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1. Witness the Drift Kings Demos

This is what Japfest is all about. Three Drift Kings demos mean triple the tyre-shredding chaos, with multiple sessions across the day so you won’t miss out. Expect pro drivers pushing serious horsepower machines to the limit, linking corners at ridiculous angles with non-stop smoke pouring off the rear tyres. If you want the best view, get trackside early, it fills up fast for a reason.

2. Don’t Miss the Half Time Hall of Famers Demo

This isn’t your average halftime show, it’s a full-on motorsport spectacle. Expect a high-flying Prolite truck sending it through the air, drift legend Steve Baggsy Biagioni laying down precision driving, and a pack of JDM-powered Autograss cars bringing raw, sideways energy. It’s loud, unpredictable, and designed to keep the adrenaline high between the main track sessions.

3. Grab a Selfie with Baggsy

Meeting Steve Baggsy Biagioni in person is a must for any drift fan. He’s one of the most recognisable names in the UK scene, and Japfest gives you a rare chance to catch him off-track. Whether it’s a quick chat, a signed poster, or that all-important photo, it’s a cool way to connect with one of the sport’s biggest personalities.

4. Explore 3,500+ Show & Club Cars

With over 3,500 cars on display, the show paddock is basically a living, breathing highlight reel of JDM culture. You’ll find everything from meticulously restored classics to wild, wide-arch builds and track-focused weapons. Expect icons like the Nissan Skyline GT-R and modern performance heroes like the Honda Civic Type R, alongside unique one-off builds that you won’t see anywhere else. Take your time , there’s a lot to soak in.

5. Ride Shotgun in a Drift Taxi

If watching from the sidelines isn’t enough, jump into a drift taxi and experience it properly. Driven by pros, these cars will throw you into full-angle drifts at speed, giving you a real taste of what controlled chaos feels like. It’s fast, loud, and intense and easily one of the most talked-about experiences of the day. Advanced bookings are sold out but they’ll be slots available on the day.

6. Drive Silverstone Yourself (£40!)

This is your chance to turn spectator into driver. For just £40, you can take your own car out onto the National Circuit layout at Silverstone Circuit. It’s not about setting lap records, it’s about experiencing the track, feeling the corners, and enjoying your car in a way you just can’t on the road. Make sure your car is prepped and ready, and don’t forget your helmet. Again, all pre-booked sessions are sold out, but they’ll be a very limited number of sessions available to purchase on the day. Get in early to avoid disappointment.

7. Hit the Retail Village for Fresh JDM Gear

The Retail Village is where your bank balance takes a hit in the best way possible. Expect a huge range of traders selling everything from performance parts and detailing gear to streetwear and accessories. Keep an eye out for exclusive Japfest merchandise drops, including new T-shirts and hoodies you won’t find online. It’s the perfect place to pick up something for your car, your garage, or your wardrobe.

8. Win a Nilfisk Pressure Washer

Who doesn’t want free detailing gear? Japfest is giving you the chance to win a Nilfisk Excellent 160 Pressure Washer worth £310! This is ideal for keeping your build looking show-ready all year round. Entry is simple, as all Advance Ticket holders are being entered into the prize draw so there’s no excuse not to get involved.

The Drift Kings driver signing is your chance to meet the drivers behind the smoke. Get autographs, take photos, and have a quick chat with some of the most skilled drivers in the game. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about their cars, setups, and what it takes to compete at that level.

10. Test the New Karts at Kart Silverstone

Think you’re quick behind the wheel? Head over to Kart Silverstone and put it to the test. You’ll be one of the first to experience the brand new Kart Silverstone, guaranteed to deliver serious pace, making it perfect for battling your mates and settling bragging rights. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or just in it for fun, it’s a great way to add even more driving action to your day. Book your slot here.

Final Lap

Japfest at Silverstone Circuit isn’t just a car show it’s a full-blown celebration of JDM culture, performance, and community. From tyre smoke to show-stopping builds, it’s a day packed with action from start to finish. Don’t miss out, get your tickets by hitting the button below.

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Japfest 2026 at Silverstone offers drift demos, 3,500+ show cars, and the chance to drive the legendary circuit yourself

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This is the UK's biggest Japanese car celebration, combining professional motorsport with accessible fan experiences.

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Steve Baggsy Biagioni, a legendary UK drift driver, will be available for meet-and-greets throughout the event.

Hosted by James Baggott, the podcast is available on platforms including Spotify and Apple and on our second YouTube channel (above).

The podcast looks back at some of the sessions from our event, sponsored by Autotrader, held last Thursday (Mar 19) at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon.

Last week, a first special edition podcast brought you edited highlights from some of the sessions at the event, including the Chinese challenger brands panel and Autotrader’s take on the stock shortage affecting car dealers.

We have have decided that the first time was so nice, that we just had to do it twice and a second highlights package is ready for you to listen back to.

The show sees Baggott round up some of the best moments from our headline speakers and fascinating research sessions.

Highlights include Sohib Ghafouri describing his journey from working for JP Morgan to running his own successful car dealership and Ginny Buckley giving her take on all things EV.

We also chatted to Peugeot’s UK boss, Nicola Dobson who offered some unique insight into what OEMs are currently facing.

If you want to watch all the sessions back in full you can purchase a replay ticket from the Car Dealer Live website. This will allow you to watch back each session in full on video to watch back at your leisure.

Replay tickets are available for the CarDealerLive.co.uk website.

Speaking about the podcast, and success of this year’s Car Dealer Live, Baggott said: ‘We were absolutely blown away by the energy and insight on show at Car Dealer Live this year.

‘From packed sessions to frank conversations on stage, it proved just how far our industry has come and where it is heading. The feedback has been incredible, and we’re proud to bring you a second special podcast capturing the biggest moments.

‘If you missed it or want to relive it, this second highlights episode is essential listening.’

Coverage of Car Dealer Live will continue on the Car Dealer Magazine website over the coming where you’ll be able to read about some of the partner research sessions in detail.

Sponsors for the event included Autotrader, Motorway, Impel, Cox Automotive, Motorway and Google.

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• Sign up for daily email Car Dealer news bulletins
• Listen to the latest Car Dealer Podcast
• Read the latest digital issue of Car Dealer Magazine

Central to the company’s research session at this year’s Car Dealer Live, held at the British Motor Museum on March 19, was that while there are clear challenges and risk for car dealers of all sizes, there are also new commercial opportunities for businesses able to adapt quickly.

New white-paper research commissioned for Car Dealer Live by Autotrader set out a ‘playbook’ for 2026 outlining how dealers can use data-led decision-making across their operations to stay competitive as the market continues to evolve.

It also highlights how emerging trends are already beginning to influence stock sourcing, pricing and sales strategies, arguing that dealers who act early on these insights will be better placed to protect margins and drive growth.

The full white-paper can be downloaded here, and the session can be watched by visiting the Car Dealer Live website where you can purchase a replay ticket. This will allow you to watch back each session, including Autotrader’s, in-full on video to watch back at your leisure.

Replay tickets are available for the CarDealerLive.co.uk website.

During the panel session, hosted by Car Dealer’s James Baggott, Autotrader’s chief customer officer Ian Plummer explained the thinking behind the ‘playbook for 2026’.

‘We think there are three key themes at the moment that we see in all the data we have,’ he said. ‘About a billion visits came to Auto Trader last year, and that gives us the chance to understand the market.’

The research centres around three pillars – sourcing, sales, and systems.

On sourcing, Plummer said: ‘The supply challenge has been the one that’s probably driven the market in the last few years.

He added shortages are now spreading beyond franchised dealers.

‘It’s becoming a broader issue – more people are competing for the same cars, which might make things tight.’

Joining Plummer and host James Baggott was Vicky Hart of dealer group Waylands. She said that dealers are having to work harder to secure stock, with sourcing strategies evolving rapidly.

Over the next two years, the motor trade is forecast to experience a 35% drop in five-to-seven-year-old stock compared to 2024’s levels, leading Autotrader to encourage dealers to ‘diversify profitably’. Using live market data will help dealers identify alternative opportunities and drive profits, rather than just paying higher prices for in-short-supply stock to fill forecourts.

The panel session also explored the role of AI and technology in improving efficiency and profitability.

Plummer highlighted opportunities to automate routine tasks and better use data. ‘Take away the mundane,’ he said. ‘Free up your people to do the things where they add the most value.’

Hartley agreed, but warned against adopting technology without a clear purpose.

‘We are slowing down and starting with where we really see operational challenge,’ she said. ‘There are lots of conversations that start with selling the dream.’

She pointed to early results from new systems, including a 22% reduction in vehicle preparation times and AI handling 4% of service bookings.

‘We are seeing real tangible impacts,’ she said, adding that success depends on taking a ‘pragmatic’ approach.

The live session concluded that while pressures remain across supply, electrification and costs, dealers who embrace data, mix-up their sourcing strategies and deploy technology such as AI effectively will be best placed to capitalise on emerging opportunities.

The full white-paper can be downloaded here, and the session can be watched by visiting the Car Dealer Live website where you can purchase a replay ticket.

Watch (and listen on Spotify) James Baggott’s highlights of Car Dealer Live 2026 below.

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Car dealers face supply shortages, EV transition pressures, and AI disruption requiring rapid adaptation by 2026.

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Data-driven strategies will separate thriving dealers from those struggling with tightening margins and competition.

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Used car stock aged 5-7 years will drop 35% by 2026, forcing dealers to diversify sourcing beyond traditional channels.

The podcast looks back at some of the sessions from our event, sponsored by Autotrader, held last Thursday at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon.

Baggott brings you edited highlights from some of the sessions at the event including the Chinese challenger brands panel and Autotrader’s take on the stock shortage affecting car dealers.

If you want to watch all the sessions back in full you can purchase a replay ticket from the Car Dealer Live website. This will allow you to watch back each session in full on video to watch back at your leisure.

Replay tickets are available for the CarDealerLive.co.uk website.

In the special podcast, you can get a flavour of the sessions that took place on the day.

It features the Chinese car manufacturer panel that included Farrell Hsu, Chery country manager, Greg Wapling, from Geely UK, Steve Beattie, deputy country manager for BYD and Omoda Jaecoo head of sales Suraj Narayanamurthy.

They talk about why they think British consumers have taken to Chinese brands so quickly and what has fuelled their growth.

Rebecca Chaplin’s session with our franchised main dealers featured Richard Ennis, CEO of Hedin, and Sam Luscombe from Luscombe Motors. They chatted about how the year had kicked off for them so far this year and what they think is next for the new car sector.

Baggott caught up with Tom Leathes, Motorway co-founder and CEO, in a special session at the event. 

They talked about market research Motorway had carried out for Car Dealer Live as well as how he and his team had built the marketplace so rapidly.

They touched on the frustrations some dealers have when it comes to mis-described cars and how Motorway is deploying AI and other solutions to improve this.

There are also highlights from James Batchelor’s session with car manufacturer bosses from Dacia, Xpeng and Suzuki.

He spoke to Lina Ribero, Lorraine Bishton and David Kateley, about what help they would like from the government to incentivise car buyers.

There are also highlights from our independent car dealer panel where our guests chatted about how they had deployed AI in their businesses and Autotrader’s research is summarised by the firm’s Ian Plummer.

The podcast will give you a flavour of what took place on the day and is available now on your favourite podcast platforms or on YouTube at the top of this post.

Coverage of Car Dealer Live will continue on the Car Dealer Magazine website this week where you’ll be able to read about some of the partner research sessions in detail.

Sponsors for the event included Autotrader, Motorway, Impel, Cox Automotive, Motorway and Google.

• Join our breaking news WhatsApp group
• Sign up for daily email Car Dealer news bulletins
• Listen to the latest Car Dealer Podcast
• Read the latest digital issue of Car Dealer Magazine

Context:

Car Dealer Live podcast offers edited highlights from the automotive industry event at British Motor Museum.

Context:

The event tackled key industry challenges like Chinese brand growth and ongoing stock shortages affecting dealers.

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Full session replays are available for purchase through the CarDealerLive.co.uk website for deeper insights.

The Car Dealer team will be sharing updates from the British Motor Museum throughout today (March 19), in this live blog which will be updated regularly.

If you haven’t been able to attend the show in person, you can still watch all of the sessions live or catch up on them later with a streaming ticket. These can still be purchased from cardealerlive.co.uk.

Guest speakers include Peugeot UK’s Nicola Dobson, Infinity Motors’ Sohib Ghafouri and Ginny Buckley from Electrifying.com.

We will also be hosting a number of panels covering every corner of the motor trade.

Those at the event can post on social media tagging Car Dealer or using #CDLive.

Enjoy!

That’s all folks!

Our final session is done after some fascinating insight on AI, SEOs and strong digital foundations. Thank you to all of you for following the blog throughout the day – I’m now off for a lie down! See you all again next year!

Has the motor industry ever been this interesting?

Just Google it

Our final session of the day sees James Baggott chat with Google’s Huxley Stewart in a keynote interview. Stewart, Google’s senior auto industry manager in the UK, is discussing how the tech giant can help dealers to maximise performance. We’ve had a lot of talk about tech and AI today so this is set to be an incredibly interesting session.

‘Back to normal’

Our panel say things are looking up for independent dealers after a strong start to the year, with trading described as ‘back to normal’ after several volatile years.

Improved digital marketing — especially AI-driven targeting and social media — has boosted lead quality, while repeat customers remain a key driver of sales.

However, stock sourcing is the biggest challenge, with dealers competing for limited supply and margins under pressure. Rising vehicle preparation costs further squeeze profitability, particularly on older cars.

While EV interest exists, demand remains limited in lower price brackets due to education gaps and suitability concerns.

Overall, our dealers are optimistic but cautious, focusing on efficiency, adaptability, and maintaining reliable stock.

It has been great to see so many familiar faces from across the motor trade today!

Great to have you along, Jason

Independents have their say

Our penultimate session of the day is now underway, as we hear from our Independent Dealer Panel. Rebecca Chaplin is in the host’s seat as she chats to Umesh Samani, Steven Douglas and George Manning who run Specialist Cars, Really Easy Car Credit and Hilton Garage respectively. We are currently hearing about challenges finding stock and fighting for the same products.

Need for customer-centric experiences

Plenty more of note to report from that session. Tim and Jason explored how fragmented technology ecosystems are eroding efficiency and profit in automotive retail. They argued the core issue isn’t technology itself, but poor integration, legacy processes, and a lack of cohesive strategy.

Multiple disconnected systems create complexity, data loss, and staff frustration, reducing productivity and customer experience. Both stressed the need to simplify processes before digitising, invest in better architecture, and prioritise connectivity through APIs.

Ultimately, success lies in empowering people, streamlining workflows, and delivering seamless, customer-centric experiences—unlocking significant revenue gains, particularly through improved lead management and follow-up.

Keeping you in the loop…

Next up is our Keyloop research session. The firm has produced a whitepaper looking at areas where car dealers can improve efficiency within their businesses. The firm’s Tim Smith is now on stage with digital transformation expert, Jason Craker, and our very own James Batchelor.

‘There will be Kodaks of the car industry’

In her keynote, Ginny Buckley highlighted persistent consumer hesitancy around electric vehicles (EVs), emphasising confidence gaps in driving, charging, and buying used EVs.

Drawing on surveys of 13,000 UK drivers, she noted that only 3% felt confident buying a used EV, reflecting widespread misconceptions about battery longevity and reliability.

Buckley called for clearer government policies, greater support for the used EV market, and stronger dealer education. She praised new market entrants, including Chinese brands, for stimulating competition and innovation, and expressed optimism about the growing range of EVs, forecasting an exciting, transformative period for the automotive industry.

“The conference hall at Gaydon absolutely packed for the afternoon sessions at CDL26. A fascinating session on challenger brands and you can hear a pin drop as the delegates absorb the fascinating content, particularly in respect of megawatt EV charging” – Car Dealer’s Dave Brown

Ginny believes EVs are the best tonic

We are now onto our final keynote interview of the day with Ginny Buckley, co-founder of Electrifying.com. She has been discussing why she loves EVs and what support is needed to help the automotive industry go green.

Focus on age profiles

The panel explored the evolving UK automotive market, highlighting shifts in buyer demographics, shorter replacement cycles, and rapid adoption of Chinese and EV brands.

Younger buyers, particularly 25–40-year-olds, are driving demand for technologically advanced, connected vehicles. Cox’s research shows that dealers must adapt with seamless digital-to-physical experiences, strong product knowledge, and transparent aftersales support.

Used car programmes are essential to maintain residual values as new models enter the market. Education on EV tech, charging, and total ownership costs is critical, while multi-powertrain and affordable options attract wider adoption.

Overall,  the research shows that success relies on aligning innovation, customer experience, and strategic market positioning.

Cox Automotive share key research

It’s now time for our first research session of the afternoon, with Cox Automotive joining us on stage to share their whitepaper research. The firm’s Phil Nothard is joined on stage by Waylands boss John O’Hanlon and Craig Ford, head of sales, marketing and digital solutions at Motability Operations.

Local engagement key to Chinese success

There really was lot to sink our teeth into from our Chinese Challenger Brand panel! Greg, Steve, Farrell, and Suraj discussed how Chinese automakers are rapidly gaining UK market traction.

They emphasised that strong, appealing products combined with value-for-money pricing and advanced technology are key drivers of early adoption.

Dealer relationships and robust used car programmes are central to sustaining growth, while multi-powertrain options, rapid charging, and customer-focused innovations help differentiate their brands. The panel also highlighted careful market entry strategies, local engagement, and a long-term commitment to the UK.

Overall, they say that success hinges on delivering quality, affordability, and reliability while educating consumers on new technologies.

Keep those social posts coming. Don’t forget to use #CDLive!

Getting to the Hart of the motor trade’s biggest topics

Here we go…

Our first session of the afternoon has now begun. James Baggott is joined on stage by a panel of Chinese challenger brands. We will be hearing from Geely UK’s Greg Wapling, BYD’s Steve Beattie, Farrell Hsu from Chery and Suraj Narayanamurthy from Omoda and Jaecoo. It’s one of the hottest topics in the automotive world right now so this should be a good one.

Almost time to get back underway

Keyloop’s Tim Smith will be among the experts to take to the stage between now and 15:30.

That’s all for now…

After a packed morning of sessions, it’s time for a well-earned break. We’re off for some lunch now but we’ll be back with you this afternoon for even more debate.

How are government policies impacting carmakers?

Plenty to digest there as our panel shared their perspectives on the current state of the UK car market.

They highlighted the challenges of government policies, consumer confusion, and transitioning from legacy to electric models, stressing simplicity, consistency, and agility. Dealer relationships, customer experience, and trust remain central, especially for new entrants like XPeng.

Digital engagement, social media, and AI tools were emphasised as ways to raise awareness and connect with consumers.

The panel agreed that clear messaging, community engagement, and supporting both customers and dealers are key to building trust, driving adoption, and growing market presence sustainably.

Manufacturers have their say

James Batchelor is back in the hot seat for our final panel of the day. He is joined by Dacia’s Lina Ribeiro, Suzuki’s David Kateley and XPeng’s Lorraine Bishton to talk tariffs, Chinese brands and the key role that dealers still have to play.

Changing consumers

A really insightful session there! Jame and Danny shared how they built their respective sales brand using social media and technology.

James emphasised reaching ‘shy’ consumers who avoid traditional showrooms and phone calls, using WhatsApp voice notes, AI chatbots, and authentic, personal content to build trust. He says that social media isn’t always about direct sales; it’s about visibility, engagement, and consistent presence, especially in local markets like Liverpool.

He prioritises authenticity over paid campaigns, creating content that resonates with the audience—showing cars, handovers, and community connections.

Danny stressed that social proof, familiarity, and genuine interactions are more effective than flashy advertising, and small, thoughtful adjustments over time—rather than high spend—drive growth, trust, and brand recognition.

‘That was some really insightful stuff, crammed full of genuinely handy tips that dealers can take away.

‘We all know that buyer behaviour has changed drastically over recent years and James and Danny have been among the best at reacting to that.

‘Social media can seem scary if you don’t know what you’re doing so I’m sure everyone will have taken something away from that session.’ – Car Dealer’s Jack Williams

If you haven’t been able to join us. It’s not too late to watch proceedings from wherever you are.

