1985, the De Ville was conceived by Robert Jankel to appeal to the taste of nouveau riche customers, including singer Elton John and actor Oliver Reed...
(Worldwide launch, for the basic model it was one of the most expensive cars being displayed at the time) - Toyota 1100 (UK launch of the Toyota PublicaToyota PublicaThe Toyota Publica was a small car manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota from 1961 to 1978. Conceived as a family car to fulfil the requirements of the "national car concept", it was the smallest Toyota car during that period and was superseded in that role by the Toyota Starlet, which...
)
1978
The International Motor Show made its first appearance at the National Exhibition CentreNational Exhibition Centre
The National Exhibition Centre is an exhibition centre in Birmingham, England. It is near junction 6 of the M42 motorway, and is adjacent to Birmingham International Airport and Birmingham International railway station. It has 20 interconnected halls, set in grounds of 628 acres making it the...
in Birmingham, and attracted record crowds of 908,194.
1984
20 October 1984–28 October 1984 NEC, Birmingham.Vehicle introductions:
- Austin Montego EstateAustin MontegoThe Austin Montego is a British mid-size saloon car that was produced by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland , and its successors, from 1984 until 1994. The Montego was the replacement for the Morris Ital, to give British Leyland a modern competitor for the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall...
- the Design CouncilDesign CouncilThe Design Council is a United Kingdom non-departmental public body incorporated by Royal Charter and registered as a charity.Registered charity number 272099.- In the beginning :The Design Council started in 1944 as the Council of Industrial Design...
award winning family estateStation wagonA station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
from Austin Rover - Reliant Scimitar SS1Reliant Scimitar SS1Aiming to fill a gap in the small sports car market, Scimitar SS1 was launched by Reliant in 1984 at the British International Motor Show in Birmingham. It was Michelotti's last design. The name was reported to stand for Small Sports 1. Despite plans for production of 2000 a year, only 1507 models...
1986
18 October –26 October 1986 NEC, Birmingham.Vehicle introductions:
- Jaguar XJ (XJ40)Jaguar XJ (XJ40)The Jaguar XJ is a luxury sedan manufactured by Jaguar Cars between 1986 and 1994. It was an all-new redesign of the XJ to replace the Series III, although the two model ranges were sold concurrently until the Series III was discontinued in 1992...
1988
22 October 1988–30 October 1988 NEC, Birmingham.Vehicle introductions:
- Jaguar XJ220Jaguar XJ220The Jaguar XJ220 is a mid-engined supercar produced by Jaguar in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing as Jaguar Sport between 1992 and 1994. It held the record for the highest top speed of a production car , until the arrival of the McLaren F1 in 1994...
- debut of Jaguar's 220 mi/h all wheel drive (AWD) super car concept vehicle
1998
22 October to 1 November 1998 at the NEC, Birmingham. Saw the launch of two critical saloons from British car manufacturers:Vehicle introductions:
- Rover 75Rover 75The Rover 75 is an executive car produced initially by the Rover Group at Cowley, Oxfordshire, UK, and later by MG Rover at their Longbridge site in Birmingham, UK...
- debut of the first (and last) RoverRover (car)The Rover Company is a former British car manufacturing company founded as Starley & Sutton Co. of Coventry in 1878. After developing the template for the modern bicycle with its Rover Safety Bicycle of 1885, the company moved into the automotive industry...
with the help of BMWBMWBayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
. - Jaguar S-TypeJaguar S-TypeThe Jaguar S-Type was a mid-size luxury/executive car that debuted at the 1998 Birmingham Motor Show and went on sale in spring 1999. The name is a revival of a previous Jaguar model, the S-Type introduced in 1963.-Overview:...
- all new executive car from JaguarJaguar (car)Jaguar Cars Ltd, known simply as Jaguar , is a British luxury car manufacturer, headquartered in Whitley, Coventry, England. It is part of the Jaguar Land Rover business, a subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors....
, retro in design like the Rover.
1998 was also the year that the then BMW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder
Bernd Pischetsrieder
Dr. Bernd Peter Pischetsrieder is a German automobile engineer and manager.He was born in Munich, Bavaria, and studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich from 1968 to 1972. He earned the degree of "Diplom-Ingenieur", and began his career at BMW in 1973 as a Production...
made an impromptu speech about the future of the Rover Longbridge plant
Longbridge plant
The Longbridge plant is an industrial complex situated in the Longbridge area of Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is currently owned by SAIC Group and is a manufacturing and research and development facility for its MG Motor subsidiary....
which would then lead to the sell of the brand in 2000 and its collapse in 2005.
