Movie cars are the stars at British Motor Show

STUNT displays by Minis and three stunning cars from the new James Bond film, Die Another Day, are among the highlights of the British International Motor Show this year.

A record 90,000 advance tickets have been sold for the Birmingham show, which opens to the public on Friday after media and business days.

An estimated 650,000 visitors are expected to flock to the event, which will see the debut of 75 models among the 700 cars on show.

As well as new models, an explosion of automotive info-entertainment equipment will be showcased. This includes satellite navigation equipment, multi-media technology and a monitoring system to help parents watch children in back.

Mini claimed a show first by presenting its three models in a series of stunt displays inside the exhibition hall.

The BMW-owned firm announced production of the Mini at its Oxford plant is set to break through the 150,000 barrier this year, thousands more than previously expected.

Other Mini models will be built, including a Cabriolet version in 2004, executives revealed.

Among the world debuts of cars in Birmingham this week are three from the new James Bond movie, Die Another Day an Aston Martin Vanquish, a modified Jaguar XKR and the new Ford Thunderbird.

Other debuts will include supercars like the Bentley Continental and Enzo Ferrari, while a Lexus car used in the futuristic film Minority Report will also be on show.

Ford yesterday unveiled a new rally vehicle created by the firm's European designers.

Rover will announce the introduction of new special edition cars for its 25 and 45 ranges, with extra features such as electric sunroof as standard.

Peugeot will be featuring a new 206 GTi as well as six concept cars, while Citroen will unveil new models including the C3 Pluriel, C8 and new look Berlingo Multispace.

Vauxhall promised to show its first new car of 2003, a mini-MPV Meriva, which the US giant said will demonstrate how within a few years 40% of all Vauxhall cars will have moved away from saloon and hatchback into something "far more radical".

After thousands of customer inquiries about its new Sorrento, Kia has decided to return to the motor show for the first time since 1997.

Japanese firm Honda will give the new Civic Type-S its world debut before it goes on sale January 1.

There will also be a new roadster coupe from Smart, while Volkswagen will launch luxury models Phaeton and Touareg and the most powerful production Golf ever built.

Nissan said its new Micra would be the most important British-built car launched at the show, and the most comprehensively equipped small car sold.

Toyota will give a debut to its new Land cruiser, while Land Rover's new Discovery will make the short trip from its Solihull factory.