Bangkok International Motor Show Expected To Drive Away With Record Sales

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Motor Show expected to drive away with record sales
Kingsley Wijayasinha
The Nation



New Toyota Vios likely to be biggest seller

BANGKOK: -- Despite the conclusion of the government's First Car Buyer Programme at the end of last year, the Bangkok International Motor Show is serving as a major auto extravaganza that is dramatically helping to boost auto sales.

Organisers of the motor show, which ends on Sunday at Muangthong Thani, are confident that more than a record 60,000 orders could be placed at this year's event, which features a large number of new models and concept vehicles.

But the biggest seller at the show is expected to be the new Toyota Vios, priced from Bt559,000 to Bt734,000, after orders were "discreetly" accepted late last year for customers to qualify for the First Car promotion.

Nevertheless, the Vios subcompact is so popular that even without the promotion, record sales are expected during the official launch period. Apart from being the most popular model in Thailand, the Vios is also the best-selling Asean model, and 45,000 of these cars are expected to be exported to 86 countries each year.

Unfortunately the 1.5-litre engine with 109hp and 141Nm has been carried over from the previous model. But improvements have been made to the engine, which now passes Euro 4 emission standards.

Meanwhile, in the luxury segment the spotlight is on the minor-change Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which for the first time comes with two available front-end designs - executive and AMG Dynamic.

The E-Class is now available with a 2.0-litre petrol, 2.2-litre diesel and 2.2-litre diesel hybrid powertrains, with the latter offering fuel economy of approximately 24km/litre and CO2 emissions of 107-110g/km. The car takes 7.5 seconds to hit 100km/h from a standstill, and top speed is claimed to be 242km/h.

Also adding colour to the luxury segment are the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 and Lexus IS 300h, both hybrid-powered compact sports saloons.

And if you think hybrids are boring, have a look at what the 3 Series hybrid (priced from Bt4.199 million to Bt4.499 million) can do: 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h. Meanwhile, the average fuel consumption is 16.9km/litre and its CO2 emission is 139g/km.

Japanese auto-maker Honda, after fully recovering from the mega flood in 2011 and announcing that it would build a new assembly plant in Prachin Buri, is highlighting its Accord midsized saloon, priced from Bt1.299 million to Bt1.799 million.

The new Accord comes with a long list of new features, including ANC (Adaptive Noise Control), which offers a remarkably quiet ride, and CMBS (Collision Mitigation Brake System) that alerts the driver and slams the brakes if a possible crash is detected. Also featured are blind spot display and active cornering lights, which are usually found in luxury vehicles.

Powertrains include a 2.0-litre engine with 155hp and 190Nm, as well as a 2.4-litre motor capable of pumping out 174hp and 225Nm. Both engines come with 5-speed automatic transmissions and are E85-compatible.

Suzuki, after scoring runaway success with its Swift sub-compact which qualifies for eco-car privileges, is strengthening its line-up with the Ertiga compact MPV and targeting sales of 6,000 vehicles per year. The Ertiga is based on the Swift and is powered by a 1.4-litre engine producing 95hp.

Also breaking into the recreational vehicle market is the Ford EcoSport, which is based on the Fiesta platform. It is powered by a 1.5-litre engine taken over from the Fiesta, and has seating capacity for five plus large a luggage area.

Another new member to the family vehicle market is the Chevrolet Spin, a seven-seater MPV with a first-in-class six speed automatic gearbox. Powering the Spin is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder DOHC (Double Overhead Camshafts), 16-valve with Dual-VVT (Dual Variable Valve Timing) gasoline engine capable of producing 107hp.

Nissan is spotlighting the Pulsar hatchback, which has just been introduced in Thailand. It is powered by a choice of new 1.8-litre and 1.6-litre engines, XTRONIC CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) offering smooth operation and improved fuel economy.

Other highlights on display include the Mazda CX-5 prototype, Volvo V40, Hyundai Veloster, Volkswagen Golf GTi, Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II, Porsche Cayman, Range Rover, Ssangyong Stavic, Peugeot 408 and Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.


-- The Nation 2013-04-03

[phutoie2]

Hmmm, no mention of pickups!, perhaps the Nation has forgotten that the vast majority drive round in them. Construct some decent roads and I might buy a Vios, Suzuki etc.

[Scully]

I got some free tickets for friday, I am only going to look at the promotion girls, I feel a bit guilty for all those car lovers.

[paymaster]

Left or right hand drive?

[steelepulse]

Do hybrids not get a tax break? 4,2-4.5 mil seems excessive for a 3 series.

[IMHO]

Left or right hand drive?

is that some sort of trick question?

Do hybrids not get a tax break? 4,2-4.5 mil seems excessive for a 3 series.

They get a substantial excise tax break (just 10%) but the BMW 3/5 ActiveHybrids are imported, so subject to 80% import duty.

[steelepulse]

Left or right hand drive?

is that some sort of trick question?

>Do hybrids not get a tax break? 4,2-4.5 mil seems excessive for a 3 series.

They get a substantial excise tax break (just 10%) but the BMW 3/5 ActiveHybrids are imported, so subject to 80% import duty.

So these are the 3.0 liter twin tubro charged with 300 horses like in other countries, or is the engine toned down to avoid the over 220 hp tax?

[culicine]

Amazing Toyota can get away with such old mechanical technology under the hood. That motor will be close to 15 years old at the end of its lifecycle...crazy. I guess to most Thais it's a toyota so it must be good.

[IMHO]

Left or right hand drive?

is that some sort of trick question?

>Do hybrids not get a tax break? 4,2-4.5 mil seems excessive for a 3 s

eries.

They get a substantial excise tax break (just 10%) but the BMW 3/5 ActiveHybrids are imported, so subject to 80% import duty.

So these are the 3.0 liter twin tubro charged with 300 horses like in other countries, or is the engine toned down to avoid the over 220 hp tax?

There's no HP limits on hybrids, only <3,000cc (10%), and >3,000cc (50%) excise brackets. Hence why the Cayenne S Hybrid is so (relatively) cheap, even though it has 380HP..

[IMHO]

Amazing Toyota can get away with such old mechanical technology under the hood. That motor will be close to 15 years old at the end of its lifecycle...crazy. I guess to most Thais it's a toyota so it must be good.

I suppose another way to look at it is that it's stood the test of time well.. There's still no-one else making substantially more HP or achieving substantially better FE in the lower 1.5L B-segment, and the 1NZ-FE engine has proven itself as being pretty much bullet-proof..

[Ace of Pop]

Can anyone remember a Year when they didnt Boast Record Sales. Even in Titanic Year they did. On reflection a Record Low is a Record. T.A.T do the same.

[culicine]

Amazing Toyota can get away with such old mechanical technology under the hood. That motor will be close to 15 years old at the end of its lifecycle...crazy. I guess to most Thais it's a toyota so it must be good.

I suppose another way to look at it is that it's stood the test of time well.. There's still no-one else making substantially more HP or achieving substantially better FE in the lower 1.5L B-segment, and the 1NZ-FE engine has proven itself as being pretty much bullet-proof..

It still has the same 4 speeder or cvt? At east they could use a cvt to improve fuel economy....and a boost of HP to match the jazz at least.

[steelepulse]

>>There's no HP limits on hybrids, only <3,000cc (10%), and >3,000cc
(50%) excise brackets. Hence why the Cayenne S Hybrid is so
(relatively) cheap, even though it has 380HP..

Good to know thanks. How's the Cayenne treating you?

[Thereisnoif]

Good to see the money laundering machine working at full spin .

[phuturatica]

I went to this today and it was quite good!