There may be several weeks to go before Jaguar’s new ‘S’ type makes its first appearance in Britain’s car showrooms, but Coventry City Council has already been putting its formidable crowd pulling power to good use.

It was the undisputed star of the show at the world’s top property development exhibition, MIPIM, helping to attract potential inward investors to Coventry – the city where the Jaguar was born.

Coventry’s inward investment team cannily used the new car to pull international property developers to its promotional events in France, where the world’s biggest players in property have been meeting.

Councillor Nick Nolan, Chair of the Economic Regeneration policy Team, who was in France for the four day show said,

"Our sixth year at MIPIM has proved to be a huge success for Coventry. Our presence was heightened by the unveiling of the Jaguar and, as anticipated, the preview event created the investment networking opportunities that ultimately play a crucial role in making things happen for the city."

Pauls Deas, Head of Coventry Inward Investment said,

"The response has been phenomenal. Key investors and developers were attracted to our stand because of the Jag. And we have been able to deliver the serious commercial message that Coventry is a city of investment, with innovative regeneration schemes combine with technical excellence and massive research and development opportunities.

"Our main objective is to interest them in what Coventry has got to offer in the way of development opportunities – with strategic sites such as Keresley park and projects such as the Phoenix Initiative."

There is huge British and international competition to attract inward investment. To persuade major international companies to locate in Coventry we need key strategic sites to be developed. Once that has happened we can attract more big names to join the likes of BarclayCall, Unipart Yachiyo, AAH Pharmaceuticals and – our latest big name Mission Foods the Mexican food company who has just announced that it will be opening a European production facility at Coventry Business Park creating 300 new jobs.

Pauls Deas continued,

"In the past 10 years more than 300 companies have located in Coventry, creating over 20,000 jobs. We are looking to build on that and the Jaguar is symbolic of Coventry’s success. It’s a world class car with a great history and an even brighter future.

"Ultimately, the value of the marketing exercise at MIPIM will be judged on how many developers and investors decide to put their faith and their money into Coventry. The early signs are extremely encouraging, and the meetings between ourselves and interested parties during the show mean that there is now a lot of follow up work to be done."