Lotus, Vauxhall and Ford kick-started the British International Motor Show yesterday with a range of new models being previewed at the event.

No matter which form of motoring most takes your fancy, there’s an all-new model for you to see at this year’s Motor Show.

Debuting at London, and in showrooms at the end of 2008, the Vauxhall Insignia (below) promises to breathe fresh air into the UK’s mid-size sector.

Its unique combination of elegant design, superb performance and dynamics, and new technology offering front or four wheel drive.
                             
But with prices starting at just £15,935 for the exceptionally well-equipped S model, the Insignia still upholds Vauxhall’s tradition of making new technology and cutting-edge design affordable.

The 1.8 ECOTEC petrol engine found in the entry level car, producing 140PS and 175Nm of torque, is one of five engines available in the Insignia range, each of which meets Euro 5 emissions standards.

It’s joined by two other petrol units – a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and a 2.8-litre turbocharged V6.

There are also two new 2.0-litre diesels with either 130 or 160PS. The 2.0CDTi 130PS Exclusiv is the entry level diesel model, costing £16,935.

  The first all-new Lotus since the iconic Elise made its debut in 1995, The Evora enters the sports car market as currently the world’s only mid-engined 2+2.

 Powered by a Lotus-tuned 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 PS, and weighing just 1350 kg (above), the Evora promises breathtaking performance.

 During preliminary testing around the famous Nürburgring, the Lotus chassis engineers report that it is extremely agile and great fun to drive - even when clad with the full development disguise that hid the beautiful lines from the prying motor-industry paparazzi.

 In addition to its excellent performance and exemplary  handling, the Evora offers a more refined ownership experience than Lotus’s existing smaller four-cylinder models.

 Its elegantly styled cabin is elegantly trimmed and its equipment list includes contemporary features such as an advanced touch-screen multi-media system and electric power-fold door mirrors.

Ford's high-tech all-new Fiesta is set to redefine standards for looks, equipment and value when it joins the UK market in October from £8,695.

With more power, lower emissions and a host of big-car features, Britain’s most stylish newcomer enters the small-car market costing £155 less than equivalent previous generation entry model.

Ford of Britain’s marketing director, Mark Ovenden, said, “Fiesta has been Britain’s best-loved car for more than 30 years and millions of customers have found Fiesta to be exactly right for them. 

Headlining the new range is the Fiesta ECOnetic, boasting the lowest-CO₂ yet of any family car.  A cleverly calibrated 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi produces 10 per cent less CO₂ than the already impressive mainstream TDCi is matched to a special aerodynamic profile that results in just 98g/ km CO₂ and a combined 76.3mpg.

There are six versions from £8,695 rising to £12,595.

Other cars seen for the first time include the SEAT Ibiza SportCoupé, the new-look Land Rover Discovery and the Nissan Qashqai+2. ‘Green’ international premieres include the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, with CO₂ emissions under 100 g/km, and a whole host of electric cars that emit no CO₂ at all.

Show marketing director Kirsty Perkinson is delighted with the number of new models being unveiled, significantly up on the previous British show in 2006. She said. “We are thrilled to be hosting more than 20 genuine global premieres, reinforcing the prominence of the Show in the automotive world.”

The quest for greener motoring will be the focus of a keynote speech by Ford’s former chief technical officer on Thursday. ‘A Future With Cars’, by Richard Parry-Jones, coincides with the opening of the ‘Greener Driving Pavilion’ at the British International Motor Show being held at ExCeL London.

Parry-Jones now chairs a government inquiry into technology aimed at cutting CO₂ emissions in cars. He will highlight how future travel will be affected by the need to tackle climate change and how effective current efforts to reduce emissions are.
Speaking in central London, Parry-Jones will also look at potential future advances and examine the key roles that need to be played, by Government, industry and the motorist. Spokesperson Karen Parry said that the speech would be thought-provoking; “He will tackle head on the controversial subject of climate change and the car.”

The Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Style has scooped the top award at What Car?’s first-ever Green Awards, held in association with Warranty Direct.

An ultra light and high performance Megane Renaultsport R26 R was revealed at London.

The Mégane Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26 was launched in November 2006 and has enjoyed a great success.  Using this base, Renaultsport launch an extreme version, the Mégane Renaultsport R26.R.  Developed by Renault Sport Technologies, the Mégane R26.R joins the family that also comprises the Clio Renaultsport 197, Mégane Renaultsport 225, Mégane Renaultsport dCi 175 and, from September, the Twingo Renaultsport 133.  Since the launch in April 2004, the family of Mégane Renaultsport has sold more than 20,000 units in almost 30 countries.

It will cost £22,990 and just 230 are coming to Britain out of the 450 to be built. Weight has been stripped out of the car and it comes with optional roll cage for track day use.

Land Rover's past, present and future are all admirably showcased at this year's British International Motor Show.

The stylish, black Defender SVX special edition has been created to celebrate the company's 60^th anniversary, while the latest model line-up is headed by new and upgraded versions of the Range Rover. The stunning white LRX concept car, meanwhile, shows a clear design intent for the future – as well as introducing the possibility of ground-breaking diesel hybrid power.

Land Rover has recently started real-world testing of some diesel hybrid engineering prototypes and the technology behind the story is explored as part of the brand-new Our Planet zone within the Land Rover stand. Building on the company's current communications campaign, the zone shows the diverse actions that Land Rover is taking to improve environmental performance and move towards a sustainable future.

Like every Jaguar to carry the XK badge, the XK60 is all about performance with style – plus a large helping of individuality.

And as the XKR Portfolio and XKR-S Special Editions brought something extra to the supercharged XK models, XK60 offers its own spin on the naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 XK, in both coupé and convertible forms.

XK60s will be built from July 2008. The car offers a host of additional extras beyond the XK’s already impressive specification at no extra cost. For following another Jaguar tradition, every XK60 will be a hugely desirable car with a price tag for the Coupe of £60,995 and Convertible £66,995.

Award-winning Spanish automotive design and technology company IFR Automotive has revealed a wealth of weight, fuel and CO₂ saving technical innovations running throughout the chassis, suspension, brakes and electrical systems of its new Aspid luxury sportscar making its world debut at the British International Motor Show.

The Aspid’s 700kg kerb weight and 400bhp from its 2-litre supercharged gives awesome acceleration with the car reaching 62mph in 2.8 seconds and 100mph in 5.9 seconds. 

HUMMER will showcase the HX Concept, a nimble, reconfigurable off-road concept vehicle, at the British International Motor Show.

Joining the HX will be the current UK offerings the HUMMER H3 and H2.