After having witnessed the worldwide debut of the new LandCruiser, along with a number of other world firsts including the Holden Sportwagon and the FPV F6 X, it's time for another world first at the 2007 Australian International Motor show - the Volkswagen Touareg R50:
10:27am: It's Touareg time and the R50 SUV takes pride of place on the stand. It's quite a sight, with a sporty new look and a retuned twin turbo V10 diesel outputting 258kW and 850Nm of torque. The new model could attract Porsche Cayenne buyers, as it sits on huge 21-inch alloy wheel rims and can race from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds. It will be priced from$129,990.My back begins to ache and I realise my posture is hunched. I use three different languages to curse the ever increasing burden of media kits and my uncomfortably pointy Italian shoes.
10:34am: Bentley is next and the smooth Continental GT Speed takes number one slot. I think the organisers know that by now, after dozens of reveals and speeches and no time to put our feet up, many of the media representatives' attention spans are waning, and so we're seeing models with tighter and/or less clothing. It seems to work. The Bentley GT Speed and it's two Amazonian ambassadors steal the limelight for a few moments. I notice one of the camera crews bash another print journalist out of the way to get footage of a GT. My blood boils and I make a vow to take revenge.10:47am: Skoda is back on the roada (sorry...), and hot off our first drive of the Octavia and Roomster there's still a lot of buzz for the newest car brand in Australia. The Roomster and Octavia are unveiled and I notice the crowd is thinning a bit. This makes getting photos easier, and the Skoda babes are looking and remarkably cheery. And then, thank the heavens, there's a bloke with a tray of sushi! I will eat anything at this point, as my stomach begins to send angry messages to my brain. Which is lucky because it is vegan sushi. Skoda also shows off the Yeti concept, adding more interest to its exhibit. It's a small SUV crossover that provides a glimpse at the marque's design direction.
10:57am: Next on the long line of exhibitors is Italian sports car company Lamborghini, which is showing off the Gallardo Supermall Europeaneggera. Or was it Superleggera? No one really knew, but Lambo proudly announce that it won't be available in red. One person laughs; the Ferrari joke was terrible. There's also the very hot Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Versace, of which only one has been sold in Australia. Always a popular stand, there's also an incredibly tall Lambo girl posing for photos on the Gallardo to add interest. The company hopes to sell 100 Lamborghini cars in 2008, after selling 60 this year.
Malaysia-based (the company moved out of Australia in the mid-90′s) Bufori’s Geneva saloon (named after the Swiss show) is certainly an eye-catcher, but I can’t quite determine if it’s in a good or bad way. First off, the rounded rear, inserted headlights, and slabby sides don’t really mesh in my mind. I guess with a car like this I’d be spending a lot more time inside of it than out, so maybe the looks don’t really matter.
The materials used in the Geneva’s production are pretty snazzy. The chassis is “top grade stainless steel”, and the carbon/kevlar body is “infused with Vinylester resin”, whatever that means. They say its strong, and I’ll take their word for it.What else has it got? Well, it’s a 30′s-looking party on wheels, apparently. Rear-hinged suicide doors? Check. Rear console-housed tea set (with boiling water and sink)? Check. Cooler and mini-bar? Check. Humidor? Check. It even has a strong box (for the mistress’s earrings, silly).
