Tomorrow, at the Birmingham NEC, the new Alfa Romeo 159 will take its place amongst a stunning array of  the world's most desirable performance cars, the Italian contender assured of a starring role. Revealed to huge acclaim back in March at the Geneva Salon, the exciting new Alfa 159 is now being swiftly rolled out across Europe - with an early 2006 arrival in the UK being targeted.

The MPH05 Motor Show, which is being held at the Birmingham NEC from 10-13 Nov and then at Earls Court in London from 17-20 Nov, is set to be the UK's biggest and brightest automotive event of the year, but with a difference, as it features - exclusively - the fastest and the most luxurious performance cars from manufacturers at the top of their pinnacle, names such as Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lotus and Pagani. In fact only the best and most awesome cars need bother to turn up for this show. The perfect arena in which to present the Alfa 159 for its official British "preview', where its style, panache and flair will be appreciated, its muscular Giorgetto Giugiaro-penned looks commanding the show-goers attention.

MPH05 - now in its third year - is once again this year being hosted by the BBC Top Gear TV programme's maverick presenting duo, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, and the show's highlights will include a 5,000-seater auditorium where the cars are set to be the stars, literally, as they perform to the audience. Just some of the new cars scheduled to appear in the galleries include the Noble M400, Marcos GT, Pagani Zonda Roadster, Wiesmann Roadster MF3, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Autodelta GT Super Evo, Ferrari F430, Ford GT, Jaguar XK, Ascari AZ1, Corvette V8 and the just announced Gumbert Apollo. The list continues with prestigious offerings from Porsche, Lamborghini, Maserati, Bentley, Rolls Royce and many more. For the occasion of its third edition, MPH05 is expanding away from its traditional venue at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in Central London. Before the usual London dates commence (on 17-20 Nov), MPH05 will be at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (10-13 Nov), the 'double header' offering the British public the widest possible opportunity of seeing the new Alfa 159 in the flesh. The Alfa 159 being shown will feature the powerful 2.4-litre JTDM turbodiesel engine, and will come with the top-specification 'Lusso' package.
 

"MPH05 will be an ideal showcase for the Alfa 159 ahead of its UK launch in the new year. With interest in this new car building up very quickly, the show will be a great opportunity for the wider British car buying public to see this superb machine in the flesh and examine it close-up," comments Roland Ellison, Alfa Romeo UK's Marketing Manager. "We're very confident that it will be one of the biggest stars of the show," he says.

Hot on the heels of its forthcoming high-profile MPH05 appearance the new "Alfa 159 Road Show" will be hitting the road. Two Alfa 159s will be presented in a specially-commissioned marquee located right in the heart of a number of major British towns and cities, including London, Newcastle, Birmingham and Bristol,  in the run up to Christmas, with further January dates to be announced shortly. "The excellent results we have garnered from presenting the Alfa Romeo range at various major lifestyle  events this year, such as air shows and the recent Daily Mail Ski & Snowboard  Show, has prompted us to take our positive interaction with the public a step further," adds Roland. "We will spend at least three  days in each city centre location, the first day inviting our guests from around that region to view the Alfa 159s, while the second and third days will be thrown open to the general public. We have found that there is a very strong affinity with Alfa Romeo values in the UK, and once people have connected with the brand, we are able to gain customers who have not considered buying an Alfa Romeo before," he concludes.

Alfa Romeo 159 Road Show Nov 2005 - Jan 2006, confirmed public dates: Centre for Life, Newcastle: Thur 31st Nov & Fri 1st December; Broadmead, Bristol - Wed 7th & Thur 8th Dec; St. Martin's Square, Birmingham - Wed 14th & Thur 15th Dec; four dates in Jan 2006 to be confirmed. For more details please call Alfa Romeo UK on 0800 718000.