BRITISH INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 2008

Editor's Notes - Yemi Ogunshola

Beauty and the Speed

At a glance, it looked like any other show at the Excel, London. So, on Press Day (July 22nd), we wound through the maze of tapes, cordon, and security staff. Identities checked, registrations completed, ‘the show was finally on’. Walking past the bobbies, ushers, and the reception, it seemed all so quiet and surreal, belying the expected throng of car lovers and connoisseurs in the auto industry – all set to ‘invade’the venue in another day.

Inside, the show was about ‘warming’ up. Day 1 afforded the Press access to the new auto range. It was all power, speed, and torque on display. The Press Centre was a ‘beehive’. Sifting through the show’s literature, press releases, and other print, the familiar names rolled gracefully in –Toyota , Suzuki, Citroen, Vauxhall, Renault, Ford, Honda, Lotus Cars, Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Subaru...They were all there, each present and ready to outdo the other (photo gallery below each page).

There were also the not-so-familiar names on display. Of special interest was the Últimate Collection’. Opening on the first day and parading the world’s ‘supercars’(‘supercash’ was more like it!) in a dimly-lit ‘showroom’, one couldn’t help but just whistle. But a whistle in sheer astonishment took nothing away from the sheer expanse or the shine of ‘monstrous’machines – masters of speed, luxury, and pizzazz –Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Maybach, Mercedes Benz, Maserati, Lambhorghini, Ferrari, and more.

The global trend in oil dependency and its consequent effects would surely be in everyone’s subconscious. What with spiraling costs, gas prices, and climate change. The environmentalists would guffaw with the range of hybrid cars.

We had a nice day, and (are) now sharing the lot. Were you at the British International Motor Show? Not to worry. Simply click through the HYBRID, NEW, AND SIMPLY HOT, and then have a look at each car (with cost) in the ULTIMATE COLLECTION.