2000
The International Motor Show remained in the Birmingham NEC during October. Honda made the news in claiming that it would have fuel cell cars on sale by 2003.2002
The 2002 show at the NEC, Birmingham featured the international launch of the Bentley Continental GTBentley Continental GT
-Flying Spur:The four door Continental Flying Spur saloon was first displayed at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The Flying Spur utilizes most of the technical underpinnings of the Bentley Continental GT, and was introduced to European and North American markets in the summer of 2005...
, MG SV and TVR T350
TVR T350
The TVR T350 is a sports car manufactured by TVR from 2002 to 2006. It is based on the TVR Tamora, and is powered by TVR's Speed Six engine in 3.6 litre form, producing . The T350 was available in coupe and targa versions, the coupe version being known as the T350C, and the targa version the T350T...
.
2004
In 2004 the show, branded The Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
Motorshow Live, was held from 27 May - 6 June, instead of the usual October.
2006
The 2006 British Motor Show was held in July at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London's Docklands. It featured a nightly post-show rock music festival called Dock Rock.Vehicle introductions:
- Alfa Romeo SpiderAlfa Romeo BreraThe Alfa Romeo Brera is a sports car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 2005 and 2010. The Spider roadster was produced between 2006 to 2010. Both cars were manufactured by Pininfarina. Only 12,488 units of Spider and 21,786 units of Brera were built. Production of both models...
(UK introduction) - Aston Martin RapideAston Martin RapideThe Aston Martin Rapide is a four-door, high-performance sport saloon, which British luxury marque Aston Martin introduced in early 2010. It was first presented as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in 2006. The Rapide name is a reference to the Lagonda Rapide, a saloon car...
(UK introduction) - Bentley Continental Flying SpurBentley Continental Flying Spur (2005)The Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a four-door variant of the Bentley Continental GT coupé. The Bentley Continental Flying Spur was introduced in 2005....
Mulliner Driving Specification - BMW M6BMW M6The BMW M6, also known as the BMW M635CSi, is a high-performance version of the 6-Series automobile, designed by the motorsport division of BMW...
Convertible - Chevrolet CaptivaChevrolet Captiva- 2006–2011 :Designated C100 by Daewoo and CG in Holden's terminology, the Captiva was launched in 2006. Styling of the Captiva was inspired by the 2004 Chevrolet S3X concept car. The S3X concept was developed by GM Daewoo's design center in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon and is based on the GM Theta...
(UK introduction) - Chrysler SebringChrysler SebringThe Chrysler Sebring is a line of mid-size cars that was sold by Chrysler from 1995 to 2010.The Sebring came in three generations. The first, from 1995 to 2000, was available first only as a coupe and starting in 1996 as a convertible. The two body designs did not share many components nor any...
sedan (Europe introduction) - Dodge NitroDodge NitroThe Dodge Nitro is a compact SUV from the Dodge division of Chrysler. Launched for the 2007 model year, the Nitro shares its platform with the second generation Jeep Liberty. It is assembled at the Toledo North Assembly Plant in Toledo, Ohio. The Jeep facility is part of an automobile complex...
(Europe introduction) - Ford Focus coupe-convertible (UK introduction)
- Honda CivicHonda CivicThe Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
3-door hatchbackHatchbackA Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box... - Jaguar XJR PortfolioJaguar XJJaguar XJ is the designation that has been used for a series of luxury saloon cars sold under the British Jaguar marque. The first XJ was launched in 1968 and the designation has been used for successive Jaguar flagship models since then. The original model was the last Jaguar saloon to have had...
- Jaguar XKJaguar XKThe Jaguar XK series is a series of grand tourer cars produced by British car maker Jaguar since 1996. The series was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show on 5 March 1996. The first generation of the series, the XK8, replaced the XJS, and was available as a coupé and convertible...
R - KiaKia MotorsKia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
C-segment model (codename ED) - Land Rover Freelander2/LR2Land Rover FreelanderThe Land Rover Freelander is a compact crossover SUV made by Land Rover.The current generation is sold as the LR2 in North America and as the Freelander 2 in Europe...
(World Introduction) - Lexus GS 300 Limited EditionLexus GSThe Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus since 1993. Designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS, and to provide Lexus with a performance sedan to compete in the mid-luxury class, three generations of the GS have been produced to date...
