The single biggest event at the British International Motor Show has to be the worldwide debut for Vauxhall's crucial Vectra replacement - the Insignia. Pictures of the all-new car have been around for a little while now but London's showgoers will be the first to see the car in the flesh.

In styling terms the Insignia sets the tone for the next generation of Vauxhalls, and its influence will be felt across the range. Technology is also a big part of the Insignia story, with features including a camera that 'reads' road signs and a lane departure warning system bound to be popular with company drivers.

Lotus will be celebrating its 60th birthday with an event at its Hethel home later this year. And what better way to get the party started than with a brand-new model - the Lotus Eagle. Making its international debut at London, this exciting new sports car takes Lotus to a whole new level.

The lightweight build and minimalist ethos remain true to founder Colin Chapman's philosophy but the Eagle is Lotus's attempt to offer a true British alternative to cars like the all-conquering Porsche Boxster and Cayman. You can expect a huge buzz around this new star so make sure you get along and join the party.

Let's face it, for all their admirable qualities Toyotas aren't especially noted for their ... excitement. And if you were asked to pick the supermini most likely to be transformed into a fire-breathing, mid-engined, turbocharged drift machine it's unlikely you'd choose the Aygo. But that's just what Toyota has done.

There's no way the Aygo Crazy will ever make it into production. But once you see it you'll wish with all your heart Toyota would take the plunge. Using various MR2 underpinnings - including a 200bhp version of its 2-litre engine - this rear-wheel drive mean machine is bound to go down an absolute storm.

The Focus RS is reason enough to make sure you don't miss the Ford stand. And a new fast Ford is always something to celebrate. But following a show-stopping debut at Geneva the brand new Fiesta is arguably of much greater significance, given the model's huge popularity among British drivers.

Its first showing on UK soil, the new Fiesta brings a new sense of excitement to the supermini sector and showcases Ford's dramatic 'kinetic design' to greater effect than ever before. Lighter, greener and way more stylish than the previous model, this new baby Ford is bound to be a popular sight on British roads before too long.

Inspired by the success of the Mini and warm reception for the new Fiat 500, Alfa Romeo wants a piece of the premium supermini market. But it hasn't gone down the retro route, instead basing its sporty new hatch on its stunning limited edition 8C supercar - also on show at ExCeL.

So can the bizarrely named MiTo really take on the might of the Mini? It's certainly got the head-turning looks and, priced from just £10,975 it's affordable too. Due in October, this is your first chance to see the car in the flesh so make sure you drop by the Alfa stand.

Quite simply the Renaultsport Megane R26 is one of the best hot hatches ever, combining blistering pace with astounding grip and one of the most entertaining front-wheel drive chassis in the business. But a new Megane is on the way and we'll soon have to bid it farewell.

It's going out in style though, with a limited edition special guaranteed to seal Renault's reputation as the master of hot hatches. The ultra hardcore R26.R will be making its worldwide debut at London, its two-seat stripped interior, carbon fibre panels and 125kg weight saving enough to leave even the new Focus RS blushing.

It may seem strange that the current obsession with high tech, eco-friendly innovation should see the spotlight falling on a small-volume producer of retro sports cars. But as the realisation dawns that low weight and efficiency are the future for performance cars the Malvern-based company finds itself increasingly relevant.

An intriguing mix of traditional craftsmanship and cutting edge technology, the stunning LIFECar concept is powered by hydrogen fuel cells developed here in the UK by scientists at a leading university and a number of specialist companies. Our mainstream motor industry may have withered but Morgan proves British innovation is still leading the way.

Of all car makers Land Rover has more to fear than most from the pressures of fuel costs and emissions-based taxation. So its forward-looking LRX concept is of huge importance, pointing the way to a leaner, greener future for this legendary brand - recently acquired with Jaguar by Indian conglomerate Tata.

So how do you make an eco friendly 4x4? Well, the LRX features ERAD - Electric Rear Axle Drive - as part of its hybrid powertrain, designed to keep emissions to 120g/km and fuel consumption to around 60mpg. All this with no dilution of the classic Land Rover style or legendary off-road performance.

It's one of the most talked about sports cars of recent years and although a few have been sneaked in to the country already the London show will be your first official opportunity to see Nissan's giant-killing GT-R. As dramatic to drive as it is to look at, the GT-R would appear to be a legend in its own lifetime.

Offering 911-beating performance for M3 money it's not hard to see why there's so much excitement about it. Huge hype, jaw-dropping looks and a reputation forged on the nation's computer consoles means you'll be joining crowds of star-struck gamers, not to mention lucky buyers who won't actually see their own cars until next year.