The British International Motor Show gets into top gear from this weekend at London’s ExCeL centre, and goes on till August 3. The 700,000 sq ft venue will see some glamorous new car debuts, and 600 models on display from 60 makers.

It’s more than just a conventional car show, though, as the event features spectacular live motoring theatre, useful test drives and its very own live rock festival. Highlights include:

Honda Dreamscape See boats, bikes, cars and the famous Asimo robot at Honda’s live action arena. Tickets cost £5 per performance.

Kidz Car Zone Driving lesson for “kidz” on a specially designed course.

Mazda Zoom-Zoom Challenge Test your skills on a test track in a Mazda MX-5 or Mazda2.

Taster Test Drive With a 1.4mile track situated outside and 12 manufacturers prepared to let buyers loose in new models, expect queues.

The Marine Experience Strap yourself into a high-performance boat and experience ocean life.

Land Rover’s Ultimate Experience Test the firm’s 4x4s on this four-wheeled fairground ride.

Vauxhall VXRacing Simulator Experience full-throttle race action, or try radio-controlled racing on a purpose-built mini race circuit

Rock to the Beat The Motor Show Music Festival will features acts such as Blondie, Squeeze, Status Quo and Bananarama.

MAGIC MOTORS - SIX NOT TO MISS

1 HONDA OSM

Honda’s catchily named Open Study Model (has “car” become a rude word?) will have the Green party up in arms – only this time they’ll be rejoicing. The low-emissions sports car of the future makes its world debut at the British Motor Show, and proves that less can be more.

2 FORD FOCUS RS AND FIESTA

The new 296bhp RS is the most powerful hot hatch on the market, but will it be too punchy for its own good? Join the debate at the Ford stand, where the RS makes its global debut. Decidedly more sensible and arguably more important is the bread-and-butter Fiesta, which makes its UK debut.

3 VAUXHALL INSIGNIA

What’s this? A Vauxhall even Jeremy Clarkson would like? Well, with its new Insignia, that’s what the company is hoping for. The replacement for the much-maligned Vectra makes its debut at the British Motor Show, before going on sale in October.

4 RENAULT MEGANE R26.R AND MEGANE COUPE-CONCEPT Car magazines and television shows the world over wax lyrical about the legendary Nürburgring circuit. Renault has obviously been paying attention, to the extent that it has produced a model specifically for driving around the 13-mile track. The Mégane R26.R has been stripped for action, its back seats replaced by a protective roll cage, and the company claims it’s the fastest front-wheel-drive car to lap the Ring. It makes its debut at the British Motor Show, beside the fabulous Mégane Coupé-Concept – a 2+2 coupé with twin gullwing doors.

5 CHEVROLET CAMARO

Redolent of hot summer nights cruising the strip and, of course, Bruce Springsteen (Racing in the Street), the Camaro was regarded as a compact – by the standards of the day – when it was launched in 1966. The brand new version on show at ExCeL goes on sale in the US next year with 6.2 litre (420bhp) and 3.6 litre (300bhp) engines. A UK-spec model is promised by 2010, proving that the best way to deal with the fuel crisis is to ignore it.

6 NICE Ze0 The company (whose name stands for No Internal Combustion Engine) claims the Ze0, built and developed in China, is the world’s first affordable electric family car. Priced from £13,995, the five-door, five-seat Ze0 is claimed to have a driving range of 65 miles between battery recharges. Orders will be welcomed at the show; the electric family car goes on sale in the autumn.

Tickets are available in advance or at the door, priced from £10 for adults and £6 for children (underfives get in free). To make a day or a weekend of it, visit www.britishmotorshow.co.uk or telephone 0871 230 5588 for booking and travel information.

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