First was the Renault Latitude which will be introduced in Russia in a choice of two petrol and two diesel units. The Renault pavilion also had the Duster, the new automatic Logan, Sandero and Sandero Stepway, as well as Fluence sedan and Mégane hatchback.

Then Hyundai’s Concept RB that will launch in Russia in the sprint of 2011,was in the spotloight. It will be available in two variants of Hyundai's Gamma four-cylinder engine onboard, both gasoline-powered and feature continuously variable valve timing and, according to Hyundai, best-in-class fuel economy. They can be mounted to either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission.

Lastly, it was the ubercool Jaguar XJ Sentinel that has been designed to be bullet and grenade proof and boasts of an armoured cell and Kevlar technology.

Toyota unveiled its new 2011 Highlander which comes with a major facelift including the car hood, front fender, grille as well as more “aggressive” headlight. The 2011 Highlander will come in Russia with a 3.5l V6 engine offering 273Hp via a 5-Speed automatic transmission.

For tyhe oligarchs, Jaguar's XJ Sentinel can withstand sniper fire, roadside bombs and possibly even unhappy ex-wives, who may attempt to claw at the passenger door after receiving their divorce papers. Jaguar – the Indian-owned but British-based carmaker – chose Moscow's international motor show to unveil the ultimate vehicle for the security conscious.

The car includes a special assassination-proof "armoured cell". Jaguar says the saloon, which comes with reinforced steel and Kevlar (used in body armour) is tough enough to withstand ballistic fire – a useful lifesaving feature given the number of businessmen ambushed in the Russian capital while waiting at traffic lights or stuck in Moscow's notorious jams.

The sports vehicle is also grenade-proof, while another feature is its bulletproof windows – the rear ones don't open, but the driver can wind his down a fraction or talk to the outside world via an intercom. Even shooting at the car's tyres is likely to frustrate your conscientious Moscow contract killer: the tyres work even when flat.

Jaguar said at the launch that it was confident the car wouldn't just appeal to super-rich Russians but would also sell well in the UK, Europe, China and the Middle East. It refuses to disclose the cost of car but says it already has several orders, with manufacture and engineering taking place at Jaguar's Castle Bromwich assembly plant in Birmingham.

"People who buy this car like to have total security, whether in the house, yacht or aeroplane," says Jonathan Rayner, Jaguar's XJ brand manager. Engineers had rigorously tested the 3.3-tonne saloon's safety features, and had even blown it up using a generous 15kg of explosives, he revealed.

"It was really quite incredible. If you look at the film we took you can see the shock wave. The car was a bit battered, but survived." he said.

"We did the tests at secret defence locations. There aren't many places in the UK where you can fire rifles, detonate TNT and chuck grenades around. It's not the kind of thing you can do on the test track," said Rayner.

Nissan Motor Co., Japan’s third- largest automaker, raised its Russian car sales target and plans to add a third model on its St. Petersburg assembly line as demand rebounds along with the economy.

Nissan will produce the Murano crossover in addition to the X-trail sport utility vehicle and Teana sedan near Russia’s second-largest city, Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga said in an interview with auto trade press at the Moscow International Automobile Salon. Of 35,000 vehicles produced there next year, 6,000 will be Muranos, he said.

“The recovery on the current Russian market is really promising,” Shiga said on Aug. 25. “I am really optimistic that the Russian market will grow continuously especially because the government is really promoting the sector.”

Nissan plans to sell 100,000 vehicles in Russia this fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2011, an increase of 25 percent from the previous forecast, he said. Total Russian car sales may reach 2.2 million vehicles in the year and rise to 2.9 million units by 2013, Shiga said.

Russian new car sales increased 9 percent in the first seven months, driven by the government’s cash-for-clunkers program and economic growth, according to the Association of European Businesses in Moscow. Gross domestic product expanded 3.8 percent in the period, and will probably grow 4 percent this year, Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Klepach said on Aug. 24. Car sales plunged 49 percent last year as GDP contracted a record 7.9 percent.

Domestic auto maker Avtovaz had three cars on display including the 4×4, Priora sedan and a seven-seat R90 which will debut in 2012.

Nissan Murano will be built in Russia