Exotic cavalcade lines up for Motor Show

A cavalcade of luxury and performance cars will kick off the festivities for the Melbourne Motor Show. The parade, which starts at Melbourne's  Town Hall and lines-up at Federation Square, stars the likes of Bentley Azure, Lamborghini Murcielago and the Maybach 57.

The cars will be on show at Federation Square today (Tuesday, February 7) until 2pm.

Estimated value of the line-up, which also includes the Victoria Police Monaro, Elfin Streamliner and Pagani Zonda, is more than $6m. In attendance, The Car Show's Glenn Ridge will be interviewing drivers and even some of the builders of the cars.

The show proper opens this Thursday (Feb 9) with a media preview and public access after 5.00pm.

Highlights of this year's show includes an array of new models including Audi's S8, a sneak peak at Toyota's new Camry, the return of Fiat to Oz and cool concept cars such as the Rinspeed Senso and Lexus LF-A (both pictured). Expect surprise unveilings from Holden and Ford too. The latter could lift the covers off its (very) long awaited turbo Territory variant -- and Holden's AWD divvy van will be there to give chase!

As well as static displays, the Peugeot Precision Driving Team and Shannons Auction of classic and collectable cars and memorabilia will add action.

A vintage American sportscar built by a 133-year-old fire truck manufacturer is among the many cars, motorcycles and memorabilia up for auction by Shannons. Other lots include a 1970 Volvo 1800ES, 1948 MGTC, 1953 MGTF, 1984 Chevrolet Corvette coupe, 1985 BMW 635 CSi coupe (no reserve) and a beautiful 1961 Borgward Isabella coupe.

The 2006 Melbourne International Motor Show runs from Thursday, February 9 to Sunday February 19, at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Look for CarPoint's reports from the show's opening day, this Thursday.