The Highlights of the London Motor Show 2017

Love hearing about new cars and the very latest motoring tech? Well, the London Motor Show 2017 has just concluded, having featured some of the most exciting upcoming industry additions. Taking place from 4-7 May at Battersea Park, LMS ’17 boasted a selection of exciting new and historic cars, fantastic entertainment, great food and interesting talks from some of the motoring industry’s most influential experts — from Tiff Needell to Stirling Moss.

With 41 dealerships and manufacturers showcasing their upcoming models and releases, we were excited to discover the cars soon to take pride of place on our forecourts, and glance at a few amazing prototypes. From Ferrari to Ford, Volkswagen to Porsche, all the biggest names in the motoring world descended on Battersea’s Evolution Park over the weekend — lifting the lid on over 130 brand new makes and models, and lots of exciting new technologies.

tower bridge

Our London Motor Show 2017 Top Picks

As event organisers kept their cards close to their chest on what visitors could expect from LMS ’17, there was plenty of excitement regarding what would be on display at this year’s show. However, with the world-famous Geneva Motor Show taking place back in March, there were a few models we were expecting to see in the flesh.

Here, we showcase a few models that got us excited – from wallet-busting supercars to clever little city cars soon to be spotted on our roads; these are our picks from the London Motor Show 2017.

MG

The crossover SUV market is growing ever more competitive, with major manufacturers keen to grab a bit of the Nissan Juke’s market share. The latest entry into the class comes from MG, with the MG XS proving a popular hit at the London Motor Show. With an upmarket interior and a great range of in-car gizmos, MG is hoping the XS’s combination of substance and style will earn it the same kind of following many crossover SUVs are currently enjoying in the UK.

Aston Martin

Few manufacturers get as much attention at motor shows as Aston Martin, and it seems the iconic British manufacturer had a few aces up its sleeve to attract the crowds at this year’s LMS. In Geneva, Aston Martin unveiled not one but two new cars, sending the motoring press into a frenzy. One of those two models, the Valkyrie, was possibly the highlight of the London Motor Show – a frankly outrageous £2.5million supercar built in conjunction with the F1 Red Bull team.

Just 150 of these amazing cars will be built, so LMS ’17 visitors enjoyed a rare opportunity get up close and personal with the Valkyrie.

aston martin valkyrie

David Brown Mini

One for the fans of the classic Mini, David Brown’s reimagining of the iconic car boasts the charm of the original with modern flourishes to keep the new generation interested. If the crowds surrounding the David Brown Mini Remastered at LMS ’17 didn’t demonstrate the popularity of the model, the demand will. The Silverstone-based manufacturer has revealed interest in the car has been so high, their team haven’t been able to handle all the enquiries.

Vauxhall

Recently released in the UK, Vauxhall has high hopes for the Insignia Grand Sport – an upmarket upgrade of the manufacturer’s midsize luxury car. Spacious, tech-laden and sophisticated, the Insignia Grand Sport has been positioned to compete with the premium saloons of the upmarket German manufacturers, but with a much more wallet-friendly price tag. This could be the breakthrough sensible family car of 2017, and we reckon there’ll be a lot more on the road come summer.

McLaren

But enough about sensible family cars. McLaren attended the London Motor Show armed with the 570S – drawing sizeable crowds. Also at the show was the Liberty Walk McLaren, a reimagined 650S which borrows heavily from the McLaren P1, and even features an eye-catching Le Mans-style paint job.

Mclaren

Alfa Romeo

It feels as though we’ve been waiting an age for Alfa Romeo to bring the Giulia to the UK, and dealerships are now starting to fill up with this long-awaited model. Featured at LMS ’17, the Giulia boasts features to compete with the BMW 3 Series, complete with Alfa Romeo’s trademark grill. With its bright red exterior, the Giulia on show over the weekend looked absolutely ripe to take out for a summer spin through the countryside.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen was represented in force at the London Motor Show, with the brand keen to sell us Brits as many cars as possible before Brexit takes hold. In London, VW unveiled the newest Golf R – boasting four-wheel drive, sophisticated trim and in-car features to give the driver increased control over performance. The Golf R may not be reinventing the wheel, but it does continue Volkswagen’s tradition of bringing the hottest of hot hatches to the market.

After the exciting reveals of the London Motor Show, it’s fair to say 2017 is shaping up to be an exciting year for new cars and motoring tech. Stay tuned to the Redex blog for more of the latest motoring news and insight, or visit the homepage to browse our range of innovative petrol and diesel fuel additives.

Image credits: Aston Martin, McLaren