Star cars line up for 2009 Melbourne Motor Show

3 February 2009 · posted by Staff

Star cars from around the world are lining up to make their Australian debuts – and at least one global debut – at the Melbourne Motor Show which opens on 27 February.
The 75th Melbourne Motor Show is the only major motor show to be staged in Australia in 2009, and global car companies are making the most of it.

BMW heads the list of exhibitors which are taking extra space to show off their latest models.
Its M1 Homage show car will be the star of a dazzling two-stand display which makes BMW the biggest exhibitor at this year’s Show, along with several still-secret production BMW models.

Show organisers have calculated that the local and global brands on show represent 94.7 per cent of Australia’s total car sales.

Among the stars already confirmed are the new Lexus RX350, Lotus Evora, Bentley Speed and Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder. Volkswagen and Lexus are also mounting their biggest-ever show stands, while Holden retains its status as the biggest single-stand exhibitor.

Among those that are yet to be revealed are the latest in hybrids, luxury saloons, thrifty diesels, sports cars and family wagons from Australia, Asia, Europe and North America.

At least one manufacturer is planning a mid-show global model launch synchronised with the Geneva Auto Salon, which opens a week after Melbourne.

As always, a highlight for old-car enthusiasts will be the Shannons Motor Show Auction display, this year featuring a rare 1914 Rauch & Lang electric car from the era when electrics outnumbered petrol cars – a time which may yet come again.

Melbourne International Motor Show runs from 27 February to 9 March at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and is organised and promoted by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce through its dealer division the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic).

Top automotive marques from Europe, Asia and Australia have confirmed their bookings for the 75th annual Melbourne Motor Show from 27 February to 9 March.

Whereas other shows have cancelled or scaled down for 2009, Melbourne Motor Show will fill the Melbourne Exhibition Centre as it has each year since the Centre opened in 1996.

Motor Show director Russ Tyrie said exhibitor bookings for 2009 reflected the desire of many major brands to showcase their cars at a major metropolitan motor show.

“Exhibitor interest proves that many major marques are taking a positive view of our automotive future, despite the tough times of recent months,” he said.

“BMW and Volkswagen have taken extra space this year, which reflects the traditional desire of manufacturers to show their latest models to more than 200,000 people in a single event.

“We still have a few potential exhibitors to be confirmed, but those already booked in will ensure a first-rate show for dedicated car enthusiasts and prospective car buyers alike.”

Heading the list of high performance and top-end luxury marques are Porsche, Lamborghini, Lotus and Bentley.

Prestige European brands include Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Renault, Skoda and a strong German contingent comprising Audi, BMW and Volkswagen.

Ford, Holden and Toyota represent the local industry, while the ever-growing contingent of Asian brands includes, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu Ute, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Suzuki.

Melbourne International Motor Show is organised and promoted by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce through its dealer division the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic).

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