The Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) is the major event dedicated to automobile industry of Australia. AIMS 2010 ( inaugural show ) provided a unique platform for local and international motor vehicle manufacturers to showcase their latest designs and models to their dealer distributors and the general public at large.

The importance of the new show is reflected in more than just some shiny new cars and over-full displays at Darling Harbour. The first Australian International Motor Show is a sign of the whole car business pulling together, the strength of the motor industry at a time when much of the global business is still struggling, and proof that people are still interested in cars.

.

.

Motor Shows have a long history in Melbourne and Sydney, with both cities hosting exhibitions befitting of their influence and importance as Australia’s two largest capital cities.

Melbourne Motor Show was first held in 1925 with the first 61 exhibitions held at Melbourne’s ionic Royal Exhibition Building. The Motor Show was relocated to the newly constructed Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in 1996 and was the first commercial exhibition held in the exhibition complex. In total 14 Melbourne Motor Shows have been held at the MCEC.

The Sydney Motor Show was originally held at Moore Park (Sydney Showgrounds) however in 1988 the Motor Show relocated to the first purpose built exhibition centre in Australia, the newly constructed Sydney Exhibition Centre located at Darling Harbour.

.

The event is jointly organized by The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce, for promoting the motor industry in Australian region and globally.

From 2010, the organisers of Australia’s two largest motor shows are now alternating the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) annually between Melbourne and Sydney, uniting the Melbourne International Motor Show and the Sydney Motor Show.

The Melbourne International Motor Show will return to Melbourne in 2011, and, as Victoria’s biggest indoor event, already promises to be most spectacular show of the festival calendar.  When the AIMS heads to Melbourne in 2011 it will also be run on an entirely new date in the middle of the year to give it some breathing space on the international show, helping to turn it give it an Asia-Pacific focus and turn it into an event which puts Australian on the worldwide show circuit. The Melbourne edition of AIMS will move from the traditional timing in March to 1st -10th July inclusive.

Now recognised as an ‘international show’ on the global motor show calendar, this joint venture effort between organisers FCAI and VACC has a higher standard of presentation and more launches and reveals than ever before seen in Australia.

“In total, there were 44 new ‘reveals’ at this motor show; this compares with the twenty to twenty-five we would previously see at Melbourne or Sydney,” he said.

.

While some show goers were a little disappointed to find that there were no “dreamtime” one-off stunners from our local manufactures – like Holden’s Coupe60 or its Efijy – the high standard of display throughout, and the sheer number of concepts, new models and very special vehicles on display, gives an international sense of quality and glamour to this year’s event.

Ford’s stand, in particular, is stunning. This is its international stand; in the same style that sees duty at Detroit, Frankfurt and other international motor shows.

.

Some very important persons from the global car business were in Sydney for the Sydney Show. The worldwide chiefs of both Mazda ( Mr Yamanouchi), Nissan and Land Rover attended. Mercedes-Benz’s, Dr Ulrich Mellinghoff ( safety development director ).

The signs are already good, as Ford has upgraded the AIMS to a global event and scheduled the worldwide unveiling of its new Ranger pickup for Sydney. Mazda did the same thing with its BT-50, which was developed from the same T6 project parts in Melbourne.

The Ranger unveiling can be dismissed because it was created at Broadmeadows, but its reach goes far wider than Australia and its first official appearance could easily have been scheduled for somewhere outside Australia.

Girls of the Show

No motor show is complete without glitz and glamour and the 2010 Australian International Motor Show was no exception, with the girls of the motor show proving a big hit with the tyre kickers and motoring media

Adding a touch of glamour to the event, women working for the auto makers frocked up in designer gowns to help show off the latest vehicles on display for maufacturers.

A Motor Show spokesman said the car manufacturers had friendly competitions each year to see who had the most glamorous designs – both in terms of vehicles and staff.

“It’s not only the glamorous cars but there are also glamorous women and outfits,” the spokesman said.

.

.

Cars  ( In Alphabetical Brand order)

Audi

The long and short of it … is that Audi showcased its biggest vehicle as well as its smallest car at the 2010 Sydney motor show.

Audi A1.

This Polo-sized luxury car goes on sale in early 2011 and will initially come with just one engine (a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine), with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Audi’s new A1 will become Australia’s most affordable luxury car when it arrives in January with a $29,900 starting price – Attraction and $32,650 – Ambition both propelled by a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 90kW and 200Nm. The A1 will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds. Official fuel consumption is 5.3 litres per 100km.

It means the A1, which is based on the Volkswagen Polo city car, will undercut its key rival in the burgeoning premium hatchback market – BMW’s Mini Cooper.

Audi Australia boss Uwe Hagen says he expects the A1 to replace the A4 as Audi’s best-selling model in the local market. “The A1 will be our best volume car,” he says. “It is the first time an Audi has been priced below $30,000 … and we will try to attract new customers with it.

Hagen says the A1 doesn’t compromise Audi’s brand values despite its price. “It’s 100 per cent an Audi.”  Although the A1 is based on the Polo, Audi says its smallest car boasts an interior in keeping with the brand’s other luxury vehicles.

Audi A8L.

While the German car maker’s $29,900 sub-four-metre A1 grabbed the headlines as Australia’s most affordable luxury car, the long-wheelbase version of the A8 limo also made its local debut.

Audi had yet to confirm pricing for the 5.3-metre-long A8L that goes on sale in the first quarter of 2011 and brings greater legroom for executives courtesy of a 13 cm longer wheelbase.

Three engines will be available for the A8L, comprising both petrol and diesel 4.2-litre V8s and an entry-level 3.0-litre V6 diesel. Each is teamed with an eight-speed automatic.

The petrol V8, currently the only engine available in the regular, $225,904 A8 sedan that launched locally three months, produces 273kW of power and 445Nm of torque.

The V8 diesel has a mammoth maximum torque output of 800Nm, capable of shoving the A8L 4.2 TDI from 0-100km in 5.6 seconds. The V6 diesel has a still respectable 550Nm and includes stop-start technology.

All A8Ls feature Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive hardware.

Ford

Here, in Sydney, Ford Australia pulled the covers off its stove-hot Focus RS, FPV’s new GS and GT and, more importantly, the new Ranger.

.

Ranger

With nearly 450 Ford Australia engineers involved in its design and development, and based on a new global compact ‘truck’ platform, the Ranger signifies Ford Australia’s key role in the development of rear-wheel-drive products under Ford’s global ‘One Ford’ strategy.

