So far, Volvo has the best hospitality stand. I can tell, because I can't get near it. New S60 looks the business, however I feel that Volvo would probably have preferred to be showing a new S40 right now. It's volume sales they need. No panic though, a neat, slick and confident presentation. Peter Horbury, father of the first S60, returned just in time to launch this one and you can hear he's pretty pleased at how it's all turned out. More sporty and curvy than you'd imagine.
 
Kia Sportage is great, just as tough and in-yer-face beaky as the pics, with a really pleasing interior. Looks like Schreyer can't mess up.
 
Joint surprise of the show so far has to be the amazing Porsche 918. Layered, curvaceous and thoroughly modern, yet all Porsche. It's Boxster Spyder meets Carrera GT – not a bad combo, I'm sure you'll agree. New Cayenne is a vast improvement. Shh, it's almost desirable. More compact, with better-integrated Porsche cues. Maybe by being so unaesthetically pleasing the old one did a great job of preparing us for this one. Porsche for lunch was a quick treat before heading off into the cauldron once more.
 

Spent some time at the Audi stand. The A1 was driven on to the stage by ambassador Justin Timberlake who answered one question before being ushered off stage. No doubt his A1 will be first off the production line. More interesting was the competition kit for the A1 which consists of quattro sport style decals, wheels and an interior upgrade kit. If you thought the regular A1 conservative, believe me this fixes it. It’s a hugely desirable visual upgrade.  Next the RS5 was driven on stage through thick smoke. Tech spec looks fantastic, but the car could be more aggressive. Perhaps the competition kit from the A1? An e-tron A1 was also driven on, but I will have to revisit the tech details on it later.

 
The biggest disappointment so far has to be the new Nissan Micra. It's lost all personality, looks like a cheap budget car and could be from any one of ten different Far East stables. Contrasting dramatically is the car with too much personality - the  Nissan Juke. It's just as oddball as the pics suggest, but hey it's highly distinctive and has a funky interior. Who knows. Will have to see if it grows on me.