Recession? Who's saying there's a recession? British International Motor Show revs up

THE storm clouds of a threatened recession may be gathering, but a collection of supercars most hard-pressed drivers can only dream about are gleaming under the bright lights of an arena in London's Docklands.

The British International Motor Show, which opens today, will enable Top Gear addicts to marvel at famed models such as the 252mph Bugatti Veyron and Lamborghini LP 640 Roadster.

They are among 600 cars, worth a total of more than £37 million, going on display at the ExCel exhibition centre until 3 August. More than 550,000 car fans are expected to attend the event, which is Britain's biggest consumer exhibition.

A total of 23 cars will be unveiled for the first time, including the Lotus Evora, the Norfolk carmaker's first all-new model for more than a decade. It had been shrouded in secrecy and known only as "Project Eagle".

Some 2,000 Evoras a year are expected to be sold from next spring. Mike Kimberley, the Lotus chief executive, said: "The Evora is the biggest milestone Lotus has achieved since the Elise 13 years ago.

"It represents the core values of performance through light weight and efficiency, and proves that you can have phenomenal performance, fuel efficiency and an elegant design."

Mexico's first sports car, the Mastretta MXT, will also make its debut. Daniel Mastretta, its designer, said: "We needed to create a great car because Mexico has no tradition of sophisticated sports car manufacturing."

Jaguar will display its new XK60, while for more ordinary drivers, the wraps will come off Vauxhall's Insignia, which will be available at the end of the year.

Also new is the Ford Focus RS, described as the most advanced version of the model yet, and the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed.

Among greener models will be Allied Vehicles' E7 electric taxi, which will be built in Glasgow. Lithium-ion batteries will give the seven-seat vehicles a 100-mile range and a top speed of 60mph.

Gerry Facenna, the chairman of Allied, said: "Taxis and their drivers have a hard life and with the rising cost of diesel at the moment, it is only going to get worse. Electric power offers an ideal solution.

"The fact that the entire electric project has been designed and built in Scotland is a great achievement for us, and it goes to show Scottish manufacturers are among the most forward thinking in the world."

Other green premieres include the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, whose carbon dioxide emissions of less than 100g/km match those of the lowest emission diesels, such as the Volkswagen Polo Blue Motion.

Kirsty Perkinson, the show's marketing director, said: "We are thrilled to be hosting more than 20 genuine global premieres, reinforcing the prominence of the show in the automotive world."

Brown unveils green motoring moves

GORDON Brown yesterday announced measures to persuade road users to go green.

The Prime Minister attended a meeting of motor industry and energy chiefs along with Ruth Kelly, the Transport Secretary, and John Hutton, Business Enterprise Secretary.

Mr Brown said that road transport had reached "an historic point" and that the rising cost of oil had given everyone chance to consider green alternatives.

Mr Brown said that the government was working towards a situation where electric-powered cars could be charged up on thousands of streets and that this autumn the government would be bringing out a low-carbon management structure.

The government was also working with the National Grid and energy firms on ways of introducing more electric vehicles, and would spend £90 million over the next five years as part of the drive to reduce emissions from vehicles.