Fresh from its UK public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the all-new Alfa Spider took pride of place on the Alfa Romeo stand at the 2006 British International Motor Show which was held in London’s Docklands ExCeL Centre.  The all-new Alfa Spider, which recalls memories of the 1960s Spider Duetto, made its international public debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, where it was named Cabrio of the Year 2006 by a panel of international motoring writers.

Available with a choice of advanced direct injection petrol engines, 2.2 JTS (185 bhp) or 3.2 V6 Q4 (260 bhp), the new Alfa Spider will become available in the UK at the beginning of 2007. Alongside the Alfa Spider at ExCeL Centre was the recently launched Alfa Brera coupé styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with Alfa Romeo Centro Stile. The Spider and Brera are the latest additions to the Italian sporting car manufacturer’s line up, which follow on from the Alfa 159 sports saloon and Sportwagon launched in the UK earlier this year. Also on the Alfa Romeo stand last week was the Bertone designed Alfa GT and an Alfa 147 in Ti specification.

This year the British International Motor Show was held in the ExCeL Centre on the edge of London's Docklands area, and while Alfa Romeo represented Fiat Auto, and was one of the headline acts, there were 12 'world debuts' including the new BMW M6 Coupé, the first time in fact that the Munich based carmaker has chosen the UK to launch a new model. The halls and attractions full of content visitors, while exhibitors reported strong business leads and quality audience

Commenting on the Show, Tim Etchells, director of show organiser imie, said, 'On every measure of success the boxes can be ticked for a successful show. Visitors are delighted, in particular with our dozen world debuts and hugely popular attractions. Exhibitors are queuing up to tell us what good business they are doing and the venue continues to provide a first class service to all visiting London's Docklands. Attendance at the British International Motor Show hit the 420,000 mark when doors finally closed to the public for the last time last Sunday.
 

That was actually a 23 percent increase on visitor numbers for the last show held at the ExCeL Centre back in 2004, according to robust 2007 ABC auditing guidelines introduced by imie.

Last week organisers had forecast just over 400,000 visitors by the end of the show. But this had to be revised upwards on the back of a strong final week for the Docklands-based show. By the close of play on Friday, attendance had already topped 345,000. Rob Mackenzie, director of show organiser imie explained, 'In the final week we've had unprecedented weekday attendances. I can't think of any other public show where weekdays have exceeded the weekends – or got remotely near. But last week, day after day we saw crowds grow. It's hugely encouraging for us and for the exhibitors who have shown faith in this magnificent show.'

Aside from the cars, attractions drawing the crowds included TopGear regular TV's presenters: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The motoring trio featured in a series of programmes brought to show-goers via a huge video screen suspended from the roof above the Top Gear stand at ExCeL. Amongst the programmes being shown was the famous amphibious special. Moreover, visitors were able to see for themselves the leaky vehicles created by the presenters; the three whacky car-boats were also on the stand. Meanwhile, for kids chomping at the bit to see Disney's new film "Cars", the stand also featured a life-size model of Lightning McQueen, star of the film.

Norwegian pop legends A-HA also played an exclusive series of Dock Rock concerts at the show.  The last of only three UK dates for A-HA this summer, the Dock Rock concert attracted a mixed audience of new fans and an enormous contingent of die-hard fans, many of whom camped out all day under the hot sun to secure a position at the front.

Photos: Roland Ellison