The Autosport International show is already one of the premier indoor motoring events on the calendar.
It's the show that gives smaller, bespoke car makers the chance to make a name for themselves. Of the six new road and track car launches at this year’s show, held from 8-11 January at Birmingham’s NEC, five were from British car firms.
Noble flaunted an open-top version of its M600 supercar, dubbed the Speedster. In stark contrast to the British supercar maker’s loyalty to a manual transmission, the company has fitted the M600 Speedster prototype with a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox.
While this model is strictly a prototype, Noble managing director Peter Boutwood confirmed to Autocar that if enough interest is sparked in the Speedster, it could find its way into production.
The recently revealed Ariel Nomad all-terrain performance vehicle was also on display to the public for the first time, although eagle-eyed punters could spot it tucked away on the Bilstein stand, due to its partnership with the suspension brand.
Ariel general manager Henry Siebert-Saunders said the firm has further plans for the £30,000 Nomad, stating that this is only the beginning for the all-terrain vehicle and that more evolutions of the Nomad could be spawned in future, in the same way that the Atom has evolved over the years.
Another British sports car company, Zenos, pulled the wraps off its much-anticipated E10 S production car at the Autosport International show.
The E10 S, which is made from aluminium extrusions and recycled carbonfibre with a thermoplastic core, is on sale from £29,995. Zenos co-founder and former Caterham Cars CEO Ansar Ali said 50 per cent of the company’s budgeted production E10 S cars for this year have already found buyers.
Track car specialist Radical chose Autosport International to reveal its latest performance flagship creation, the RXC Spyder. The Peterborough manufacturer states this is its "most advanced, powerful, and aerodynamically-developed" open racing car yet.
The RXC Spyder, which costs £131,940, is powered by a high-revving 3.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 producing 440bhp at a heady 10,500rpm. The Radical RXC Spyder’s order books are now open with deliveries from early this year.
Autosport International also hosted the unveiling of the first Lister Jaguar ‘Knobbly’ Continuation. Built from the ground up using orginal tools from 1958, the Lister is powered by a Jaguar D-type race-specification engine developing 330bhp at 6750rpm.
The 0-60mph sprint is dealt with in 4.3sec before topping out at 181mph. Priced at £295,000, the Lister Jaguar ‘Knobbly’ Continuation is eligible to compete in all historic racing events worldwide.
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