Month: March 2009

MIMS 2009 – BMW

In his last address at an Australian motor show Guenther Seemann, Managing Director of BMW Group Australia, presented one of the most stunning concept cars ever made. The BMW M1 Hommage. Just look at it! It is stunning.

Seemann announced he would be moving up the corporate ladder to the position of regional director for the sales region Asia, Pacific and South Africa. He has been replaced by Australian born Stavros Yallouridis. See the BMW website for more.

The other highlight for BMW was the local reveal of the all-new Z4. The new roadster is set to kick more goals for BMW with its appealing looks and classic sportscar styling.

The new Z4 will be seen on Australian roads in May and pricing begin with the sDrive23i model at $86,200. Two other models complete the Australian Z4 range, the sDrive30i priced from $98,100, and the sDrive35i priced from $116,900.

Audio from the presentation is accessible below, and more pics and the Z4 press release are all yours after the jump.

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

Audi

MIMS 2009 – Audi

Audi’s presentation was easily the best on offer during the media day at the Melbourne International Motor Show. Managing Director Joerg Hofmann’s banter with newsreader Sandra Sully was just on the right side of smooth. If they pushed it a bit further it would have been twee and over the top, but, they saved it. Just.

While the RS6 Sedan was on display, and the R8, of course, along with all the other nice shiny models that Audi makes, it was the all-new Q5 that was the star of the show. Well, except for Kate Ceberano who still has a great voice. Oh, and Jennifer Hawkins, too, whose piercing blue eyes certainly attracted the attention of the media throng.

So, anyway, back to the Q5. Audi’s smallest SUV and close to the best looking SUV on the market (especially when fitted with the S line body kit), regardless of segment, will be in Audi showrooms nationwide from next weekend. Pricing starts at $59,900.

See more on Audi’s display below, along with more pics of the Q5 and Jennifer Hawkins!

The full media presentation has been captured in MP3 format and can be accessed below. This is a bit longer than the other clips presented from the show to date. The audio includes Kate Ceberano’s jingle and runs for a touch over 11 and a half minutes.

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

Motor Shows Nissan

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