BANGKOK: -- A record number of orders are expected to be placed at this year's Thailand International Motor Expo, to be held at Challenger Hall, Muangthong Thani, from Friday to December 10.
Event organiser Kwanchai Paphatphong says the government's First Car Buyer Programme will continue to boost the auto market.
"The Motor Expo will serve as an important meeting place for auto buyers and sellers," he said.
The expo each time serves as the last car-buying event of the year, and auto companies often launch new models and offer highly attractive campaigns in order to maximise sales before the year ends.
A total of 38 automobile and nine motorcycle brands are participating this year, and as much as 50,000 orders are expected to be placed.
More than Bt55 billion is expected to be generated by the Motor Expo, and 1.6 million visitors, up from last year's 1.3 million, are expected.
"This year's Motor Expo will feature four future technologies, which are convenience, efficiency, safety and eco-friendly, and goes in harmony with our theme," he said.
The theme of this year's Motor Expo is "Meet Tomorrow's Cars Today".
"There is also a large number of highlights, including concept vehicles, that will be on show. A large number of automobile manufacturers will also be introducing new products," Kwanchai said.
Among the auto brands participating are Audi, BMW, Brabus, Chevrolet, Citroen, Deva, DFSK, Ford, Grand Carryboy, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Mitsuoka, MTM, Nissan, Peugeot, Proton, Ruf, Sammitr Green Power, Skoda, Ssangyong, Subaru, Suzuki, Tata, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo and Wiesman. Motorcycle brands include Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Triumph, Benalli, Keeway, Ducati, UDA and Racing Boy.
CONCEPT VEHICLES AT THE EXPO
The HED-8 is the latest hybrid concept car from Hyundai, designed by the European Research and Development Centre of Hyundai in Germany. It was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show this year and will be unveiled across Asean at the Motor Expo 2012. HED-8 was designed under the concept of "Modern Premium". It is a compact (C-segment) modern luxury 4-seater sports coupe that focuses on aerodynamics with a "penthouse roof". It features LED headlights and large sports doors that swing open upwards. The HED-8's 1.0-litre three-cylinder gasoline engine produces a maximum power of 61hp plus another 109hp from an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. In gasoline-electric hybrid mode, the HED-8 has a range of 700km with CO2 emissions of only 45g/km. Meanwhile, the range in EV mode is a respectable 120km. The top speed of the hybrid concept is 145 km/h.
The Shinari is a 4-door sports concept sedan in the style of a coupe, developed under the "Kodo - Soul of Motion" design concept. The Shinari was first shown to the media at the Design Forum in Milan in 2010, and made its first public debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show that year. Shinari gained widespread admiration due to its modern and outstanding design. Mazda engineers dedicated exhausting hours in designing the vehicle, which is "influenced by the power that exists in nature, the graceful movements of wild animals, the swift movement of the cheetah while pouncing on a prey, and the fast and powerful movements of a kendo fighter".The interior is sporty with four bucket seats for a comfortable journey and a cockpit-like layout of instruments, controls and seating for the driver.
Though employing the same technology as the Nissan Leaf - the world's first mass-produced family electric car - the Esflow concept is a RWD two-seater electric sports coupe, with truly sporty performance while retaining eco-friendliness. A generous glass area from the wrap-around windscreen and extended side windows back to the rear pillars gives the car a transparent look as well as good forward visibility. The proportions and lines of the new Esflow, especially its long nose, apparently share a lot of the DNA with the old Fairlady Z classic. The chassis is made from light-weight aluminium. Twin electric motors, mounted above the axis of the rear wheels in a mid-ship position, independently control the rear left and right wheels and produce enough torque for the Esflow to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in under 5 seconds.
Tata Megapixel
Developed by Tata design centres in India, the UK and Italy, the Megapixel concept is a small four-seater electric city car for the mega city, with an onboard petrol engine generator to recharge its lithium-ion phosphate battery on the move, enabling a range of up to 900km with a single tank of fuel. Hence the moniker "REEV" (Range Extended Electric Vehicle). CO2 emissions are just 22g/km and fuel economy is a staggering 100 km/litre under a combined driving mode.The integrated lamp and grille of the Megapixel sweep back over the front wheel arches to render a dynamic front end. Entry/exit is easy thanks to its double-sliding door system and B-pillar-less design. The car's electric drive has four independent electric motors, one at each wheel. When parking, the motors drive the wheels in opposite directions, while the front wheels can be turned nearly at right angles, enabling a remarkable 2.8-metre turning radius.
PRODUCTION VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Honda's latest eco-car (the 10th model that the company has launched this year) comes in four-door body style and is powered by the same 90hp 1.2-litre engine. Prices range from Bt454,000 to Bt521,000.
The Range Rover has long been considered the most capable production vehicle in the world, and this is the fourth-generation model. It has an all-aluminium monocoque structure, which is a first for an SUV body that helps to reduce the vehicle's weight by 420kg compared to its predecessor. The 4.4-litre V-8 turbo diesel engine produces 339hp.
Subaru has finally launched the XV crossover, which is based on the Impreza sedan. The XV is made in Malaysia and exported to Thailand under the AFTA, in order to keep prices competitive. The XV is powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC Subaru boxer (horizontally opposed) engine mated to a new CVT automatic transmission.
Nissan is actively expanding its product line-up in Thailand and has unveiled the all-new Pulsar five-door hatchback, which would be officially launched next year. The Pulsar, featuring a "sports emotional" theme, comes with LED front and rear lights, and engine choices of 116hp 1.6-litre (HR16DE) or 131hp 1.8-litre (MRA8DE), each with a dual injector system mated to a CVT automatic transmission.
The new A-Class will be drawing a large number of new and younger customers to the Mercedes-Benz booth. The A250 AMG Sport, priced at Bt2.49 million, is powered by a 211hp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with as much as 350Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 6.6 seconds and the top speed is claimed to be 240km/h. The normally aspirated A180, meanwhile, gets 122hp from a 1.8-litre engine and is priced at Bt1.89 million.
The Amarok is the most expensive pickup truck sold in Thailand, retailing at approximately Bt1.8 million. It comes with a 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo TDI engine capable of producing 177hp and 420Nm, and is mated to an 8-speed ZF transmission. It also comes with the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system along with ABS brakes and Electronic Stability Programme.
The beefed-up Audi R8 roadster has a 5.2-litre V-10 direct-injection engine that has been modified to increase power from 560 to 606hp, driving all wheels to accelerate the car from 0-100km/h in 3.7 secs and reaching a top speed of 325km/h.
The RUF RT 35 Anniversary commemorates the 35th anniversary of the German tuner. It is powered by a twin-turbo twin-intercooler 3.8-litre flat-six engine producing 630hp of max power and 833Nm of torque. It comes with 20-inch wheels (8.5 front and 11.0 rear).
Credit : Kingsley Wijayasinha The Nation