Bigger, wider, with a muscular front and clam-shell bonnet, its reveal was a global first.

With bulky F150 styling and a payload of over 1500kg the styling is also backed up by legitimate muscle. Embracing its boldness this brute is also set to be released with an LPG and flexifuel option, showing tough guys still think about the environment.

Utility vehicles that do double duty as business workhorses and leisure vehicles have been an Australian speciality since the early 1900s. So, it’s no surprise that Ford HQ tasked Australia with developing its new Ranger ute, which will be sold in 180 markets worldwide. Unfortunately, the car won’t be made in Australia; our cars will be built in Thailand.

Having just made its world debut at the 2010 Sydney Motor Show, the company has yet to release specifications and pricing for the new Ranger.

FPV Falcon GT.

The updated Falcon GT features the 5-litre V8 that debuted recently in the Mustang, but with an important difference: there’s a locally developed supercharger package strapped on.

With its 335kW of power and 570Nm of torque, the new engine package develops more power than the outgoing, heavier 5.4-litre V8.

Three models are available (GT, GT-P and GT E), with prices ranging from AU$71,290 to AU$81,450.

Holden

.

.

.

Commodore Series II

For many this will be the first chance to see the upgraded Commodore range. Visual differences are quite minor: new headlights, grilles, wheels, badging, boot lip and the like.

Under the bonnet, though, the changes are more significant with the 3-litre V6 and V8 engines now compatible with E85 fuel.

All members of the Commodore family also now come fitted with a new touchscreen entertainment system, dubbed Holden iQ.

Barina Spark

.

Honda

Honda presented  its U3-X ‘personal mobility device’, the landmark new Insight and the all new and unique CR-Z petrol-electric hybrid sports coupe.

Insight.

About a year after going on sale overseas, the Insight is finally about to arrive on these shores, with sales set to start at the beginning of December 2010.

A 1.3-litre petrol engine is paired up with an electric engine and a continuously variable transmission. In official testing, the Insight consumes just 4.6L/100km and emits 109g of CO2 per kilometre.

The Insight is powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine which is teamed up to a 10kW electric motor, which makes it less of a hardcore hybrid than some other models on the market, such as the 1.8-litre/60kW Toyota Prius. While its fuel economy and carbon emissions can’t quite match the Toyota Prius, it will retail for considerably less, with prices starting from AU$29,990 including GST, but excluding dealer and statutory charges.

It is also a hefty saving of more than $5000 over Australia’s current cheapest hybrid car, the Honda Civic Hybrid.

Honda Australia’s managing director and CEO Satoshi Matsuzawa says the Insight could one day be the brand’s biggest local seller. “I think maybe it has the potential, but not so quick, because the current Australian market is not ready to boost the hybrid technology. But we want to ignite the boost with the Insight.” .

“It’s the very first [hybrid-electric] car with an affordable price, and it should be welcomed by the Australian people,” Matsuzawa says. “So maybe it has the trajectory to pick up.”

Until then, Honda expects to sell 200 Insights per month. Matsuzawa also confirmed Honda’s plans for further hybrid models are moving swiftly, hinting that recently revealed Jazz Hybrid city car isn’t far away.

“Up until 2013, our vision over all of our line-up is to have 10 per cent [of the vehicles on sale in Australia] to be hybrid,” he says.

Matsuzawa went on to confirm that an all-new Civic, including a revised hybrid-electric version, will make its international motor show debut early in 2011, with a local launch pencilled in for late next year.

Matsuzawa also hinted at an upcoming diesel version of the CR-V soft-roader, rather than a hybrid-electric model. “I think under our 2020 vision, which is Honda’s direction for the next 10 years, we have several different approaches to reduce fuel consumption by many ways,” he says.  “The hybrid is one answer, and another we are developing is a diesel engine, a small capacity diesel engine. Also we are developing electric vehicles.”

“So at this stage, there are many options,” he says. “So we will take the best suitable technology for each model.”

Honda CR-Z.

Honda unveiled its new sporty CR-Z hybrid-electric two-door coupe at the Sydney motor show. The model unveiled is a upgraded version from Japanese tuning-house Mugen. The styling recalls the popular CR-X sports hatchback of the 1980s, but with a hybrid twist underneath the bonnet.

The sporty-looking CR-Z coupe is powered by 1.5-litre four-cyliner engine paired up with an electric motor to produce 91kW of power and 174 Nm of torque, both of which send their power to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission

The CR-Z sports hybrid is due in Honda showrooms mid-2011.

Local pricing for the CR-Z, is expected to be similar to Australia’s soon-to-be cheapest hybrid car, the $29,990 Honda Insight.

Hyundai

.

The Hyundai Blue-Will Concept, the fourth concept vehicle that showcases Hyundai’s talents from Namyang Design Centre. It’s not just a good looking concept car though, it also happens to be Hyundai’s way of expressing its intent for hybrid plug-in vehicles in the near future.

The concept is a four-seat sedan that uses a 113kW 1.6-litre Gasoline Direct Injected engine mated to a 100 kW electric motor. It’s capable of 64.4 km on a single charge of electricity alone or an average of 2.22-litres of fuel per 100 km over long distances.

Some of the notable features of the Blue-Will include its ability to run hot exhaust gases into electricity, its lithium batteries are capable of recharging from a household electricity socket and it makes use of drive-by-wire steering.

Like the Toyota Prius, its roof is also covered in solar cells, however unlike the Prius which only uses its solar panels to run the airconditioning system, the Blue-will can actually recharge its batteries using the power of the sun.

Hyundai says it’s using the Blue-Will concept as a basis for cars such as the Hyundai i45 BlueDriv hybrid which is expected to go on sale soon.

.

Isuzu

Isuzu D-MAX

The diesel-powered Isuzu D-MAX that Australian off-road expert Bruce Garland will drive in the 2011 Dakar was on  Isuzu Ute’s stand fresh from its debut outing in September’s Australasian Safari in Western Australia.

While much closer to showroom specification than its open class Dakar rivals, this latest Dakar D-MAX has been further tweaked to stretch its potential in the gruelling enduro.

The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine in Garland’s D-MAX produces approximately 630Nm of maximum torque and up to 192kW of power – respectively 75 and 60 per cent more than the standard D-MAX engine.