Sohib Ghafouri has been getting a lot of love here in Gaydon

Keeping it social

Becca is back on stage now, where she has been joined by Solo Cars director James McConville and Danny Bond, of DB Automotive. The two dealers will be talking all things social media, with guests set to be treated to unique masterclass.

Importance of data-driven decision-making

Leathes reflected on a decade of growth, transforming the company into a 400-strong team handling over 7,000 cars daily.

Spotting inefficiencies in private car sales, he leveraged technology to connect sellers and dealers directly, removing middlemen while addressing trust and accuracy challenges.

Innovations include AI-driven car profiling, detailed grading systems, and integrated payments, helping dealers source stock efficiently in a constrained market.

Data-driven decision-making and digital tools have become essential for scaling and Leathes emphasised long-term focus, solving dealer problems, and sustaining profitability, positioning Motorway as a key player in the £100 billion UK used-car market.

Back to it

We’re back in the main auditorium now, where James is chatting with Motorway co-founder Tom Leathes. He’s been chatting about the platform’s humble beginnings ten years ago and how it has gone on to become a behemoth of the motor trade.

Break time

We’re now heading into our first coffee and networking break. We’ll be back with you soon!

Learning lessons from other industries

Sohib Ghafouri shared how Infinity Motors grew from a five-car startup to a 300-car operation, driven by vision, relentless effort, and strategic risk-taking.

Despite limited automotive experience, he leveraged lessons from banking and project management to scale operations, build the right team, and implement efficient systems.

His key to success has been balancing human-led customer service with technology, including AI, to streamline processes without losing personal connection. Marketing through platforms like Autotrader accelerated growth, while sourcing, staffing, and site expansion presented ongoing challenges.

Ghafouri emphasised perseverance, smart risk, and cultivating trust, seeing immense opportunity in customer experience and the evolving motor trade.

If you have joined us in Gaydon today, seek out ChangeMaker Associates for a chat!

Time for another keynote interview

We are now hearing from Infinity Motors’ Sohib Ghafouri, who is telling about his journey from JP Morgan to running his own used car dealership.

AI should enhance customer experience

The Impel research session highlighted a major gap between lead generation and conversion in automotive retail.

Leese and Bell revealed that while nearly all dealer enquiries receive a response, only a small proportion are personalised, with many failing to answer customer questions or follow up effectively.

They emphasised that speed and quality of response are now critical, as consumers expect replies within hours and will quickly disengage if expectations aren’t met.

The session also showed that a significant share of engagement happens outside of business hours, reinforcing the role of AI in handling volume and improving consistency.

Overall, the focus was on using technology to enhance—not replace—human-led customer experience.

Don’t forget to post about #CDLive on social media!

‘Following Autotrader’s research session, a clear theme of the day is already the push and pull between people and tech.

‘Vicky Hart from Waylands shared that AI implementation has reduced their days to prepare a car by 22%.

‘Sam Luscombe was keen to temper use of AI unless it’s making a genuine improvement and Hart echoed this, while Richard Ennis asked could investing in humanoids make a genuine saving for dealerships in the not too distant future.’ – Car Dealer’s Rebecca Chaplin

Impel are on stage

Batch is now joined by Impel boss James Leese and Michael Bell, from Available Car. They will be taking us through Impel’s whitepaper research, which is based on extensive mystery shopping of dealers.

Profit being lost through poor pricing

The Autotrader research session highlighted a stable but evolving market shaped by shifting supply dynamics and growing used EV opportunities.

Ian Plummer and Vicky Hart emphasised that while overall demand remains strong, dealers must work harder to source stock, particularly in the 3–5 year bracket, with greater reliance on proactive and multi-channel strategies.

They noted that significant profit is being lost through poor pricing, with data-led decisions now critical to maximising margins.

The session also underlined the growing importance of used EVs and declining brand loyalty, while AI and technology were positioned as key enablers of efficiency, helping dealers streamline operations and improve customer experience.

Great to see you, Paul!

Autotrader time

James Baggott is now joined on stage by Autotrader’s chief customer officer, Ian Plummer and Waylands executive Vicky Hart. We are currently talking EVs and ongoing stock challenges.

Increasingly pressurised environment

The franchised dealer panel highlighted a resilient but increasingly pressured retail environment.

While new car volumes remain strong, profitability is under strain due to margin compression, rising costs, and intense competition.

Richard and Sam say dealers are facing growing challenges from high manufacturer targets, EV pricing pressures, and structural cost increases, particularly in labour and property.

The traditional large showroom model is also being questioned, with a shift toward leaner, more digital operations. Our panel says AI presents opportunities for efficiency but requires careful implementation.

Overall, the outlook is cautious, with many expecting conditions to worsen before improving, making adaptability, cost control, and operational efficiency critical for dealer success in 2026.

‘It’s clear franchised dealers are feeling the pressure in 2026. Hedin UK CEO Richard Ennis shared that he wasn’t particularly positive about the year ahead with margin pressures and increased costs.

‘On our franchised panel he and Luscombe Motors MD Sam Luscombe shared their views on the changing landscape for new car dealerships as tech moves forward, both on the cars and how they run their dealerships.’ – Car Dealer’s Rebecca Chaplin

Franchised dealer panel underway

Car Dealer’s Rebecca Chaplin is now on stage chatting with Hedin UK CEO, Richard Ennis and Sam Luscombe,
MD of Luscombe Motors. It has been a varied discussion so far, covering everything from rising costs to humanoid robots!

What did Dobson say?

Nicola Dobson says the biggest challenge facing the car industry right now remains the transition to electric vehicles, with the pace of change running ahead of natural consumer demand. She stressed that while the direction is right, more needs to be done to bring buyers along.

On infrastructure, she backed calls for VAT cuts on public charging, saying more needs to be done to support drivers without access to home chargers and create a level playing field.

Closing with advice to dealers, Dobson urged retailers to maximise every lead, embrace digital tools, and work closely with manufacturer partners to drive sales in 2026.

‘With the dreadful events and situation in the Middle East, it was fascinating to hear from Nicola the potential knock-on effects to the automotive industry.

‘She was also very candid about the challenges that legacy brands like Peugeot are facing, and what’s needed to spark more customers to go electric.’ – Car Dealer’s James Batchelor

Dobson talks policy

Our first guest is Nicola Dobson, who has been discussing the government’s approach to EVs. Speaking to Car Dealer’s James Batchelor, the Peugeot UK boss, says that a pay-per-mile scheme is ‘potentially the wrong measure’.

Car Dealer Live 2026 is underway

Car Dealer Live has kicked off and Car Dealer editor in chief James Baggott has told the audience that despite the challenges the motor trade faces on the world stage, the industry is remarkably resilient.

In his opening speech, he said: ’Now, this year looks to be fraught with challenges but – navigated correctly – there’ll be some great opportunities for the motor trade.

‘Chinese challenger brands are rapidly gaining market share, electric cars are still dominating headlines and there are used car stock challenges to contend with too.

‘But 2026 has kicked off with vigour. New car sales in February were the best for more than 20 years and the used car market is flying.

‘Despite global events, and the pressures they may bring, the automotive market is proving to be resilient.

‘And in today’s ever changing market that’s more important than ever.’

The last sound checks are done and our guests are taking their seats. It’s time for Car Dealer Live 2026

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Buy Tickets

Baggsy Joins the Japfest Drift Kings Line-up

Known for his aggressive driving style, high-angle entries and championship pedigree, Baggsy is expected to be a major highlight of the Drift Kings competition. Fans attending Japfest can look forward to high-speed battles, precision driving and the kind of tyre-shredding action that has made drifting one of the event’s biggest attractions. Drift Kings has become a central feature of Japfest Silverstone, bringing together top-level drivers from across the UK and Europe. With Baggsy now confirmed, anticipation for the 2026 competition continues to build.

More Than Just Track Action

Beyond the circuit, visitors will also have the opportunity to meet Baggsy in person. Scheduled appearances include live stage interviews, dedicated meet-and-greet sessions, and access to official merchandise through his on-site pop-up shop. These fan-focused experiences are a key part of what makes Japfest more than just a motorsport event, offering direct access to some of the biggest names in the scene.

Japfest Silverstone: Europe’s Premier Japanese Car Show

Held annually at Silverstone Circuit, Japfest is widely regarded as Europe’s largest celebration of Japanese car culture. The event combines high-performance track sessions with static displays, club stands, trade exhibitions and entertainment, attracting thousands of enthusiasts each year. From heavily modified show builds to track-prepared machines, Japfest showcases the full spectrum of JDM culture in one location. With Baggsy confirmed and Drift Kings returning as a headline attraction, Japfest Silverstone 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions yet. For fans of drifting, Japanese performance cars and automotive culture, it remains a key date on the UK car show calendar.

Buy Tickets

Coverage of the event will be featured on the Car Dealer Magazine website throughout the day including a Live Blog.

If you can’t make the event, streaming tickets are available where you’ll be able to watch the entire day’s sessions live and watch them back at your leisure.

Last minute physical and streaming tickets are available from the event website – CarDealerLive.co.uk.

Everything you need to know about Car Dealer Live can be found in our dedicated post all about the event with timings, locations and more. If you’re attending the event it’s a must-read.

Tonight, attendees who booked the official hotel will enjoy a social catch-up with other guests. The reception starts at 6pm.

The event, hosted by James Baggott, James Batchelor and Rebecca Chaplin, brings together some of the biggest names in the motor trade for a day of inspiring panel sessions.

Baggott said: ‘I’m very much looking forward to seeing a huge number of members of the motor trade for our event tomorrow. I promise it’ll be as inspiring as it is interesting.’

Exclusive research will be delivered by our partners Autotrader, Google, Impel, Keyloop, Motorway and Cox Automotive.

Three headline interviews will take place on the day with Nicola Dobson, Peugeot UK managing director, Sohib Ghfouri, founder of used car dealership Infinity Motors, and Ginny Buckley, TV presenter and founder of Electrifying.com.

Executives from Suzuki, Dacia and Xpeng will take part in our car manufacturer panel, while a Chinese challenger brand session will feature BYD, Geely, Omoda & Jaecoo and Chery.

The independent car dealer panel features IMDA chairman and used car dealer Umesh Samani, Steven Douglas, the founder of dealership Really Easy Car Credit, and George Manning, director of car supermarket Hilton Garage. 

Franchised dealers taking part in another panel include Hedin CEO Richard Ennis and Luscombe Motors MD Sam Luscombe. 

There will also be a Social Media Masterclass featuring dealers who have saved thousands selling cars on social platforms. 

A full agenda for the day is published below.

• Car Dealer Live, March 19: Book tickets now
• Join our breaking news WhatsApp group
• Sign up for daily email Car Dealer news bulletins
• Listen to the latest Car Dealer Podcast
• Read the latest digital issue of Car Dealer Magazine

Context:

Car Dealer Live is a key event for networking and insights in the automotive industry.

Context:

This event highlights the importance of collaboration and innovation in the rapidly evolving motor trade.

Context:

Last year, Car Dealer Live attracted over 500 attendees, showcasing its significance in the industry.

Car Dealer Live is sponsored by Autotrader and partners include Motorway, Cox Automotive, Impel, Google and Keyloop. All have created exclusive research for the event.

We’ll also be conducting three headline interviews as well as chatting to panels featuring Chinese challenger brands, car manufacturers, franchised and independent dealers.

In this post, you can find out everything you need to know about our big event that will help shape your 2026.

Car Dealer Live takes place on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Arrivals are from 8am with the first sessions beginning on the live stage at 9am.

Check the CarDealerLive.co.uk website to find out if there are any remaining tickets. It is vital you book the correct ticket as incorrect tickets will be cancelled.

Pricing:

• Dealer ticket: £165
• Supplier ticket: £335
• Streaming ticket: £225
• Dealer + Hotel package: £325
• Supplier + Hotel package: £495

(prices ex vat)

If you have bought a ticket to Car Dealer Live and can’t make the event you can give the ticket to a colleague to attend in your place. Alternatively you can convert the ticket to a Streaming ticket (see below). Contact the team on [email protected] if you’d like to do that. Please note this must be done by March 18.

Yes, the entire programme of Car Dealer Live will be live streamed on the event website, but you need a Streaming ticket to watch it. This will give you access to all the sessions and you’ll also be able to download the research conducted by our partners on the event website.

A Streaming ticket also allows you to watch back any of the sessions at your leisure after the event.

Car Dealer Live is packed with brilliant guests who’ll be imparting their wisdom and take on the automotive industry in a series of interviews. The full line-up is below.

Car Dealer Live is designed to be interactive for attendees so you’ll be able to put questions to the panel via the Slido.com website. On the day, simply enter the code CDL26 and you’ll be able to submit your questions and take part in polls during the day.

We’ll also be sharing news and information via an exclusive WhatsApp group. Attendees will be emailed a link to join the admin-only posting group and there will be a QR code at the venue to join too.

Yes. You can book rooms at the official Car Dealer Live hotel via the event website for the evening of Wednesday, March 18. This will give you access to a pre-event social catch-up with others who have booked hotel rooms.

Book a hotel and ticket package and you’ll be sent details of your hotel stay ahead of the event.

If you also need a hotel room for the night after Car Dealer Live, we can help arrange that. Simply email the events team on [email protected].

With a large number of Car Dealer Live attendees staying at the official hotel, we are hosting a social get together for networking ahead of the event. Follow the signs from reception to the dedicated room after you’ve grabbed drinks from the bar.

Car Dealer Live takes place at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon. 

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dZPJjsPRn1MF7hPA6

There is no official dress code for Car Dealer Live, but in the past attendees tend to dress business casual. 

Car Dealer Live arrivals are from 8am with the live stage programme beginning at 9am. There are regular breaks during the day for networking opportunities and the programme finishes at 3.30pm so guests can get away before the traffic.

We have a packed day of sessions at Car Dealer Live with some brilliant headline speakers, panel sessions and research chats with our partners.

Exclusive research carried out for the event will be delivered by partners Autotrader, Google, Impel, Keyloop, Motorway and Cox Automotive. Click their names to read all about what they’ll be talking about in detail. 

The full agenda and timings can be seen below. And you can read more about the day here.

There is plenty of free parking at the British Motor Museum. See details below of where to park and where to head once you have.

Yes you do. All guests will be scanned into the venue at reception. A digital version of your ticket is fine as long as we can clearly read the QR code on the screen. 

The reception team will be on hand to help anyone who may have lost their ticket.

As well as the programme on the live stage, this year several suppliers to the motor trade will be showcasing their businesses in the networking are and you can chat to them during breaks in the day.

These include: 

• Autoglym – the car care professionals
• Brego – the used car valuations specialist
• DealerKit – the car dealership DMS built for dealers, by dealers
• Jigsaw Finance – a car finance broker with access to 30 funders 
• UVeye – a 24-camera, AI-powered visual inspection solution
• Rallye Digital – a firm producing dynamic pricing displays for dealers

Car Dealer Live has been designed to inspire, entertain and inform attendees about the very latest trends in the motor trade. We want guests to go home having learned something new that they can take back and implement to their businesses. 

All our research partners have produced a research paper alongside their sessions and attendees will be able to download these after the event. We will also be sharing copies of these in the event WhatsApp group so you can read them immediately.

Car Dealer Live is attended by a varied mix of automotive professionals from car manufacturers, car dealerships both franchised and independent, motor trade suppliers and industry analysts. We do not share an attendee list, but on the day you’ll be able to network during the breaks or the night before at the event hotel.

Yes. This year we have set-up an official Car Dealer Live WhatsApp group to share news and information from the day. 

This will be a broadcast-only group from the Car Dealer admin team and is designed to give you immediate news and information from the sessions throughout the day, plus useful reminders of what’s going on. 

Attendees will be sent a link to join via email and there will be QR codes on the seats in the auditorium.

If this post has missed anything you’re still wondering about, you can contact the team via email at [email protected].

If you’d like to be involved in Car Dealer Live next year, contact the team on [email protected]. Partner spaces are strictly limited. 

If you’d like to be on one of the panels, also drop us a line and one of the editorial team will reach out.

The company will be presenting exclusive white paper research at the not-to-be-missed motor trade conference, which will be exploring how connected technology and AI can improve productivity across the industry.

Taking to the stage next week to discuss more will be Keyloop’s chief strategy officer, Tim Smith.

The conference, sponsored by Autotrader, takes place on March 19, and the last remaining tickets can be purchased by visiting our dedicated website – click here.

In a special video interview (posted at the top of this story), Smith said explained that the session will centre around what Keyloop calls ‘heat loss’ in the automotive retail system.

‘It is really about how we’re applying technology in the industry to try and overcome some of the inefficiencies that we see and we all experience on a day-to-day basis,’ he said.

‘We’ve kind of classified it in this concept of heat loss or energy loss in the system – time and money.’

According to Smith, many of these inefficiencies stem from ‘disconnected systems’ and ‘overly complex processes’ within dealerships.

‘When it comes to technology and it comes to processes, it’s really about the disjointed tool sets, that dis-connectivity,’ he said.

‘Are we getting closer as an industry and are technology providers like Keyloop delivering that answer? Well, I hope to say yes, we definitely are.’

AI will also form a key part of the discussion, particularly around improving lead handling and customer engagement.

Joining Smith on stage will be Jason Craker, former chief digital and information officer at Polestar and previously head of IT at Volvo, who played a key role in the EV brand’s digital transformation.

For dealers attending the session, Smith said the goal is to provide practical insights into how technology can streamline operations and boost efficiency.

Car Dealer Live takes place at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon and is will be hosted by James Baggott, James Batchelor and Rebecca Chaplin.

On the live stage, our partners – which include Autotrader, Impel, Keyloop, Motorway, Cox Automotive and Google – will all deliver exclusive research carried out for the event. 

Eight car manufacturer bosses have signed up to attend Car Dealer Live with a headline interview with Peugeot MD Nicola Dobson kicking off the day.

Executives from Suzuki, Dacia and XPeng will take part in our car manufacturer panel, while a Chinese challenger brand session will feature BYD, Geely, Omoda & Jaecoo and Chery.

The independent car dealer panel features IMDA chairman and used car dealer Umesh Samani, Steven Douglas, the founder of dealership Really Easy Car Credit, and George Manning, director of car supermarket Hilton Garage. Franchised dealers taking part in another panel include Hedin CEO Richard Ennis and Luscombe Motors MD Sam Luscombe. 

There will also be a Social Media Masterclass featuring dealers who have saved thousands selling cars on social platforms. 

In the networking area, they’ll be more forward-thinking firms who will be able to explain their new products and services for dealers. 

Brands taking part include:

Tickets to the event are available now and cost £165 for trading car dealers. Supplier tickets are £335.

Hotel room packages are also available with a room the night before the event. A social get together will be held the evening prior to the event for those attending to catch up with colleagues and network with like-minded professionals.

Pricing:

(prices ex vat)

Stay tuned for further announcements and to book your tickets log on to the website CarDealerLive.co.uk.

Streaming tickets are available for Car Dealer Live if you can’t make the big event but you still don’t want to miss out on the action.

Car Dealer Live – sponsored by Autotrader – is live streamed online allowing you to dip in and out of the great line-up of sessions at your leisure.

The streaming tickets – which cost £225 – allow you to watch live and also play back all sessions from the day in the future.

Car Dealer Live takes on Thursday, March 19, at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon. 

Streaming tickets, as well as physical tickets for dealers and suppliers, are still available from the event website.

The agenda (below) is packed with interesting panels and guests to inspire attendees.

Car Dealer Live partners will be delivering exclusive content at the event including a look at the major challenges facing dealers in 2026, how Chinese brands will change the face of the industry and how the most forward thinking dealers are using AI to help them be more efficient.

Car Dealer Live partners include Autotrader, Google, Impel, Keyloop, Motorway and Cox Automotive who will all host panel sessions discussing their detailed research carried out for the event.

Three headline interviews will take place on the day with Nicola Dobson, Peugeot UK managing director, Sohib Ghfouri, founder of used car dealership Infinity Motors, and Ginny Buckley, TV presenter and founder of Electrifying.com.

Executives from Suzuki, Dacia and Xpeng will take part in our car manufacturer panel, while a Chinese challenger brand session will feature BYD, Geely, Omoda & Jaecoo and Chery.

