Category: Motor Shows

MIMS 2009 – Nissan 370Z

Nissan went a bit punk on us with the Australian premiere of the 370Z. At least, I guess that’s what the deal was supposed to be with these young girls with ripped shorts and all.

Dan Thompson, CEO, Nissan Motor Company Australia started his address by announcing Nissan will be returning to the NÃ¼rburgring in April for a new assault on the Nordschleife. Presumably, in a Spec V.

Dan also mentioned something about the new 2009 model Maxima. But, try as I might, I just couldn’t see it on the stand. I’m sure it was there somewhere, maybe you saw it? No, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the Maxima is bland, or anything…

Part audio of Thompson’s address below, apologies for missing the start (good help is hard to find these days, so you’ll just have to trust me on the NÃ¼rburgring stuff). As usual, piccies and press release after the jump.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/MIMS09-Nissan.mp3]

Motor Shows Subaru

MIMS 2009 – Subaru

Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior, took the stand to reveal the new EXIGA and Stella plug-in models.

The EXIGA will be on sale in Australia by November, the first market outside of Japan to receive the model. [Ed: Singapore currently has the Exiga on sale, see comments section below.] While the little Stella is a few years away yet.

My first impressions of the EXIGA were that it looks better with cover still on, but maybe my thoughts will change over time. What do you think?

Audio of Senior’s speech and images available below.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/MIMS09-Subaru.mp3]

Lotus Motor Shows

MIMS 2009 – Lotus Evora

Jonathan Stretton, Lotus General Manager Sales and Marketing was “excited and delighted” to reveal the “most significant” all new model from Lotus in over 10 years. He was speaking about the Lotus Evora, of course. Australian pricing for the 3.5 litre V6 powered Evora will start at $162,990 for the two-seater, and $169,990 for the 2+2.

In addition to the photos and press release from Lotus is an audio recording below of Stretton’s address to the media gallery at the Melbourne International Motor Show.

[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/MIMS09-Lotus.mp3]

Motor Shows Porsche

MIMS 2009 – Porsche

Post author By Liam
Post date 1 March, 2009

An off-roader as the lead image in a Porsche article! What is the world coming to? It could have been worse, I could have chosen the hardly badgeworthy 176kW V6 Cayenne Diesel as the lead pic. Porsche Australia were obviously embarrassed by the new addition to the range, too, tucking it away out of eyesight in the back corner of their stand.

Sorry, but Managing Director, Michael Winkler, wasn’t very convincing when talking about the Cayenne Diesel, either. You’d think, if an oil burner was the go, that the V10 750Nm jobbie from Volkswagen’s Touareg would have been given the nod.

Anyway, back to the rally car. This is the drive of amateur duo Paul Watson and David Morley from the Transsyberia Rallye. The guys also entered in 2007, but failed to finish. They returned in 2008 to put things right.

Some old press blurb about their efforts below, along with plenty more from the Porsche range. I’ve already baggsed the GT2!

Lexus Motor Shows

MIMS 2009 – Lexus LF-A Roadster

Post author By Liam
Post date 1 March, 2009
2 Comments on MIMS 2009 – Lexus LF-A Roadster

The V10 powered Lexus LF-A Roadster concept looks sleek and sexy. Of course, this was the only excuse the Lexus Australia PR team needed to hire a leather clad minx to pull the covers off the 360kW coupÃ© at the Melbourne International Motor Show. Not sure having this young lass climbing all over the bonnet was such a great idea, but there you go.

More pics and Lexus-sanctioned guff after the jump.

Mazda Motor Shows

MIMS 2009 – Mazda

It was all about the Mazda 3 at this display. The first Australian public reveal of Mazda’s best selling model surprised me somewhat. In picture form the 3 can look a bit awkward with its huge smiling face, however, in the metal the car looks more cohesive and one would be extremely surprised if the sales success doesn’t continue for Mazda. The new model goes on local sale in April.

Mazda broke the ice, and the not-another-speech monotony with a performance from the Scared Weird Little Guys. It was a so-so performance from the comedy duo, but a welcome relief all the same.

Don’t forget, the worldwide public debut of the new Mazda 3 MPS will take place at the Melbourne International Motor Show on Wednesday 4 March. The new MPS will make its media debut in Geneva, but with time zone differences Mazda has been able to secure the coup of the first public showing taking place down under. Pretty cool, huh.

Mazda’s iconic MX-5 has also had a facelift recently, and this was shown for the first time in Melbourne, too.

Lamborghini Motor Shows

MIMS 2009 – Lamborghini

Post author By Liam
Post date 1 March, 2009

The Lamborghini display was small in comparison to most others, but, of course, it was one of the most spectacular. The Gallardo is probably the most stuning looking supercar on the market today, and the drop top LP560-4 Spyder version has lost nothing in translation.