In the Safari, four-time victor Bruce Garland is aiming to drive his D-MAX up the finish ramp as the first diesel-powered winner of a major Australian motorsport event.

The show ute is outwardly similar to Garland’s 2009 Dakar D-MAX where he surprised the international field by finishing first production car and 11th outright.

Its extra grunt this year will give it more top speed against the mega-dollar factory team specials.

Jaguar

Two potent luxury performance saloons went head-to-head at the Show – Jaguar’s new XJ Supersport and Maserati’s Quattroporte GT S.

XJ Supersport

The XJ Supersport, the quickest model in Jaguar’s XJ range, adds new competition to the luxury performance saloon category.

Jaguar’s all-new XJ Supersport combines luxury appointment with substantial power and critically acclaimed handling.  The XJ Supersportchallenges the notion that large cars should be conservative or constrained.

The Supersport is powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged engine, producing 375kW of power, 625Nm of torque and a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds.

The XJ is far from a compromise in performance and maintains very high levels of expected luxury.Interior luxury comes by way of leather seats that are both heated and cooled, and a 1200W Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system.

Kia

The Kia Cerato is an important model for the brand, given it has quickly become its best seller globally. Lat year it managed to find 304,295 owners and that was with just the 4-door and 2-door Koup variants. So far this year over 225,000 Ceratos have been sold and with the introduction of the 5-door Hatchback, it’s sure to beat 2009′s record and increase to 1.2 million units by 2012.

“The latest Cerato is designed to appeal especially to those consumers with young families who prefer a 5-door hatchback for its style and enhanced practicality. The availability of this third body style for our small passenger segment category will enable Kia dealers to meet the needs of a broader range of customers. This derivative will boost total Cerato sales to an even higher level across all Australian states.” said Kia Motors Australia Chief Operating Officer, Tony Barlow.

As with the Kia Sportage and the upcoming Optima, Kia Australia says it has worked extensively to tune the new Cerato for Australian conditions. That means unique setup of the model’s suspension for better ride and handling.

Lamborgini

Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera

Lamborghini fans got their first close-up look at the company’s new Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera at the Show.

The range-topping Superleggera or ‘super-light’ version of the Gallardo is 70kg lighter than the Gallardo LP 560-4, making it the lightest car in Lamborghini’s line-up.

Powered by a 5.2-litre V10 engine, the Superleggera generates 419kW of power and 540Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds and has the capacity to reach 200km/h after just 10.2 seconds.

The vehicle’s permanent all-wheel-drive system helps it reach a top speed of 325km/h.

The new Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera brings together the very best Lamborghini has to offer – both extreme power and precise functionality.

Lamborghini engineers went to great lengths to ensure weight was kept to a minimum, relying on a range of exotic materials to reduce the overall weight of the 570-4 Superleggera. This included extensive use of carbon-fibre components for external bodywork and inside the cabin. The engineers switched to polycarbonate for the rear and side windows, even using titanium wheel nuts.

Maserati

Maserati’s Quattroporte GT S, the company’s flagship saloon, made its Sydney motor show debut.

The Quattroporte GT S is powered by a 4.7-litre V8 engine which produces 323kW of power and 490Nm of Torque which will take the car to a top speed of 285km/h.

Only 30 examples of the car known as the Quattroporte Sport GT S MC Sportline will make it to Australia.

Based on the range-topping GT S the biggest difference is the interior trim. Carbon fibre, the lightweight but super strong materiel used to build race cars, replaces all the wood trim. The sleek black material covers the instrument cluster, centre console and door insets.

Behind the steering wheel there are also extra large carbon fibre gearshift paddles borrowed from the company’s Trofeo racing models. The paddles are part of the new MC-Auto Shift transmission which makes its Australian debut on the car.

But all this carbon fibre doesn’t come cheap with the GT S MC Sportline starting at $298,800

Maserati offers a unique heritage and, with its products limited to the Quattroporte, GranTurismo and GranCabrio, a name and badge that will only be found in this rarefied area of the car market.

Mazda

.

.

BT-50

Mazda ‘dropped’ its new BT-50 “active lifestyle vehicle” onto its stand. While sharing the platform of the Ranger, the distinctively-styled BT-50 defines a new direction for the sports ute

SKY-G Engines

The new class of petrol and diesel engines include clever stop-start technology that allows them to switch off while the car is stopped in traffic, and automatically re-start once the traffic starts flowing. Yamanouchi said he had never considered stop-start engines for Australia before because he thought it did not have the same congested traffic problems as in Japan. Then he found out the hard in way in a traffic jam in Sydney on his way to the fair.

Mazda is already trialling its new Sky engines in Australia to ensure they are compatible with Australia’s low fuel-quality standards.  Mazda announced that it’s next-generation Sky engines would arrive in a “mid-size Mazda” some time next year. Mazda already has two Sky-G test vehicles — the “sky” part of the name denotes how high Mazda’s engieers are aiming, while the “G” refers to the fact it uses petrol — running around to ensure the engines were compatible with our fuel.

Australia lags behind other regions with tighter emissions laws, particularly in Europe, where tougher emissions laws and high fuel prices are placing demand on engines that need much cleaner fuel to start with. Car makers including Mercedes-Benz and BMW have not been able to bring in a range of highly efficient engines because they are not compatible with fuel sold here.

However, Mazda says the Sky-G engine, due next year, and the Sky-D turbo diesel version, should both be compatible with Australian fuel

.

Mercedes

Mercedes had jaws dropping with its 358kW Pearl Orange C 63 AMG and the menacing ‘designo magno’ Night Black gull-wing SLS AMG

C 63 AMG

This vehicle was co designed by Mercedes-Benz Australia and built by AMG exclusively for the 2010 Australian International Motor Show.

As the only C 63 AMG in the world to be painted in designo Pearl Orange paint from the AMG factory in Affalterbach, Concept 358 introduces the AMG Performance Package Plus which lifts power to a staggering 358kW. Also included in the Performance Package Plus are unique 19-inch multi spoke alloy wheels in black, KEYLESS-GO and extended designo leather appointments inside

The CL 63 AMG is to feature a new cutting-edge look as well as state-of-the-art technology. The stylish visual modifications will be accompanied by a completely newly developed powertrain.

The AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine in combination with the unique AMG Speed Shift MCT 7-speed sports transmission, contributes towards a considerable increase in driving dynamics, while at the same time guaranteeing a respectable reduction in consumption and emissions.

