London Motor Show anybody gone yet?
Discussion
G4HKS said:
Still not quite sure how you can have a British Motor Show without the biggest manufacturers in the world NOT in attendance; BMW, Rolls Royce, Audi, Porsche, VW etc. It was good, but not that good. Still, at least Can-Am were there....
Why are they not there, have they boycotted it or something? Edited by G4HKS on Saturday 26th July 11:11
I was thinking about going as it's not far from me but I wasn't exactly impressed last year, vene though I got in for free!
My only reason for going would be to see: ZR-1 & Z06, Camaro, Challenger, Mustang, any other US retro-musclecar and it sounds like they're conspicuous by their absence...
Looks like the only proper shows are in the US...
franv8 said:
Bit worrying - are we losing our importance as a market? Or is it just shows aren't seen as the most effective use of cash to market a model range/marque?
(BTW Malc - is your email on here up to date? Need to PM you...)
We a very important market for the German manufacturers (just look at the number of the things on our roads!) I believe the reason BMW and Audi (in particular) don't attend is that they don't feel they need to. As they're "aspirational" brands, most of their potential customers buy the badge and the image, probably know little if anything about the cars themselves, and wouldn't go within a 100 miles of a motorshow.... Spending money on Donald Sutherland voiced adverts during "When good botox goes bad" is generally seen as a better way of spending their money....(BTW Malc - is your email on here up to date? Need to PM you...)
GW65 said:
franv8 said:
Bit worrying - are we losing our importance as a market? Or is it just shows aren't seen as the most effective use of cash to market a model range/marque?
(BTW Malc - is your email on here up to date? Need to PM you...)
We a very important market for the German manufacturers (just look at the number of the things on our roads!) I believe the reason BMW and Audi (in particular) don't attend is that they don't feel they need to. As they're "aspirational" brands, most of their potential customers buy the badge and the image, probably know little if anything about the cars themselves, and wouldn't go within a 100 miles of a motorshow.... Spending money on Donald Sutherland voiced adverts during "When good botox goes bad" is generally seen as a better way of spending their money....(BTW Malc - is your email on here up to date? Need to PM you...)
I would imagine that BMW and Audi have re-appropriated their funding to do more local events instead....
I drove too and it was easy. 1:15 door to door from Lightwater. But this time I went round the M25.
It really is a very small show compared to any of the International ones.
Corvette had a small stand, which was hard to find tucked away at the back of the Cadillac stand.
ZR1 looked better with the splitter which does stick out a long way. Would be very vulnerable on UK roads I fear.
Absolutely nobody came up to see if I wanted any help or info though...
Caddy CTS looked great. The interior was really, really nice. If the CTS-V was RHD I would love to find a reason to buy one!
Camaro Convertible looked fantastic. Shame they didn't have the Coupe there though.
This was also my first chance to see and sit in the new GT-R. Very impressive car, but very small rear seats compared with previous Skylines.
It really is a very small show compared to any of the International ones.
Corvette had a small stand, which was hard to find tucked away at the back of the Cadillac stand.
ZR1 looked better with the splitter which does stick out a long way. Would be very vulnerable on UK roads I fear.
Absolutely nobody came up to see if I wanted any help or info though...
Caddy CTS looked great. The interior was really, really nice. If the CTS-V was RHD I would love to find a reason to buy one!
Camaro Convertible looked fantastic. Shame they didn't have the Coupe there though.
This was also my first chance to see and sit in the new GT-R. Very impressive car, but very small rear seats compared with previous Skylines.
David, saw your next toy, the GTR. Must say I wasn't impressed with the shape at all. When the Japanese said they took no influence from any European/American stylists they weren’t kidding. Had a look around the back for the rickshaw. (Or is that Chinese?!)
Bland and more bland. I looked up some images in Autocar October last year where they featured one in mid-grey metallic and it looked a lot better. Shouldn’t have to rely on the colour to set the stage. I'm not denying its capability or its brilliance as a driving machine. Just as well because it sure wouldn't win any beauty contests. Ever. Even the 350Z looks a lot better.
Also, despite all the hype in Autocar, Sunday Times, etc I thought the Motor Show was great if you were into green electric invalid carriages. They were everywhere. It's meant to be a Motor Show not an advert for the Green Party. And what was that Lightning all about?
Bland and more bland. I looked up some images in Autocar October last year where they featured one in mid-grey metallic and it looked a lot better. Shouldn’t have to rely on the colour to set the stage. I'm not denying its capability or its brilliance as a driving machine. Just as well because it sure wouldn't win any beauty contests. Ever. Even the 350Z looks a lot better.
Also, despite all the hype in Autocar, Sunday Times, etc I thought the Motor Show was great if you were into green electric invalid carriages. They were everywhere. It's meant to be a Motor Show not an advert for the Green Party. And what was that Lightning all about?
We have a CTS 3.6 at the moment which we were exhibiting at the Trafford Park show last week. It's so good that Mitch seems to be living in it! Just a few stats: 0-60 in 6.3. 150 mph. Currently returning 25 mpg despite MM's attentions, and a very impressive 70mph through our local version of the follow through. CTS-V will be awesome for certain but, this version will do just fine. Worth noting that it costs about the same amount of money as a similar 5 series or E class will lose over a two to three year period.
I went to the Show on Press Day, and with free parking right underneath the show and an easy 25 minute drive from home it was a breeze.
I had no problem finding people from GM to assist, spoke to both Cadillac & Corvette marketing and the guy in charge of Chevrolet who is responsible for the Camaro in the UK. Did have to wait around for them as they were speaking to other journos when I bowled up but they were there. I also had details taken by a very helpful blonde whose bodywork was nicer than anything else on show!
