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Motorshow 2000 SHOW REPORT TUESDAY 24TH OCTOBER Volvo Showcase Safety
Volvo has cut up one of its S60s at the International Motor Show in order to show its hi-tech safety systems to visitors at the stand. The car has been set up to display the company's Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), now installed across the Volvo range, along with pyrotechnic seat belts, front and side airbags, side window safety curtains and the safety cage. Volvo marketing executive David Harden said: "Safety is one of our core values, along with quality and the environment, so safety remains a key feature on this year's stand. "The WHIPS system is now available in every Volvo and in the event of an accident, it is designed to cushion the occupants if their bodies are forced back on impact by automatically moving the seat backwards. "We are constantly developing safety features, particularly active safety technology such as the Dynamic Stability Traction Control system which automatically corrects the car in the event of any loss of control by the driver." Most of these systems are developed at Volvo's new safety centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. Mr Harden said: "The centre is the largest and most sophisticated facility in the world which can, for example, simulate almost every type of crash between two cars travelling from any angle. "As we continue to develop our top performance cars we remain committed to delivering world firsts in safety technology, as we did with the three-point safety belt, side impact bars and side airbags and curtains." Legendary British sports car on show at Motor Show Birmingham A large selection of legendary British sports cars will be on view
at the International Motor Show in Birmingham today (Tuesday October
24) giving enthusiasts a rare chance to witness the best motors designed
and raced during the past era. Most of the 28 cars forming the 'Century
of British Sports Cars' exhibit come from private collections ranging
from a 1902 Gordon Bennett Napier, to the brand new Lotus Exige supercar,
with others including the Talbot Alpine, the Aston Martin Le Mans and
a Vauxhall Prince Henry featuring prominently. Sponsored by motor enthusiasts'
insurer Footman James, the Hall 8 stand aims to give the public a chance
to get close to the cars that have shaped a millennium of British motorsport
success. Eddie Milton, group exhibitions manager for the feature's organiser
Centre Exhibitions, said the public response has been "tremendous".
"The stand has attracted a fantastic amount of interest - it's tremendously
popular. We have a stand just opposite the feature, and we've had loads
of people make enquiries about it. "The two Jaguars, the XJ 220 and
the XK 120, have created the biggest stir because they're instantly
recognisable and people can see the company's history in the cars,"
he added. Mike Kenington, exhibition manager for the International Classic
Motor Show who put the collection together, said: "Britain has an impressive
sports car heritage that we hope to recognise through this display.
"What visitors will notice is how much smaller the cars have become
as the years have rolled by - from the large 6.5 litre Napier to the
much smaller Healey Sprite 1100cc," he added. The stand also includes
displays with mannequins dressed in period costumes to demonstrate the
changes in fashion over the last century. An increasing demand from drivers across the country to see a new emphasis on safety features is being recognised by car manufacturers at this year’s British International Motor Show, according to former Top Gear presenter Sue Baker. The former rally driver said: "At this Motor Show you are seeing a tremendous change in the future of cars. Safety features are growing in popularity enormously. "In some cars you can see as many as six to eight air bags and that is a reaction to what research has shown an increasing amount of drivers want," she added. "Although women drivers have been the focus of jokes for many years, increasing numbers of them are passing the driving test and this would soon have to be recognised," she said. Ms Baker said that with children and grandparents to think about, women’s main priority when buying a car is safety. "According to accident statistics women tend to have more accidents but they are much cheaper accidents, women don’t tend to hit things as hard," she said. Of the cars on view at this year’s Millennium Motor Show, BMW's new MINI is one, which incorporates six air bags in its design. Honda on course to help driving awareness A major car manufacturer has welcomed the early response to a new
driving appreciation course one week after it was launched at the British
International Motor Show in Birmingham. Honda UK has extended its award-winning
Motorcycle Appreciation Course to a driving programme, the Motor Appreciation
Course (MAC), that has attracted interest from many visitors to the
show. MAC trainer Adrian Letts said: "The new course aims to give comprehensive
training for driving on the roads by ex-police advanced level driving
instructors at minimal costs. "We have had a good response since we
launched the course last week, particularly from corporate and fleet
buyers and those leads are being followed up at the moment." Honda expects
interest to increase further as information about the course becomes
widely available through their dealerships. "We are the first manufacturer
to create this scheme within the company and we hope it will take off
since it offers great benefits. "It should help individuals and companies
save money through lower insurance, fuel and maintenance costs and it
also ensures that those who drive cars as part of their job comply with
health and safety obligations." Research cited by Honda suggests that,
mile for mile, company car drivers are involved in almost 50% more accidents
than private motorists and that nearly 90% of company car drivers have
received no additional training since passing their driving test. While
offering training for busy roads to riders of all ages, Honda's motorcycle
course began in 1998 in response to an increasing number of late-middle
aged riders returning to biking after a number of years. "In many cases
their families have grown up and they spend money on a new bike which
they later find to be more powerful than the bikes they have been used
to and that they require better handling," Mr Letts explained. If you wish to contact us either : PHONE 0121 444
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