The independent car dealer panel features IMDA chairman and used car dealer Umesh Samani, Steven Douglas, the founder of dealership Really Easy Car Credit, and George Manning, director of car supermarket Hilton Garage. 

Franchised dealers taking part in another panel include Hedin CEO Richard Ennis and Luscombe Motors MD Sam Luscombe. 

There will also be a Social Media Masterclass featuring dealers who have saved thousands selling cars on social platforms. 

Tickets to the event are available now and cost £165 for trading car dealers. Supplier tickets are £335.

Hotel room packages are also available with a room the night before the event. A social get together will be held the evening prior to the event for those attending to catch up with colleagues and network with like-minded professionals.

(prices ex vat)

Book your tickets now by logging on to the CarDealerLive.co.uk website.

The event, sponsored by Autotrader, takes place in just over a week on March 19 and features manufacturer bosses, franchised and independent car dealers.

Held at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, the event is designed to inspire and educate guests with a series of panel interviews, headline speakers and research sessions.

The night before Car Dealer Live (March 18), guests who have booked a hotel room at the official hotel are invited to a social get together with others attendees. 

This will start at 6pm with signposts at the venue showing guests where to go. 

Car Dealer Live opens at 8am on March 19 for coffee and pastries where guests will be able to begin networking and chat to exhibitors in our Networking Area. 

Several suppliers to the motor trade will be showcasing their businesses and you can chat to them during breaks in the day.

These include: 

The Live Stage programme starts at 9am with a welcome from Car Dealer editor-in-chief James Baggott.

This will be closely followed by the first headline interview of the day with Nicola Dobson, Peugeot UK’s managing director, who’ll be chatting about her brand and the year ahead.

At 9.20am, our franchised dealers take to the stage with Hedin CEO Richard Ennis and Luscombe Motors MD Sam Luscombe taking questions from Rebecca Chaplin.

At 9.40am, our first research session of the day takes place with headline partners Autotrader.

Chief customer officer Ian Plummer will be joined by Waylands marketing director Vicky Hart to discuss technology, electrification and supply shortages.

At 10am, AI experts Impel will be discussing what happens in dealers after leads land – and how technology can help. Impel’s James Leese will be joined by a dealer guest to discuss their latest findings.

At 10.20am, James Baggott will be chatting to our second headline interviewee of the day Sohib Ghafouri, the founder of used car dealership Infinity Motors. They’ll be talking about how he has built his business from a five car operation into one stocking more than 300 cars in just a few years.

A coffee break takes place at 10.40am where attendees can fuel up on caffeine and chat to other attendees in our networking area. 

Then we start again at 11am with Motorway’s co-founder and CEO Tom Leathes who will be talking us through how the auction platform has grown so rapidly – and what’s next.

Plus, he’ll be revealing research carried out for Car Dealer Live into used car dealers’ concerns for the year ahead and his thoughts on how to tackle them.

At 11.20am, we’ll be hearing from two social media experts. Danny Bond, founder of used car dealership DB Automotive and James McConville, boss of Solo Car Sales, will both talk about how they use social media to great effect in their showrooms and ultimately how it helps them sell more cars.

At 11.40am, our car manufacturers take to the stage with executives from Suzuki, Dacia and Xpeng all giving James Batchelor their opinion on the big topics affecting the new car industry right now. Electric cars, Chinese brands and the importance of car dealers to a brand’s success will all be on the agenda.

After that, we break for lunch and more opportunities to chat to the other attendees or take your chance to check out the amazing cars in the British Motor Museum. Car Dealer Live tickets include entrance to the museum.

We start again at 1pm with our Chinese challenger brand panel. Executives from BYD, Omoda & Jaecoo, Chery and Geely will be on that panel chatting about how these new entrants have grown so rapidly – and what’s next for them here in the UK.

At 1.30pm we hear from partners Cox Automotive who’ll continue that Chinese car brand theme with details of how they think they will change the face of the industry. Backed up with some fresh consumer research they’ll look at how these new brands are gaining traction so quickly. 

At 1.50pm, our third headline interview of the day takes place with Electrifying.com founder Ginny Buckley talking about how dealers can help sell more EVs, her take on the electric car market and how to overcome some of the challenges it presents.

We’ll be hearing from the team at Keyloop about the challenges dealers face with data and how they can streamline their operations to make it easier at 2.10pm.

And then there’s a final coffee break for a caffeine pick-me-up ahead of the last few insightful sessions of the day. 

These kick off at 2.50pm with our independent dealer panel. This year it features IMDA chairman and used car dealer Umesh Samani, Steven Douglas, the founder of dealership Really Easy Car Credit, and George Manning, director of car supermarket Hilton Garage. They’ll be talking about the challenges and opportunities facing used car dealers in 2026.

And we end the day at 3.10pm with a fascinating session with Google’s Huxley Stewart. He’ll be talking about how consumers are using AI to search for their next car – and importantly how car dealers can ensure they remain part of that search.

The event closes at 3.30pm.

Tickets to the event are available now and cost £165 for trading car dealers. Supplier tickets are £335.

Hotel room packages are also available with a room the night before the event. A social get together will be held the evening prior to the event for those attending to catch up with colleagues and network with like-minded professionals.

(prices ex vat)

Book your tickets now by logging on to the CarDealerLive.co.uk website.

The biggest pull of Japfest Silverstone is the Drift Kings competition and a number of pro drivers are already locked in and ready for action. Expect massive angle, aggressive entries and door-to-door proximity that’ll have the crowd three-deep at the barriers. This isn’t a polite, 2nd gear car park drifting demonstration that you’d see at the NEC! Nope, this is pro-spec cars heading into the Brooklands’ complex at well over 100MPH, making it the fastest and most exciting sideways spectacle you can see in the UK.

While we are on the subject of drifting, we might as well mention that Baggsy will be sliding into the drift arena! That’s right, Baggsy is back at Japfest and will be driving his 1000BHP 2JZ GT86 in the Drift Kings and also doing a very special demo at lunchtime, (keep reading to find out what). But, he’s not just there to drive, he’s there to sign autographs and meet all his fans.

Normally, between 1pm and 2pm, the iconic Silverstone tarmac takes a well-earned breather from the on-track action… BUT NOT THIS YEAR. For the first time ever, the Japfest organisers are throwing open the gates to the legendary Brooklands’ section of the circuit and transforming it into a live action arena. While the final line-up is still under wraps, Japfest have confirmed that Baggsy will be bringing a few of his chums along to do a drift demo with a difference, Luke Woodham will be firing up his ProLite truck and sending it skywards with jumps and obstacles and they’ll be some crazy, wheelie-popping autograss cars tearing it up too! This is motorsport theatre at its very best.

The Great Unveilings stage is where months (and sometimes years) of hard work finally get revealed to the world. Expect covers to drop on widebody monsters, big-power Skyline builds, ultra-clean modern JDM projects and everything in between. If you want to see what’s next for the UK scene, this is where the future gets revealed. Bring your camera. And be ready for that “woah” moment. *Disclaimer, unfortunately the lady in the image below won’t be there, you’ll have to settle for Slim Jules.

Watching drifting is one thing. Sitting in the passenger seat while a pro driver sends it into full angle? That’s next-level. The Drift Taxis are back, giving brave showgoers the chance to experience sideways madness up close. Expect smoke pouring past the windows, tyres screaming, and a serious adrenaline rush. It’s not for the faint-hearted.

The show paddocks at Japfest are always stacked, but 2026 is already promising serious heat. From perfectly restored ’90s icons to track-ready Time Attack weapons and air-slammed VIP builds, every corner of the scene will be represented. And headlining the display? Smokey Nagata’s legendary Top Secret R35 GT-R. Seeing that gold-finished icon in person is bucket-list material for any JDM fan. It’s not just a car – it’s a piece of tuning history.

The retail village is basically temptation on four wheels. Big-name performance brands, aftermarket specialists, merch stands, detailing products, aero kits, suspension setups – it’s all there. Whether you’re planning your next build phase or just browsing for inspiration, expect to leave with ideas… and probably a lighter wallet.

Japfest isn’t just about static displays. The Silverstone circuit is open for track sessions throughout the day, giving owners the chance to stretch their builds on one of the world’s most famous pieces of tarmac. Hearing boosted Supras and screaming VTECs blast down the straight? That’s worth the ticket alone. And yes – Silverstone’s brand new karting track will also be open to Japfest showgoers. So if you fancy settling some scores with your mates between drift demos, you know what to do.

Japfest Silverstone 2026 is shaping up to be louder, bigger and more diverse than ever before. Whether you’re coming for the drifting, the show cars, the unveils or the track action, this is the date you don’t want to miss. 19th April 2026. Silverstone Circuit. Be there by booking your ticket HERE.

The new, attractive plate design has proven extremely popular, with 57,000 sold in the seven months since it became available. It's a variation of the standard colors, except with white lettering on a blue background, and Massachusetts in red print. Thirteen stars for the original colonies surround the year 1776 on the left, with the tagline "250 Years of Independence" replacing the standard motto at the bottom. After nearly 40 years with the same license plate, it's no wonder people are looking for a change.

Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles

Residents can now double down on the specialness of this patriotic plate by entering a lottery to get a low license plate number. This lottery is a time-honored tradition for the standard plate design that I've written about before. (I accidentally entered the lottery while researching that article and actually won, but I didn't follow through on claiming one.) It's usually a bit of a status symbol, but in some cases that low number can be a family heirloom, handed down through generations and dating back to the original issue of that number.

There are no historical claims to this new plate design, so everyone has an equal chance of winning one, though you won't get to choose your number. Plate numbers 1 through 999 are available, plus 1776 for maximum patriotism. You must already have an active Massachusetts passenger car registration to enter, which you can do at this link until April 17, 2026. Winners will be notified in May and have until August 28 to exchange their current plate for this one.

It does seem a little strange to enter a lottery to win the honor of paying more for your license plates, but many Bay Staters do it every year. It seemed perfectly normal to me when I lived there, which is also why I get to declare that Boston drivers are the absolute worst. It takes one to know one.

Among the brands looking to cut through is XPeng – whose boss Lorraine Bishton – is preparing to join us on stage at Car Dealer Live 2026.

Bishton, who serves as managing director of Subaru and Xpeng UK, will be sitting on the manufacturer panel at the must-attend motor trade conference and ahead of her appearance, we have been driving her brand’s latest offering.

When XPeng first arrived in the UK around this time last year, it brought with it its existing G6 electric SUV. Billed as a rival to the Tesla Model Y, the model was something of a mixed bag but 12 months on, the brand has given the model a spruce up with more of a focus on what European drivers want.

The brand claims it has made 20,000 changes from the old car to this updated version but is that enough to turn it into a genuine challenger in a very competitive segment? We’ve been testing it to find out.

As we’ve already touched on, XPeng really has gone to town on the changes in a bid to appeal to buyers across Europe. The brand says that underneath, the car has been ‘comprehensively re-engineered’, with individual refinements made across suspension tuning, steering calibration, braking response, power delivery, noise, vibration and harshness.

While exterior changes are more subtle, the interior experience has been transformed, with cabin upgrades, new materials and finishes, and improved comfort features all contributing to a much more premium feel than before.

The G6 is available in Standard, Long Range and Performance configurations, offering ranges of 292, 326 and 316 miles, respectively. We were able to get behind the wheel of both the Long Range and Performance cars, both of which felt well-powered and held their charge impressively.

On the subject of charge, XPeng claims that a 10-80% charge will take as little as 12 minutes using a 450kW charger. While this is genuinely market-leading, it is worth noting that there are no public 450kW chargers widely available in the UK, with the most powerful chargers currently operating at a maximum of around 360kW.

Output-wise, the most powerful Performance G6 produces a combined 480bhp and 660Nm of torque, equating to a 0-60mph time of just 4.33 seconds.

This was where the old G6, with its super-light steering and lack of communication from the front wheels, started to struggle. As a result, XPeng has gone back to the drawing board in a bid to improve the drivability of this updated model.

As a result, the car feels much more planted than what came before, and while the steering is still very much on the light side, the handling does feel more responsive than its predecessor. The Performance Model in particular accelerates as well as any big electric SUV, aided by the extra grip it gets as the only all-wheel-drive option in the lineup.

Overall, the ride quality is set up for comfort and handles bumps and imperfections well, even on large 20inch alloy wheels. Elsewhere, the raised driving position gives good visibility out onto the road.

The upgraded G6 takes its style cues from the old car, with only a few moderate upgrades, including colour-coded bumpers to replace the old black offering. The design is pretty minimalist and understated and in all honesty, on looks alone, you would struggle to differentiate it from most other cars of this kind coming over from China.

Having said that, the slim headlights are a nice touch and the sleek bodystyle does help to give the car a certain sophistication.

XPeng bills itself as a ‘tech company that makes cars’ rather than being a traditional carmaker with good technology, and when you step inside the cabin, it is clear that this is a brand that favours the electronic approach. The majority of features are controlled through a very responsive 15.6inch touchscreen, which is paired with a high-quality 10.25inch digital dash. Other modern features include a digital screen in place of a rear-view mirror, which does take a little adjusting too when glancing at what’s going on behind you. The car also has one of the best voice-controlled systems on the market today, activated by simply saying ‘Hey XPeng’.

The cabin itself is also a step up from the old car, with high-quality materials used throughout, including Nappa leather seats. Storage is good, too, with plenty of cubbies dotted here, there and everywhere, as well as a well-sized 571-litre boot.

Despite all the changes, XPeng has not raised the price of the G6 from when it first arrived in Britain last year. That means that the basic car gets underway at £39,990, rising to £44,990 for the Long Range car and £49,990 for the Performance model.

All cars get heated and ventilated front seats, while Long Range and Performance models add massage functions too. Ambient lighting, a heating steering wheel and dual-zone climate control all come as standard, as do Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for smartphone connectivity. The car also gets the brand’s clever XPeng pilot system which will even allow the car to park itself via an app.

The new G6 is a massive step forward for a brand which has struggled to cut through compared to Chinese rivals like BYD, Jaecoo and Omoda. The interior is great, the tech is cutting-edge and the drive is comfortable. While it may not be the most exciting car in the world, it does deliver exactly what it sets out to do and will fulfil the needs of most families on a day-to-day basis.

If you are on the lookout for a practical, functional electric car that offers a good level of tech at a reasonable price, then the G6 could be worth considering.

Stay tuned for further announcements around Car Dealer Live 2026 in the coming weeks and to book your tickets log on the website.

Suzuki GB director of automobile David Kateley will be appearing on the car manufacturer panel at the event. His confirmation follows hot on the heels of new Dacia UK brand director Lina Ribeiro, who was revealed to be joining the panel last week.

Car Dealer Live 26 – sponsored by Autotrader – takes place on March 19 at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon.

Tickets are available now for both dealers and suppliers on the official Car Dealer Live website.

Kateley assumed the top role in January 2025, and succeeded Dale Wyatt, who had worked for the Japanese brand for 17 years.

Kateley himself is another long-serving member of Suzuki’s UK automobile team having joined the carmaker in 2003 in a business development role with Suzuki Financial Services.

He moved to a regional sales manager position for the south of England in 2006, before promotion to general manager in 2014 – a role he had until his appointment as director of automobile.

Kateley will be on stage to talk about the Japanese carmaker’s plans for the years ahead, along with wider industry topics such as the new and used car markets, and the ZEV Mandate.

Car Dealer Live 26 will be hosted by James Baggott, James Batchelor and Rebecca Chaplin, and this year’s event has been redesigned to give even more insight and learnings for attendees.

Along with the car manufacturer panel, there will be headline interviews with Peugeot MD Nicola Dobson and the boss of used car dealership Infinity Motors, Sohib Ghafouri.

New for 2026 will be a Chinese carmaker session, which will feature executives from BYD, Geely, Omoda & Jaecoo and Chery as we discuss their entrance to the UK market and their plans for the future.

There will be also be a franchised car dealer panel featuring Hedin CEO Richard Ennis and Luscombe Motors MD Sam Luscombe.

Meanwhile, the independent car dealer panel features IMDA chairman and used car dealer Umesh Samani, Steven Douglas the founder of dealership Really Easy Car Credit and George Manning, director of car supermarket Hilton Garage.

Car dealers will be able to hear exclusive white-paper sessions with sponsors Autotrader, as well as Google, Motorway, Impel, Keyloop and Cox Automotive.

There will also be a social media masterclass run by Danny Bond, founder of used car dealership DB Automotive and James McConville, boss of Solo Car Sales. Both talk about how they use social media to great effects.

Tickets to the event are available now and cost £165 for trading car dealers. Supplier tickets are £335.

Hotel room packages are also available with a room the night before the event. A social get together will be held the evening prior to the event for those attending to catch up with colleagues and network with like-minded professionals.

Pricing:

(prices ex vat)

Stay tuned for further announcements in the coming weeks and to book your tickets log on to the website.

New Dacia UK brand director Lina Ribeiro, who only took the hot seat last month, is the first guest to be announced for the car manufacturer panel at Car Dealer Live 26.

Car Dealer Live – sponsored by Autotrader – takes place on March 19 at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon.

Tickets are available now for both dealers and suppliers on the official Car Dealer Live website.

Ribeiro has more than 20 years’ experience across the automotive industry, and most recently held the role of Renault Group UK head of sales operations.

She takes the reins of the Romanian brand as it continues to grow in the UK. The next 12 months will bring further growth, as the carmaker intends to launch a new electric city car, and a new ICE- and hybrid-powered C-segment model.

Ribeiro will be on stage to chat more about the Dacia brand in the UK, along with wider industry topics such as the new car market, the ZEV Mandate and more.

She is the first guest to be revealed for the car manufacturer panel.

Car Dealer Live 26 will be hosted by James Baggott, James Batchelor and Rebecca Chaplin, and this year’s event has been redesigned to give even more insight and learnings for attendees.

Along with the car manufacturer panel, there will be headline interviews with Peugeot MD Nicola Dobson and the boss of used car dealership Infinity Motors, Sohib Ghafouri.

New for 2026 will be a Chinese carmaker session, which will feature executives from BYD, Geely, Omoda & Jaecoo and Chery as we discuss their entrance to the UK market and their plans for the future.

There will be also be a franchised car dealer panel featuring Hedin CEO Richard Ennis, Snows Group COO Alex Domone and Luscombe Motors MD Sam Luscombe.

Meanwhile, the independent car dealer panel features IMDA chairman and used car dealer Umesh Samani, Steven Douglas the founder of dealership Really Easy Car Credit and George Manning, director of car supermarket Hilton Garage.

Car dealers will be able to hear exclusive white-paper sessions with sponsors Autotrader, as well as Google, Motorway, Impel, Keyloop and Cox Automotive.

There will also be a social media masterclass run by Danny Bond, founder of used car dealership DB Automotive and James McConville, boss of Solo Car Sales. Both talk about how they use social media to great effects.

Tickets to the event are available now and cost £165 for trading car dealers. Supplier tickets are £335.

Hotel room packages are also available with a room the night before the event. A social get together will be held the evening prior to the event for those attending to catch up with colleagues and network with like-minded professionals.

Pricing:

(prices ex vat)

Stay tuned for further announcements in the coming weeks and to book your tickets log on to the website.

Chinese car makers will be a hot topic at our event – sponsored by Autotrader – with a panel session of executives from BYD, Geely, Omoda & Jaecoo and Chery.

Cox Automotive have focussed their exclusive research session on these challenger brands too and will reveal consumer research into the perception of the car buying public into these brands.

Car Dealer Live – sponsored by Auto Trader – takes place on March 19 at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon.

Tickets are available now for both dealers and suppliers on the official Car Dealer Live website.

Phil Nothard, insights expert for Cox, said: ‘We’re going to be focusing on one of the biggest structural shifts in the UK automotive sector – the challenges and what’s happening with new entrants to the OEM landscape.

‘We’re now at a point where those new entrants, primarily Chinese manufacturers, are capturing close to 10% of the UK market, with credible forecasts suggesting that will rise very swiftly towards 20%.

‘So in the middle of all this are the manufacturers and the dealers – what do they do? Who do they partner with? Which brands do they choose to represent?

‘For dealers, it probably isn’t if this shift matters – it’s how it will reshape the market and what they need to be doing in response.’

Nothard’s session will look in detail at the opportunity these brands represent and give dealers exclusive insight into just how big they could get. You can watch our chat with him about his session in the video above.