- Lotus Europa SLotus Europa SLotus Europa S is a GT-type two-seat sports car, designed to complement the successful Lotus Elise and its derivative, the Exige. The Europa S is the continuation of the Europa line of the 1960s and 1970s....
(UK introduction) - Lotus ExigeLotus ExigeThe Lotus Exige is a two-door, two-seat sports car made by Lotus Cars. It is essentially a coupé version of the Lotus Elise, a mid-engined roadster in production since 1996....
S (UK introduction) - Mazda BT-50Mazda BT-50The Mazda BT-50 is a 1-ton pickup truck from Mazda. It is a larger version of the predecessor B-Series pickup and is not sold in the Japanese and North American market. Ford has also sold a version of the first generation BT-50 as the Ford Ranger...
(Europe introduction) - Mazda3 MPS (UK introduction)
- Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe
- MINI GP (UK introduction)
- Mitsubishi iMitsubishi iThe is a kei car from Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors, first released in January 2006, twenty eight months after its debut at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show...
(Europe introduction) - Rolls-Royce 101EX (UK introduction)
- Saab 9-3 Convertible BioPowerSaab 9-3The first generation 9-3, a substantially improved 'new-generation' Saab 900 was launched in 1998 for the 1999 model year. Saab claimed that 1,100 changes were made, including a revised suspension in an attempt to tighten up the handling characteristics of its predecessor, the Saab 900...
- SEAT LeónSEAT LeónThe SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998.The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with...
Cupra - SEAT León FR
- SEAT AlteaSEAT AlteaThe SEAT Altea is a compact MPV produced by Spanish automaker SEAT, S.A. and named after Altea, Spain. The vehicle was designed by the Italian Walter de'Silva and launched in 2004 as the first example of SEAT's new corporate look...
FR - Smart FortwoSmart FortwoThe Smart Fortwo is a rear-engined two-seater city car manufactured by Smart GmbH, introduced at the 1998 Paris Motor Show as the Smart City Coupé, and currently in its second generation...
EVElectric vehicleAn electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion... - Toyota RAV4Toyota RAV4The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV from Toyota. It was the first compact crossover SUV, introduced in Japan and Europe in 1994 and beginning sales in North America in 1996...
(UK introduction) - Toyota YarisToyota YarisThe Toyota Yaris is a subcompact car produced by Toyota since 1999. Between 1999 and 2005, some markets received the same vehicles under the Toyota Echo name...
(UK introduction) - Vauxhall CorsaOpel CorsaThe front-wheel drive Opel Corsa was first launched in September 1982 to replace the Opel Kadett C City, and to fill the gap vacated as the Kadett grew in size and price. Built in Zaragoza, Spain, the first Corsas were three-door hatchback and two-door saloon models, with four-door and five-door...
3-door and 5-door (World introduction) - Volvo S60Volvo S60The Volvo S60 is a compact executive sedan produced by the Swedish automaker Volvo from 2000. Two generations of the sedan have been produced to date.-First generation :...
- Volvo S80Volvo S80The Volvo S80 is a mid-size executive saloon/sedan from Swedish automaker Volvo Cars, and was introduced in 1998 to take the place of the rear-wheel drive Volvo 960/S90 saloons in the model range. The Volvo S80 was built at the Torslanda Plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike most Volvo models, it...
(UK introduction) - Volvo XC90Volvo XC90The Volvo XC90 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV produced by Volvo Cars since it was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show 2002. It is based on the P2 platform, shared with the first generation Volvo S80 and other large Volvo cars...
(UK introduction)
Dock rock performers:
- 19 July, A-HaA-haA-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
- 20 July, Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
- 21 July, UB40UB40UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
- 22 July, Roxy MusicRoxy MusicRoxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
- 24 July, Simple MindsSimple MindsSimple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
- 26 July, Katherine JenkinsKatherine JenkinsKatherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano. She is a classical-popular crossover singer who performs across a spectrum of operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre and hymns.-Early life and education:...
with the National Symphony Orchestra of London - 27 July, Jools HollandJools HollandJulian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra
2008
The 2008 British International Motor Show was held at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London's Docklands from 23 July-3 August and was the last regular British International Motorshow. The SMMT promoted an all-new showcase of the latest electric vehicleElectric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...
models. "The Electric Vehicle Village" brought together one of the largest collections of zero-emissions vehicles ever seen in the UK, with a display of more than 20 vehicles which are propelled solely by battery power. The motor show displayed a number of high-priced, high-performance electric cars such as the Lightning GT
Lightning GT
The Lightning GT is a battery-electric sports car under development by the Lightning Car Company, in Peterborough and due for release in 2012...
and Tesla Roadster
Tesla Roadster
The Tesla Roadster is a battery electric vehicle sports car produced by the electric car firm Tesla Motors in California. The Roadster was the first highway-capable all-electric vehicle in serial production available in the United States. Since 2008 Tesla has sold 2,024 Roadsters in 30 countries...
