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Rolling down the road
Outdoor Spaces
NAEC Stoneleigh was the ideal venue for Suzuki’s new Jimny and Vitara models
As you will have read in
our sector focus feature
(p24), the automotive
industry is changing
rapidly. However, one
thing that will never
change is its need for
venues with large,
open spaces.
To showcase two new
four-wheel-drive vehicles
and test them to their
limits, Suzuki chose
NAEC Stoneleigh for the
launch of its Jimny
model and latest
generation Vitara.
NAEC Stoneleigh, in
Kenilworth, Warwickshire
boasts a 250-acre
playground for events
such as this, which in
part explains why 20% of
the venue’s business
– totalling 275 events a
year – comes from the
automotive industry.
The venue also hosts
events such as The Great
British Land Rover Show,
Race Retro, Vauxhall
product launches and a
Sytner conference each
year.
Osbourne Purdie
delivered to the brief
when Suzuki wanted its
guests to get the most
out of the vehicles
during the test drives,
and NAEC Stoneleigh’s
grounds gave the firm
the opportunity to do
just that.
Osbourne Purdie
created a mixed surface
area to test the vehicles,
complete with a section
of 4x4 course and
grip-based activities to
check how the vehicle
handled on grass, mud
and gravel.
For those trying out the
Jimny’s capabilities, NAEC
Stoneleigh has a specific
4x4 route for that.
The venue provided ‘soft
roading’ and on-road
drives, which helped
Suzuki demonstrate its
two models were not
just about going up
mountains and down
dales. It was not just the
driving opportunities
which attracted Suzuki
to the venue, it was this
coupled with the variety
of conference facilities
where they hosted their
conference over a
period of five days.
The venue could offer
conference halls to
accommodate up to
4,500 people to seminar
rooms for just a handful
of people.
During the event,
Suzuki made use of the
Grandstand Suite, where
people were registered,
and vehicles were put
The site provided
lots of terrain for the
cars to be driven on to
showcase a variety of
technologies.
www.conference-news.co.uk
on display.
Ross Stewart,
business development
manager at NAEC
Stoneleigh, said:
“Automotive events are
a perfect match for our
venue and with our vast
grounds we are able to
offer the very best
driving experiences,
both on and off-road. It’s
for this reason that we
host many events from
this industry. Our 4x4
track certainly raised
the adrenaline levels.”
Fay Wynne, from
Osbourne Purdie,
added: “NAEC
Stoneleigh met Suzuki’s
requirements really well
and they would certainly
use the venue again.
“The staff were super
accommodating and
there was great
communication between
the team. The site
provided lots of terrain
for the cars to be driven
on to showcase a variety
of technologies.”
Ed Norman, product
manager at Suzuki GB,
said: “To do justice to
our two models during
this launch event, we
had a long list of
requirements, and
Osbourne Purdie and
NAEC Stoneleigh
delivered on all of
them.
“It was a pleasure to
hold this prestigious
event at a venue with
such fantastic facilities
and grounds, and
dedicated staff who
went out of their way
to make sure the day
was everything we
needed it to be.”