Car Dealer Live features a packed agenda to inspire the motor trade with interviews and research sessions and lots of networking opportunities.

Exclusive sessions with key research carried out for the event will be hosted by headline sponsors Auto Trader, as well as Google, Motorway, Impel, Keyloop and Cox Automotive.

Car Dealer Live 26 is hosted by James Baggott, James Batchelor and Rebecca Chaplin and this year’s event has been redesigned to pack even more into it.

Headline interviews with Peugeot MD Nicole Dobson and the boss of used car dealership Infinity Motors, Sohib Ghafouri have so far been lined up.

Our franchised car dealer panel features Hedin CEO Richard Ennis, Snows Group COO Alex Domone and Luscombe Motors MD Sam Luscombe.

While the independent car dealer panel features IMDA chairman and used car dealer Umesh Samani, Steven Douglas the founder of dealership Really Easy Car Credit and George Manning, director of car supermarket Hilton Garage.

And we’ll host a special session on car dealers using social media to sell vehicles – with one guest having sold more than 3,000 cars via Meta alone.

Nothard added: ‘There’s no way you attend Car Dealer Live and don’t come away with something fresh to think about, something to implement in your business, or at least a conversation to take back with you.’

Tickets to the event are available now and cost £165 for trading car dealers. Supplier tickets are £335.

Hotel room packages are also available with a room the night before the event. A social get together will be held the evening prior to the event for those attending to catch up with colleagues and network with like-minded professionals.

Stay tuned for further announcements in the coming weeks and to book your tickets log on to the website CarDealerLive.co.uk.

During welcome coffee, morning, lunch and afternoon tea breaks, the breakout area has space for networking tables for suppliers who wish to show off their companies. Spaces are strictly limited and selling out fast. 

Car Dealer Live – sponsored by Auto Trader – takes place on March 19 at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon and brings together automotive professionals from across the industry.

Tickets are available now for both dealers and suppliers on the official Car Dealer Live website. 

Networking table packages come with two tickets to the event and give suppliers the opportunity to show off their products and services at our event.

You can book a place by emailing [email protected] or call 020 8125 3880.

Car Dealer Live 26 is hosted by James Baggott, James Batchelor and Rebecca Chaplin and this year’s event has been redesigned to pack even more into it.

Baggott said: ‘This is a great opportunity for those firms who want to attend and show off their products or services to our attendees. The breaks are designed for networking while people are relaxing and this gives them the chance to chat to new businesses and take away even more ideas for their dealerships.’

Car Dealer Live features a packed agenda to inspire the motor trade with interviews and research sessions and lots of networking opportunities.

Exclusive sessions with key research carried out for the event will be hosted by headline sponsors Auto Trader, as well as Google, Motorway, Impel, Keyloop and Cox Automotive.

Headline interviews with Peugeot MD Nicole Dobson and the boss of used car dealership Infinity Motors, Sohib Ghafouri have so far been lined up.

Our franchised car dealer panel features Hedin CEO Richard Ennis, Snows Group COO Alex Domone and Luscombe Motors MD Sam Luscombe.

While the independent car dealer panel features IMDA chairman and used car dealer Umesh Samani, Steven Douglas the founder of dealership Really Easy Car Credit and George Manning, director of car supermarket Hilton Garage.

And we’ll host a special session on car dealers using social media to sell vehicles – with one guest having sold more than 3,000 cars via Meta alone.

A Chinese car manufacturer challenger session will feature executives from BYD, Geely, Omoda & Jaecoo and Chery as we discuss their entrance to the UK market and their plans for the future.

Tickets to the event are available now and cost £165 for trading car dealers. Supplier tickets are £335.

Hotel room packages are also available with a room the night before the event. A social get together will be held the evening prior to the event for those attending to catch up with colleagues and network with like-minded professionals.

Stay tuned for further announcements in the coming weeks and to book your tickets log on to the website.

The headline acts are the return of Ascend and Unleashed, Aston’s flagship lifestyle and track programmes, backed up by more accessible regional road trips and track days under the Supertour and Supercharged banners. In other words, whether you want champagne and culture or carbon fibre and lap times, Aston has an option.

Aston Martin 2026 Experiences Calendar Announced

Ascend is the ultra-posh one. Limited to just 12 couples per trip, it combines long, scenic drives with big-name motorsport and cultural events. The 2026 calendar includes VIP access to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, complete with behind-the-scenes access to Aston Martin’s endurance racing operation, a James Bond-themed Italian tour marking 20 years of Casino Royale, and a luxury road trip through Texas timed around the US Grand Prix in Austin.

It’s less about lap records and more about ticking things off a very expensive bucket list.

Aston Martin 2026 Experiences Calendar Announced

Unleashed, on the other hand, is where Aston takes the gloves off. This one is exclusively for owners of its limited-run, track-focused cars, including the Valkyrie, and it’s about driving them properly. Participants get coaching from championship-winning instructors, full technical support and access to some of Europe’s best circuits, including Paul Ricard, the Red Bull Ring and Monza.

Yes, that does mean Valkyries at Monza, and no, try not to think too hard about the insurance.

Aston Martin 2026 Experiences Calendar Announced

For those without a hypercar in the garage, Supertours and Supercharged events broaden things out. Road trips take in places like Marrakesh, Monaco during F1 weekend and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, while track days at Millbrook, Silverstone Stowe and Monticello offer a more traditional performance driving fix.

The takeaway? Aston Martin isn’t just selling cars anymore; it’s selling the idea of actually using them. And if that usage happens to involve a Valkyrie, a race track and someone else organising the logistics, so much the better.

You can check out the full calendar of events on the official website.

Formula 1 fever will start early this year in Mexico City, when the internationally acclaimed and award-winning immersive experience, Formula 1 Exhibition opens its doors to the public on 20 March 2026 at the iconic Yama Punta Museo.

Mexico City becomes the ninth city and second location in Latin America after Buenos Aires to host F1 Exhibition. The global tour first premiered in Madrid, Spain, where it became the country’s top selling temporary exhibition in 2023, before highly popular tours in Vienna and London, where it was awarded “Best Visitor Experience” at the 2024 Access All Areas Awards.

The revered show has also visited Toronto, Oberhausen in Germany, Amsterdam and most recently in Melbourne, Australia where the show made its Asia Pacific debut.

With the Mexico City Grand’s Prix festival-like atmosphere, Mexico has developed a love and passion for Formula 1, amassing 48 million fans. The Grand Prix has sold out every year since its return to the calendar, and fans can expect another incredible event in 2026 when local hero Sergio Perez returns to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for his first home Grand Prix since 2024 with F1’s newest team Cadillac.

The Formula 1 Exhibition Mexico City will offer these devoted fans, and those new to the sport, the chance to experience Formula 1 away from the track, gaining a rare front-row seat to one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.

Delivering a storytelling experience across six specially designed rooms spanning more than 2,000 square meters and developed in collaboration with award-winning curators, artists, and filmmakers, the Exhibition offers a unique insight into the extraordinary world of Formula 1.

The Mexico City edition will see the return of the show’s popular experiences as well as a new local room unique for the capital that will celebrate the country's iconic track and its local heroes, including Mexico’s most successful driver Perez.

Fans will also get to experience Pit Wall, a spectacular cinematic and immersive experience that allows fans to relive the greatest moments in Formula 1 history like never before.

They’ll also get to journey to Once Upon A Time In Formula 1, a gallery showcasing never-before-seen photography, historic F1 cars, audiovisual content, and original artefacts, transporting audiences through the most iconic moments that have defined the sport.

In Design Lab, visitors step inside the heart of a Formula 1 factory to discover how teams design and build their cars each season. Drivers & Duels will celebrate the sport’s most iconic drivers, legendary rivalries, and historic races since Formula 1 began in 1950.

Fallen Heroes is a room that pays tribute to the drivers who lost their lives in pursuit of glory at the pinnacle of the sport, while Survival explores Romain Grosjean’s dramatic 2020 Bahrain crash. This gallery features the remains of his Haas race car alongside a multi-screen audiovisual installation with exclusive interviews and previously unseen footage of the incident.

Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer at Formula 1, said: “Since Formula 1 Exhibition’s debut in Madrid in 2023, the show has gone from strength to strength to attract over 1 million visitors. We are excited to continue to bring the story and history of Formula 1 to our fans and those new to the sport.

"Mexico City is a vibrant cultural hub with a true passion for motorsport, so it made perfect sense for it to be the next stop on the Latin American tour.”

Jonathan Linden, Co-CEO of Round Room Live and Producer of The Formula 1 Exhibition said: “We are delighted to announce Mexico City as the next host city of The Formula 1 Exhibition.

"Each edition recognises the local heritage and local heroes of its host location, and this will be no exception, celebrating the region’s deep connection to Formula 1.”

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It was a wonderful trip down memory lane. I'd totally forgotten about GM's hydrogen cell concepts a whole 20 years ago, or Dodge dropping a Ram through the ceiling of the Detroit Auto Show (those Stellantis brands really knew how to make a splash at auto shows back in the day.) Take a wander through this post, won't you? And remember all the fun times we've had as the corpse of the American auto show continues to stumble towards irrelevance. 

Scott Olson/Getty Images

The 2015 Ford GT reveal felt pretty special, and I still think the car is gorgeous.

From Ryan Brenn

Sometime in 90's, LA Auto Show Press Day. The day before the official opening, it is sparsely populated and many displays are still being constructed. I turn a corner and, behold, I see before me: The Toyota Dancers. They are being put through the paces by an especially serious choreographer. He was yelling and clapping his hands (not for applause, but for tempo instruction/reinforcement) and maniacally stalking the lip of stage back and forth. They were rehearsing an elaborate dance routine to an extended version of the hyper-annoying, omnipresent, "I Love What You Do for Me, Toyota" advertising jingle. The very "expressive" and combustible choreographer was acting as if they were opening on Broadway that night, while the dancers' expressions transmitted the reality that none of them would be dancing on Broadway....ever. So it was simultaneously funny, pathetic and therefore, a bit sad.

From Clowncone4

Wikicommons/Karrmann

2005 Detroit Auto Show where GM routinely spent more money than God on displays.

Specifically, when GM had an amphitheater where they debuted several models, but one of which was the Sequel (a literal sequel to the GM Hy-Wire "skateboard"). While the vehicle itself wasn't particularly attractive (ended up inspiring the gen-1 Traverse), and while the cool tech was previously shared, the memories of being with my dad and listening to Tom Cochrane's "Life is a Highway" as we exited will always be a signifcant memory.

That moment has stayed with me far longer than anything GM put on the turntable (but made me a GM fan for life nonetheless).

From Nick Thomas

Jeep

I was at the Denver Auto Show once sitting in the back seat of a 2015-ish Grand Cherokee and this woman who was dressed in a ridiculous, lavish fur coat got in the front seat with her husband. She started running her hands all over the dashboard and said in a very southern accent "OOOOOOOH BABY, NOW THIS IS LUXURY!!"

It was hilarious because of the way she was dressed and because of how loudly she said it and also because it was a Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's one of those core memories that I'll never forget.

From JonRob 951

That time a Jeep got stuck on the fake mountain they made. Don't know how long it took them to get it things fixed as it was near the end of my visit and watching nothing happen isn't all the much fun to watch.

From Cluck

I can't seem to find video of it, but I remember seeing archived footage of Dodge dropping the new semi-truck-inspired Ram onto stage at the 1993 NAIAS. Under Bob Lutz, Chrysler really was the king of auto show reveals.

From DiRF

jhxfilm/Shutterstock

I grew up in Wisconsin, where rust never sleeps. I remember I was maybe 13 or 14, and I was drawn to the BMW display-specifically the tail pipes. They came straight out the back, rather than curve around the back side of the rear wheel where water and road salt would spray up on it and slowly turn it to dust, like most of the other manufacturers were doing. So clever, so obvious. Honestly, that's the only thing car-related I remember. Most of my memories were about leering at the models working each of the booths.

From dug_deep

Gary Miller/Getty Images

My favorite car show moment has to be in around 1990, I was at GNRS in Pomona. I was able to get in early as my dad knew Boyd Coddington. Boyd got me in about 1 hour early. I was walking around and was looking at Scion XB that was unique and customized. when Billy Gibbons from ZZ-Top stepped behind the ropes and into the car. I just said hello Billy. He asked how I got in so early and I explained Boyd let me in. He asked if I wanted to walk the show with him, I could not answer yes fast enough. We spent about 30 min together. He really is a car guy and I will never forget how pleasant he really is. Because of him, I realized that famous people are just people that make a living do what they love to do, just like most of us.

From 77Camaro

Scion (Toyota)

It must have been 2008 or 2009 at the New York International Auto Show. Scion was still around, and they had their own booth setup, separate from Toyota. They were blasting music and showing how youthful and lively their brand was. I remember them giving out all sorts of goodies, like Scion-branded hats and beanies, iPod socks (so 2008 of them!), and then at one point, the ceiling just opened up and it started raining Scion plush toys. As a kid, I thought it was incredible!

From JacksonGoToMC

The undisputed star of the exhibition is the 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback GT 390 from Bullitt, a car that redefined how cinema portrayed speed. McQueen’s nine-minute San Francisco chase sequence remains a benchmark for realism, filmed at real pace and without stunt doubles. Displayed alongside it is the film’s menacing Dodge Charger, the two cars reunited as rolling symbols of a moment that permanently altered automotive filmmaking.

Beyond the screen, Rétromobile explores McQueen’s real-world racing credentials. Central to that story is the Porsche 908-02 Spyder, acquired by McQueen’s Solar Productions in 1969 as preparation for his planned assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The lightweight endurance racer carried McQueen and Peter Revson to an extraordinary second place at the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring—despite McQueen driving with his left foot in a cast. It remains the clearest evidence that his racing ambitions extended far beyond Hollywood fantasy.

Steve McQueen in the film Bullitt

McQueen’s earlier competition history is also referenced through his involvement in American SCCA racing and his links with elite drivers such as Stirling Moss, underlining his long-standing commitment to serious motorsport from the late 1950s onward.

The Triumph from the film The Great Escape (right)

While cars dominate the exhibition narrative, McQueen’s two-wheeled life is acknowledged as the foundation of his mechanical obsession. Visitors will also find a supporting display of motorcycles that shaped his early racing years and cinematic identity, including the Triumph TR6 from The Great Escape, a Triumph TR6 SC linked to his 1964 ISDT campaign, factory 1963 ISDT Triumphs, a Triumph N13 Bud Ekins Desert Sled, a 1966 Triumph Rickman Métisse Mk3, the 1971 Honda 250 SRM, and the 1971 Husqvarna 400 Cross he raced extensively.

Held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Rétromobile 2026 runs from January 28 to February 1, with opening hours set from 10 am to 7 pm on Wednesday and Sunday, extended to 10 am to 8.30 pm on Thursday and Saturday, and running late until 10 pm on Friday. Tickets are available in advance for €20 until January 21, after which single-entry prices are €22 when purchased online or €25 on the door, while entry remains free for children under 12.

This year’s ticket-only event, which returns for its third year, will one again bring together dealers and leaders in the automotive industry for a fascinating day of insight.

Headline speakers at the event include the managing director of Peugeot UK, Nicola Dobson, and Sohib Ghafouri, founder and director of Infinity Motors.

Dealers will also be treated to panel discussions from a wide variety of dealers, dealer groups, and car manufacturers.

The full line-up is available on the event website alongside ticket details for car dealers and suppliers.

The event takes place on March 19 at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon.

One partner who will be delivering exclusive research at Car Dealer Live 2026 will be Impel.

Director James Leese will be taking to the stage to explain the importance of leads in the buying process, and how customers really like to be contacted.

Speaking to Car Dealer ahead of the event, Leese said Impel will be sharing fresh insight drawn from years of data analysis, consumer research and recent mystery shopping exercises, all aimed at helping dealers improve performance in 2026.

‘We’re going to be talking about leads and the importance of leads and, interestingly, how consumers perceive that journey of providing a lead and the responses they get back from the dealers,’ he said in the video posted at the top of this story.

Impel has analysed thousands of real-world interactions through its own systems, uncovering what Leese described as ‘some really interesting stories to be told’ about where dealers are succeeding – and where they are falling short.

As part of that work, the company has recently carried out mystery shopping exercises, submitting enquiries to both independent and franchise dealers to assess response times, quality of engagement and overall customer experience.

‘We’ve gone out and actually sat in the consumer’s seat,’ Leese explained, with the firm monitoring ‘how that response comes back and that journey and how the customer feels on that journey’.

Alongside this, Impel has gathered direct consumer feedback to better understand what buyers like, what frustrates them and what they want improved when enquiring about new and used cars. Those findings will form the backbone of Impel’s Car Dealer Live session.

As Impel is best-known for its AI-driven software, artificial intelligence will feature prominently in the session. Lease will be joined by an as-yet-unnamed dealer guest who will share their ‘warts and all’ experience of using AI in their business.

Commenting on why Impel wanted to appear at Car Dealer Live 2026, Leese said: ‘There are opportunities for dealers to make some relatively simple changes to their processes, to support better experience for the consumer and more sales for the dealer.

‘It’s about sharing those experiences so that everyone can benefit from it.’

Impel is just one partner who will be delivering its research at Car Dealer Live. Attendees will also be able to hear exclusive findings from Keyloop, Cox Automotive, Motorway, Google, and headline partner Auto Trader.

All research discussed by the event partners will be available for download on the event website.

Tickets are selling fast – to book yours visit our event website, and for queries you can email our team.

If venturing out to the world’s biggest car dealer conference is still on your to-do list then read on for a fantastic offer to get you there in style.

The Car Dealer team will be heading to America to bring back the biggest stories from the conference – and you can join them.

Held in Las Vegas from February 3-6, the NADA Show brings together dealer principals, senior leaders, manufacturers and suppliers to tackle the biggest challenges facing the industry.

This year’s education programme at the show is heavily focused on real-world problems UK dealers are dealing with right now.

Topics being tackled include how to implement AI effectively, how to source and price stock in volatile conditions, how to protect margins, and how to recruit and retain the right people.

Some of the world’s largest dealer groups will be showcasing how they are already responding and providing a glimpse of how they deal with change on a huge scale.

The good news is, there’s still time to get yourself a great deal. This last-minute offer includes business class flights and four nights in a five-star hotel in Las Vegas where you’ll benefit from $50 food a drink allocation on your stay every day.

Prices start from £6,849 and that also includes your NADA Show ticket, airport transfers and a group dinner.

Prices start from £6,849, based on February 3-7. Sharing options available on request.

If you want to stay longer but spend less, you can also book to fly premium economy from February 2-7 and stay for five nights with prices starting from £5,450. This is a direct flight from London Heathrow to Las Vegas.

To book your package or get a bespoke quote then email [email protected].

The 2026 Brussels motor show is nearing opening day – the first major international car show of 2026. The European-focused car event is designed to give us a proper preview of the cars launching within the next year or so, with a huge number of manufacturers attending.

Stellantis is out in force, with pretty much all of its major brands taking up show space with new or updated models. Renault Group is also a major attendee, as are the likes of Hyundai and Kia. More brands from China are making their presence felt in Europe, too, via the Brussels show.

The show is also the new home for the announcement of European Car of the Year after the cancellation and closure of the annual Geneva motor show usually held in March each year. The 2026 contenders for European Car of the Year are the Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes CLA, Renault 4 and Skoda Elroq. Last year’s winner was a joint one, shared between the Renault 5 and Alpine A290.

Keep scrolling for all we know about what to expect at the 2026 Brussels motor show. More brands besides these (like Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, BMW, Ford and BYD) are on the attendance list, but haven’t yet formally announced what is to come. We’ll update this page when we know more.

Tonale facelift
The brand’s small SUV returns sporting its refreshed look and upgraded tech.

ELO concept
The French brand is going back to being wacky with the new ELO concept car. It’s an electric people mover that looks more at home on the moon than hear on Earth, with configurable seating, massive interior space and visibility and can power all sorts if you’re out and about. The name comes from the second letters of rEst, pLay and wOrk. Nope, us neither.

Concept Three
Our first look at an electric hatchback from the Korean brand that’s smashing it design-wise right now. We saw it at the 2025 Munich motor show, but the concept makes its European debut here.

