Motorshow Archives

FEATURE: GIIAS 2018 – Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show 2018! [+Videos]

So have you ever had one of those weekends where you didn’t have anything to do and decided to just go somewhere for the heck of it? Of course you have, we all have. I had one of those moments recently, but instead of the usual ‘border run’ on a bike or languishing at home doing bugger-all, only to see the weekend slip by all too rapidly, I checked my calendar and it just so happened to be the last weekend of GIIAS or the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show 2018… hmm.

Well, in the span of 30min, I’d secured my flight and accommodation – the wonders of Expedia & Booking.com – and a quick email to the organisers to inform them of my intended visit soon yielded a response! Despite the fact that media pass applications had closed more than a month ago, the unbelievably accommodating organisers managed to secure a pass for me, to visit the show on the very last day. I took it as a sign that I was destined to visit GIIAS 2018, since I was quite prepared to pay the Rp100,000 to enter…

Arriving on Saturday afternoon, on the second to last day of the show, I was met by the organiser who personally handed me my media pass. Fully expecting to be balled-out for applying and showing up so late – press day was a good 11-days prior – but instead I was warmly welcomed and asked to enjoy the show. Will wonders ever cease. I was also told to “come earlier next time ya” to which I sheepishly agreed.

Here’s my arrival into the show, which was held at ICE or Indonesia Convention & Exhibition Centre @ BSD City Tangerang… Do note that this video was taken hurriedly, while testing a new gimbal, so I really hadn’t gotten my act together yet. Fresh off the plane, awake since 4am, this was just a test. The next video is better…

Well, as I’ve always maintained, nobody wants to read about a motorshow, so let’s just get into it!

Suzuki…

Without a doubt, the non-concept star of the show was the new Suzuki Jimny 4×4, and why not. The Jimny has a very illustrious past, and an amazingly strong following both here, at home and abroad. It’s dubbed ‘the little 4×4 that could’ and it’s easy to see why. Still utilizing a 5-speed manual gearbox, and staying true to its no-nonsense roots, the new Jimny is a brilliant mix of old skool and the modern world, with just the right mix of both to keep it appealing and contemporary. Here’s a short video on the new Jimny, I had to battle a horde of onlookers to get this!

Ok, I’ll be honest with you, my MAIN reason for coming to GIIAS 2018 was to see the new Suzuki Jimny in the flesh, since I never have before. Part of my uncanny interest is the fact that I used to own a SJ413 SWB Jimny many moons ago, and really wanted to see this new one. I chronicled some of the wonderful ownership experience I had with the Jimny in this previous article.

Mitsubishi…

Many have lamented the demise of the Mitsubishi Evo, but here at GIIAS, another ‘Evo’ was presented, in the from of the e-Evolution Concept, a peek into the future of sustainable mobility without any reliance on fossil-fuels. Looks good too! For something more down to earth, the new Mitsubishi Expander seemed to be getting quite a bit of attention too…

Lexus…

This one, well, this Lexus LS+ Concept stopped me dead in my tracks. I gawked, mouth open. Pictures don’t do it any justice, it has to be seen in the flesh to be fully appreciated. It’s simply amazing. Like a work of art on four wheels, and very possibly the shape of things to come for the LS family…

Mazda…

No surprise, all the Mazdas being displayed were Soul Red (except ONE! Hope nobody lost their job for that) and the star of this pavilion was the MX-5 RF. And it’s quite easy to see why. This Roadster is simply gorgeous, adopting the jinba-ittai method of car-making, the designers deserve major recognition for this creation…

Daihatsu…

Why did I stop over at Daihatsu? Well, they showcased a BOON Crossover, which hey who knows, might be a new variant for Perodua to offer us someday eh? As well a Kenari replacement (below) in the form of the TanTo maybe? It has power sliding doors too! C’mon Perodua, you can do eet!

Toyota…

The Toyota stand was very dark for one thing, almost a brooding atmosphere, and perhaps it was to show the darker side of the new Vios, seen here in very sporty trim. One of the best-sellers in Indonesia, variants abound when it comes to the Vios.