SLS AMG.

The SLS AMG on display at the Sydney Motor Show is the first to come dressed in matte black with red highlights.

The modern-day Gullwing has been dubbed “Blackbird” by the German car maker’s local subsidiary, which ordered the exclusively coated matt-black model specifically for Australia’s only major show of the year.

The “Blackbird” features black alloy wheels with red brake callipers. There’s also red Mercedes and AMG badges and other red accents including for the bonnet and side vents.

There are no changes to the black SLS’s 6.2-litre V8, so power and torque remain at a still-healthy 420kW and 650Nm.

The SLS AMG starts from AU$464,000.  Mercedes says the “Night Black” paintjob for the SLS costs about $60,000, pushing the price of this Gullwing “well north of half a million dollars”.

Mitsubishi

.

.

.

i-MiEV

Mitsubishi’s unveiled its all-electric i-MiEV — the first battery-electric vehicle offered by a major Australian brand

i-MiEV leads the Motor Show’s extensive green vehicle line-up, highlighting the industry’s push for more environmentally-sustainable motoring. Mitsubishi has confirmed it will bring another 110 of its electric powered i-MiEV compact cars to Australia before the end of the year.

Earlier this year the company imported 40 cars to Australia and leased them to its “foundation customers” – corporates and governments, mainly. There is hope in sight for private buyers with another larger shipment due in the middle next year as production capacity ramps up.

It’s unlikely, though, that they will be offered for general sale or lease unless the Federal Government announces an assistance package for environmentally friendly vehicles in the meantime.

This could be in the form of a cash rebate or incentives for parking and/or recharging.

So far, the limitation of supply comes from battery production capacity. It has been increasing because of more investment made in Japan, so from the middle of next year Mitsubishi may be able to bring more units into Australia.

Mitsubishi is also working to build a second-generation battery pack that will build on the existing i-MiEV’s maximum 160km range and cut down the eight-hour wait for a full recharge. The next-generation battery is likely to be fitted to cars “in the next one to two years”.

Nissan

Nissan has no less than five new models on display. Complementing the all-electric Leaf, new Micra and Patrol, it also took the covers off its ‘grunt-filled’ Topline 550 Nm V6 Diesel Navara and Pathfinder.

Leaf

Nissan will start selling its all-electric Leaf in Europe from early 2011 for just under $42,000.

The Leaf is due on sale in Australia some time in 2012.

The Leaf is powered with an 80kW/280Nm electric engine that’s limited to a top speed of 140km/h.

Range is estimated to be 160km and the navigation system features an easy-to-access list of nearby charging points or Better Place battery swap stations.

Peugot

Peugeot’s 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning 908 race car headlined the Motorsport line-up at this year’s Show in Sydney.

908 HDi FAP

The 2009 winner at the legendary Le Mans – La Sarthe race track formed a central part of Peugeot’s stand, allowing race fans to get up close to the car that took Australian David Brabham to his first outright victory in the French Classic.

The 908 HDi FAP of Brabham and co-drivers Alexander Wurz and Mark Gene covered 382 laps of the 13.62 kilometre-long circuit in 24 hours, averaging 216km/h –  powered by a 540kW/1200Nm 5.5-litre twin-turbo V12 diesel engine.

Peugeot Australia’s general manager and director Ken Thomas believes endurance racing is the ideal test-bed for developing engine technology for its road cars. “The endurance achievements made by this vehicle represent the future for Peugeot HDi technology,” Mr Thomas said. “With every lap, with every kilometre, we learn more about the way our engines perform. This is translated into innovative technology – which you see on Peugeots today.

RCZ

At first glance  you may mistake Peugeot’s RCZ with the Audi TT.

Peugeot badges aside, the RCZ features a distinctive double-bubble roof and rear windscreen, and contrasting roof arch. Both the 1.6-litre petrol turbo engine and 2-litre turbo-diesel retail for AU$54,990.

Peugeot used the Sydney motor show to launch a special anniversary edition of the RCZ coupe featuring unique interior and exterior appointments including a carbon fibre roof and mirrors. Priced from $62,490 or $7,500 more than the regular model, the ”RCZ 200” will be limited to 50 units.

3008

Peugeot will launch Australia’s first diesel-electric hybrid in the next 12 months. The hybrid version of the 3008 crossover will be launched in Europe in the middle of next year.

The car gives a combined power output of about 150kW, despite fuel use of just 3.8 litres per 100km and CO2 emissions of 99g/km.

The car will use less fuel than a Toyota Prius and should be around the same price, with Peugot anticipating that it will  cost between 10 and 15 per cent more than the standard 3008, which ranges from $36,000 to $43,000.

There’s no reason to bring in a hybrid car that the public look at and say: “it’s nice but I can’t afford it or justify it, so there’s got to be a financial equation. We’d only do it if it was viable and at this stage it is viable.”

The hybrid can operate on pure electric power for about 5 kilometres under 50km/h and switches to diesel power at higher speeds or when the battery is depleted.

A Peugeot spokesman says the 5km electric-only range was big enough for a car to traverse a city’s central business district and reach a freeway, where the diesel engine was at its most economical.

Porsche

911 GT2 RS.

The 911 GT2 RS does 462kW, 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds, top speed of 328km/h and a Nurburgring lap record of 7 minutes 18 seconds.

All from a supertuned 3.6 litre twin-turbocharged (variable geometry turbochargers) six-cylinder engine.

Compared to the last GT2 RS, the new one has 67 more kilowatts and weighs 70kg less. It uses less fuel, but who really cares. The 911 GT2 RS weighs about the same a Toyota Corolla, but has nearly five times its power output. So it’s incredibly fast.

Unlike the 911 Turbo (which is actually quicker from 0-100km/h) this GT2 RS power is delivered via a six-speed manual to the rear-wheels. As its a purpose built track car that can also drive on the road, Porsche has equipped it with its Composite Ceramic Brakes. To give it the grip and handling required the 911 GT2 RS comes with 245/35 ZR 19 at the front and ridiculously large 325/30 ZR 19 at the rear.

Being the ultimate 911, it gets pretty much everything standard, such as Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Stability Management (PSM).

To set it apart from the rest of the range the GT2 RS comes with pretty much everything carbon fibre and is finished in a matt-black paint. With bigger wheels (wrapped in new alloys with central locking nut), flared arches and GT2 RS badging you’ll be sure to know what you’re looking at. Mechanically, apart from the engine upgrade, it also makes use of unique anti-roll bars and specific engine mounts.

