Melbourne Motor Show: video wrap

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23 February 2009

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Melbourne Motor Show wrap
by Paul Gover

Supermodels and colourful supercars blew the grey clouds away from the Australian motor industry yesterday.

A sales slump and gloomy profit forecasts were forgotten as more than

$15 million worth of shiny new cars, from exotic dream machines to tiny city runabouts, was unveiled at the opening of the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show.

There were more than 20 newcomers on the show stands, from the Audi Q5 SUV and BMW's smooth new Z4 coupe-convertible to the family-focussed Subaru Exiga wagon.

The lineup at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre is a reflection of the diversity and complexity of the Australian motoring scene, as well as the commitment from companies to push ahead despite the global economic uncertainty.

"I wouldn't say the mood is exactly optimistic, but there is great resilience. There are a lot of good news stories here," the former head of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, John Conomos, said.

The three Australian carmakers all had important newcomers, from the Holden Cruze and Toyota Prius hybrid to the updated Ford Territory, but they resisted the temptation for an over-the-top splash.

"This show is about much more than cars, it's about Holden's future,"

said company chairman, Mark Reuss.

"We could easily have shown you a wild concept or show car, but this is not the show for that. Today it's about providing real solutions."

Holden used the show to also make another value push with its Commodore sedan and Sportwagon, introducing an 'International' value pack.

The show is also the last in Melbourne until 2011, as a joint-venture deal has recently been struck which will see an all-new Australian Motor Show alternating with Sydney from 2010.

"We are expecting a good turnout. There is a lot to see and people are still interested in cars," said show boss, Russ Tyrie of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce.

The motor show runs each day until Monday, March 9.

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 7 comments

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As I had expected, attendance had slumped to 160,000 from the previous 243,000 last year. Some of those attendance were journalists and officials who had free entry.

Tony Posted at 11 March 2009 6:42pm

i went on saturday and thought it was the best experience of my life i ove the new bmw and the lotus elise and all the other sport cars totaly worth the entry price.=}

andi Posted at 03 March 2009 11:38am

I went on Sunday (my 3rd visit in a row since moving to Melbourne) and must admit I was bored. I could have saved $19 by going to my local magic mile & perusing the showrooms. This was no better than reading The Herald Sun - a tabloid with no substance that pretends to be a newspaper. I totally agree with Peter or Brisbane about everything but his last point - there was not even any skimpyness - only on my hotdog... For those talking of job losses are you saying people can not dream? Maybe $10 is a more realistic entry price...

Jason Alexander of Melbourne Posted at 02 March 2009 7:07pm

Went to the Melbourne car show this year and I have to say...worst in a very, very long time. Lacked it's usual vibrance and the cars, you'd have to say are becoming clones of each other. Gone are the days where you can pop the hood to 'see what she's got' as many of my old matchbox cars have more detail under the bonnet than all the new cars do. Had a more enjoyable time looking at the old cars in the lobby i.e the "free area"

Tim W of Brisbane Posted at 02 March 2009 4:19pm

I do not understand the concept of a motor show. As I understand it, the people who are going to buy new cars have to pay to see them, or am I missing something? Or is it the joy of crowds of people jostling for a car park, fighting heavy traffic, seeing cars that will never get into production, that you cannot touch and are hard to see because there are crowds in front of you. Or is it the bad food and bad toilets? I know! It is the chicks in skimpy clothing.....

Peter or Brisbane of Australia Posted at 01 March 2009 10:43am

Today (26/2/09), Lend Lease announced 1700 job cuts and Boart Longyear announced 2000 job cuts. A few more announcements like these and a motor show would be irrelevant for more people.

Tony Posted at 26 February 2009 1:51pm

The organisers can expect whatever they like, but if people choose not to attend, ticket sales will be low. In recent months, there have been almost daily news of job losses (1,850 job losses at Pacific Brands on 25/2/09). If more job losses are announced over the next few days as well, will people go to a motor show at $19 per adult? We will find out by the end of next week.

Tony Posted at 25 February 2009 8:16pm

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