The first thing I saw as I walked in was the little Suzuki Jimny; an undersized 4WD designed to avoid tax in Japan and look ugly while doing it. Released here soon? Dunno ... don't care ... Am I excited yet?
The next step was the Mercedes stand. Actually, I was uncharacteristically impressed with Mercedes; they had their brand new S-Class open for anybody to get in and have a squiz - something sadly missing at many other stands. The new S-class is nice enough for a big Mercedes, although they seem to have made those expensive alloys look like chromed steelies. Probably more relevant to me was the just-released A-class but I must admit a liking for that 225kW V8-powered small C-class C43 Estate!
Over at Toyota, they didn't have anything new so they produced a "CarE For The Earth" theme. The new Corolla has been everywhere elsewhere for ages, and all that was really new was the Camry Touring with locally tuned suspension (and no doubt a real hoot to drive). The attached Lexus stand also unveiled the BMW-competitor IS200; quite nice - and if that 2 litre engine does put out something near 150kW, it should be great - albeit expensive.
Mitsubishi...
"Know anything about the changes to low-volume import laws? Is the rumour I heard about turbo Galant VR4's being brought in true?"
"Dunno."
"Ok. Bye."
And Mitsubishi wasn't alone in having the new releases already announced, leaving little of interest. Subaru couldn't tell me anything about the upcoming 200-odd-kW Australian STi Imprezas, for example. And Daihatsu had a nice looking stand, but a 1.0 litre Sirion with bodykit is not my cuppa (despite the fact that they seem to be selling well in the city).
Now, Hyundai ... the Coupé convertible had been seen before, and that iridescent silvery pink is, erm, eyecatching. But the XG was their centrepiece - and isn't it an ugly mutha? Maybe Hyundai has decided 'ugly' is better than 'bland' for the XG, just like the Sonata? 130kW isn't exactly startling out of a 3 litre engine, but I suppose if you're riding in the back you only see luxurious leather and woodwork...
I'd seen almost everything at the BMW stand before, but then again a lot of it is pretty impressive. Their podium was dominated by the new $375,000(!) stretched L7 flagship (just look at the interior!). Also interesting were the 236kW M Roadster and M Coupé; doesn't matter how many times you've seen pictures, they look just so muscular in person!
Bentley and Rolls Royce were, as always, understated and elegant with a snobby "begone, underling" air. But that twin-turbo 4.4 BMW V8 looks so purposeful it seems sad to limit such an impressive drivetrain to those who can afford the interior and badge.
Lotus is carving out a nice niche with the 88kW Elise go-kart. I can't explain why this swoopy little car does it for me, but the 100kW "Sport 140" version is even nicer 'cos you know it's faster, even if there's no real external indication of its extra prowess.
[Click here to see the Lotus undressed.]
Mazda's move to dull cheap cars was pretty well highlighted. The still-stunning RX-7 was shown in what is probably its swan-song special edition, featuring similar mods to the SP of a few years ago. Their next most stylish car was a 121 (Demio), featuring a joke of a spoiler kit! Mazdas used to feel so solid - now you close the door on a new 323 Astina and the metallic 'clang' sounds no more serious than the cheapest Excel. The big MV-X people mover (in the mould of a Voyager but with Ford's New Edge styling) is something new I suppose, but it didn't set me alight.
Volkswagen used the Motor Show to preview the soon-to-be-released Golf-in-a-Beetle-suit. In person it looks even more like the old Bug. The Golf GTi has the Recaro interior but the price of these cars in Australia (for what is basically a German Corolla) is a little over the top. Actually, VW-owned Seat seems to have done something a little more exciting - the VW-based Ibiza has a useful sub-A$30k price and the 110kW GTi motor...
Ford was showcasing their relatively new AU Falcon with a raced-up XR8. Maybe of more interest was the Couger coupe, which managed to look both different and yet still quite nice. Ute lovers might've got off on the Sandfire, based on the V8 XR8 but in bright yellow and with louder front and rear treatments. But surely everyone must've just laughed at the jacked-up Courier ute with roo-shooting spotties?
But Ford's real wrecker at the show was the Holden Commodore coupé. This thing is really, really smooth. The photos don't do it justice and with what is essentially the Corvette motor in it, it would be a helluva Sports GT. I'd say it's nicer than a GTV or C70, and if I were able to forget the badges, I'd have to say it's more classy than even a Jag XKR or XK8.
And since the Commodore sedan is designed for LHD, I can't see why they couldn't market the coupé in the USA.
Alfa Romeo is being welcomed back to Australia by the Alfisti, and looking at the 156, GTV and Spider in person, you can see why. That V6 is definitely the masterpiece that has been reported, with shiny chrome-look runners yet still looking modern. Alfa lovers here are used to the dodgy quality that chased Alfa out of Australia, but these new cars look and feel well built while not losing any Alfa charm.
Proton - there's a giggle. I suppose they're passingly cheap, and people did buy the Lancer when it was being better assembled in Japan five or six years ago... If the displayed convertible version of the Satria was released cheaply enough they'd sell heaps, but it wouldn't stop me sniggering to myself when I saw the young, beautiful and motoring-impaired in one.
Ahh, all over for another year. Now I've got to go home, mull over the cars I can't afford and try to get over it until next year ...
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