Kent motor group Lipscomb will open its new dealership with a guest appearance from ex-Formula 1 driver, Jonathan Palmer.

The opening will be held at the £8 million multi-franchise dealership near Maidstone on January 25.

The dealer group will also be attempting a world record to mark the opening. Lipscomb will be gathering the biggest number of same marque cars in one place.

Mark Barnes, Lipscomb Lotus franchise manager, said: “We might not be able to match the current record of 250 but we aim to demonstrate the enthusiasm of Lotus owners and fans with an impressive turnout of Lotuses on January 28 at Brands Hatch, with Guinness book of records authentication too.”

The events follows a busy 2006 for Lipscomb, which not only built the site at Forstal Road, Aylesford, as a new home for its Volvo franchise, but also added Fiat and Lotus there, as well as installing Isuzu alongside Volvo at Ashford.

“Having embarked on such ambitious growth last year, we needed to keep the momentum going with these two ‘fast track’ events,” said Lipscomb managing director, Peter Barnes.

“Selling several makes of car is the way forward in an increasingly competitive car market and it is significant that when we formally open the Aylesford site on January 25, our guests will include the UK MDs of Volvo, Fiat and Lotus.

“We believe the two new brands – and Isuzu at Ashford – complement our long-running Volvo business in the Maidstone area, Ashford and at Chartham, Canterbury.”