MPH'05 - For UK Supercar Debuts, Helicopter Gunfights, Dancing JPBs and More, Much More...

10 November 2005

MPH'05 is the revolutionary motoring spectacular that's sent the traditional motor show into a tailspin combining hot new performance and luxury car debuts, a thrilling £1 million stage show, and the world's best stunt drivers to enthral the crowds.

Presented by motoring gurus Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and Tiff Needell, the action starts from November 10th for a four-day stint at the Birmingham NEC and heads down to London's Earls Court from November 17th.

Entering into a world of pure motoring theatre, part of the dramatic stage show directed by BAFTA-award-winner John Napier, sees Jeremy Clarkson breaking the laws of logic in a Lotus Exige as he takes on a fight with a helicopter gunship thundering over the audiences head thanks to state of the art computer 3D animation and the latest in pyrotechnic technology.

Part of this 75-minute adrenaline rush, crowds witness a family car outing that goes horribly wrong when the satellite navigation system leads them into the wrong part of town. Confronting anarchists in rage-buggies with chainsaws strapped to the bonnet; watch as one of the best chase scenes since Bullitt ensues, with the outlaws defeated by a large helmet-wearing hero.

Stealing headlines will also be the stunning array of new car debuts as Jaguar unveils the new XK Coupe to the UK public. Marcos shows off its new TSO GT2 and there's strong talk that Blackpool-based TVR will usher in its hot new Tuscan convertible.

Crowds will not want to miss their chance to get up close to the beautiful Aston Martin Vantage, while the 750bhp Saleen S7 Turbo, the 641bhp Gumbert Apollo and the street-legal Radical SR8 V8 are all set to make their UK show or public driving debuts.

It will also be the first chance to examine the results of a renaissance over at Citroen as experts tell of a return to beautiful, innovative car design. Its luxury liner, the new C6, is out for its first UK drive. Meanwhile, Saab is making a point of unleashing its new 9-5 convertible and Volvo reveals its own new ragtop, as the new C70 comes out into the light.

Back on stage and making the most unlikely of dance collaborations, a trio of Vauxhall Astra VXRs are set to dance with a quartet of jiving JCB diggers. The man responsible for this lunacy is one of the world's best stunt drivers, Russ Swift, who plans to drive on two wheels and J-turn his way through a 40-tonne arch of mechanical ballerinas.

Keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats, Britain's other foremost stunt driver, Terry Grant, will be pairing up with young racing driver Ben Collins to sideways drift a figure of eight course in a couple of Nissan 350Z roadsters!

MPH'05 also proves that American sports car culture is well and truly alive. There's the Corvette C6: A massive 400bhp inside a bold-looking lightweight plastic body to promise plenty of thrills. But if that's not enough horses, there's the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo. The Saleen is sharp enough to shuttle along to 60mph in a mere 2.8 seconds and has the advantage of 750 horses with which to do it!

Plus, with so few exhilarating Pagani Zonda F's made each year, MPH'05 could be the only chance to see with 207mph, 600bhp monster in action. There can't be too many opportunities to peer all over a Mercedes Benz McLaren SLR either. Posessing predatory looks with those massive gills, the SLR has a full 626bhp swish in its tail. And try to look out for the Noble M400, one of the best sports cars around to drive.

Seeing today's hottest new machinery is not the only reason to attend this year's show. Presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and Tiff Needell, will be ripping up the stage with their usual mix of motoring wisdom and irreverent banter.

MPH'05 will also showcase many more brilliant motoring ideas like the half-bike / half-car Carver which corners at 45 degrees and pops right up again within a second. When is a car not a car, this must be it! Plus a Nottingham-based design company that is signalling the rebirth of the great kit car. It would be unwise to miss what a Smart Fortwo can be turned into, like the German Michalak C7.

Reminding you not to forget motoring's incredible 120 year history, the classic gallery puts crowds up close and personal with iconic beauties of yeasteryear like the Ferrari Dino and the GTB/4 'Daytona', once the fastest car in the world back in 1967, and the head-turning Aston Martin DB4 and DB5.