2009 British International Motor Show

The British International Motor Show arrives once every two years — a little bigger, bolder, and more significant every time. This year’s event, from July 23 to Aug. 3 at ExCel London in the city’s Docklands district, promises plenty of dazzle. There’s a Motor Show Music Festival, with performances from Alice Cooper, Squeeze, and more. A boating exhibition that capitalizes on the venue’s riverside setting. Luxury pavilions, interactive exhibits, thrill rides. And cars: more than 600 of them, including 20 global debuts, plus celebrations of auto history and an expansive survey of the future. That means we’ll glimpse some remarkable new designs and concept cars and, of course, we’ll hear about plans for more fuel-efficient, carbon-neutral driving.
Ford Motor Company will reveal advances in both areas. They’ll debut the Ford Focus RS Mark II, a high-performance version of the popular Ford Focus compact, specially enhanced for people who take their driving seriously. And they’ll unveil the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, a major engineering coup with a miniscule carbon footprint — as in 62-miles-per-gallon small. To mark the debut, they’ll be extending their ECOnetic driving competition — a contest to find Britain’s most eco-conscious driver — to last throughout the show. Expect a few more surprises from Ford and its brands during the two-week event — and check back here for updates.