If there’s one event where members of the Southern Group of Motoring Writers are likely to actually turn up in their own cars, instead of in a new, shiny test car, it’s the annual Heritage Day at Beaulieu.
For the 2026 event – the ninth held by the Southern Group – a record-equalling 20 manufacturers attended, bringing a mix of their very newest machines along with some pristine examples of past creations.
The key stats? There were 66 attendees overall, with 42 representing manufacturers and 24 from the Southern Group. Ready and waiting were a total of 42 cars for all to experience, including a dinky 955kg first-generation Mazda MX-5 to the 9,000kg-plus leviathan that is the Iveco S-Way CNG ‘Force of Nature’.
Plus, without a single cloud in the sky, the temperature held a solid 33 degrees centigrade for much of the day. Thankfully there were zero reported cases of heatstroke…
The cars are the stars
Making a big impact at the 2026 edition were five Chinese brands, namely Aion, Chery, BYD, Geely and Xpeng. Admittedly, none was able to bring a heritage machine, that would have proved problematic given their relative newcomer statuses.
Representing Japan were Suzuki, Toyota, Mazda, Honda and Mitsubishi. All brought something new, but satisfying the heritage itch was a 2013 Suzuki Vitara 1.6 JLX alongside a 2004 Grand Vitara 2.4 three-door, a 1994 Toyota RAV4, the aforementioned 1995 Mazda MX-5, and not just one Honda NSX but two, one from 2005 and the other from 1990. While Mitsubishi had a fantastic heritage collection some years ago, sadly the company’s retreat from the UK in 2021 meant all the oldies were moved on to new homes. Regardless, Mitsubishi’s return to the UK gives us hope we may be treated to a heritage machine at a future Heritage Day.
In attendance with newer machines were Polestar, Peugeot, Renault, Citroen, Fiat and Abarth, while Ford brought along two current models alongside a delightful 1988 Fiesta XR2 finished in ‘Rosso Red’.
Going full-bore into heritage mode were Kia and BMW. The Korean marque’s line-up included a 2017 Stinger GT-S, a 1992 Kia Pride and a 2011 Kia Optima, the latter with just 2,700 miles on the clock and the only diesel-powered car at the event. BMW’s approach was a touch more aggressive, with a 2006 Mini Cooper S JCW GP1, a 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe and a 2003 E46 M3 CSL.
All things considered, then, there was something for everyone. It’ll take quite some topping in 2027, but then again it will be the Southern Group’s 10th Heritage Day. What better way to celebrate a decade’s worth of success than with a particularly special celebration?
Heritage Day awards: rare classics take the vote
Every Heritage Day ends with an awards ceremony. It’s fair to say the glitz and glamour is dialed back a touch from, say, the Oscars. But there’s still a great deal of excitement as attendees cast their votes across two categories, the first for Manufacturer Car of the Day and the second for Southern Group of Motoring Writers Car of the Day.
The all-new Renault Twingo fared well in the OEM standings – little surprise, given its cute and quirky character, plus the fact it barely stopped being taken out for a spin across the day. Also in contention was the E46 M3 CSL, a rare and valuable beast with a ferocious bark from its 3.2-litre straight-six engine. But topping the charts at the close of proceedings was the 2005 Honda NSX, a car that remains as refreshing and exciting to drive today as it did when it was new.
As for the winning Southern Group member’s car, there was a stellar line-up. The contenders included – but was not limited to – a BMW 523i, a Fiat 850 Lombardi Grand Prix and a Fiat X1/9, an Alfa Giulia Super, an Alpine A110 and a Toyota Yaris GRMN. The winner, however, was Sarah Bradley’s 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. Who could possibly avoid being intoxicated by its big-block 6.3-litre V8?
Until 2027
As we’ve mentioned, 2027 will host the Southern Group’s 10th Heritage Day, which will be a very special event, no doubt. But this year’s event and the previous eight wouldn’t have been possible without the exceptional support of all the aforementioned manufacturers, plus a number of others who couldn’t make it in 2026. So, to the manufacturer PR teams, a huge thank you from the Southern Group of Motoring Writers. Similarly, we extend our gratitude to the wonderful team at Beaulieu for hosting our little heritage gathering.