Insteroid
All for the lols, this one. It’s an Inster that’s been subject to gamma radiation, Hulk-style and comes with a wild body kit and loads of retro-futuristic gamer graphics. Something Simon Loasby’s design team did between cranking out bangers, basically.

Ioniq 6 facelift & 6N
The updated electric streamliner will go on sale in Europe very soon, with its refreshed design that cleans everything up and keeps it looking slick. We’ve already driven the 6N, and it’s excellent.

Nexo
Hyundai is persisting with hydrogen fuel cell cars, unveiling a new-generation Nexo at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show. This is our first time seeing the chunky new SUV on European soil.

Staria EV
Hyundai hasn’t officially confirmed that it’s Brussels launch car is this thus far, but we can read between the lines of the brand’s press release teaser. It’s ‘biggest EV yet’, with an image that looks very much like the front end of the futuristic-looking van, will launch at the show. Tech is confirmed to include a new 800-volt architecture – an interesting differentiation from the new Kia PV5.

Torres and Actyon Hybrid
New powertrains for KGM’s new-age SUVs, splitting the difference between the wheezy combustion models and the electric versions. These hybrid engines are developed by BYD, and are nicknamed ‘Dual-Tech Hybrid.’

EV2
Probably the most important car launching at the Brussels show. We’ve already seen the concept version of what will be Kia’s smallest electric car, and it already looks promising. Chunky looks, slightly crossover-y stance and clever interior design details are all expected.

B03X
The brand’s smallest electric crossover yet, designed to fight the BYD Atto 2 and Ford Puma Gen-E. It’ll likely be priced to compete and come with plenty of kit as standard.

New model range
The updated ASX, Grandis, Eclipse Cross and Outlander PHEV (above) will all populate Mitsubishi’s stand as the brand pushes back into Europe properly. The brand has also confirmed its UK relaunch, too.

Firefly
The Nio brand as a whole is in attendance with cars like the EL6, ET5 and Touring estate model – and even an EP9. But the focus is on the new Firefly hatchback, a supermini from the Chinese brand that’s aimed squarely at the likes of the Renault 5. We’ve already driven it – you can find out more here.

Astra facelift
One of the lightest refreshes in recent history? It has to be the updated Astra. Some new lights and seats are the focus here, as is an upgraded range from the EV model. You may now soothe your fevered brow.

Jake has been an automotive journalist since 2015, joining CAR as Staff Writer in 2017. With a decade of car news and reviews writing under his belt, he became CAR's Deputy News Editor in 2020 and then News Editor in 2025. Jake's day-to-day role includes co-ordinating CAR's news content across its print, digital and social media channels. When he's not out interviewing an executive, driving a new car for review or on a photoshoot for a CAR feature, he's usually found geeking out on the latest video game, buying yet another pair of wildly-coloured trainers or figuring out where he can put another car-shaped Lego set in his already-full house.

By Jake Groves

CAR's news editor; gamer, trainer freak and serial Lego-ist

Then there are full auto exhibitions, once annual mainstays in major American cities, where consumers would line up to see the latest models from each manufacturer, perhaps even catching a glimpse of a flashy concept vehicle or two. It was a win-win for both manufacturers and the buying public. In the same hour, a new parent could check out the latest in minivan/vacuum integration technology and ogle the two-seat sports car that might have been. It was also really, really expensive for the manufacturers, and while many of us remember the pandemic as the end of many of these shows, the decline in participation by both consumers and manufacturers alike actually began quite a bit earlier. A few remain (and you might find a couple on this list), but the days of the auto show as the enterprise of the enthusiast calendar year are largely over. So how do we fill the void? Let's find out.

Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Auto Show dates back to 1907 when it launched at a downtown skating rink. Since then, it has grown alongside the auto industry into one of the largest and best-attended motoring events in the world. Even when auto shows dotted the U.S. from coast to coast, this was the one where industry met culture in the spot that is arguably the car capital of the world. It has the scale and manufacturer presence you expect from a major auto show, but it also carries an LA-specific flavor that's hard to duplicate. Brands use it as a stage for new models, especially vehicles aimed at style-conscious buyers and tech-forward early adopters.

For a gearhead, the best part is that it's a concentrated way to see where everything is heading without dealership fatigue. You can bounce between EVs, performance trims, luxury flagships, and oddball concepts in a single day. The show's programming includes exhibits, stages, and car-culture-focused areas, which help it feel less like a static product lineup and more like a living snapshot of what the industry thinks people want next.

LA also benefits from context. You're in a city where the Petersen Museum exists, where canyon runs are a thing, aftermarket shops have global influence, and "car scene" is not one scene. If you're traveling for an auto show and want the trip to still feel like a gearhead vacation after the convention center closes, LA is one of the easiest choices.

Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Monterey Car Week is the closest thing the US has to a full-on automotive migration. It's not one car show; it's an entire week where the Monterey Peninsula becomes a dense network of events, gatherings, and high-stakes car-world rituals. The anchor is the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, which is still the defining American concours and one of the most prestigious in the world. The cars on the lawn are historically significant, painstakingly presented, and often tied to major racing histories, coachbuilders, or cultural milestones. 

Pebble is also the kind of event where you can see how the collector world thinks. You can learn plenty about the zeitgeist of the automotive elite based on what gets celebrated, what gets preserved, and what doesn't make the cut to be there in the first place. Even if you're not a concours person, it's a rare opportunity to see machine-level craftsmanship and restoration standards that are difficult to comprehend until you're standing inches away.

The larger Car Week ecosystem is part of the appeal. Monterey becomes a place where you can go from formal concours vibes to more casual gatherings, and you'll encounter everything from vintage icons to modern supercars because the crowd that attends is that broad. If you want one trip that hits history, money, taste, and mechanical obsession all at once, this is it.

So if you're the kind of person who knows that the Bugatti Brouillard is a one-off W16 coupe themed after Ettore Bugatti's favorite horse, just know that Monterey Car Week is where such things make their debut.

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Detroit's Woodward Ave dates back to the 1800s, where a rutted and bumpy log road gave the carriage-driving hotshots of the day limited opportunity to show off their early nineteenth century rides. But smoother planks installed in 1848 made proper driving (and thus racing) possible, and the cruising era officially was underway. 

That sort of organic origin story is still alive today at the Woodward Dream Cruise, where instead of a fenced venue or a ticket gate, they've had a public-road event that takes over a famous stretch of Michigan pavement and turns it into a moving, living archive of American car culture since 1995. You get massive crowds, a constant flow of cars, and a feeling that the entire region has agreed to prioritize cruising for a day.

What makes Woodward special is accessibility. The barrier to entry is basically "do you have a car and the patience to inch along," and the spectator experience is equally simple. Bring a chair, claim a curb, and watch. Because it's open, you don't get a curated or filtered selection. You get everything. That means pristine restorations, beat-up survivors, modern performance cars, homebuilt oddities, and the kind of deeply local weirdness that makes car culture worth paying attention to. In fact, the best cars of the Woodward Dream Cruise are the meticulously maintained boring cars that you won't find at most of the venues on today's list.

Hagerty

The Amelia Concours is one of the "serious" car events in the country because it combines concours prestige with an atmosphere that still feels inviting to regular enthusiasts. It's held at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, and the event positions itself as a celebration of speed and style, which is a good shorthand for how it tends to program its show field. You'll typically see historically significant vehicles across many classes, with an emphasis on cars that have stories worth telling, not just cars that look good under a tent.

A big reason Amelia works is scale and structure. The event promotes a large concours field with hundreds of vehicles competing across dozens of classes, and the schedule extends into multiple days with related activities. That gives you time to actually process what you're seeing, instead of feeling like you sprinted past history in a single afternoon. It also makes the trip feel like more than a one-day show, which is important if you're traveling.

For gearheads who prefer cars that did things, not just expensive cars, Amelia often hits a sweet spot. The concours format brings the quality control and depth, but the broader event framework keeps it from feeling like a stiff museum visit. If you want a Pebble-style experience without quite as much formality — and a major US concours that's still fun to walk – Amelia belongs on the short list. 

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At the peak of early 2000s cable TV, the televised feed of Barrett-Jackson did for collector cars what the World Series of Poker did for card gambling–namely letting regular folks feel like grizzled professionals after a long enough stint on the couch listening to commentary and watching the action. And even just on television, it's compelling stuff. You're not just looking at a row of muscle cars; you're watching the market decide what a given car is worth, on that day, in front of a crowd. Even if you never raise a paddle, it's a rare chance to see how hype, scarcity, restoration quality, and story all translate into dollars.

Scottsdale is the best-known Barrett-Jackson week, and it has become a cultural event for collector-car people. The variety is part of the appeal. You can walk from restored classics to restomods to modern performance cars without changing buildings, and you'll see vehicles up close that normally live in private collections. On top of that, for those who didn't bring a trailer (as they say), there's plenty to buy that isn't a car, with an expansive vendor marketplace of automotive oddities and accessories that can be as fascinating as the auction itself. It a unique dichotomy that lets you browse really cool handmade keychains that cost a few bucks while Donald Trump's old Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster sells for $1.1 million.

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Hot August Nights is the kind of event that reminds you car culture is often about mood as much as metal. It's a nostalgic car festival that takes over Reno and Sparks with a full schedule of show-n-shines, cruising, and related events with a strong emphasis on vibe-heavy activities and experiences like burnout competitions and rock & roll. You don't go to Hot August Nights to look at a few cars under perfect lighting. You go to watch the city turn into a moving parade of classics.

The era focus and cultural framing matter. Hot August Nights leans into an old-school Americana vibe, and the cars tend to reflect that, especially older muscle and classic cruisers. That makes it different from modern mixed-era shows where you get a random assortment of everything. Here, the experience is more cohesive, and that cohesion makes the whole trip feel like stepping into a themed weekend where cars are the main language people speak.

It's also a good example of how a car event becomes a civic event. The geography, the streets, the spectators, and the participation all combine into something bigger than a convention hall could ever produce. If you want a show that feels like a community decided to throw a car party at city scale, Hot August Nights is that.

Goodguys

Goodguys events are everywhere, but the Summit Racing Nationals in Columbus are the flagship experience that best communicates what the organization is about. It's focused on classic-era cars, with thousands of vehicles and a structure that caters to both owners and spectators. The official event page lays out dates, venue, and show hours, and that practical clarity is a clue: this is a big, well-run event designed to handle a massive turnout without collapsing into chaos. (Yes, we're calling out their event page because it's genuinely one of the more useful ones we encountered when making this list. Car people aren't necessarily website people, it turns out.)

The show's appeal is variety inside a clear mission. You get hot rods, customs, muscle cars, and trucks, and you'll see everything from expensive builds to genuine home-garage projects. The vendor presence is a big piece, too, because Goodguys is not just a show where you admire cars; it's a show where you can buy parts, talk to builders, and learn what people are currently doing in the classic scene.

Another key point is that Goodguys tends to reward cars that are driven and used, not just polished. The event format often includes activities beyond static display, and that reinforces the "cars are meant to move" ethos. If you want a US car show that feels like a living ecosystem of classic-car ownership, not merely a curated display, Columbus is one of the best single-weekend representations of that.

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The Detroit Auto Show still matters because Detroit still matters. You might remember this one as the North American International Auto Show, a place for car buyers and car makers to connect in real time, but it has added events and experiences beyond just eyeballing cars and maybe sitting in them. Even as the auto-show world has shifted and manufacturers increasingly launch vehicles online, Detroit retains symbolic weight as a home show that's tied directly to American manufacturing history.

For a gearhead, Detroit works best when you treat it like a future-facing trip. You're there to see what manufacturers are willing to put on a big stage, to compare new vehicles quickly, and to participate in the interactive pieces that are increasingly central to auto shows. The site's show-floor hours and public show dates also underscore that it's a multi-day experience, which can matter for travelers who want flexibility.

It's also one of the few auto shows where the city context adds a layer. You are visiting a place where car culture isn't a hobby; it's a legacy industry, a labor story, and a civic identity. That doesn't make the show automatically better, but it does make it feel more grounded than an auto show that could be in any random convention center. It's why, after the pandemic cancellations of 2020 and 2021, Michigan was absolutely desperate to get the Detroit Auto Show back.

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The Chicago Auto Show is a monster consumer-facing event, and its power is straightforward: scale, accessibility, and practicality. If you want to sit in everything, compare everything, and do it all under one roof without dealership pressure, Chicago is hard to beat. Unlike many modern shows, Chicago still draws major manufacturer participation.

For enthusiasts, the show offers a different kind of fun than a concours or a cruise. You're not there to discover one-off builds or rare coachwork. You're there to see the real-world product lineup, including trims and configurations that matter if you actually plan to own and drive the thing. That also means you can spot broader trends fast. Walk the floor and you'll see what segments are expanding, which features are being emphasized, and how brands are presenting themselves to the public.

Chicago's other advantage is its long-running identity as a major North American auto show. It's one of the events that still feels like a big public tradition, and it tends to draw huge crowds because it works as a winter outing as much as a car event. If you're building a list that includes "must-attend" auto shows for the public, Chicago is an easy inclusion.

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First, a caveat: unless you're in the industry, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (yep, that's what it stands for) is not, technically speaking, for you. The draw is real, however, with uncredentialed enthusiasts elevating sneaking their way into the experience to an art form. We're talking about the most influential aftermarket trade show in the US, but from a pure "importance to car culture" standpoint, SEMA is undeniable. It's where builders, brands, and suppliers show what they want the future of modification to look like. Many of the aesthetic and performance trends that dominate the scene for the next few years often appear here first. 

The event attracts attendance with public-facing spectacles like SEMA Fest, which displays all manner of big, flashy vehicles. So while you might not have trade-show access, there's an awful lot to soak in if you can make your way to Vegas in November. Even when it's bad, it's good, leaving us eager to share takeaways like the worst builds we saw at SEMA 2023. We're journalists (allegedly) and can just go. Eat your hearts out, uncredentialed public.

Radwood

We'd never compromise our editorial integrity by saying something like "saved the best for last," but also... yeah. Radwood might not represent the biggest, the most spectacular, or the most historical of your gearhead car show options, but it just might be the one with the purest automotive enthusiasm in its blood. An unrepentant celebration from the automotive '80s and '90s, Radwood is going to hit hard in the nostalgia department for enthusiasts of a certain age.

This is a lifestyle event centered on cars, trucks, and bikes with period-correct energy that makes dress, music, and overall period-specific energy all part of the appeal. It's why Radwood feels less like a traditional car show and more like a participatory festival built around a shared appreciation for the era.

The cars that show up can be anything from pristine survivors to forgotten oddities, which is part of the charm. Wildly, this up-and-coming event has earned satellite displays at high-class locales like The Amelia, Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, and Motorlux, proof that doing something well enough, even if it's offbeat, can land you a spot among the heavy hitters.

Part of the appeal is also that Radwood is not a single-location pilgrimage — it tours. That means a gearhead can realistically attend without making it a once-in-a-decade travel splurge. If you want one event that captures how a big portion of today's enthusiast world actually behaves, Radwood is a clean, modern inclusion. Radwood is back, and it's bigger than ever.

Historic racing just got even more exciting. The

is now an annual event, and from 2nd - 5th July 2026 the Legend edition takes centre stage, showcasing some of the fastest and most iconic cars from 1976 to 2015.

As always, you can expect thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing. 2026 will feature the Legends of Le Mans series, bringing LMP1, LMP2, and GT cars from the 2010s back to the track. The GT3 Revival Series also returns, putting classic GT3 cars from 2006 to 2013 in the spotlight for a weekend of pure racing heritage along with much-loved Group C icons.

We’ll be camping with our long-term partner, 1st Tickets, who offer travel packages to Le Mans, with options to stay on our private PistonHeads campsite. Whether you’re after comfort, convenience, or a budget-friendly stay, there’s a package for you.

If you haven’t joined one of our Le Mans Classic events before, here’s what you can expect: 

Private PistonHeads campsite (spacious pitches, excellent facilities, a friendly atmosphere, and great food)

Pre-erected tents, including bell tents, for stress-free camping

Public camping, ticket, and travel-only packages for those preferring to stay off-site

Friday and Saturday morning parade laps around the full Le Mans circuit

PistonHeads display parking on the Bugatti Circuit

A range of grandstand seats to catch all the action

You can register your interest now by clicking here.  You’ll get full details about our private campsite and proposed packages for 2026, along with early access to book your spaces via a private PistonHeads launch.

This is definitely not one to miss! Spaces are limited, so be sure to get ahead of the crowd and register your interest today.

Register your interest to join us at the Le Mans Classic 2026

It’s back! The sell-out PistonHeads Annual Service returns to Bicester Motion on Saturday 8 August 2026, and we’re turning the wick up again. This isn’t your average automotive show - it’s a full-throttle celebration of everything we love about cars and the people who drive them, set in the iconic former WW2 Bomber base in Oxfordshire.

And yes, as well as tickets coming to you earlier than ever, display car applications are now open! Our time-period lawns return once again, highlighting the eclectic mix of classics, modern classics and future classics. Along with the fan-favourite modified, supercars, exotics and the all-important Readers’ Cars displays. Be sure to get involved, whether you have a V12 supercar or a well-loved hot hatch. Everyone’s welcome. Click here once you’ve grabbed your ticket to apply.

This is the event that sums up what PistonHeads is all about - cars, community, and proper enthusiasm. No fluff. No pretence. Just thousands of like-minded people enjoying all forms of moving parts, noise and engineering brilliance.

So polish up your pride and joy, grab your tickets and join us for the 2026 Annual Service - where the PH community comes to life.

Find out more and get your tickets here. 

There’s no better way to spend a Sunday than surrounded by great cars at the home of British motorsport - yes, we’re heading back to the Silverstone Museum for another PistonHeads Sunday Service, this time powered by Woodcote & Copse and joined by Burnout BBQ. 

Join us on Sunday, November 2nd in Northamptonshire, right beside the circuit’s main entrance. Since opening in 2019, the museum has become a must-visit for enthusiasts, celebrating the cars, stories, and legends that made Silverstone world-famous. Out in the car park, expect a proper PistonHeads line-up with everything from cherished classics to modern supercars. This time around, Burnout BBQ will be firing up the grills, so you can enjoy amazing food while soaking up the atmosphere.

Woodcote & Copse, who you’ll remember from our Annual Service (2026 tickets on sale now), have long been one of Britain’s leading Lotus dealers and now also represent Caterham, Subaru, and Morgan. They’ll be bringing a selection of their latest models to showcase, or you can check out their stock here.

Inside the museum, there’s plenty to keep you entertained - book a SIM suite session to battle for the fastest virtual lap, race on the giant Scalextric track, or explore the immersive exhibitions that celebrate Silverstone’s legendary past. 

Entry for the Sunday Service is free, and the museum is offering 30% off single-day entry tickets for adults and children (under-5s free). The discount applies to full-price tickets and can be used on the day, though booking ahead is recommended as it gets busy. Use the code PH30 at checkout.

We’ve got space for 300 cars, with gates opening at 9:30 am and the museum open until 4pm. Please only sign up if you’re sure you can make it to give everyone a fair chance to attend. Once you’ve added your name to the list here, grab your discounted museum tickets here. Expect cars, conversation, incredible food, and a proper celebration of British motorsport – see you at Silverstone Sunday Service!

When: Sunday, November 2, 09:30 - 12:30
Where: Silverstone Museum, Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Towcester, NN12 8TN
Cost: Free (additional ticket required for Museum)
Museum Discount Code: PH30
Spaces: 300 cars
Tickets: >> Here <<

The Classic Sports Car Club (CSCC) heads to the scenic Oulton Park circuit this Saturday, October 18, 2025, for its season finale, promising a nostalgic showcase of racing machinery spanning decades. Car enthusiasts can expect a thrilling mix of classic Minis, Lotuses, MGs, Fords, and many other cherished marques that have shaped British motor racing heritage.

The event offers action-packed racing featuring various series within the CSCC umbrella. These include the Mike Hawthorn Jaguar Challenge, the Swinging Sixties series, Modern Classics, Magnificent Sevens, and several others that cater to an eclectic range of classic race cars. Grids are expected to be strong, with championships often being decided in this final round.

Spectators will enjoy vibrant racing on the twisty and technical Oulton Park layout, which perfectly tests the agility and spirit of older race cars. The club offers a family-friendly atmosphere, with free admission for children under thirteen and on-site facilities including food, drink, and free parking.

