There is always a star car at every major motoring display, whether it's large or small, fast or slow, expensive or cheap.

But this year's British International Motor Show, being staged at London's ExCeL until August 3, is different.

The buzzwords at the 2008 exhibition were not Ford, Ferrari, Fiat or the like, but "green", "eco-friendly", "low emissions" and even "electric".

There are fewer references to biofuels, but the London event is the first of its kind to focus on a car's contribution to saving the planet, rather than its punching power, high-tech gimmicks, or ability to turn heads.

The star turn could well turn out to be the Greener Driving Pavilion, which puts the future of eco-friendly motoring on display alongside demonstrations of how drivers can cut vehicle emissions and lower their running costs.

The Pavilion, backed by Co-operative Insurance and the Department for Transport, will have interactive displays, vehicle cutaways, and simulators, plus demonstrations by the likes of Michelin, who will show the value of energy-saver tyres.

A range of exciting new environmental automotive technologies are on show - these include fuel cells, electric vehicles, and hybrids.

From there show-goers might well seek out the more modest concept vehicles, such as Suzuki's A-Star, which is the firm's vision for a new city car that is big on character with clean, efficient performance.

The A-Star is produced by Suzuki's arm in India, a country where cheap runabouts abound. It will make it into production at some future date, and represent exactly the kind of affordable, road tax-friendly A to B car that British buyers will be demanding in increasing numbers.

If a company is footing your motoring bill, then cars to watch out for include the superb Megane Coupe-Concept with its roof-hinged doors, which is debuting in Britain at the show. While looking very much forward to the future, there is also the chance to take a look at cars that were not so friendly to the planet - many of them motoring icons of yesteryear.

Some of the world's rarest, most iconic, and most exquisitely styled cars from the past 50 years - worth in excess of £10m, by the way - are on display in the Heritage Enclosure at the British International Motor Show.

The five motoring decades will be represented by the likes of a 1960s Aston Martin DB4, a Honda NSX once driven by motor racing legend Ayrton Senna, right through to a 205mph Ford GT supercar.

Visitors are also being treated to the sights, sounds and smells of motoring's heyday, as the powerful cars are fired up and driven around a special parade circuit four times a day.

Access to the Enclosure is included in the Motor Show ticket price (which starts at £10 for an adult weekday pass, and £6 for a child).

Tickets are available from www.britishmotorshow.co.uk or 0871 230 5588.

The DVLA will have the most items on display - its Personalised Registrations team will be able to show, at the click of a computer mouse, no fewer than 28 million car plates. They are also giving a radio-controlled car away every day, too - visit the DVLA stand at N122 to enter.