Only 500 of the new Porsche 911 GT2 RS will be made.

Cayenne S Hybrid

You know the world is changing when Porsche is coming out with hybrid cars. The first of which is the all new Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid which makes use of the German company’s ‘Parallel Full Hybrid’ system.

According to Porsche the hybrid system means a 23 percent improvement on fuel economy (8.2 litres / 100km) whilst also delivering more than adequote power from its supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine (279kW and 580Nm).

Much like the Toyota Prius, the Cayenne Hybrid can either drive on electric motor or petrol motor seperately (or both together).

Porsche Parallel Full Hybrid Cayennes have a built in computer-controlled separator clutch that can manage power from the seperate motors. The car can also turn its petrol engine completely off when its “sailing” along without the need for accelerator input (at speeds of up to 156km/h).

The Porsche Cayenne is one of the models in the Porsche range that has at times rescued the German sportscar maker from financial troubles. The latest iteration of the Cayenne has made its debut at the Sydney Motor Show.

Porsche is bringing in five different variants, with the introduction of the new Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. Other variants includes Porsche Cayenne V6, Cayenne S, Cayenne S Turbo and Cayenne Diesel.

To top the range, the Cayenne Turbo makes use of a twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 that delivers an impressive 368kW. Nonetheless, Porsche argues that the focus on performance hasn’t overshadowed the company’s commitment to efficiency with all new Cayennes taking advantage of “Porsche Intelligent Performance”, which is a range of technologies put together to increase power whilst using less fuel.

The new Cayenne is lighter too, in the case of the Turbo it has lost a staggering 180kg whilst the rest of the range has lost at least 33kg just on the chassis alone.

To start the range the Porsche Cayenne V6 is powered by a 3.6-litre V6 delivering 224kW, diesel lovers will be able to pick the 3.0-litre V6 Cayenne Diesel (176kW, 550Nm) and in the middle sits the Cayenne S (298kW V8).

Range Rover

Evoque.

Not long after its debut at the Paris Motor Show, the smallest Range Rover ever, the Evoque, landed in Sydney.

The car goes on sale late in 2011. Evoque is set to cost around $62,500.

The Evoque will come with a choice of four-cylinder petrol and turbo-diesel engines. Front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions will be available

Land Rover’s Sydney stand featured the three-door version of the Evoque, which remains remarkably faithful to Land Rover’s stunning LRX concept. The company plans to launch both three-door and five-door Evoques next October.

Land Rover confirmed the three-door model, which it is calling a ‘cross coupe’, will carry a premium over the five-door. Australia’s entry-level Evoque will be a five-door model with two-wheel-drive, though Land Rover says higher-specification models will head towards the $100,000 price point.

Even the most affordable Evoque will be fitted with leather for the seats, door trims and dash, with plenty of features the company says will justify the higher price for what is essentially a compact soft-roader.

All-new Evoque will tackle its rivals – BMW X1 / X3 and Audi Q5 / Q3  ranges and hopes to become Land Rover’s biggest seller in Australia.  Supply from the UK is the only thing to hold them back.

“We’ve got to bid for production but the strong Australian dollar has helped – we’re a good profit margin country.”

Land Rover says the new Evoque will attract younger and more female buyers to the brand, and expects a 90 per cent conquest rate. The company says the vehicle will appeal to women because of its manageable size but says that in terms of styling execution the Evoque is designed to appeal to both genders

Renault

The French manufacturer is set to boost its presence Down Under yet again following the unveiling of several key new cars at the Sydney motor show. Renault unveiled its new Golf-fighting Megane hatch, the glass-topped Megane Coupe-Cabriolet , the new Fluence small sedan, and the hot hatch Renault Sport Megane 250 coupe.

Megane Trophy

Renault’s Megane Trophy, specially air-freighted from France for the event, heads a variety of race cars at AIMS. The mid-engined machine’s sleek lines were developed using aerodynamic lessons learnt in Formula 1.

Renault also made a show of its racing heritage, showing of an eye-catching race-ready V6-powered version of the Megane RS250 coupe.

The Megane is potentially the biggest arrival for the French brand, with the car likely to target Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf buyers.

Renault is looking into a range of diesel options for the local market, and says he hopes that the hatchback version of the Megane will have an oil-burner option by mid-2011.

Fluence

The brand’s new Fluence small sedan, which will take the place of the outgoing Megane sedan, was also on show at the Renault stand. The Fluence will wear the identical $25,990 driveaway price tag as the base-model Megane hatchback.

Latitude

The brand also sprung a bit of a surprise on showgoers, unveiling its new Camry-rivalling Latitude mid-sized sedan, which is set to replace the slightly smaller outgoing Laguna. Obviously the brand isn’t perturbed by the fact that larger cars are currently on the decline.

Subaru

Impreza WRX.

Ever since the current Impreza generation was launched in 2007, fans have decried the watered down looks of the WRX. With the latest update, Subaru is hoping to silence its critics.

The updated WRX features wider body panels that are also used on the top-of-the-range WRX STI model. Customers asked for a boxy soft-roader with a storming WRX engine, and the car maker delivers.

Forester

Subaru has rewarded its third-largest market in the world with a special treat – a hot version of its Forester soft-roader. The high powered Forester – today’s international reveal takes place a month before it even gets into Japanese showrooms.

On the surface it may look like a slightly tweaked version of the Forester XT Turbo, but underneath beats the heart of the WRX, a turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine developing 193kW of power and 347Nm of torque.

There’s mild suspension tweaks underneath to reflect the engine’s 24kW and 27Nm gain over its more pedestrian sibling. It will cost less than $4000 more than the range-topping XT Turbo Premium, despite a high level of standard equipment.

That means the Forester S will sell for just under $50,000 when it arrives in Australian showrooms later this year.

Suzuki

Kizashi Turbo

Sourced from Road Race Motorsports in North America, the Kizashi turbocharger boosts power from 131kW to 179kW and torque from 230Nm to 330Nm. Under the bonnet, a front strut tower brace has been added for extra rigidity. Brakes are also uprated.

Externally the ‘Concept Kizashi Turbo’ – as Suzuki Australia has labelled it – rides on 19-inch alloy wheels with 40-series low-profile tyres and gains a bootlid spoiler.

