Best News of the Week: UK Car Show Canned

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Best News of the Week for the Environment:

Organizers have canceled the 2010 British International Motor Show because of the car industry slump

The U.K. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said although the event has previously attracted large numbers of visitors the decision to cancel the show was “extremely difficult.” Alas, they had no choice but to cancel the show because there was little interest shown by the usual exhibitors. Unsurprisingly, NOT a single space had been reserved by the US car manufacturers!

The last of a dying breed [watch this space!] Bentley Azure T priced in the UK at £245,000 inc the value added tax  (~$353,000). Azure T consumes about 1 liters of gasoline every 5 kilometers, emitting about 470 g/km of CO2. Photo provided by the manufacturer.

This cancellation came amid decision by a number of car manufacturers to pull out of Formula One racing in recent month.

Honda pulled out of Formula One racing iIn December 2008 when Honda Motor Co chief executive Takeo Fukui told a news conference: “Honda must protect its core business activities and secure the long term as widespread uncertainties in the economics around the globe continue to mount.”

Formula One racing is synonymous with corrupt politics, war criminal Tony Blair, tobacco advertising, and the disgraced Bernie Ecclestone. Tony Blair personally ordered an exemption for motor racing from a tobacco sponsorship ban after Labour Party received a secret £1m donation from Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One boss.     [Original caption: Former F1 racing driver Damon Hill with Tony Blair at the International Motor Show in 2006.] Photo: AFP. Image may be subject to copyright.

Toyota, the world’s largest car maker, which announced in February that it expected to make a loss of about 450 billion yen in 2009, admitted that the global financial crisis had led the top executives to consider reducing operating costs by pulling out of Formula One racing.

It is believed that despite the company’s decision to stay put, and Panasonic’s decision to extend its sponsorship contract through to 2012, Toyota will be forced to withdraw from F1 next season.