I thought that the Lightening was rather nice looking, will be interesting to see how many make production. I like the Lotus Evora an hope it succeeds; anything to save us from yet more 911s. The Tesla looked very professional and production ready, as did the fully electric Fiat 500. Most other alleged green stuff was either a death trap or far too ugly to be seen in. The CTS Coupe looked great as did the new CTS saloon, an the Camaro was stunning. I am not a fan of the ZR1's blingy looks to be honest, and the window in the bonnet is a joke. But the mechanicals underneath...mmm. I was allowed a sit in the ZR1, but not the Camaro as the doors couldn't be opened with the glass fence around it! The Ford stand was very disappointing, full of very ugly one box front wheel drive white goods. I wanted to shout at the Ford suits to ask them why they made the Focus RS front wheel drive - a massive opportunity missed there.
I had no problem finding people from GM to assist, spoke to both Cadillac & Corvette marketing and the guy in charge of Chevrolet who is responsible for the Camaro in the UK. Did have to wait around for them as they were speaking to other journos when I bowled up but they were there. I also had details taken by a very helpful blonde whose bodywork was nicer than anything else on show!
I thought that the Lightening was rather nice looking, will be interesting to see how many make production. I like the Lotus Evora an hope it succeeds; anything to save us from yet more 911s. The Tesla looked very professional and production ready, as did the fully electric Fiat 500. Most other alleged green stuff was either a death trap or far too ugly to be seen in. The CTS Coupe looked great as did the new CTS saloon, an the Camaro was stunning. I am not a fan of the ZR1's blingy looks to be honest, and the window in the bonnet is a joke. But the mechanicals underneath...mmm. I was allowed a sit in the ZR1, but not the Camaro as the doors couldn't be opened with the glass fence around it! The Ford stand was very disappointing, full of very ugly one box front wheel drive white goods. I wanted to shout at the Ford suits to ask them why they made the Focus RS front wheel drive - a massive opportunity missed there.
It was OKish but not much compared to the bigger first tier shows. I noticed the same thing at the Caddy / Corvette stand - impossible to get anyone to speak to...
And I assume by now they could get more than one GT-R onto the stands - seen a dealership in Ginza with GT-Rs in all the different colours, so surely they could bring two to the motorshow to cut down on the cue of people waiting to have a seat in one?
And I assume by now they could get more than one GT-R onto the stands - seen a dealership in Ginza with GT-Rs in all the different colours, so surely they could bring two to the motorshow to cut down on the cue of people waiting to have a seat in one?
What do you mean? There were four GT-Rs at the show, more than any other high performance model.
Ok, you couldn't sit in the "simulator" one or the cutaway, but those of us who were invited (i.e. who've ordered one) got to sit in a nice pealescent white one in the Nissan VIP lounge).
Here is a pic of the simulator. The rig moved the car around in time to the video which showed the 7:38s Nordschleife lap.
I agree it is not a pretty car, but it is purposeful. I think it will make the ideal family runabout.
Ok, you couldn't sit in the "simulator" one or the cutaway, but those of us who were invited (i.e. who've ordered one) got to sit in a nice pealescent white one in the Nissan VIP lounge).
Here is a pic of the simulator. The rig moved the car around in time to the video which showed the 7:38s Nordschleife lap.
I agree it is not a pretty car, but it is purposeful. I think it will make the ideal family runabout.
I think the GT-R is pretty stunning* and next June mine will look very tasty next to my Z06. All bases will be covered(assuming I really can squeeze two kids in the back). (Also hoping for a convertible Camaro in 2010 to replace the current kid-carrying convertible in the fleet, a Cooper S.)
*It's not "pretty" but then neither is an F430, another stunning car. What about the R8? It's all in the eye of the beholder (or beer-holder ;o) of course, but I reckon the GT-R gets more abuse than it deserves. Purposeful, for sure.
*It's not "pretty" but then neither is an F430, another stunning car. What about the R8? It's all in the eye of the beholder (or beer-holder ;o) of course, but I reckon the GT-R gets more abuse than it deserves. Purposeful, for sure.
car95 said:
I think the GT-R is pretty stunning* and next June mine will look very tasty next to my Z06. All bases will be covered(assuming I really can squeeze two kids in the back). (Also hoping for a convertible Camaro in 2010 to replace the current kid-carrying convertible in the fleet, a Cooper S.)
Crikey, so there's another greedy b@stard on here! - It's not "pretty" but then neither is an F430, another stunning car. What about the R8? It's all in the eye of the beholder (or beer-holder ;o) of course, but I reckon the GT-R gets more abuse than it deserves. Purposeful, for sure.
When's yours arriving? I have an early April '09 one (therefore, without Sat Nav
) Gun Metal Grey "Black Edition", therefore with grey wheels, black leather w/red bolsters.Later this year, I will also be buying an '09 Z06 in: Cyber Grey with Competition Grey wheels and the two tone interior that will have black leather seats w/red bolsters!
I will have a very colour coded garage... (some would say, very boring looking).
As for the rear seats; they are very tight, particularly on headroom. I reckon up to 10/12 year olds will be ok. After that it will be down to how much of a petrolhead they are as to whether they call Childline or not.
Scheduled for June 2009, which isn't bad, all things considered although not quite what the dealer "suggested" originally ;o)
Kids will be 4 and 5 then, so sounds ok.
I decided not to colour code. Two white cars would look cool when parked together, but I reckon the silver gt-r will look better on its own.
Camaro colo(u)rs are now on the US site....
Kids will be 4 and 5 then, so sounds ok.
I decided not to colour code. Two white cars would look cool when parked together, but I reckon the silver gt-r will look better on its own.
Camaro colo(u)rs are now on the US site....
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