Car industry bosses from the West Midlands will head for Switzerland next week to showcase their wares at one of the world’s most important car shows.

Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston Martin will be among the major car manufacturers from the UK who will be out in force for the 81st Geneva Motor Show — still regarded as the most influential motor show in Europe. And the hopes of thousands of workers in the region’s automotive sector will rest on how these new products are received.

Geneva, which opens on Tuesday, will feature nearly 170 world and European premieres. Some 700,000 members of the public are expected to visit the seven exhibition halls before the show finally closes on March 13.

The stands of Jaguar Land Rover are expected to be among the busiest at the show. The twin arms of the firm had a good year in 2010 and boosted sales globally by 19 per cent, thanks largely to Land Rover’s strength both in its traditional and emerging markets.

The eagerly-awaited final production version of the Evoque — the forthcoming ‘baby’ Range Rover — will be on display at the event. It is so new that no price has yet been revealed. The car is due to arrive in UK showrooms in late summer and personalisaton options will also be on show for the first time.

There will also be a chance to see the electric Range_e, a diesel hybrid Range Rover which has the same low emissions as a Toyota Prius, and, at the other end of the spectrum, the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition, the most luxurious Land Rover ever.

Jaguar, meanwhile, will show off the fastest production Big Cat to date, the 186mph XKR S. The firm will also mark the golden jubilee of the E-Type by hosting drives in vintage models at the Park des Eaux Vives in Geneva, where the car was launched by the marque’s founder Sir William Lyons exactly fifty years ago.

Mini has made a habit of showing interesting concept cars at motor shows and its designers have lined up another one for Geneva. The Rocketman concept sees Mini returning to its roots with a small, easily manoeuvrable car that showcases some very clever modern gadgetry.