Suzuki Australia boss Tony Devers says if motor show interest for the turbocharged Kizashi is strong enough, they will advance the project for local sale.

Swift

Suzuki took the wraps from its all-new Swift compact hatchback in Sydney, ahead of its local launch in 2011.

Styling is evolutionary rather than revolutionary but the new Swift actually rides on an all-new chassis platform which delivers enhanced body rigidity and suspension mounts plus greater roll stiffness. Suzuki says this will deliver even sharper driving dynamics than the current high-standard model.

So far from launch, Suzuki Australia has not finalized local specifications and pricing, but local boss Tony Devers said every Swift will come with seven airbags, including side curtain airbags and drivers’ knee airbag. Combine that airbags package with standard ESP and the result is a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

“The development team’s motto for the new Swift was simple: ‘More Swift’,” Mr Devers said. “This motto encapsulated a development program aimed at evolving the Swift for more economy, more sportiness, more dynamism, more excellence and more fun.”

New Swift hits its fuel efficiency target but better economy is a waste, Suzuki say. Engine choices for the Swift are still to be confirmed but Devers expects the most economical version to return a figure around 5.8L/100km.

Asked whether the Swift, which will arrive in Australia early next year, would get a more fuel-efficient diesel engine, Devers says:

“The car is so fuel efficient, the benefits of having a diesel and having an extra model in your stock, in your inventory, you have to weigh up.  “If we believe there’s incremental volume in a diesel we’ll look at it, but right now the engine is so efficient.”

The new car is likely to carry a small premium over the current Swift, with a suggested starting price around $17,500 representing a $1200 premium over the current base model.

There will also be a Swift Sport model, which is set to arrive six months after the rest of the range. It will feature an upgraded engine for better performance and could have an automatic transmission, something missing from the current Sport model.

“We’re working on it feverishly. We’d love to put a GTI badge on it, but who knows?” Devers says.

“It will be more Sport than the current Sport. We haven’t seen it yet, but it (base model) is conducive to a more muscular car So we’ll see what they do with that. We can’t wait for that.”

Toyota

FT-86 G

Toyota, always a strong presence, has its exquisitely designed FT-86 G Sports Concept on display.

Beautifully proportioned, simply gorgeous, the FT-86 is tentatively scheduled for an Australian launch mid-2012.

Lexus CT200h.

With the regular CT200h having made its debut in Paris a few weeks ago, Lexus Australia had the honour of giving the F Sport version its worldwide debut as  Toyota’s luxury brand makes a concerted effort to boost its performance image.

The F Sport package doesn’t inject any more power into the CT200h’s hybrid drivetrain. So, while the combined power output from the 1.8-litre VVT-i four-cylinder petrol engine and rear-mounted electric-drive motor/generator stays at 100kW, the sportier version gains tweaked suspension, a more aggressive body kit, new alloy wheels and unique interior trim bits.

There are three driving modes available: eco, normal and sport. The latter not only improves steering feedback and drivetrain responsiveness, but it also lights up the instrument panel a sinister shade of red and replaces the drivetrain gauge with a tachometer.

The CT200h, which is powered by essentially the same drivetrain as the Toyota Prius, would open Lexus up to a new, younger audience and drive a substantial sales expansion. Pricing will start under $50,000.

The CT200h is intended to be one of Lexus’s three main volume models (alongside IS and RX), and they are looking for volume from this car.

Lexus promised the CT drive experience in production cars would be significantly improved from cars sampled in Europe this month by Australian media and criticised for poor ride and handling and excessive noise intrusion. “They drove prototype cars over in Europe that weren’t on our suspension,” he explained. “We have a lot of work to do to get the actual turning for the Australian market.

The CT200h is set for release in the first half of 2011

IS 350

Further emphasising the Lexus performance theme was the debut of the IS350, which also receives the F Sport treatment.

The IS350, which is powered by a 233kW 3.5-litre V6 engine, will be available in three model specifications, starting from $64,800.

It is expected that ” F Sport ”  will be able to go across every model in the Lexus range, it is a serious part of the global strategy for the growth of Lexus over time. Whilst only contributing niche volume for Lexus – it will be featured in thier marketing in order to help boost Lexus’s performance image.

LFA.

With just eight coming to Australia, and all now sold (at a price tag over $700,000), the motor show was one of the few chances to savour the sculptured lines of this V10-powered supercar.

There is a waiting list but no prospect of it being serviced.

.

FJ40

This retro styled FJ40 is set to hit the Australian market and take on the Jeep Wrangler.

Inspired from the original land cruisers from 40 years ago this retro jeep has had a significant makeover. With a white roof top standard and a slew of vibrant colours to choose from this new 4wd is fitting with Toyota’s revamped style.

Starting at $40,000 it will be interesting to see how this fairs in the Australian market with such bold styling.

Volkswagen & Skoda

The standout on Volkswagen’s stand is its new Amarok – due for launch in the first quarter of 2011. In a country that loves its utes and crew-cabs, this car is certain to shake up the sector.  It shared display honours on Volkswagen’s stand with the 132kW, seven-speed DSG as standard, Polo GTI. Next door, sister company Skoda pulled the covers of its anticipated Yeti.

Yeti

Arriving off the back of rampaging sales success in Europe, the cheeky but practical lines of the Yeti are sure to win hearts for the brand here.

It was last shown in concept form about two years ago, but the lack of an automatic transmission – particularly for its diesel engine – meant the manual-only version would have struggled to gain significant sales in Australia, where automatic gearboxes ac-count for most showroom throughput.

The mix of drivetrains introduced with the Yeti should help push the car to the volume seller in the Skoda line-up.

The Polo-sized luxury car goes on sale in early 2011 and will initially come with just one engine (a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine), with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

An all-wheel-drive 103kW 2.0-litre diesel version is expected to mate to a six-speed dual-clutch auto or six-speed manual gearbox, while a front-drive turbo petrol version – possibly the 77kW 1.4-litre four-cylinder – will use either a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox or six-speed manual.

The Yeti is based on the same platform as Volkswagen’s Tiguan soft-roader, and carries over much of the Tiguan’s clever use of interior space. However, the Yeti goes a step further, including removable rear seats that turn the Yeti’s interior into – for want of better words – a cave.

Skoda reckons it is about to monster the compact car segment with its Yeti five-door hatch, but its attack will soon swing to a new market segment -mid-size cars.

