Australian International Motor Show

The Paris Motor Show was just two weeks back and that show highlighted a bunch of very desirable super cars, all glamour, all exotic and all expensive. The Australian International Motors Show (AIMS) in Sydney recently couldn't have been more different. The world debuts of two 'Utes' (that’s Oz-speak for pick-up trucks) - one from Ford and the other from Mazda - was significant in that such debuts also put the AIMS on the map for future important launches.

The new Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50 are important releases in a market where every once in a while, the Toyota Hilux even topples the top-selling Commodore from the No. 1 spot. But the real significance is the fact that Ford gave its Australian arm the contract to develop the Ranger. This new one-tonne pick-up will be sold in over 130 countries and built in Thailand and is destined, according to Ford's boss Alan Mulally, to become one of the world's top-selling vehicles.

VW showed off its Amarok for the first time in Australia. It’s likely to be sold as a premium load-lugger and with Toyota showing off its Hilux that the Top Gear team took to the frozen Arctic, it showed that Sydney's show was much more down to earth than the glamour of Paris. Oh, and Toyota also showed off its FJ Land Cruiser that pays tribute to a Land Cruiser from way back. Trouble is, those (like me) old enough to remember the original have just one question: the original was never this massive, was it?
 

 

Unlike the editor, I am not a big fan of SUVs, whether large, medium or small but the Evoque...well, this is different. Looks great, has a style that makes BMW's X6 look even more silly and is bound to be a best-seller. And there's a 5-door to come next year too.

Among the passenger cars, Ford showed off their new supercharged V8 engines in the new Falcon GT (449 bhp) while those wanting something smaller could look at the Focus RS, all 300 bhp of it (only 315 will be imported). Holden only recently updated its Commodore range and the Cruze hatchback was on display (it was designed by Holden). Holden will be building the Cruze range next year with the hatch joining towards the second half of 2011.
 

 

Interestingly, we have come to expect really special concept car surprises from Holden and waited to see the surprise behind the huge curtain. But the reveal was somewhat disappointing as it was the Chevro...er...Daew...Holden Barina Spark, a tiny, entry into the light car market. It doesn't look too bad but the interior looks and feels really cheap and the idea of hiding a door handle in the C-pillar may be cute - if you are Alfa Romeo - but silly in this sector, especially when the approach looks so dreary.

Mercedes-Benz played with the re-introduction of the G-Class by AMG and speaking of AMG, there was also the new SLS "Gullwing' Blackbird and the C63 Jaffa. Loads of power, of course, but loads of cash is also needed to own and maintain them. Jaguar was also there with the strikingly attractive XJ and XKR while Lexus showed us its LFA supercar - all eight cars allocated to Australia are already sold  at A$700,000 each.

One car that looked a little forlorn in a separate section of the Darling Harbour exhibition hall was the Hulme CanAm. This is quite a spectacular looking mean machine. The idea of the Hulme is to provide its driver with an 'as-near-as-possible' F1 driving experience. Hand-made in New Zealand, it has a Chevrolet LS7 V8 with some 600 bhp and weighs just 980 kgs. There is an expected run of just 20 cars at first and if you have the cash –at least NZ$5 million - you will get the chance to drive it at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2011/2012.                                                                                                 
[by PH Cheah]

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