Veteran and new racers alike compete in close battles that celebrate motorsport's rich past while providing exciting entertainment for fans of all ages. Camping is available right next to the track, allowing enthusiasts to soak up the weekend atmosphere in classic racing style.

The 2025 CSCC season finale at Oulton Park is shaping up to be an unmissable day for lovers of historic racing and classic cars, with close competition, legendary machinery, and the joy of grassroots motorsport all on display.

A Showcase of Innovation and Design

The highlight of the day was the UK debut of the Lamborghini Fenomeno, a 1,080 CV hybrid V12 few-off masterpiece. Unveiled just weeks earlier at Monterey Car Week in the USA, only 29 examples will ever be built—and all are already sold.

As part of Centro Stile’s 20th anniversary, the Fenomeno represents Lamborghini’s vision for the future, while a display of limited-edition icons—including the Sesto Elemento, Centenario, Sián, and Countach LPI 800-4—paid tribute to the brand’s tradition of bold design and exclusivity.

Guests were invited into a live design experience, where Lamborghini’s design team sketched, demonstrated techniques, and shared insights into how the marque’s most iconic models come to life.

The Power of the Temerario

Visitors also had the chance to be among the first to test drive the new Lamborghini Temerario, featuring an all-new twin-turbo V8 hybrid engine delivering 920 CV.

On Millbrook’s hill route and mile straight, drivers explored its astonishing 10,000 rpm redline, blistering 0–100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds, and visceral hybrid performance. With deliveries beginning in 2026, the Temerario is set to join the fully hybridized line-up alongside the flagship V12 Revuelto and the versatile Urus SE Super SUV.

Heritage Preserved: Polo Storico

Marking its 10th anniversary, Lamborghini’s Polo Storico division showcased a fully restored 1976 Countach LP 400 Periscopio, finished in striking Giallo Fly with tobacco leather. Certified and painstakingly returned to its original specification, the car illustrated Polo Storico’s role in safeguarding Lamborghini’s history through restoration, certification, and archival expertise.

Bespoke Luxury and Brand Partnerships

Inside, the Ad Personam lounge invited clients to explore virtually limitless customization options in colours, trims, and finishes. Centre stage was a striking Temerario Alleggerita in Verde Mercurius with red accents and extensive carbon-fibre detailing. Lamborghini Accessori Originali also displayed enhancements, including Akrapovič titanium exhausts for the Urus SE.

The event also highlighted Lamborghini’s collaborations with global brands:

Ducati displayed the co-designed Streetfighter V4 and Panigale V4 motorcycles.

Bridgestone showcased its custom Potenza Race tyres engineered for the Temerario.

Sonus faber demonstrated the Temerario’s premium in-car sound system.

LEGO® Technic brought along the Lamborghini Revuelto set for enthusiasts to build.

Lifestyle partners including Babolat, Technics, Culti Milano, and 24Bottles added unique experiences, from bespoke padel rackets to Lamborghini fragrances and DJ performances.

A Community of Passion

As Chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann remarked: “This UK event, like other Lamborghini Days around the world, is a remarkable opportunity to bring together so many facets of our brand, and for the Lamborghini team and our owners to share in the passion our marque evokes in one of our top markets worldwide.”

From the roaring test drives to curated Italian hospitality and exclusive brand experiences, Lamborghini Day UK was more than an event—it was a vivid showcase of the marque’s innovation, heritage, and uncompromising passion for performance.

Be part of the takeover and book Classic Japfest tickets now.

Take a closer look at the cars Liberty Walk are bringing to Classic Japfest 2025!

Let’s start loud. Lando Norris’s own R32 GT-R lands at Goodwood wearing Liberty Walk’s Kaido-Works conversion—a throwback to Japan’s Kaido scene with that extended bonnet and front wings. This isn’t the LB Japan GTS you saw buzzing around Suzuka; this one’s Lando’s UK-built GT-R, finished exactly how Lando wanted it: black on black.

It’s the only Liberty Walk Kaido-Works R32 GT-R built to this spec, and it looks like a concept sketch that somehow escaped the paper.

Want to see this Kaido-Works in the flesh? Grab your tickets

You’ve seen it all over Europe; now the RX-7 is back on UK soil. This LB Super Silhouette FD has become Liberty Walk Europe’s most recognisable poster car—Mini GT model, LB Japan tees and special cards, the lot. It spends most of its life on tour, bouncing between Holland, Portugal, and big European shows, which only adds to the mystique.

It’s the Liberty Walk Europe build that everyone wants to see up close, and Goodwood is your chance.

See the silhouette that stops scrolls – book your Classic Japfest tickets and be a part of the scene

Auto Finesse’s S15 joins the party. “Absolutely incredible” in the words of LB Europe. Details will unfold on the day, but here’s what matters: with the R32 and RX-7 flanking it, this super-wide S15 completes a killer JDM trio on the Liberty Walk stand. Bring your camera!

Rounding out the four is a Liberty Walk R34 Super Silhouette, imported from Japan and rarely seen in the UK. Think exaggerated aero, competition presence, and that unmistakable LB drama scaled up to R34 proportions. It’s the unicorn you’ve been waiting to spot.

Four Liberty Walk icons. A shop full of fresh drops and exclusives. Classic Japfest at Goodwood, Oct 4–5. Lock in your spot and book tickets now.

Mark the dates: October 4–5, Goodwood Motor Circuit. Team Japspeed has locked the Subaru Impreza in for Classic Japfest—and this time we’re not parking it, we’re drifting. After a successful Teesside shakedown with Shane Lynch at the wheel, the car will wow the crowds in live drift demos at Goodwood!
Be there. Book your Classic Japfest tickets now

You know the story: the Japspeed Subaru became folklore after it was stolen in 2011, later recovered, and eventually reborn. Fast-forward to Trax 2025, where the team pulled the cover off the rebuilt Impreza and reunited it with its most famous pilot, Shane Lynch. A few teething issues kept it out of the Drift Kings demos that day—but that chapter’s closed. The team sorted the snags, hit Teesside for a proper shakedown, and the verdict is simple: it’s ready.

Want to witness the comeback, not just read about it? Make sure you grab your Classic Japfest tickets then!

Under the bonnet lives a Wegner-supercharged LS9 V8 delivering around 1,000bhp – exactly the firepower needed for Goodwood’s high-speed sweepers. Beneath the familiar, period-correct Japspeed livery and silhouette, Team Japspeed refreshed the chassis to modern drift standards—dialling in the lock, steering angle, and suspension setup so it runs at contemporary competition pace.. In short: it looks like the icon you remember but moves like a 2025-spec drift weapon.

Hear the LS9 roar and feel the ground shake at Classic Japfest on Oct 4–5!

At Silverstone, Japspeed formally unveiled the car and reunited it with Shane Lynch, confirming the comeback narrative in front of a packed Trax crowd. Organisers trailed the appearance in advance, highlighting the car’s 1,000 bhp rebirth and Lynch’s return. A few teething issues on the day meant Lynch did not run the car in the Drift Kings demos as planned. The team has addressed the snags and set the next outing – Classic Japfest.

The reunion everyone wanted is happening on our turf! Shane Lynch is confirmed to drive, with Baggsy also scheduled to take stints. Expect big angle, fat smoke, and full send during the Japfest drift demos—perfect viewing from the fences and grandstands as Goodwood’s flow lets the Subaru stretch its legs.

Fans won’t need to wait long to see the Japspeed Subaru back at full tilt. Shane Lynch and Baggsy are scheduled to drive the car in anger at Classic Japfest, Goodwood Motor Circuit, on Saturday 4 October 2025. This is just one of many features of the show, so JDM fans – check on the ‘Whats On‘ pages for full details!

This isn’t just a bodykit on a cult chassis. It’s a fully re-engineered remix of JDM history, executed by Liberty Walk Europe with ColourKraft handling the heavy fabrication and paint. The Kaido-Works kit originally landed on the narrower R32 GTS-t, so nothing on Lando’s wider-arched GT-R simply bolted up; the team extended panels, reshaped rear quarters and even relocated the rear lights to make it flow as if Nissan stamped it this way. Factory-smooth, only far wilder.

The finish is stealth perfection: a full respray in Bentley Beluga Black with Raptor-coated front/rear diffusers and sills for durability, plus satin Quadrant decals that appear only when the light catches them. Monochrome, menacing, and loaded with easter-egg detail.

Want to see that paint pop under Goodwood skies? Head to Classic Japfest then!

Air-low for the show, road-ready for the drive. The Skyline rides on AirREX air suspension with Air Lift Performance 3P management, backed by Hardrace camber/toe arms and an Ultra Racing strut brace. A Japspeed HICAS delete keeps the rear predictable, while a serious K-Sport big brake kit (8-pots/356mm floating discs up front; 4-pots/330mm rear) with Pagid RS29 pads ensures stopping power to match the theatre.

Wheel choice is gloriously era-correct: SSR Formula MESH three-piece (18x11J front, 18×12.5 rear) wrapped in Yokohama Advan A052 (265/35R18 front, 315/35R18 rear). It’s a deliberate nod to the golden age of Japanese tuning. “We wanted to replicate the Japanese demo car. SSR are a classic Japanese brand,” says the team.

Under the bonnet, this RB26DETT is all killer, no filler. Think uprated HKS turbos, HKS race cams, HKS fuel rail/injectors, A’PEXi Power Intake, front-mount intercooler, Mishimoto radiator & oil cooler, Fujitsubo Legalis exhaust with decat, and a Link G4 ECU delivering launch control and anti-lag—mapped for a healthy 550bhp. It’s old-school turbo drama with modern reliability; tidy touches like a carbon slam panel and Ultra Racing brace keep the bay purposeful, not flashy.

Inside, it’s lightweight intent with brand polish: Tillett B10 racing seats (spec’d by Lando himself), Takata harnesses, Nardi Classic wheel, Kode harness bar, rear seat delete, plus OEM-plus touches like Nismo mats/shifter. Tunes come via Kenwood head unit, Kicker amplification and speakers, and a JL Audio 12-inch active sub—because Kaido-Works doesn’t mean quiet works.

“Lando designed and spec’d the Tillett seats himself. He was involved in the build,” explains James Pearman of Liberty Walk Europe, underscoring how closely the car reflects Quadrant’s aesthetic.

Goodwood is the perfect backdrop for a build that fuses heritage and next-gen craft. You’ll get all the details that photos can’t capture: the texture of the Raptor sections, the way the satin Quadrant decals ghost into view, and the sheer presence of those SSR Formula MESH barrels filling the arches. Do not miss it.

Are you ready to meet Godzilla in the flesh? Classic Japfest, Goodwood, Oct 4–5. Book now!

Want to meet Baggsy? Fancy getting the best view of the smoke show? Book your Classic Japfest tickets to be a part of the action!

Baggsy’s blunt about it: this PS13 feels like home. He knows exactly how it reacts, how it loads up mid-corner, and where it delivers its punch. “You get in it and you just… know what it’s going to do,” he explains. It’s a very reliable package that’s carried him through multiple podiums and even a win in Ireland. He campaigned the car in Drift Masters for four or five seasons, learned its every quirk, and still lights up when he talks about driving it.

And yes, it’s still ready to go. Baggsy ran the PS13 at a demo event last year – complete with passenger rides as part of a Monster Energy activation – proving that age under the bodywork hasn’t dulled its bite.

Here’s the part the crowd will feel in their chest. The PS13 rocks around 800bhp and 800 ft-lb of torque. That’s serious shove in any era. The secret sauce is how it delivers that grunt: instant power from idle and meat-of-the-curve torque in the mid-range. That lets Baggsy drive it right in the sweet spot, keep the tyres lit, and surf big angle with precision. Compared to his GT86, which makes its power near the top of the rev range, the PS13 is easier to drive on the edge and wildly entertaining to watch.

Modern European drift cars push 1000bhp because tyre tech is so grippy. Baggsy’s take? Today’s drift builds are “drag cars going sideways.” You’ll see why at Goodwood – front ends lifting on transition, three-wheeling exits, and that classic PS13 silhouette carving smoke lines through every clip.

Goodwood’s fast, flowing corners let high-power drift cars really breathe. Expect long entries, hard flicks, and full-throttle transitions that put every ounce of the PS13’s torque to work. When Baggsy sends it, you’ll know—tyre howl, limiter chatter, and fat plumes that roll over the pit wall.

Don’t just watch the clips – be there. Book Classic Japfest tickets and be part of the fun!

Check out some of Baggsy’s others cars as we take a look around his epic collection!

Few cars channel Liberty Walk’s rebellious spirit like this FD. It wears the LB Super Silhouette conversion—an outrageous, era-authentic nod to Japan’s late-’70s/early-’80s silhouette racers—so think boxy arches, vast splitters and towering wings that turn every walk-by into a full stop. The bodywork and paint were handled by ColourKraft, while the livery was designed by Blackfish Graphics and applied by Identity Wraps using Inozetek film, creating a jaw-locking first impression that feels retro and futuristic in equal measure.

Project lead James Pearman nearly went white for easy livery swaps – until he clocked how the sharp, squared-off nose echoed a Porsche 935. That moment locked in the now-iconic ‘Petronas’ green paint and endurance-inspired striping. Changing it? Basically impossible now it’s part of the car’s identity.

Check out the finish for yourself at Classic Japfest, where you can get up close and personal with this iconic car.

This RX-7 refuses to play by single-era rules. Up front it runs Rotiform LAS-R with Aerodiscs for a pit-lane, prototype vibe; at the rear it rocks Work Meister S1 three-piece (rebuilt by Rimscarnated) to anchor the look in classic JDM flavour. Wrapped in Toyo R888 tyres, the clash is deliberate: modern motorsport at the nose, old-school attitude at the tail. James still has the front Works set – go full Works later? Maybe. For now, the mix is the signature.

To keep those box-arches usable beyond the show stand, the car rides on AirREX air suspension with Air Lift Performance 3P management—drop for display, raise for travel—and an Ultra Racing chassis brace to add backbone when it’s on the move between events.

Pop the vented bonnet and purists double-take: no rotary! In its place, a Nissan SR20DET – a decision that lights up every comments section. The logic is brutally practical: rotaries love regular use; show cars live on the road and on stands. For a machine that has to travel, idle on stages and fire up on cue, the SR20 delivers tough, tunable reliability without killing the theatre.

This isn’t a token swap. The SR20 has been refreshed and paired with a Pulsar Turbo uprated turbo and intercooler, Turbosmart BOV/FPR6/eBoost2, ECU Master engine management with Digital Display and PMU, plus custom dual side exits and full vehicle wiring by Motor City Performance. Fuel system? ATL cell. Battery? Odyssey. The result is a safe, reliable 450–460bhp package that still sounds unhinged in the best possible way. “It’s a nice, safe setup, powerful, reliable, and it still sounds incredible,” says James.

Wanna hear it? Of course you do! And you can… at Classic Japfest. Book your tickets today!

This FD isn’t a garage queen; it’s a continent-hopper. Over the last two years it’s been a headline act from Rotterdam to Portugal, it’s been immortalised as a Mini GT model, and it even features on Liberty Walk Japan merch and special cards. No wonder crowds gather and phones rise wherever it lands! It might be the most attention-grabbing build in Liberty Walk Europe’s roster right now, and the engine-swap debate is half the fun. Love it or hate it, you don’t ignore it.

Be part of the conversation and join us at Classic Japfest on Octerober 4 & 5.

Goodwood in early October. A Liberty Walk Mazda RX-7 FD you won’t forget. A field full of JDM legends. Classic Japfest, October 4–5 – book now and bring your crew!

That won’t be the case this year, though, because Nissan has announced it’s cancelling the 26th edition of the festival for 2025. In a short statement, the company says it’s “decided to cancel the event in its current format. The decision follows a reevaluation of the festival’s content and operations. Nissan… will take this opportunity to reassess the future direction of the Nismo Festival, with the aim of relaunching it as an even more engaging experience for fans.”

Nismo Festival

All sounds fairly vague, but it’s hard not to assume the 2025 festival is a victim of Nissan’s ongoing cost-slashing drive, which is also leading to it shutting down two factories and two design studios, cancelling development of several cars, and doubling down on its partnership with Renault in Europe.

It’s not hugely surprising, then, but it’s nevertheless disappointing. The Festival traditionally takes place in December, helping round out Japan’s automotive year, and its cancellation for 2025 – along with an uncertain future in its existing format – is doubtless a blow to fans of Nismo’s astonishing heritage. It especially comes as a blow given that the 2024 edition was a bumper one, celebrating Nismo’s 40th anniversary.

Nismo Festival

Despite the cancellation, Nissan seems to be attempting to breathe new life into the Nismo brand itself. In the past year, it launched the Ariya Nismo in Europe, the Patrol and Armada Nismo in the Middle East and North America, and the X-Trail Nismo in Japan. While none of them are exactly on the level of a 400R, or even a 370Z Nismo, it at least shows that Nissan still seems committed to keeping its beloved performance badge alive as it navigates choppy waters.

The award-winning Formula 1 Exhibition will opens its doors at the world-renowned Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in November.

The award-winning Formula 1 Exhibition will make its long-awaited Asia-Pacific debut when it opens its doors at the world-renowned Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia on 29 November 2025.

Following hugely successful runs in Madrid, Vienna, Toronto, London, Buenos Aires, and most recently Amsterdam – where the show was extended due to overwhelming popular demand – Melbourne will become the eighth city to host the critically acclaimed show after the recently announced F1 Exhibition in Oberhausen, Germany.

Known for its headline sporting and cultural events, Melbourne has been a hub for Formula 1 since 1996. The Australian Grand Prix remains one of the highlights of the season, and with a long-term agreement in place, F1 will continue to race at Albert Park for years to come.

F1 Exhibition will pay homage to Australia’s rich motorsport heritage, with the show celebrating former World Champions Jack Brabham and Alan Jones, past race winners Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo, as well as current title contender Oscar Piastri.

The show will offer fans the ultimate immersive experience, with exclusive archive content, interviews with some of the sport’s biggest icons and historic memorabilia. Other highlights include F1 cars from different eras, interactive installations that showcase the technology behind Formula 1, and a dedicated room paying homage to Australia’s racing history.

Fans will also get a chance to race around the iconic Albert Park circuit in state-of-the-art F1 driving simulators.

The Melbourne edition will start with Once Upon A Time In Formula 1, a gallery of previously unpublished photos, films, artefacts and numerous interviews with F1’s most famous personalities, taking visitors through some of the most popular and defining moments in the sport's history.

Guests then move onto the Design Lab which gives a rare insight into the development of an F1 car and shows how the teams design and produce new components for their cars. The room takes fans inside an F1 factory, and features contributions from Pirelli, Williams, McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, and Kick Sauber.

Drivers and Duels tells the stories of legendary drivers and rivalries, with highlights including the Hall of Fame, which features over 60 helmets and the most iconic race suits from Formula 1’s 75-year history. Revolution By Design explores the sport’s groundbreaking innovations and the future of F1, with contributions from Lotus, McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, and F1 ACADEMY’s Managing Director Susie Wolff, plus more.

Visitors then enter Survival, where previously unseen remains of parts of Romain Grosjean’s burnt out Haas car – including the steering wheel and a tyre – and his boots and gloves from his dramatic 2020 crash in Bahrain will be displayed. The show then reaches its climax at The Pit Wall – a cinematic and immersive experience that allows fans to relive the greatest moments in Formula 1 history.

Details of a seventh room dedicated to the significant contribution Australia has made to motorsport will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer at Formula 1, said: “Every time Formula 1 comes to Melbourne we feel the passion for the sport throughout this amazing city, so it’s only fitting for it to be the destination for the first F1 Exhibition in Asia-Pacific.

"The show celebrates the sport’s rich history and Australia’s outstanding contribution to Formula 1. I’m really excited for fans to go on an incredible immersive journey through our sport’s most memorable moments.”

For more information, visit: f1exhibition.com

As Monterey Car Week morphed into a spectator sport, Goodwood Revival has risen to become more than just classic car racing. A quiet side show of Goodwood Revival is the event’s parking lot, which is now the world’s best car show, and this year it was a mud pit to boot.

In the words of my friend and automotive journalist Kristopher Clewell, these people “took the car.” At the Goodwood Revival parking lot spectators and race car owners alike brought some of the wildest, rarest, and most expensive (or flat-out obscure) metal and just parked it in a grass field at the event. Even in the pouring rain, which turned it all to mud.

