As the crowds swell in the German city of Essen for the 2008 Motor Show, Vijay Pattni rounds up the must-see motors…

Audi R8 LMS

A 500bhp+ V10 engine, motorsport suspension, brakes and steering, a full roll-cage and the chance to race for Audi at the Nurburgring…this is the sensational Audi R8 LMS.

The first factory-built motorsport car for customer use, the Audi R8 LMS ups the ante with a new V10 engine – as seen in the likes of the BMW M5 and Lamborghini Gallardo – and sprouts a whole new attitude thanks to its new spoilers and wings.

But if you can’t afford the £222,200 asking price, you can see it in action next year around the European Le Mans Series Championship.

572bhp Audi RS6 - car review

Volkswagen Scirocco “TUNE IT! SAFE!” Police car

Crims beware – the cops now have a fully customised Volkswagen Scirocco.

This stunning police-liveried ‘Dub is the promotional car for the ‘TUNE IT! SAFE!’ initiative – founded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and the Association of German Car Tuners (VDAT).

The sexy Scirocco features a host of tuned parts, including upgraded rims and low profile tyres from sponsors Hankook.

Dodge Challenger

German tuners Eibach sailed across the Atlantic in search of a different car to modify for this year’s Essen Motor Show…and came back with two tonnes of American firepower: the new Dodge Challenger.

The Challenger features adjustable suspension and 22-inch rims wrapped in special Toyo rubber, and the tuners have installed an Alpine multimedia system inside with a speaker count to make any Max Power reader salivate.

Oh…and don’t forget the 430bhp 6.1-litre engine slung up front…

View the star cars at the 2008 Essen Motor Show

Alfa Romeo MiTo M430 ‘Marangoni’

Inspired by Italian stablemate Ferrari, this little piggy went to market…and came back with Lamborghini-style 'scissor' doors and a 220bhp engine.

The MiTo M430 is inspired by the Ferrari F430, and features two huge air intakes and a carbon-fibre rear diffuser, which hide bigger 300mm brakes and suspension lowered by 40mm.

Check out the Audi R8 in action:

Steinmetz Vauxhall Insignia

This is Steinmetz’s take on the new Vauxhall Insignia – the replacement for the Vectra.

The German tuner has lowered the suspension, strapped on a set of special edition 20-inch black and white alloy wheels, stuck on a bodykit and got the inspiration for the colour from the arctic circle…

The bright white Vauxhall – badged Opel in Germany – is offered with the Insignia’s range of engines, including the range-topping 2.8-litre V6 turbo.

And speaking of powerful four-door Vauxhall saloons, the stunning Lotus Carlton – which we had to include in this image gallery – has been voted as the ‘favourite Vauxhall of all time’.

View the star cars at the 2008 Essen Motor Show