Jaguar’s stunning new XK was our primary focus for the trip and when asked if the car was worth the trip, the answer is an emphatic "yes!"

It looked great on paper and it looks indescribably gorgeous in the metal and it’s scheduled here mid 2006. I don’t want to wish my life away, but roll on 2006!

In Jaguar design director Ian Callum’s words, "The fundamental values of Jaguar design do not change – not even since Sir William Lyons created the first Jaguar all those years ago. The entire design team worked with those values as we looked to create a car with clean lines, a purposeful stance and exquisite proportions. We took influences from our heritage and evolved them to produce a car that is beautiful, visually fast yet undeniably modern; just as Sir William’s own designs were in their day."

Did they succeed? Oh yes, possibly beyond even the design team’s own expectations.

Not every manufacturer could make it to our magazine pages, but if there was one consistent theme running through the show, it was one of motoring indulgence inasmuch as there seemed to be a flagrant disregard for fuel economy from the manufacturers, so we can only assume that they know something we don’t.

There were some breakthrough vehicles though, notably from Peugeot and Mazda, both of whom had their diesel technology on display. Hyundai also had a common rail diesel concept car at the show.

Special mention should be made of the Mitsubishi 380 which had the largest display there. This is the car that will make or break Mitsubishi’s success in Australia, so the company had to put on a huge show, and it did.

However, auto shows are more to do with passion for the automobile than anything else, and there was certainly plenty of that exhibited this year.

Thanks again to Jaguar New Zealand and to New Zealand Top Gear magazine for capturing some of the snaps we missed

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