.
Car Introductions:
- Alfa Romeo MitoAlfa Romeo MiToThe Alfa Romeo MiTo is a three door sporty supermini officially introduced on June 19, 2008, at Castello Sforzesco in Milan, with an international introduction at the British Motor Show in 2008. The car was available in all Alfa's major markets in stages from July...
(international and UK introduction) - Ford Focus RS
- Lotus EvoraLotus EvoraThe Lotus Evora is a sports car produced by British car manufacturer Lotus. The car, which was developed under the project name Project Eagle, was launched as the Evora on 22 July 2008 at the British International Motor Show.- Development :...
- Mastretta MXTMastretta MXTThe Mastretta MXT is the first high performance sport automobile produced by the Mexican car maker Mastretta, and is notable for being both completely produced and designed in Mexico, as well as the first fully Mexican made sports car...
(first MexicanMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
sports car) - Nissan Qashqai+2
- Ford FiestaFord FiestaThe Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
ECOnetic - Vauxhall InsigniaOpel InsigniaThe Opel Insignia is a large family car engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel. Production of the Insignia began in 2008 as a replacement for the Opel Vectra. Opel launched the vehicle at the 2008 British International Motor Show in London as the Vauxhall Insignia, reflecting the...
- SsangYong Rexton R-LineSsangYong RextonThe SsangYong Rexton is a sport utility vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, initially released in Korea by the SsangYong Motor Company in late 2001. This vehicle offers standard appointments such as quiet on-road performance, car-like handling, and off-road capability, and can be configured...
Concept Cars:
- Cadillac CTSCadillac CTSThe Cadillac CTS is a mid-size car manufactured by the Cadillac marque of General Motors currently available in three body styles: Sedan, Coupe, and Sport Wagon. It was introduced in 2002 as a sports sedan, replacing the Cadillac Catera. The CTS and the supercharged CTS-V variant have been named...
Coupe Concept - Chevrolet CamaroChevrolet CamaroThe Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang...
Convertible - Citroen C-CactusCitroën C-CactusThe Citroën C-Cactus is a concept car that debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. The car is named for its low consumption of resources, using a more fuel-economic diesel engine unlike the Toyota Prius and contemporaries, much like the cactus plant...
- Honda OSMHonda OSMThe Honda OSM is a concept car that was revealed on at the London Motor Show on 2008-07-22.Honda OSM was designed by Honda's R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany. Honda has no plan for production model....
- Kia Excee'dKia cee'dThe Kia Cee'd is a front wheel drive small family car released in the European market by the Korean manufacturer Kia Motors in December 2006—superseding the Kia Spectra—and available as a five-door hatchback, three-door hatchback , and five-door estate with a choice of up to four...
Convertible - Kia KeeKia KeeThe Kia Kee is a South Korean concept car which was first seen in the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Kia Kee was designed by Peter Schreyer who indicated he wanted a 'powerful visual signal'...
- Land Rover LRXLand Rover LRXThe Range Rover Evoque is a compact SUV from Land Rover which went into production in July 2011. The Evoque is designed to appeal to urban buyers and meet increased CO2 emissions and fuel economy requirements...
- Lexus LFALexus LFAThe Lexus LFA is a 2-seat exotic sports coupe produced by Lexus as a concept car, "halo" vehicle, racing prototype, and production model. It is the second model in the F marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, following the IS F...
Concept - Lotus EliseLotus EliseThe 1996 Lotus Elise weighed . Because of its relatively low weight, it was able to accelerate 0- in 5.8 seconds despite its relatively low power output of...
Eco - Saab 9-X BiohybridSaab 9-X BiohybridThe Saab 9-X Biohybrid concept car was developed by Saab in 2008 and first shown on the Geneva Motor Show. It is based on the GM Delta platform and is thought to give an idea of the upcoming Saab 9-1X....
BioHybrid - Smart fortwoSmart FortwoThe Smart Fortwo is a rear-engined two-seater city car manufactured by Smart GmbH, introduced at the 1998 Paris Motor Show as the Smart City Coupé, and currently in its second generation...
ed
External links
- British International Motor Show - Official website
- The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders - Official website of the organisers