This is a place where mud-covered Cobras as sitting next to rare Ferraris, classic Bentleys, Land Rover Defenders, Aston Martins of all vintages, and more.

But it’s not just rare, expensive, or even classic euro metal. It’s an eclectic mix of vehicles from around the globe.

This year a white Honda Turbo II hatchback was sitting next to a green VW Type 2 Transporter pickup with white “Porsche” lettering down the side and a tan canvas bed topper. A classic Mini sat behind them.

There were also two classic Nissan 260 Zs—one a mustard color and another teal; the latter was parked next to a lovely blue Jaguar.

There are things you expect to see, like Ferrari 308 GTBs, or random Aston Martins, but a Bentley Blue Train is a whole different league of rare. Then, just before leaving the parking lot an Auto Union Horch sedan stopped me in my tracks. I’ve never seen one of these classic behemoths in real life, and its presence is nothing short of a Bentley from the era. There was also a DKW Auto Union van painted in baby blue sitting across from the Auto Union Horch sedan, as if to say, “hey bud, we are related and rare.”

There’s random American vehicles that somehow were brought here at some point, and each stands out in the sea of classic Euro metal screaming, “one of these things is not like the other.” A Ford F-100 with solid patina sat next to a Jaguar and VW Bus. A super clean Ford LTD wagon with classic green paint with the fake wood we all saw in movies was parked next to a classic Mercedes SL. Then there was the classic Thunderbird, which was as long as multiple Minis and Alfas parked amongst it. The classic white Cadillac with its timeless tailfins stood out parked between the much smaller MGs it was sandwiched between.

The cars are incredible, but the owners are the nicest people. Enthusiasts themselves, most are happy to chat about their vehicle and its history. A woman getting out of a blue Aston Martin told me her shy husband and her had owned their gorgeous car with a gray interior for 50 years. A lovely gentlemen and his wife pulled into the field in a Bentley. The gentleman said the Bentley is from 1925, and quickly noted, “it’s 100 years and two months old.” The two months part showed this man’s pride in his Bentley’s age and history. He explained that his wife and him have taken the car around the globe on Bentley owner’s club drives including a multi-state journey in the U.S., amongst other places. “It’s not perfectly shiny,” he noted with a chuckle, but that’s because he uses it. His wife was snapping the canvas cockpit cover onto the car as he proudly told tales of the classic in his three-piece gray suit.

Enthusiasts looking to walk amongst shiny, perfect, thoroughly detailed classic cars, or modern metal, will not aghast at the fact these owners are using their vehicles.

But as I watched a classic Aston Martin drive through the muddy grassy splishing and splashing as its narrow tires spun, something inside me remembered that at some level these are machines that are made to be driven. And at the Goodwood Revival, that’s exactly what owners are doing.

In years it’s not raining some people sit by their cars and have a picnic, even out of the back of old Rolls-Royces. Families are hanging out and kids are laughing as innocent kids without a worry should.

Of course sometimes old cars act like old cars, and they are temperamental. Seeing people roll up their sleeves and wrenching on the cars is par for the course.

It’s more than a car show; it’s also partially a used car sales lot. Multiple cars randomly parked throughout the lot have for sale signs on them, some with full build sheets like the Metallic Blue 1999 Bentley Turbo R with a St. James Red interior with only 43,000 miles on it. The owner was seeking £36,500 (which is about $49,634) or offers.

This ad hoc parking lot car show comes in addition to racing, fantastic food, and one of the best throwback period-correct events I’ve ever attended.

Come to Goodwood Revival for the racing and travel back in time with the cosplay, but absolutely do not miss taking a long stroll through the parking lot. It’s now become the world’s absolute best car show in terms of rare classic metal actually being used.

Got a tip about an underrated event? Shoot us a note at tips@thedrive.com

As Director of Content and Product, Joel draws on over 15 years of newsroom experience and inability to actually stop working to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media.

We are specifically looking for premium, performance and collectable cars so if you think your car fits the bill, consign with us for the opportunity to have your car on display at the Bicester Scramble on Sunday, October 5th - at no lesser venue than the resplendent PistonHeads stand. If your car is chosen, we’ll even pay for the professional photography, worth £175.

Apply to sell your car today with the leading performance car marketplace in the UK.

Apply to sell with PistonHeads auctions

Oberhausen has been announced as the next European city to host the Formula 1 Exhibition, with the doors set to open to the public on 22 October 2025.

After captivating audiences in Madrid, Vienna, Toronto, London, Buenos Aires, and most recently Amsterdam, the German city of Oberhausen has been announced as the next European city to host the Formula 1 Exhibition.

Part of Germany’s Ruhr area, Oberhausen is one of several cultural hotspots in a region renowned for its industrial monuments, festivals, museums and theatres.

Combining rare visual, audio and photographic materials with iconic Formula 1 memorabilia and cutting-edge interactive technology, the show offers a unique, immersive journey through the history of Formula 1, with doors set to open to the public on 22 October 2025.

Featuring exclusive contributions from F1 drivers, teams and experts, along with never-seen-before artefacts, the Formula 1 Exhibition blends dynamic design, insider insights and exciting interactive experiences to create an unforgettable show.

Fans and motorsport enthusiasts can also look forward to a dedicated German room celebrating the country’s deep-rooted influence on F1.

This special area will spotlight iconic moments from the Nurburgring and Hockenheim, pay homage to powerhouse constructors such as Mercedes, celebrate German women in Formula 1 and honour German drivers who have changed the sport – including Kick Sauber racer Nico Hulkenberg and former World Champions Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg.

The 90-minute journey through the world of F1 begins with Once Upon A Time In Formula 1, a gallery of previously unpublished photos, films, artefacts and numerous interviews with the sport's most famous personalities, taking visitors through some of the most popular and defining moments in F1 history.

The Design Lab gives a rare insight into the development of an F1 car and shows how the teams design and produce new components. This is followed by the Drivers and Duels room, which celebrates the most legendary drivers and memorable moments since Formula 1 started in 1950.

Revolution By Design is all about innovation and ingenuity, ground-breaking technical advances and the unique power of Formula 1 design. The next section, Survival, focuses on Romain Grosjean's dramatic crash in Bahrain in 2020, featuring the remnants of his Haas car and a video installation with unpublished interviews.

The exhibition ends with a spectacular finale. Pit Wall is an immersive multimedia experience that brings the greatest and most captivating moments in F1 history to life once again.

Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer at Formula 1, said: “We are excited to bring F1 Exhibition to Germany. Since our first show in Madrid, the Formula 1 Exhibition has been a great success in showcasing Formula 1’s history.

"Germany as a country is integral to the sport’s story with iconic tracks such as the Nurburgring and great champions including Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, whose legacies we still feel today. We cannot wait for fans in Germany to delve deeper into F1 and learn more about the sport they love.”

Jonathan Linden, Co-CEO of Round Room Live and Producer of The Formula 1 Exhibition, commented: "We are delighted to announce Oberhausen as the next stop on the European tour of our exhibition. Germany has a long-standing tradition of racing and has a meaningful influence on the world of Formula 1, with outstanding driver personalities and legendary racetracks.”

Folkert Koopmans, CEO FKP Scorpio Entertainment, added: "It is great to be able to announce the next exhibition highlight at OBEX right after The Last Days of Pompeii. Formula 1 The Exhibition offers everything you could wish for: Top sporting memorabilia, fascinating technology, extraordinary contributors, dramatic events and plenty of exciting stories – all brought to life in a unique way in this exhibition."

For more information, and to sign up for the waitlist, visit: www.f1exhibition.com

The star of Pebble Beach 2025 was the unique 1939 Mk V Corniche, making history as the first manufacturer-entered car to undergo full judging at the event’s 75-year run. This remarkable car was painstakingly restored over 15 years by Bentley experts and partners and was proudly displayed on its original registration, GRA 270. It completed a stunning Tour d’Elegance along the Monterey coastline before the show.

At Salon Privé on the grounds of Blenheim Palace, Bentley’s 1953 R Type Continental—often regarded as the design ancestor of the modern Continental GT—grabbed Best-in-Class honours in the historic HJ Mulliner coachwork category. Known affectionately as ‘Jas,’ this recently refreshed classic now lives alongside its trophy in Bentley’s Heritage Garage in Crewe.

Another highlight came at Hampton Court Concours of Elegance, where Bentley’s 1930 8 Litre Weymann saloon shone as the best manufacturer-entered car. This exquisite vehicle, one of just 100 built and personally driven by W.O. Bentley for nearly two years, remains a symbol of Bentley craftsmanship and heritage. The 8 Litre leads a superb display from the collection at the event, tracing Bentley’s evolution from 1926 through 2012.

Mike Sayer, Head of the Bentley Heritage Collection, pays tribute to the team behind the collection’s revitalisation. “The continued recognition of these cars reflects the dedication and expertise of our Crewe team. This collection tells the story of Bentley through design, performance and craftsmanship and helps shape our future innovation.”

Looking ahead, the Bentley Heritage Collection will commemorate key milestones in the Flying Spur’s lineage this October with three bespoke models, continuing to celebrate the brand’s legacy while inspiring its future.

Bentley’s Heritage Collection proves that history made with passion still commands attention and shapes what’s next.

Whether you’re a franchised dealer, independent, or a supplier, this is your opportunity to travel with like-minded professionals, learn from industry-leading seminars, and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the entertainment capital of the world.

You’ll join the Car Dealer team who’ll be attending to report back to the UK market, with opportunities for networking outside the show, while also taking the stress out of planning a transatlantic trip with everything from flights and accommodation to tickets and transfers taken care of.

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show is the largest automotive retail event on the planet. It’s where thousands of dealers, OEMs, and suppliers come together to discover the latest industry trends, technology, and ideas shaping the future of the motor trade.

From electric vehicle strategies to digital retailing, business essentials to finance, the conference is packed with workshops, keynote speakers, and an exhibition floor featuring more than 500 companies.

We’ve put together a choice of packages so you can travel in comfort with the option to choose between economy, premium economy, and business class flights, all with baggage and transfers included. Whatever you choose, we’ll take care of the details so you can focus on the experience.

Prices below are based on solo travellers in one room with British Airways flights from Heathrow but if you’re looking to share and need to fly from elsewhere in the country just drop us a line on the details below for a bespoke quote.

You’ll be staying in one of Las Vegas’s leading five-star hotels, perfectly located for both the show and the famous attractions of the Strip. With five nights included, you’ll have the perfect balance of business and downtime.

The conference ticket is included in the package price, as well as a group dinner event for all attending the trip.

Each delegate will fly out on Monday, February 2, 2026, and return on Saturday, February 7. Packages include flights with a choice of cabin class and ATOL protection, hold luggage, airport transfers, five nights of accommodation at a five-star hotel in Las Vegas close to the conference centre, your NADA Show ticket and daily travel to the show.

There will also a be a group dinner for those joining this trip and other networking experiences.

Delegates can choose to add on a NADA welcome reception ticket, which this year will be hosted at the local F1 track experience on the first night of the show.

Places are limited and to secure your spot with a deposit today click here. Packages are based on one person in a room and start from £2,996 including flights, hotel, NADA ticket, and dinner.

If you want to stay ahead in the motor trade, this is the trip that will inspire new ideas, give you access to global expertise, and leave you with connections that will last a lifetime.

To secure your place, contact Car Dealer today with your names and requirements or call the travel team on 02393 553 592 to find out more and be part of the UK delegation heading to NADA 2026.

Prices are accurate as of publication and are subject to change with limited availability. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

In the massive Munich motor show entrance hall, veteran attendees talk about enjoying again the very smell of a genuine motor show.

Not that this Munich event is like static shows of old. Sure, it’s based in a classically huge, six-hall exhibition centre, but in other locations across the city there have already been extravagant unveilings and displays, many involving dynamic demonstrations and lots of test driving, and there will be even more throughout the week. 

Munich motor show 2025: all the best new cars

If you seek affirmation that car culture and a car industry still matters to at least one leading nation in Europe, here it is. However, you only need to take a few steps inside – and begin to eyeball the huge and fast-changing display screens that are everywhere – to realise that this show is far from being an old-time carefree chance to feast your eyes on the latest in mobility.

This is a car industry battleground. It's the place where a renewed European industry – mostly German, because of where we are – will show how it will use a slew of improved and rethought models to defend its stake in its home car market against a tidal wave of Chinese rivals, every one of them driven by a slowdown in their own home sales to seek customers across Europe.

Annual car making capacity in China today is 50 million, a helpful Chinese market expert tells me, but the home market can only accept 28 million. There are thus 22 million extremely well-priced Chinese cars per year seeking foreign homes, despite both the EU and US tariff uncertainties.

This fact has special implications for the UK car market, currently just about the easiest and most accepting of the lot for an importer to enter.

The seriousness of the challenge to Europe is laid bare by the extreme changes, particularly in tone of voice, of major players.

Audi has already revealed its superb 'TT' coupé concept – reminiscent in my eye of the Jaguar Type 00, in which its design chief Massimo Frascella was also heavily involved. Audi, says Frascella, aims to begin a new design era. He has already candidly told assembled hacks that the four-rings marque “lost its way” for a while and needs a bold, simple, new design direction. This is it.

BMW uses Munich to reveal its own hottest harbinger of change, the new iX3 EV, first production model from the much-discussed Neue Klasse family that will eventually to amount to 40 different cars. The aim is to greatly improve both the customer appeal and the economics of the Munich company’s whole car-making business.

The iX3 looks good – a little more like the outgoing model than some might have wished (one of the penalties of designing SUVs) and somewhat bigger than expected. Perhaps the first Neue Klasse saloon – previewed at the show and confirmed to take the i3 name – will be even better, we all agree.

Mercedes-Benz has plenty to offer too. Its big 'WELCOME HOME' slogan is on screens and hoardings everywhere and is doubtless meant to sound comforting - and to encourage those who know the brand values to embrace them again. To my ear, there’s a strikingly un-Mercedes lack of confidence about it. 'Please come back', they’re saying; 'you left us and now we really need you.' I'm not sure desperation sells. It's a million miles from 'Engineered Like No Other Car' back in the day.

Volkswagen is also in full change mode, but part of that change is backward. There’s lots of talk about the new, enticing range of small EV models building a 'true Volkswagen' line-up. All the talk is about realigning the range with Volkswagen's core values. There’s a bit of desperation there too – 'remember the good old days?' – but it works because it’s understandable. Small EVs have an appeal and a logic to the many of us numbed in recent years by successions of big saloons and endless identical SUVs with 500bhp-plus, as if such outputs were important to most car buyers. 

But again, this isn’t a simple celebration of Volkswagen's capabilities and a chance to appreciate its view of the future. It’s a grim-faced circling of the wagons to meet a looming threat – from China. Many other displaying brands show the same mindset.

There are actually more Chinese manufacturers displaying at this Munich show than European ones, although you wouldn’t know it. Even well-known Oriental marques, established in Europe, are scattered to remote locations across the six-hall array, smothered by dozens of stands occupied by decent-enough component suppliers likely to be of little interest to the thousands of punters due here later in the week. Finding the likes of Changan, Xiaomi and Aito – all of which have new cars to show – is like being at an airport and being forced to walk through endless duty-free shops on your way to the departure gate. 

Along the way, I learn that the initials of Aito – one of at least five car marques backed by the gigantic, controversial Huawei technology conglomerate – stand for 'Adding Intelligence To Auto'. This information comes one of many nice, open-faced, young Chinese brand ambassadors who intercept me as I wander past. They all seem keen to talk and happy to be at Europe’s greatest motor show. Not one, as far as I can judge, is interested in the overthrow of Western civilisation…

The Europe-versus-China thing is on everyone’s mind in Munich, yet it can’t be pitched as a battle. As all parties admit, the new Chinese arrivals employ copious numbers of Europeans to import, register, sell and service their products - surely a positive. And from the product appeal point of view, you can hardly expect a financially pressed European car consumer to feel guilty about buying the best-value car they can find, whatever its origin.

The focus of many discussions therefore was on what the European authorities, muleishly intent on implementing climate neutrality standards that pose an existential threat to the whole European car industry, can do to improve the situation.

The words 'sense of urgency' come up every time legislators were mentioned – not least by new Renault Group boss François Provost, who makes clear his belief that the European strategy on climate neutrality is wrong and that “technology neutrality with a push toward electric” is the way that will work. 

One Munich feature, different from motor shows past, is its overall quietness. No loud displays; no bands or dance acts; even the ceiling-high video presentations are muted. “This place is a bit like electric cars themselves,” says one cynic. “No noise, no vibe.”

Yet such a dismissal of Munich’s mighty event – with its many associated city mobility festivals – would be a gross misinterpretation of what really happened.

Wonderful designs with new eye-appeal are everywhere. Huge improvements in the practical appeal of European cars have been prepared for whizzbang unveilings in these epoch-making days of early September 2025, likely to be remembered for many years. The excellence – and in many cases the anonymity – of the latest Chinese offerings is also laid bare.

Now the battle for the soul of the European car industry will begin in earnest.

The show, to give its full name of ‘IAA Mobility’, has mostly seen a bold attempt by Volkswagen to present a range of more affordable EVs, while other carmakers have used the show to reveal ambitious concept cars of the future.

Here we detail the highlights of the show.

BMW has started its Neue Klasse range of vehicles with a new iX3.

The battery-powered model aims to bring one of the longest electric ranges of any EV on sale in the UK, delivering up to 500 miles on a single charge. It’ll also offer charging speeds of up to 400kW, with BMW claiming that 231 miles of range could be added in just ten minutes.

Externally, the iX3 shows an evolution of the original ‘Neue Klasse’ SUV concept, with an illuminated version of BMW’s famous kidney grille, albeit orientated vertically rather than horizontally. There’s quite a difference between the iX3 and the combustion-engined X3, too.

Priced from £58,755 in the UK, first examples of the iX3 are expected to arrive in March 2026, where it will rival the likes of the Mercedes GLC and Volvo EX60.

Cupra used Munch to reveal more details on its new compact electric supermini, the Raval.

The Raval will be Cupra’s smallest model, and will sit on the Volkswagen Group’s new MEB+ platform, which is the same as the German giant’s new ID.Polo EV.

Revealing a camouflaged version of the car, Markus Haupt, interim CEO of Cupra, said: ‘The Cupra Raval is now shaping our future. Because with it, we’ve brought together everything Cupra stands for: emotion, striking design, electrifying performance and as always, driver focused.’

It may initially look like a whacky concept car, by the Concept Three gives some very strong hints at the forthcoming Hyundai Ioniq 3 – a new B-segment EV and the smallest member of the Ioniq family.

The styling is set to be carried over largely unchanged, so the production hatchback will have a bit of a coupe look about it. The Concept also has visible speakers at the back where the exhaust pipes would normally be – and that could make production too.

Battery sizes haven’t been confirmed, but it’s likely the production Ioniq 3 will use the same packs already found in the Kia EV3, so 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh. The final will arrive next year.

The B05 sits in the C-segment electric family hatchback class and will rival the likes of the Volkswagen ID.3.

Design touches include frameless window surrounds, flush door handles and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Leapmotor has not revealed images of the car’s interior at this stage, or announced what powertrain the car will feature; however, it’s likely to use the same ‘Leapmotor 3.5’ architecture as the firm’s new B10 electric SUV, which also features a 67.1kWh battery pack with an electric motor to give a claimed range of more than 260 miles.

Officially called the ‘GLC with EQ Technology’, the new model will act as the ‘first model in a completely new vehicle family’, according to Mercedes, and has been created as an electric vehicle from the ground up, rather than adapted from an existing petrol or diesel model.

Alongside a range of up to 443 miles, the electric GLC uses an 800-volt charging system, which will allow it to add up to 188 miles of range in ten minutes.

Arriving with a bold new look, the GLC incorporates an ultra-wide grille framed by LED running lights, while inside there’s a new ‘Sky Control’ panoramic sunroof which incorporates 162 illuminated ‘stars’.

The Polestar 5 is the brand’s new halo car, and will rival the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron GT and Lotus Emeya.

It sits on a completely brand new, scalable bonded aluminium platform, it has new battery and 800-volt charging technology, and uses a tonne of environmentally-friendly and recycled materials in places that you can and cannot see.

