2011 Australian International Motor Show with Brian Tanner
In the same vein, there are those that are so exclusive that only the fattest wallets will pry open the doors of ownership, the most serious motoring connoisseur able to fully appreciate the curvaceous curves of the body, the attention to detail and the sheer desirability of these four wheeled - often wicked - creations!
Dream on I hear you say, but the beauty of the motor show is it allows us mere mortals to rub shoulders, feast our eyes and even to touch some of the most desirable automobiles in the world. Dream cars, supercars, concepts, luxury, green, the outrageous and the unexpected. This is the stuff of motor shows, and despite some notable no shows, the Melbourne, or Australian International Motor Show as its new bi-yearly share arrangement with Sydney dictates it be called, the Melbourne Motor Show saw no less than 45 all-new model reveals in what is the largest motor show staged in the southern hemisphere.
So on to the stars of the show…
The big dollars -
Lexus LFA
The LFA is a dropdead gorgeous supercar. Just 500 of these $750,000 beauties have been built, offering all class and exclusivity. No two Australian LFAs are the same, with exterior and interior customisation ensuring a completely unique Lexus supercar. Each Lexus LFA is hand-built at a rate of 20 per month. In all there are eight possible areas of customisation for the interior of the LFA, including the seat face, seat back, leather stitching, steering wheel inserts, carpet, headlining, metal trim colour and dash panel, door trim and instrument surround. The V10 powered supercar has a maximum output of 412kW and 480Nm of torque, propelling the car from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds, and on to a top speed of 325km/h.
Lamborghini LP 700-4 Aventador
The new Aventador raging bull made its first outing outside Europe and certainly had an impact. The pinnacle of Lamborghini's range of super sports cars the Aventador replaces the Murcielago in the Italian manufacturer's range of exotic benchmark-setting supercars.
The Aventador was the most powerful car in the show, with the V12 beast capable of blasting to 100km/h in 2.9 seconds. The V12 pumps out 515kW of power at 8250rpm and 690Nm of torque at 5500rpm.
Combined with its seven-sped paddle-shift ISR transmission and Haldex-controlled 4WD system, the V12 will push the new Lamborghini to a top speed of 350 km/h.
The spectacular angular styling is full of excesses, with scissor doors and avant-garde jet fighter inspired lines. It is priced from $754,000.
Audi e-tron
This one-off all-electric prototype high performance sports car is said to be worth more than $2 million. Audi confirmed at the show that the R8 e-tron would go into production next year.
The e-tron is a true quattro, with an electric motor powering the four wheels. Producing 230kW, the two-seater accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds.
The lithium-ion battery provides a useable charge of 42.4kW/h, enabling a range of 248kms.
The e-tron has a wide, powerful stance, with the single frame grille dominating the front end, flanked by two large air intakes. A heat pump is used to warm up the interior, as the electric motors don't generate sufficient heat by themselves to keep occupants comfortable!
Notwithstanding this car looks magnificent and there is sure to be a long line of cashed up buyers putting their name on the order form.
Jaguar
Big cat power - Standout models from Jaguar are the first showing of the XF 2.2-litre diesel and the 405kW XKR-S. The latter has a price tag of around $340,000 and is Jaguar's most potent series production car yet. It features a supercharged V8 engine that delivers 405kW of power and 680Nm of torque; to reach a top speed in excess of 300 km/h. It reaches 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds.
Cool Concepts
Toyota FT86-II
Toyota's headline act the FT86-II concept provides a good indication of the next 'Celica-style' sportscar to come from Toyota. Production of the rear-wheel drive sportscar is due to start next year. A Subaru-sourced 2.0-litre horizontally opposed engine, mated to a six-speed transmission will power the production successor to the FT-86.
The powertrain and driving position have been set as low and as far back as possible to optimise balance for maximum poise, high-speed stability and dynamic agility. Target price is $35,000.
Mazda Shinari
This concept ticks all the boxes - sleek, flowing lines, a touch of aggression and brilliant good looks! This sensuous four-door coupe could be a stepping stone to the next RX-9 or other future treat from Mazda?
The distinctive front fender represents the further evolution of he prominent mudguards introduced in the RX-8. They emphasis the front wheels and accentuate the dynamic movement expressed in the side of the body.
The Shinari goes on sale in 2014 with a pricetag around $60,000.
Mazda Minagi
The Minagi is a crossover concept that adopts Mazda's frugal SKYACTIV technology. Expect to see the CX-5 SUV badge on it, when it is revealed as Mazda's next production SUV at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Hyundai Veloster
The Veloster coupe is three-door sportscar, with a unique forward hinged third door for easy rear seat access located on the passenger side of the car. The driver's side has a single door.
The Veloster has muscular wheel arches, wraparound headlights and taillights and a distinctive glass hatch, dual centre chrome exhaust tips and black lower fascia complementing the aggressive front fascia.
A 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 6-speed manual/auto transmission powers it. It goes on sale in August with a RRP of $25,000.
BMW Vision ED
For BMW - perhaps in a show first - they had only one car on display. Luckily it was a real stunner and a concept that points to future extravagant production models. The BMW Vision is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-diesel, mated to a pair of electric motors to power this 2+2 sports car. The hybrid pumps out 265kW of power and an astonishing 800Nm of torque, which can propel the car to 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds, while consuming just 3.8-litre of fuel per 100km. In electric only mode it has a range of just 50km, and diesel only adds an extra 645km. Pretty impressive. As for styling and looks - this is a 10 out of 10!
Subaru XU
The XU is a bit of a departure for Subaru, being an SUV-style car with character and attitude. It has a sniff of Impreza about it, and the good news is this concept is definitely heading for production. It should be available in 2013 at around $30 grand.
BRIAN TANNER