Honda…

Small cars do very well in Indonesia, and as such another star of GIIAS 2018 was the new Honda Brio. Likely never to be sold here in M’sia, it’s about the size of a MyVi, and we all know who absolutely dominates that market segment don’t we? Still, it does make me wonder how it would do here if Honda Malaysia brought it in as an entry level car, priced about the same as a Picanto…hmm.

Video…

So moving pictures speak volumes in this day and age, and without further ado, here’s my short walk-about of GIIAS 2018, followed by the photo gallery, enjoy! – Chris Wee.

GIIAS 2018 Photo Gallery…

BIMS 2018: Another Successful Year For Bangkok International Motorshow 2018!

The 39th edition of the Bangkok International Motor Show has come to a close, but not after a colossal 1.62 million visitors walked through its doors at the Impact Challenger! As BIMS is also a sales show, the numbers are equally impressive there too; a total of 42,499 vehicles (cars, trucks and motorcycles) were swept up during the show from 28th March to 8th April 2018.

Mr. Jaturont Komolmis, Vice Chairman of BIMS and COO of Grand Prix PLC, mentioned “The 39th Bangkok International Motor Show is a once again a successful event. A number of car manufacturers, motorcycles and the entrepreneurs of the automotive business attended in this event, which all of these values bring new products and technologies to exhibit. The number of visitors from the collection of statistics is 1.62 million.”

Mr. Jaturont added, “Throughout the past, Bangkok International Motor Show has continued to gain trust from car, motorcycle, and automotive entrepreneurs to attend the exhibition of automotive technologies and new innovations. These companies are willing to spend huge investments for booth design and displays. As an organizer of this event, we would like to thank you for all the great support from every company attending the 39th Bangkok International Motor Show. This year’s event has been very successful, and it proves that The 39th Bangkok International Motor Show is Thailand’s number one car show in Thailand, as well as the Asean region.”

MAI “Malaysia Autoshow 2018” Officially Launched! Visitors Stand To Win A Brand New Kia Picanto!

Following the success of the previous Malaysia Autoshow in 2017, Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) is confident to attract more visitors to this year’s event, which promises “a more comprehensive and immersive experience”.

The fourth edition of the annual Malaysia Autoshow will be held from 26^th to 29^th April, 2018. For the second year running, the venue will be at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).

Beginning this year, the Malaysia Autoshow will move its dates from November to April, to allow for further expansion of attractions at the autoshow in the editions to come. MAI Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Madani Sahari (above, second from right) said that the decision to move the event to MAEPS last year proved to bring a wider array of attractions and new experiences to visitors, as the 2017 edition recorded more than 250,000 visitors.

“The expansive venue facilitated longer test drives routes and allowed many exciting outdoor activities to be carried out by the participating brands, especially to demonstrate the various features in their products to visitors. These first-hand experiences for customers certainly contributed to the record-breaking sales, as well as a better outlook of what Malaysia’s automotive industry can offer to consumers today,” he said.

(L-R): NAZA KIA Malaysia Sdn Bhd CEO Ivan Kuan, Dato’ Madani Sahari and Yamin Vong with the Grand Prize of the Lucky Draw for visitors to the Malaysia Autoshow 2018

Apart from a lucky visitor who may drive home in a brand new Kia Picanto (above), some of the biggest automotive brands in the country will be taking part in this year’s show with the theme ‘360-degree Mobility Experience’. More than 100 cars comprising some of the latest models in the market and Volvo classic cars will be on display.