Bosses told us that the 5 is the ‘purest embodiment of Polestar performance yet’, so, this car is rather a big deal for the brand.

Renault revealed the sixth-generation Clio supermini which will be available with petrol and hybrid power.

The sixth-generation model features a new exterior design, which the manufacturer claims has been inspired by the firm’s Emblème concept car. The front grille features diamond emblems, there are curved LED daytime running lights, black wheel arches, hidden rear door handles and a coupe-esque sloping roofline. At the back, there is a sloped rear window and an integrated rear spoiler to give a sportier profile.

In terms of powertrains, the new Clio is available with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that produces 113bhp and 190Nm of torque. There is also the option of a hybrid setup, which is a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol mated to an electric motor to produce 158bhp and a total of 377Nm of torque.

Skoda will expand its electric SUV line-up with the just-revealed Epiq.

Due to enter production next year, the Epiq will sit underneath the Elroq and Enyaq as the firm’s smallest electric SUV.

With space for five and a 475-litre boot, the Epiq has been designed to maximise space in a car with a relatively small footprint. At 4.1 metres in length, it’s slightly shorter than the Skoda Kamiq, which is currently the smallest SUV in the brand’s range.

The Czech firm says that the price tag of the Epiq is ‘expected to be comparable with its ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) counterpart, putting it around £24,000.

Skoda has given a glimpse of what its future estate cars could look like with the Vision O.

Expected to preview a future Octavia replacement, the electric Vision O concept has been launched first and foremost as an estate car, or a combi, representing the brand’s commitment to these traditionally practical models which have been a core part of the Skoda range for decades.

With a new take on Skoda’s ‘Modern Solid’ design, which has been used on cars such as the Elroq and Enyaq, the Vision O has a long, sweeping roofline and a long wheelbase, which helps improve interior spaciousness. Skoda says that the Vision O offers a 650-litre boot, which is only slightly less than the one you’d find in the current Superb. With the rear seats down, this can be increased to 1,700 litres.

Known up to now as the ID.2, VW’s new electric supermini was shown off again at Munich but now wearing a new name.

To coincide with the Polo’s 50th birthday, the car will now be known as the ID.Polo as the German carmaker looks to add its back catalogue of names.

Also on display was the ID.Polo GTI, or the ID.2 GTI Concept as it was previously known as.

Designed to offer a compact size, the ID. Cross measures in at just over four metres long and just over 2.6 metres wide, making it similar in terms of dimensions to the current Volkswagen T-Cross.

However, it aims to bring a large amount of interior space with space for five occupants, a 450-litre boot and an additional 25 litres of space under the bonnet. The show car – which may yet be tweaked when it makes its way into production – also features seats which can be folded down entirely to create a ‘reclining area’.

Due to be launched next year, it’s expected that the production version of the ID. Cross Concept will be priced similarly to the petrol-powered T-Cross. As a result, prices should start at around £25,000.

First up, Audi unleashed the new e-tron GT RS. It’s brutal and fast, packing crazy torque and a sleek design that screams performance. This isn’t just an EV; it’s the future of four rings on the road.

BMW answered back with the i5 M60. Think heavyweight luxury, but light on emissions. It blends sharp handling with electric muscle, perfect for drivers who want sharp corners and green credentials.

Mercedes-Benz went for subtle power with their EQE 53. It’s all about comfort and tech, mixing futuristic interiors with strong electric range. The EQE quietly stakes its claim in the EV luxury space.

Volkswagen unveiled the ID.7 GTX, a sleek sedan that pushes the envelope on style and technology without breaking the bank. Expect strong performance and refined tech features wrapped in a fresh new package.

On the hybrid side, Porsche previewed the Cayenne E-Hybrid Turbo S. It promises blistering speed combined with efficient power. Porsche proves that hybrids can still deliver heart-pounding excitement.

Then there’s supercar action. Rimac revealed details on their new Nevera called the Nevera Legends Edition. It’s electric, stupid fast, and packed with tech that makes the competition sweat.

Not every new launch is about speed, though. Skoda showed off the Enyaq iV 80X, a gutsy electric SUV with solid range and practical family-friendly vibes. It's the everyday EV done right.

The Munich Motor Show made one thing clear. The future isn’t just electric—it’s raw, exciting, and packed with features that push driving to new levels. Whether you crave speed, style, or sustainability, 2025’s crop of cars has something that hits the spot.

This show brought the heat. Expect these rides to hit streets soon and shake up the game. Munich has spoken: the car world is speeding toward an electrified future with no signs of slowing down.

This year’s Munich motor show – officially named IAA Mobility 2025 – is under way. Given the new cars already revealed at this year’s show, it’s looking like one of the most important shows for a generation.

Major car makers are turning out in droves this year – perhaps more than most have since the pandemic knocked the industry’s confidence and budgets – with significant announcements from the likes of BMW, Volkswagen Group, Mercedes-Benz and Polestar.

Keep scrolling for all we know about the cars expected to make their official debut at the 2025 Munich motor show.

Concept C

A statement of intent from the Four Rings, designed to show off the brand’s new design direction and a hard reset for how the company operates. An ultra-clean, heritage-led design hides a future production version that’ll use the same architecture as the electric 718 twins.

iX3
A new generation of BMW’s high-selling electric SUV, but there’s far more to it than that. The new iX3 is the first car from BMW’s ‘Neue Klasse’ project, meaning it’s been engineered, designed and developed from the ground up with new tech, more efficient batteries and motors as well as a new design language. We’ve already driven a prototype – and it’s rather good – but the covers finally come off at IAA.

Seal 06
A plug-in hybrid saloon and estate are destined to launch in the UK and Europe, with the Munich show likely being the first time we’ll see them in the metal. We may also see more from the Denza sub-brand, too.

Tindaya concept
Cupra’s growing confidence, as well as its continuance for stealing Seat’s lunch money, means another show car for us to gawp at. The Tindaya, named after a volcano on the island of Fuerteventura and is designed to show us design cues of its future models. Cupra says the Tindaya ‘delivers the maximum expression of driver focus, while offering a unique experience, enhancing the driver’s emotions.’

Raval
The sporty Spanish brand has also unveiled a camouflaged version of its Raval supermini. This is part of the wider VW Group’s plans for all of its ‘Core’ brands to unveil their ‘Electric Urban Cars’ at the event – albeit seemingly at different stages of readiness. What sets the Raval apart is sporty detailing like tuned, lowered suspension and Sport settings for the traction control – as well as a racy design.

Concept Three
We initially thought Hyundai’s new small EV hatch would be the Ioniq 2, but it’s now been confirmed to be called the Ioniq 3, with Hyundai teasing us with this striking design sketch of its ‘Concept Three’, due to be revealed at the Munich show. Hyundai says it is an ‘opportunity to rethink the Compact EV from the ground up’ and it will be the first Hyundai to use the Group’s new Pleos software, as well as the now well-established E-GMP architecture.

B10
A new electric C-segment SUV from half-Chinese, half-Stellantis brand Leapmotor is on the way. Leapmotors claims the B10 is designed to be competitively priced against cars in the same segment (like the Nissan Qashqai and VW Tiguan).

GLC
One of Mercedes’ best-selling cars will launch with a new generation that will include an electric variant. We’ve already driven a prototype of the new model and gotten more details out of CEO Ola Kallenius, with this being the first of a new era of Mercedes models to feature both combustion and electric models that run in parallel with the same name.

AMG GT2
A Kimi Antonelli-led project to make a proper track-spec version of the latest AMG GT. Hardcore aero, V8 power and a personal F1 driver handover for each of the 30 folks that’ll get one.

AMG GT XX
AMG’s show car for its new generation of electric performance car technology. Some of the design elements will be toned down for the eventual production car – the next AMG GT four door – but the extreme power from the axial flux electric motors and new high-capacity, high-charging batteries certainly won’t.

Deus Ex Machina concepts
Mini’s showing off some extreme, modded versions of its hatch with some thoughtful details. They’re meant to be a nod to the brand’s long motorsport history.

5 four-door
Finally – Polestar’s long-drawn-out rival to the Porsche Taycan and Lotus Emeya makes its official debut at the Munich show this year. Plenty is already known about the new model, with Polestar promising an 800-volt electrical architecture, max power north of 850bhp and the brand’s first dedicated platform underneath.

911 Turbo S
Porsche’s flagship 911 model has electrified, using the same T-Hybrid setup as the GTS version. This allows enormous levels of performance – naturally.

Cayenne Electric
Like a Cayenne, but electric. Follows on from Porsche’s strategy of offering a Macan… but electric. Porsche has already given us a few details about the new model, since it’s been rather busy invading the Shelsley Hill Climb and tackling the Goodwood Festival of Speed as part of its testing rotation.

Clio
Renault has confirmed it intends to launch an all-new generation of Clio at Munich. Little is known so far, but we expect this to be a proper all-new generation (unlike the last one) which will be available with combustion and hybrid power to keep it separate from the 5 electric car.

#2 confirmation
Smart is in the confirmed list of press conferences at the show. It’s confirmed that a new #2 will make it to production, which will end up being a small two-door and two-seat city car following in the footsteps of the ForTwo.

Vision O concept
Skoda has confirmed a new concept car for this year’s show that previews a new generation of Octavia estate. The brand’s CEO, Klaus Zellmer, has already confirmed to CAR that the next model will be ‘controversial.’ Skoda points out that the Vision O concept ‘an outlook on the brand’s future in the estate segment and is marking an evolution of the Modern Solid design language.’

Epiq
Skoda’s version of the ‘electric urban family car’ tagline that the VW Group is busy pushing out. While VW and Cupra will offer a proper supermini, Skoda is sticking to SUVs at this size to differentiate it more from the other ‘Core’ brands. Skoda says this is a concept, but it looks production-ready to us…

Corsa GSE Gran Turismo concept
The Griffin (/Opel’s thunderbolt) is returning to Munich with a new, super racy concept car that’s designed to expand the outlook of its GSE brand. It’s also a subtle look at design cues that’ll be applied to the next generation Corsa supermini, which we’re due to see in a couple of years.

ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI
Like the other ‘Core’ VW Group brands, Volkswagen has given us our first proper look at the production model of its electric supermini. Interestingly, VW is stepping away from calling it ID.2, instead naming it Polo.

ID. Cross Concept
A crossover version of VW’s smallest electric car yet has been confirmed, and this is what it’ll look like when the production version launches in the summer of 2026.

T-Roc
A massive seller for Volkswagen, which has confirmed it’ll launch at the show. A conservative redesign is mixed with a completely electrified engine line-up, as well as some new tech to keep it fresh. Very much a ‘don’t rock the boat’ kinda refresh.

X9
Xpeng’s grandiose, ultra-luxe MPV is next up in the European product launch plan so it’s likely to launch here. It’s brimming with tech and autonomous features, as well as ‘zero gravity’ seats for occupants.

P7
Another future model from the tech-focused Chinese brand that’s likely to get its first public outing in Europe. It’s a sporty saloon that’ll inevitably take on cars like the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron GT and the Polestar 5 that also features on this very page.

Where is the IAA Mobility 2025 Munich motor show held? The Open Space is in central Munich; the IAA Summit is held at Messe München Exhibition Center

Munich motor show 2025 dates: Press Day on 8 September, IAA Summit between 9 – 12 September 2025; IAA Open Space between 9 – 14 September

Opening times: Summit between 09:00 and 18:00; Open Space between 11:00 and 21:00

How much are IAA Mobility 2025 Munich motor show tickets? Entry into the Open Space is free between 5-10 September; tickets from €64

Munich motor show website

Jake has been an automotive journalist since 2015, joining CAR as Staff Writer in 2017. With a decade of car news and reviews writing under his belt, he became CAR's Deputy News Editor in 2020 and then News Editor in 2025. Jake's day-to-day role includes co-ordinating CAR's news content across its print, digital and social media channels. When he's not out interviewing an executive, driving a new car for review or on a photoshoot for a CAR feature, he's usually found geeking out on the latest video game, buying yet another pair of wildly-coloured trainers or figuring out where he can put another car-shaped Lego set in his already-full house.

By Jake Groves

CAR's news editor; gamer, trainer freak and serial Lego-ist

What Makes It Different

The Munich Motor Festival is not a trade show. It’s not about executives in suits bragging about quarterly reports. This is built for gearheads. Imagine side streets packed with classic BMWs and Audis tuned within an inch of sanity. Then picture monster drift demos that leave tire smoke across open boulevards. Add stunt riders balancing motorcycles on one wheel for entire city blocks. This is a festival in the literal sense.

What makes Munich stand out is how democratic it feels. The crowd doesn’t just watch. Fans line up to test drive EV prototypes. Builders throw open doors and let people crawl under their show cars. Tourists end up sitting next to engineers while a DJ spins house music from the roof of a VW camper. It’s chaos with structure, and somehow it all works.

Old Money Meets New Ideas

Because it’s Munich, the home turf advantage is clear. German manufacturers roll in with concept cars you won’t see anywhere else first. This year is huge for electric performance. BMW is rumored to debut its street-ready Vision Gran Turismo sedan. Audi is teasing a high-output RS EV wagon that might finally silence critics. Even Porsche is whispering about a next-gen hybrid 911 mule making a surprise lap in disguise.

But it’s not just about new toys. Old money classics get equal billing here. You’ll find perfectly restored E30 M3s flexing next to ratty Mk2 Golfs running big turbo setups. Old-timers swap stories while kids film TikToks of burnout competitions. It’s rare to see such generational crossover at a car event. Munich nails it.

The Street Becomes the Stage

The real flavor hits when the sun goes down. Entire blocks in central Munich transform into unofficial car parades. No velvet rope. No corporate filter. Just raw metal shows with locals dragging their old Mercedes diesels alongside multi-million euro hypercars. You might see a Ferrari SF90 crawling past a chopped Opel Corsa while a crowd pours beer into plastic cups and cheers. Try finding that in Detroit or Geneva.

There’s also the sound factor. Munich lets the evening sessions breathe. Engines echo off stone buildings in a way that feels primal. A brap brap from a tuned Civic ricochets with the same impact as a Porsche GT3 RS screaming through second gear. No auto show stand lighting competes with that.

Why 2025 Is Bigger

This year comes with extra heat. Organizers expect record turnout thanks to the global thirst for live events again. Ticket packages already sold out months ahead of time. Hotels in Munich are packed. Europe’s tuning scene has been building momentum and the festival is the central outlet. More builders than ever are shipping projects in from Poland, Italy, and the UK. Think widebody Fiats parked next to chrome-wrapped Lambos.

There’s also the EV factor. For years, electric cars at big shows felt sanitized or disconnected. Here, fans actually take prototypes for real drives on prepped city routes. Munich is making EVs cool by throwing them into the same madness as gas-burners. No hushed showroom. Just torque launches down public streets. That shift could be what finally breaks down old resistance.

Why It Matters

Car culture in Europe often catches shade as too sanitized compared to Japan or America. The Munich Motor Festival proves otherwise. It’s not afraid to get messy. It puts fans in the driver’s seat. It blends heritage and future tech without preaching. And most importantly, it’s fun. Real fun. Engines screaming, people laughing, beer spilling, rubber burning.

If you ever doubted that Europe could throw a car party with true edge, Munich wipes that doubt clean. In fact, it doesn’t just rival SEMA or Tokyo Auto Salon. It might already be better.

The historic Goodwood Motor Circuit springs into action as the Goodwood Road Racing Club comes together for a weekend of thrilling racing and on-track celebrations, all culminating in a spectacular party on Saturday evening.

The event’s varied schedule has, in recent years, included Shoot-Outs with the likes of GT3 cars and modern sidecars; demonstrations of legendary cars such as Ayrton Senna’s first Grand Prix winner; and the very latest motorsport machinery with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA’s 2025 Cadillac V-Series.R LMDh at the 82nd Members’ Meeting.

A full programme of thirteen races, sees drivers and riders from across the motorsport world go head-to-head in everything from the Edwardian giants of the S.F. Edge Trophy to the classic Grand Prix motorcycles of the Hailwood Trophy.

When do tickets go on sale?
Early bird tickets for the 83rd Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport are on sale now to Goodwood Road Racing Club Members. Fellows can purchase from Thursday 28 August. Tickets for the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard and Goodwood Revival will go on sale at goodwood.com later in the year.

Join the Goodwood Road Racing Club to receive priority booking and a 10% discount on tickets as well as additional on-event benefits. Further details of the 2026 motorsport event season will be announced in the coming months and media accreditation for the Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival will open in early 2026.

-ENDS-

2025 Event Dates:

• 83rd Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April 2026
• Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 July 2026
• Goodwood Revival, September 2026

Tickets for the 83rd Members’ Meeting are on sale to Members, with Fellows able to book from Thursday 28 August.Tickets for the Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival go on sale at goodwood.com later in the year, with priority booking available for GRRC Members and Fellows. Customers can join the Fellowship at any time to receive priority booking and a 10% discount for the 2026 events.

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About the 83rd Members’ Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport
The Goodwood Members’ Meeting is an access-all-areas, epic weekend of motor racing, hosted by and exclusively for the Goodwood Road Racing Club.

As well as a full programme of racing, the Members’ Meeting features all kinds of cars from classic tin-tops and GTs, to motorcycles and open wheeled Formula 3 and F1 machines, offering visitors a friendly and intimate atmosphere. A winning formula of spectacular cars, high-speed track demonstrations, car launches, fun-packed festivities and great entertainment, along with the very best food and drink.

Founded by the Duke of Richmond, the annual event aims to recreate the atmosphere and camaraderie of the original BARC Members’ Meetings held at Goodwood throughout the 1950s and 1960s. 

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About Audrain Motorsport
Audrain Motorsport is all about the chance to share extraordinary experiences centred around the way you want to engage with cars and motorcycles. No matter where your passion connects, on a tour, rally or back country drive; exploring the limits of your car and your talent against the clock on a track; as an insider at the world’s leading Concours d’Elegance and historic races; or sharing conversation with the movers, shakers and legends of the motoring world in an intimate setting, we are here to make it possible.

Audrain Motorsport promises “curated immersive automotive experiences” for all its members who are looking to take their passion to the next level, and to operate at the top of the automotive lifestyle chain.

For more information, please visit www.AudrainMotorsport.com and stay up-to-date with all news and information by following us on our YouTube Channel and social media platforms.

The live event is an opportunity to hear from top dealers and discuss the big topics in the industry at the most intimate Car Dealer event of the year.

Tickets can be bought from this page, but if you didn’t join us last year then this is what’s in store.

Speaking on the latest episode of the podcast, James Baggott explained: ‘I’ve been spending most of my week, Jon, on the Car Dealer Podcast Live preparation, which is I’m going to scare you now, just four weeks away.

The episode recording kicks off at 4pm this year, with guests able to arrive from 3.30pm when free teas and coffees will be served. We’ll ask you to take your seats so you can listen to our guests but also be ready with your questions. At half-time we’ll have a break before continuing with the show!

This year our guests are Waylands’ marketing director Vicky Hart and Polestar UK MD Matt Galvin – with one more guest yet to be announced. They’ll join the Car Dealer team James Baggott, Jon Reay, James Batchelor and myself.

The event is a chance to connect with the other dealers and suppliers beyond the recording itself with networking before the show starts and until late at night.

Speaking after last year’s event, the IMDA commented: ‘The IMDA really enjoyed the Car Dealer Podcast Live. Great insight, content and discussions.

‘Catching up with many of The IMDA partners who were attending was brilliant.

‘Also, great to get a couple of new members join the association off the back of the event, so welcome on board to them and great to meet in person some of the members of the association who were attending the event.’

Russell Knight said: ‘Top Gear-esque news for your ears. In 3D! (4D?)

‘It was a great opportunity to see how these broadcasts are put together, listen to industry titans discussing relevant topics and shore up old friendships while forging new connections.

‘I look forward to catching more events in the future!’

The Podcast Live takes place in a picturesque setting in Abingdon. Along with the show itself, tickets include a barbecue buffet dinner for all attending and a summer party that will continue until midnight.

Last year the conversations went on long into the night with many choosing to stay overnight, so this year we’ve arranged the bar to stay open even later!

Guests can also choose to upgrade their ticket to include a hotel room below, with the show taking place at the hotel it’s an easy walk back to the room after the party if you choose to do so.