Skoda Australia head Matthew Wiesner said the launch of the Yeti, a boxy sub-$30,000 hatchback that from mid next year should sell in Australia with both front or all-wheel drive grip, would free the Czech car maker up to focus on other gaps in the market.

Amarok

Expect to see this great looking 4wd utility early next year.

With VW’s awesome diesel capabilities the Amarok will definitely give its competitors a run for their money.

Although hardcore tradies will be put off by the brand, the fuel consumption and pulling power will have a lot of those in the segment considering the move to Amarok.

When we launched the vehicle we put it in as a support vehicle at Dakar and every single vehicle finished. No more needs to be said.

“In the markets where the Amarok has already launched in South America are some of the roughest and rugged in the world there haven’t been issues… While this is a new ute people forget we have been in the ute market for years with T1s and T2s and T3s.”

In Sydney VW confirmed a line-up of crew-cab, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and turbo- diesel, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive Amaroks. They will go on-sale in March.

Pricing is described as “competitive” against the established Japanese opposition such as the Toyota Hi-Lux and Nissan Navara.

About 12 months later a single cab and automatic transmission options will go on-sale.

The availability of the petrol engine at launch was unexpected, as is VW’s decision to offer a light-duty version of Amarok in a class where heavy-duty 4WD rules.

“In this segment it’s no longer a case of catering for off-road four-wheel driving alone,” Clarke explained. “Many people in this segment now drive on-road only. So all-wheel drive gives us safety and gives us what we believe the market wants.”

VW is holding back many specific details of Amarok equipment until the media launch in February, but it is expected it will be offered in three specification levels; a utilitarian base model and the increasingly well-appointed Trendline and Highline. All will include stability control and at least four airbags.

Golf

Also making their Australian debut on the Sydney stand were two rounds of Golf: an Adidas-branded GTI that brings some extra visual goodies for driving enthusiasts and a BlueMotion diesel hatch that offers frugal motoring (3.8L/100km) for those who prefer a bank counter to a rev counter.

Polo GTi

VW Australia also displayed its new Polo GTI, which launches later this year with a 132kW 1.4-litre supercharged/turbocharged engine that’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto.

The new baby GTI is expected to cost close to $30,000

.

Volvo

S60

The now Chinese-owned manufacturer revealed its most stunning model yet, the new S60 sedan (and the wagon version won’t be far behind.)

Volvo says the S60 sedan is the first “naughty” and “sexy” car they’ve made, and that it will compete against the likes of BMW’s 3-Series, Audi’s A4, and Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class when it goes on sale in December.

The new V60 wagon will follow the brand’s current pricing strategy, and will likely sit about $3000 higher than its equivalent S60 sedan models, which will be priced from $51,950 for the entry-level petrol model.

“The intention was to really get together and create a very exciting wagon,” he says. “But not just simply take the sedan concept and say ‘right, we’re going to turn it into a wagon’, we’ve actually developed a wagon specifically – and that’s the exciting part.

“You’ve got the driveability of the sedan, but, of course, the versatility of the wagon,” he says, talking of Volvo’s move away from boxy station wagons to more sleek, stylish models.

The V60, like the S60 sedan, will initially be available with a choice of turbo petrol and turbo diesel engines.

Supercar Central – Desirables Section

.

Bufori

Bufori La Joya

Bufori were once again present at the AIMS with the handcrafted Bufori La Joya at the Super Car Central

Hulme

CanAm Supercar

The internationally-acclaimed Hulme CanAm supercar was definitley one of the star attractions at the Show where it made its local debut.

The radical two-seater is hand-built in New Zealand and is powered by a 7.0-litre Chevrolet V8 engine which generates 447kW of power and 600Nm of torque.

Hulme’s CanAm offers purists the chance to get up close to a pure-bred supercar which accelerates from 0-100km/h in less-than 3.5 seconds.

Named after late New Zealand racing driver and 1967 Formula 1 World Champion, Denny Hulme, the mid-engined car is designed to be driven on both race tracks and public roads.

Hulme Supercars managing director and project coordinator Jock Freemantle believes the CanAm’s appearance will excite car lovers and motorsport fans alike.

It is beautifully engineered, remarkably powerful and is a real testament to the people who have poured so much time into making this car a reality. It is also a great way to show all the Aussies just what the Kiwis can do

The CanAm nameplate was chosen to honour Hulme’s two Canadian-American Challenge Cup (CanAm) championships in 1968 and 1970.

Hulme’s distinctive orange CanAm race cars were prepared by fellow Kiwi ace Bruce McLaren. The modern day Hulme is painted a similar colour called ‘Hulme Orange’ in deference to these championship-winning cars.

Koenigsegg

CCX  –  Scuderia Graziani

The Only One In The Southern Hemisphere.   Price: $2.2M

Koenigsegg Manufactures Exclusive Super Sport Cars For A Select Elite Of Enthusiasts.  Space Age Materials & Uncompromising Quality Both In Finish & Function Make These Cars Among The Very Best. They Reach Higher Top Speeds & Are More Powerful Than Any Other Series-Produced Car Today.  The Ultimate Super Car – For The Elite Only.

Walkinshaw

MK2

Walkinshaw Performance celebrated a company milestone at the Show in Sydney by unveiling a new vehicle with a unique list of limited-edition enhancements.

The small production run celebrates the 23rd anniversary of the unveiling of the original Walkinshaw at the 1987 Sydney International Motor Show – the precursor to AIMS. The new model, dubbed Walkinshaw Performance Supercar Mk2, will be limited to a production run of just 23 units.

“But we wanted to really celebrate our heritage and perhaps even the ‘birth’ of the modern day ‘Walky’ by bringing together a package of brand new enhancements all backed by the WP warranty.”

“Our limited-edition pack will showcase a range of new and unique Walkinshaw Performance enhancements, featuring something very special under the bonnet, a new suspension upgrade, audio upgrade, brake and wheel package, and much more,” Mr Harris said.

Each Supercar Mk2 will receive a specially-created WP build number and certificate of authenticity.

Series II supercar

An Edelbrock supercharged engine Walkinshaw Performance has unleashed a radical 460kW supercharged V8-powered Commodore it’s calling the Series II Supercar.

The Series 2 Supercar is based on the updated Commodore Series 2, complete with a central touchscreen

Walkinshaw WP Series II Supercar (fitted with an Edelbrock E Force supercharger), transforms the radical Walkinshaw Series II Supercar that celebrates the 23rd anniversary of Tom Walkinshaw’s involvement in modified Holdens on a Commodore SS-V, the Walkinshaw Series II Supercar has modifications to suspension, brakes and its bi-modal exhaust.