Some of the major highlights of Malaysia Autoshow 2018 include:

A glimpse into the future of mobility at the Intelligent Mobility Experience (IMEX)
A Kia Picanto for one lucky winner of the Lucky Draw Contest (Eligible to participants with a paid ticket to the Malaysia Autoshow 2018 – Terms & Conditions apply)
The first appearance in Malaysia by the resuscitated legendary German marque Borgward, brought to you by GO Exim Sdn Bhd;
The opportunity to own a set of personalised legal tender stamps from POS Malaysia. Just snap a photograph of you and your favourite car with a smartphone and pay RM20 for your very own set of collectible stamps that will be printed on the spot;
Best-ever financing packages by Maybank valid only for cars purchased at the event; and
Holiday packages within ASEAN (Flight and accommodation) for 8 lucky customers who book and purchase a car at the Malaysia Autoshow 2018 (Terms & Conditions apply);

At the outdoor area, the long list of exciting activities includes:

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) demonstration in a Perodua;
Free car inspection;
Go-kart racing;
Mitsubishi Obstacle Course;
Music on Wheels showcase of in-car entertainment systems upgrades;
Off-road driving experience by 4×4 clubs;
Toyota 4×4 Experience;
Lane departure assist and adaptive cruise control demonstration featuring Honda Sensing technology;
Test drives of latest models;
Specialty themed Culture and Cuisine Pavilion; and
Food trucks.

Maybank is the official financing partner for the Malaysia Autoshow 2018, and will be offering online submissions for hire purchase applications as well as discounts for entry ticket purchases using its QRPay option.

The entrance fee for Malaysia Autoshow 2018 is RM10 per entry. Children below 12 years of age will be given free access, while students will gain free admission on Thursday (26^th March 2018).

Visitors can also enjoy discounted ticket prices by purchasing online at www.autoshow.com.my.

VIDEO: BIMS 2018 First Official Public Day @ Bangkok International Motorshow 2018 – Walk-Around Video!

The sights and sounds of BIMS 2018, plus narration and my take on one of the best motorshows in the region. I’m just walking around saying hi to random people, it’s a blast, you really should visit this show sometime. – Chris Wee.

Trivia: BIMS is one of the only motorshows in the world where the cars on display are also for sale. Guess how many cars were sold at BIMS last year? Answer in the video below!

More to come!

BIMS 2018: Aston Martin, BMW & Mercedes-Benz Shine @ BIMS! [+Full 360 Videos]

Here’s a 360-degree video look at the Aston Martin, BMW and Mercedes-Benz pavilions at BIMS 2018!

ASTON MARTIN

BMW

Mercedes-Benz

BIMS 2018: Launched! Bangkok International Motorshow 2018 Begins! [+Videos & Photo Gallery]

The 2018 Bangkok International Motorshow is a GO! Here’s the video of the launch gambit that happened earlier today…

As you can see, it’s been a tradition of sorts for BIMS to have all heads of the various car companies taking part to be up on stage for the official opening ceremony, which is something quite unique to BIMS; can’t think of another motorshow that does this.

So let’s get on with it shall we? Here’s the first official photos from BIMS 2018! More to come so stay tuned!

FORD…

Undoubtedly, the star of BIMS 2018 is the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor. Here’s the launch video taken moments ago…

Boasting 500Nm of torque, it’s one of the most striking vehicles at BIMS this year, and garnering the lion’s share of shutterbug action, not to mention selfies with the thing…

It costs B1.69 million here, which works out to about RM170,000, and is slated to be launched in Malaysia by the middle of 2018. We can’t wait!

PORSCHE…

Needless to say, the new GT2RS is getting the most attention at the Porsche pavilion! And it’s easy to see why…

MERCEDES-BENZ…

Achingly gorgeous is the new GTc AMG, crews were constantly wiping drool off the car, I kid you not…

And of course this mean green machine parked next to it wasn’t short of attention either…

KIA…

Ah, the Kia Stinger! Seen it in the metal at the MAI Malaysia Autishow last year, but it still takes my breath away…

AUDI…

Check out how much the new R8 Coupe costs!

Yes, that’s just shy of Baht 19 million!

Well, no one wants to read about a motorshow, so enjoy the photos below cos I’m heading back into the show! Stay tuned for lots more to come! – Chris Wee.

BIMS 2018 First Day Photo Gallery…