The stunning Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione concept and Lamborghini's new chopped-roof Murcielago Roadster, are two of the stars at this week's 7th Singapore Motor Show.

The Singapore Motor Show, which opened last Thursday and runs until Sunday evening, is the region’s most celebrated and prestigious motoring event.

Held at the 'Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre', the event is once again providing a visual feast of world-class concept cars, exotic automobile designs and exciting new car models.

At the forefront, are these stunning two models from Alfa Romeo and Lamborghini, proving that Italian flair and design still has no equal.

The Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione which is making its debut in Singapore is taking a break on its journey home from last month's Australian International Motor Show, its first appearance in the region. Designed and developed at the Alfa Romeo Style Centre, the 8c Competizione typifies everything the brand stands for, evoking a great sports car tradition of which the name is part.

In the Thirties and Forties, the '8c' signature identified the racing and road cars that were equipped with the new eight cylinder engine developed by the famous engineer Vittorio Jano. The term 'Competizione' on the other hand, is a tribute to the 6C 2500 Competizione, the sports coupé driven by Fangio and Zanardi in the famous Mille Miglia race in 1950.

Meanwhile the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, first presented as a concept at the Detroit Motor Show last year, is another star in Singapore.
 

Building on the Murcielago Coupe theme, this roofless version, with its lower windscreen line and redesigned engine cover, offers stylish 'wind in the hair' motoring. It is making its first appearance in both Singapore and the region as a whole.

Singapore is expected to be a future growth market for the Audi-owned sportscar maker, so effort has been made to create a high profile launch for the Roadster, as well as prominence for the smaller 5.0-litre V10 Gallardo.

To achieve this end Lamborghini have hosted a private reception for past and present owners of the marque.

The 7th Singapore Motorshow 2004 is being presented by the Motor Traders Association (MTA) and supported by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JAMA), the Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association (SMCTA) and the Singapore Exhibition and Conventions Bureau (SECB).

The first show which took place in 1992 at the IMM, has grown from strength to strength over the last decade, culminating in this year's biggest ever event to date.

It quickly moved location to the World Trade Centre Exhibition Halls, before in 1998 it arrived at the Suntec Centre, initially occupying one level, although this year it has expanded to three levels.