But it’s under the bonnet where most of the work has taken place.

The 6.0-litre V8 engine has been fitted with a supercharged designed by respected Californian-based company Edelbrock.

“It’s so refined,” said Walkinshaw Performance CEO Craig Wilson, who says there’s very little of the supercharger whine often associated with such high powered aftermarket upgrades.

“The package is the result of hundreds of hours of testing, refinement and discussions between the WP team and our suppliers to bring to market a truly unique product”.

From the outside, the look is restrained, with a mild carbon fibre lip spoiler, carbon fibre wing mirrors and a prominent bonnet bulge in keeping with the original Walkinshaw Commodore, produced by sister company HSV.

It has also been painted in the original Panaroma Silver colour of the 1987 HSV Walkinshaw.

Priced from $117,000 just 23 examples of the Walkinshaw Series II Supercar will be produced

Attendances

The 2010 Australian International Motor Show attracted its second-lowest crowd attendance on record, prompting a review of the alternating events between Sydney and Melbourne. Only 3000 extra people showed up this year compared to when the show was last held in Sydney two years ago — well short of the pent-up demand organisers were expecting. The tally of just 139,412 show-goers for the 2010 event is only a fraction more than the 136,557 attendees recorded for 2008.

However, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries says the way that show attendance is calculated has changed, and the 2008 figure includes complimentary and exhibitor passes. As a result, it says the 2010 tally is actually 10 per cent higher than 2008 — once like-for-like figures are compared.

The FCAI also says the 2010 event had one less day of trading (10 days instead of 11 in 2008).

However, regardless of how it is calculated, the 2010 attendance is much lower than the peak of 244,658 visitors to the show in 2007 and 221,640 in 2006.

“It’s certainly not back to the glory days of years past but it is a step in the right direction,” the chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Andrew McKellar, told the Carsales Network. “We recorded growth despite having one less day compared to 2008.”

One theory for the weak Sydney attendance this year is the no-show by drawcard brands such as Ferrari, BMW, Bentley, Rolls-Royce (as well as fellow absentees Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Fiat, among others), and the lack of concept cars from local makers and few top-end supercars from foreign makers.

Another theory is that car buyers are now shopping more online.

“Customers don’t need to go to a motor show to compare cars any more, they do their research on the internet,” said one senior car company executive. “Unless the motor show has something different, something people can’t get anywhere else, why would they turn up?”

“Concept cars are a factor,” says McKellar. “You’ve got to keep in mind that a lot of car makers have not produced many concept cars since the Global Financial Crisis, but we think that will change in the coming years as everyone recovers.

“It’s also worth noting that a lot of other recent international shows have had a weaker attendance of car makers than we had in Sydney. So I think overall the level of investment by car makers in Sydney was very impressive.”

Most car makers spend between $1 million and $2 million on the motor show, including space, stand and staff hire — and expect a lot in return.

“We’ve calculated that we need at least 200,000 people through the turnstiles to make it worth our while,” said a car company insider. “The only reason we go is because, mostly, everybody else goes but we would be quite happy to use the money to target customers more specifically.”

Several key car company figures are disgruntled that some suggestions made prior to the show were not taken up. “We asked for family passes that included parking, [and] discounted passes that we could send to our customers,” another senior executive told the Carsales Network, “but instead the price of admission went up and so did the price of our stand space.”

The Sydney motor show is a significant source of revenue for the FCAI and VACC. The FCAI is understood to have made a loss from the 2008 event and was looking to recoup those losses this year.

The outlook for the Melbourne motor show in July 2011 at least seems a little more promising. Last year’s Melbourne event had 160,000 visitors and 243,000 the year before.

Sydney motorshow attendance figures:

2010: 139,412

2008: 136,557

2007: 244,658

2006: 221,640

Melbourne motorshow attendance figures:

2009: 160,000

2008: 243,000

The Italian supercar maker Ferrari heads the list of absentees that also includes Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, BMW, Bentley and Mini.  Motoring fans will miss out on seeing the Ferrari 458 Italia, Mini’s new Countryman SUV and the Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Executives from the missing brands have blamed the high cost of setting up and staffing a stand, which can run to $1 million or more for the 10-day show.

“It’s definitely not a cheap exercise,” said Dean Banthorne, spokesman for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep.

Ateco Automotive, importers of Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Citroen, will have a stand only for Maserati. “A stand is a very complex thing,” its spokesman, Edward Rowe, said. “It’s almost a house without a roof. It has to have water and power for catering.”

The high costs drove the decision to alternate the Australian International Motor Show between Sydney and Melbourne. But still not all brands believe it offers enough return on investment.

Rowe said that newer, bigger dealerships have become a better way to attract customers, especially to niche brands. Ateco recently spent $32 million on a new Ferrari and Maserati dealership in Waterloo. An example of the 458 Italia is on display in the showroom.

“We have 12 months to sell cars, not just the month around a particular motor show,” he said. “You could say the motor show has moved into the dealerships. The motor show is now 365 days a year.”.

Some Facts

■   Motor Shows attract the largest audiences for indoor exhibitions in Australia with average attendances approaching 250,000 visitors.

■   Males accounted for over 70% of all Motor Show patrons.

■   Over 36% of visitors to the Motor Show are aged under 30 years with 22% aged over 60 years.

■   Over 60% of patrons surveyed intend to visit the next Motor Show.

■   The proportion of patrons attending the Motor Show for the purpose of gathering information prior to making a vehicle purchase decision is approximately 36%.

■   Females attending the Motor Show are more likely to attend the show for the purpose of gathering information prior to making a vehicle purchase decision.

■   Over 300 semi trailer loads of equipment is required to build exhibitor stands for the Motor Show.

■   Over 450 people work on site during the Move-In to get the Motor Show built. These include riggers, electricians, tilers, carpenters, sound and lighting engineers and plumbers.

■   Around 150 mobile phones are found in and around the Motor Show during public days.

■   Almost 8km of staging truss for lighting grids and 65km of electrical cable is used in the construction of exhibitor stands and set up of audio visual equipment.

■   Over 23,000sqm of floating floor and carpet used in the exhibition.

■   Approximately 400 motor vehicles will be displayed when the Show is completed!