There was also a Murcielago on display reminding us just how brutal the Lambo badge can be.

Tucked away, almost sadly, in a corner near the Toyota stand was a Lamborghini Miura. This, in my mind, is the quintessential solution to how supercar should look. Indeed, if I was the deisgner at Bertone responsible for the Miura I think I’d have resigned on completion of the project. Other cars may look as good, but there aren’t any better. A real shame to have it hidden away out of view. Cars like this deserve much better.

See the pics after the jump to see the topless Gallardo, or read this earlier entry for more information.

Mitsubishi Motor Shows

MIMS 2009 – Mitsubishi

Mitusbishi’s main model on display was the tiny i MiEV, a production ready electric vehicle with a range of approximately 160km.

Mitsubishi Australia chief executive officer, Robert McEniry, said “This is the first time a production-ready electric vehicle has ever featured at an Australian motor show.

“Hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles are becoming increasingly common in this current environmentally conscious climate, but Australia hasnâ€™t seen anything like the i MiEV before.”

The presentation was as cute the car itself. With a big screen showing young kids saying what they thought the car of the future would be. Groups of children then descended from the upper level of the Mitsubishi stand to dance around the i MiEV as it was revealed.

Also of note was a pair of Lancers decked out as Playstation 3 consoles and an Evo X in full Police detail.

Full press release on the i MiEV after the jump, along with a few more pics.

Motor Shows Renault

MIMS 2009 – Renault

Post author By Liam
Post date 1 March, 2009

Renault had a relatively low key affair in Melbourne, and I must admit I missed their media presentation. That left the highlight, for me, being the feisty Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27. This model was released quite some time ago in Europe, but we’ll finally be seeing a limited run on our shores in April. More detail is available in this previous AUSmotive entry.

Hiding away in the background was the iconic Megane, which will be replaced soon by more adult-like Megane III.

Taking centre stage was the Renault Koleos and what I could tell you about this car would fit on a postage stamp.

Motor Shows Skoda

MIMS 2009 – Skoda

Skoda kicked off their presentation at the Melbourne International Motor Show by revealing an updated Octavia range. Matthew Wiesner, Head of Skoda Australia, then introduced Australian cycling legend Phil Anderson to assist with the launch of the Skoda Superb.

Both models certainly look the part and with their Volkswagen DNA they are cars that are not short on substance.

Proving this was a Skoda Scout on display, which recently travelled over 20,000kms around Australia in six weeks.

More pics and press releases below.

Tags 2009, Melbourne, Motor Show, Octavia, Scout, Skoda, Superb

Motor Shows News

AUSmotive at the Melbourne International Motor Show

Post author By Liam
Post date 26 February, 2009
2 Comments on AUSmotive at the Melbourne International Motor Show

The AUSmotive crew will be at the Melbourne International Motor Show tomorrow. However, not having the resources of some others there’ll be no live updates. I won’t be back at head office until Sunday, so until then keep an eye out on the official MIMS website.

If you’re considering going to the show, gates open to the public tomorrow from 5pm. Apart from the regular cars on show, there will also be a few other goodies on offer. See the Event Timetable for more info.

If the MIMS website doesn’t satisfy your curiousity for the happenings tomorrow, then best you check out other independent sites such as CarAdvice or The Motor Report.

Lamborghini Motor Shows

Gallardo LP560-4 drops its top down under

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 February, 2009
1 Comment on Gallardo LP560-4 drops its top down under

The Lamborghini stand at the 75th Melbourne International Motor Show, which starts next week, is going to be a good one. Making its Australian debut will be the Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder. The Gallardo is one of the finest looking supercars money can currently buy, if not the finest. And in soft top form it is just divine. That being the case, then, the sound from its 5.2 litre V10 is like divine intervention. It truly is a message from God!

With a lighter transmission, a reworked V10 engine, new suspension and updated all-wheel-drive system the LP560-4 Spyder can sprint to 100km/h in just four seconds flat. It has a top speed of 324km/h, and to keep Bob Brown happy, has dropped its fuel consumption by 18 per cent and reduced its CO2 emissions to boot.

Joining the Spyder on the Lambo stand will be the Gallardo coupÃ© and the MurcielagoÂ LP640. The motor show’s Historic Tribute display will show off supercar royalty in the form of a 1960s Miura. I’m not sure the profile of any supercar has bettered the classic lines of this work of absolute perfection.

If you’re heading to show, make sure you check out the best Sant’Agata has to offer. I doubt you will be disappointed.

More pics after the jump. To download the press document from the 2008 LA Auto Show, including full specs; right click, save as HERE (100kb PDF).

Tags 2009, download, Gallardo, High resolution, images, Lambo, LP560-4, Melbourne, Motor Show, Spyder, wallpaper