The show goes on

The second media day of the Johannesburg International Motor Show that played host only to local media (odd that, isn't it...?) on Friday brought with it several new launches and announcements and promises the public something for everyone...

Friday’s opening salvo from General Motors South Africa revolved around Chevrolet, a brand which is at the forefront of the corporation’s plans, and they revealed a brace of concept and production-ready cars. While the Beat, Groove and Trax showed the way forward for their small cars, the most significant model was the Cruse, a car likely to be here by early 2010, if not sooner, to plug a gap between Optra and Lumina in the model line-up. JIMS was the world premier of the right-hand-drive version.

There was plenty of eye-candy too: the Camaro was there in a form which is not far from the final production version and then there was also a Corvette ZO6 and a 370kW Lumina CSV (Chevrolet Special Vehicles) to prevent traditional petrolheads from losing interest.

It was eye-candy, but maybe not as we know it. The Cadillac Provoq is that brand’s answer for an industry which is at the crossroads, and with the world’s vehicle population heading towards one billion, alternative energy sources need to be found. The Provoq is a concept vehicle which uses a fuel cell system combined with a lithium ion battery to produce an electrically-driven vehicle that uses no petrol and produces no emissions other than water.

"We can’t continue relying on oil, that much is simple and obvious," said Dr Elizabeth Lowery, GM's Vice-president Environment, Energy and Safety Policy. "Our industry is in the midst of a revolution."

A similar sentiment was expressed at many stands, but no one summed it up better.

As the first decade of the 21st century starts drawing to a close, Peugeot, one of the oldest car brands on the planet, has redefined its core values. The three cornerstones on which the brand will be built going forward are Trust, Passion, and Inspiration and the car which encapsulates these values is the coupe/cabriolet 308 CC, revealed at the show and scheduled for local introduction in the first quarter of 2009.

Another newcomer — albeit already on dealer floors — is the 308SW, a sporty wagon-type vehicle which Peugeot described as offering all the qualities of an MPV without any dynamic sacrifices. It’s the first ’petal’ of the 308 flower.

Twenty-two million. It’s a big number by any standards and that’s how many engines of all kinds Honda expects to have built by the end of this year. Against this backdrop the technology-driven Japanese manufacturer unveiled the second-generation Jazz, which like its predecessor has already notched up the Car of the Year award in its home country.

Near the other end of the brand’s product range is the Accord Tourer, another model which suggests wagons are on the comeback trail. It’s on showroom floors from early November.

Fiat significantly strengthened its presence in the C-segment, firstly by updating the Grande Punto range with new engines but also adding a notchback based on the same platform. Called the Linea, the sedan is a good-looker too and will benefit from the same under-the-skin changes made to the hatchback.

Sadly, buyers will have to wait until the second half of the new year while dealers are no doubt equally keen to get their hands on a model which will plug a rather large hole in Fiat’s model line-up.

Land Rover, fresh from celebrating its 60th birthday, used JIMS to show off the past, the present and the future. Filling those roles, respectively, were the limited edition Defender SVX, Range Rover Autobiography, and the LRX concept. A sounding board for the brand’s design direction, the latter also incorporates fuel-saving technology which will be seen in next-generation production models.

If the Alfa Romeo dancers stole day one of the show, Ford’s mirror man with laser fingers was possibly the visual highlight of day two. His brief was to generate some excitement prior to the reveal of the fifth-generation Fiesta, a nameplate which has racked up sales of 12-million over just more than three decades.

With superminis accounting for a third of the local passenger market, it is hugely important to have a good one. Because it is based on the Mazda2, South Africa’s reigning Car of the Year, Ford certainly has that in the Fiesta, which was launched to the media in the week before the show. Pricing starts at R136 990.

Ford also took the opportunity to announce changes to the Bantam, Ikon and Focus, revolving largely around improved drivetrains.

Tata, India’s largest carmaker, displayed the Indica Vista, the next generation of their mainstream hatchback. Significantly bigger than the current car in wheelbase and overall length, it’ll be offered with a new 1.4-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engines. Also on the stand was the Sumo Grande, a car said to combine the looks of an SUV with the comfort of a family car.

Hyundai showed off two significant cars, the i10 and the i20 — the latter very much on their must-have list. The i10 went on sale here a few months ago but the car on the stand heralded the addition of a powerful new 1.2-litre engine which turns it into a lightweight with the performance of a heavyweight. This brand new Kappa engine returns fuel consumption of 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the European combined cycle and emits just 132 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

Kia, Hyundai’s close Korean associate, introduced the sporty Pro_cee’d, a three-door coupe priced from R214 995 which moves Kia into a new area of the market and simultaneously shows off a whole new level of quality for the brand. So too does the Soul, a funky and chunky urban crossover which will enable owners a high degree of personalisation to help them stand out from the crowd. The show car had a red interior to match its exterior colour — not for shy and retiring types!

Also on show was the 2009 Sportage, with its refreshed looks.

Malaysia’s Proton had the Persona and Saga on their stand. The former goes on sale immediately, the latter in showrooms early next year. Both will compete at the lower end of the notchback market.

Elevating the mood in Hall 7 were a pair of archetypal British brands — though ironically neither is now owned by corporations from the country of their birth.

Bentley uncovered the 2009 Continental Flying Spur Speed, powered by a 449kW (a solid 600 horses), 750 Nm W12 engine. With 20-inch wheels and an uprated chassis, it is said to offer a more engaging driving experience all the way up to 322km/h — a nice, round 200mph.

Doing their best to upstage their neighbour was Rolls-Royce, who unveiled the Phantom Coupe. Designed as the most driver-orientated car in the current range, it marries cutting-edge technology with a stylish, muscular body, to form a car which is more dynamic, whilst still offering the brand’s traditional comfort and luxury. Rolls-Royce also announced upgrades to their UK plant, which would expand the workforce and include a new woodworking facility - an important factor considering Rolls-Royce’s handcrafted interiors. No less than 12 Rolls were sold in SA last year, and the company is expecting a bumper 2008.

With the afternoon winding down, the Italians could at least be relied on to provide a last hurrah. JIMS was used by Maserati importers Viglietti Motors to announce the Quattroporte S, powered by a 4.7-litre V8 fettled to produce over 320 kW. It is mated to a six-speed automatic to ensure effortless performance.

As the sun set it was over to Suzuki to slow the pace. Japan’s fourth largest auto maker has done little wrong since arriving in SA, and today announced their plans for the Alto in the third quarter of 2009 and the Swift Sport for the final quarter.

Their outdoor stand also demonstrated the company’s diverse portfolio, which includes motorcycles, quads and power products. Displays included the SX4 which competes in the World Rally Championship and the unusual X-Head, a 4x4 described as ‘a cross-utility vehicle with unlimited applications’.

After two days, more than 40 car companies had shown off what they sell, and what they had coming in terms of new passenger vehicles, giving a clear sign that the industry is ready to face the challenges that 2009 may hold.

Source: motoring.iafrica.com