What's at the Australian motor show?

An exciting array of fresh metal goes on display in Melbourne next month, when the Australian International Motor Show kicks off.
Rather than both cities running annual shows, Melbourne and Sydney now host the nation’s biggest auto expo in alternate years.

Motoring editor Steve Lague provides an early taste of the stunning new vehicles sure to grab attention at the show

JOSS

The Aussie Supercar

Those attending the Melbourne show will be among the first to see the production version of the JOSS supercar. The Melbourne-based manufacturer will reveal a computer-generated preview of the production model, code-named JP1, along with a pre-production evaluation vehicle and a wind tunnel model.

The unveiling of the final production model comes seven years after it was first shown as a prototype at the 2004 Melbourne show.

JOSS Developments technical director Matt Thomas admitted that a second motor show appearance had been a long time coming. "We had an amazing reception for our JT1 prototype in Melbourne," Mr Thomas said.

"Building a car business is very involved so JOSS Developments has spent the last few years working on the business.

"JOSS is about the best of the best, and the best takes time."

The two-seater coupe will be Australia's first mid-engine supercar and will come with a price tag of about $500,000.

It will be powered by an all-aluminium V8 with more than 370kW and a 0-100km/h acceleration time of less than three seconds.

It is expected to go on sale in the first half of next year.

LAMBORGHINI

Bull in sleek clothing

One of the highlights in Melbourne will be the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 which was first unveiled in Geneva in March.

The successor to the hugely successful Murcielago redefines super sports car parameters. The Aventador boasts brute power, lightweight engineering and handling precision. Named after a particularly courageous Spanish bull, this beast boasts a 6.5-litre V12 engine and produces a phenomenal 515kW and 690 Newton metres of torque.

Complete with scissor doors, it has been described as an avant-garde work of art with its sharp lines and taut surfaces.

The carbon fibre monocoque chassis ensures extreme rigidity and keeps weight down to just 1575kg. Through its permanent all-wheel-drive system, the seven-speed Aventador accelerates at 0-100km/h in 2.9sec. and has a top speed of 350km/h.

According to Andrew Smith, managing director of Lamborghini Melbourne, the Aventador is a truly exceptional package of design, style and technical perfection. After driving the car on the Vallelunga circuit near Rome, Mr Smith said: “Its performance is simply astonishing and is unrivalled in the super sports car arena.”

LEXUS

Sleek, stylish hybrid

The LF-Gh hybrid concept, which was shown at the New York motor show in April, will be the centrepiece of the Lexus stand in Melbourne.

The concept, which hints at Lexus’ future design direction and what a Lexus premium grand touring sedan could look like in the future, debuts an aggressive spindle-shaped grille which will become a feature of all future designs.

It also represents the next stage in Lexus’ L finesse design philosophy, which was introduced in 2001.

The concept is the result of a design exercise aimed at blending style, performance, efficiency and environmental compatibility.

Lexus Australia chief executive Tony Cramb said the LF-Gh cemented Lexus’ commitment to hybrid vehicles and reaffirmed that hybrids could be sleek and stylish.

“Our latest vehicle, the CT 200h, hinted at where we were taking our L finesse design philosophy, but LF-Gh leaves no questions about what is next for Lexus,” Mr Cramb said.

“The grille is more than just a design element; it also plays a substantial role in airflow control and stability. Much as in the case of the Lexus LFA supercar, the designers and engineers for the LF-Gh concept have used function to inspire and mould the design of a spectacular-looking vehicle.”

AUDI

Enter the Lean Machine

Audi will use the Melbourne show to introduce its new-generation Audi A6 to the Australian market before it goes on sale later in the year. The fourth-generation model is shorter and leaner than its predecessor but its cabin is more spacious thanks to a longer wheelbase and wider body, now 20 per cent aluminium.

It is also up to 19 per cent more fuel efficient than the car it replaces. It will be offered with a choice of five engines — two petrol and three diesels — that will develop between 130kW and 220kW, though Audi has not revealed how many we will get in Australia.

All will be fitted with fuel-saving technology such as start/stop system and energy regeneration. A hybrid model will also be added to the mix next year.

We can expect to at least get the 130kW 2.0 TDI manual front-wheel-drive model, which has an official fuel consumption figure of 4.9L/100km and emits just 129g of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

This will not only make it more fuel efficient than the hybrid model but it will be more economical than most small and light cars on the market.

MAZDA

Shinari Down Under

After being unveiled at international motor shows in Shanghai, Los Angeles and Geneva, Mazda has now confirmed its Shinari concept will go on show in Australia.

The four-door, four-seater sports coupe is the first vehicle created by Ikuo Maeda in his new role as global director of design and showcases Mazda’s new design direction.

While Mazda believes the Shinari will attract plenty of attention, the Japanese car maker is believed to have an even more significant reveal planned for the first Melbourne show.

Though tight-lipped about other plans for the show, Mazda Australia will hold a pre-show event where it could reveal the new-generation Mazda6.

It would not be the first time the Japanese car maker has used Australia for a world first. Last year Mazda and Ford used the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney to reveal the new BT-50 and Ranger that were built off the same platform.

The Shinari, the first concept developed under the new Kodo design philosophy, introduces slimmer headlights and tail-lights.

It features a new development of Mazda’s signature “smiley” grille, along with sharper character lines along the body and flanks.

SUZUKI

Swift a good sport

Suzuki will provide some clues to the look of its new Swift Sport model with the showing of the Swift S Concept. Just how close the production model will be to the hot concept is unknown but Suzuki Australia will be hoping it will be close.

The Swift has been a big success for the Japanese carmaker, here and internationally, but it has been crying out for a hot, sporty variant.

Although there is a Swift sport variant there are many who feel it is not aggressive enough in its design or performance.

The Swift S Concept was first revealed in Geneva this year and will make its second public appearance in Melbourne next month.

Compared with the standard Swift, the S-Concept rides lower and is 60mm wider. It has also been given some aerodynamic upgrades, including new front and rear bumpers, remodelled headlights and rear lights with high-tech accents, a huge rear spoiler and 18-inch wheels.

The first three-door version of the AZ Swift also featured bi-Xenon headlights, a big black mesh grille, oversized fog light on a deeper front bumper, sportier side skirts, four-side air scoops, an oversized tailgate spoiler and a large lower diffuser featuring twin-chromed exhausts.

Inside, the modifications continue with black and yellow leather Recaro sports bucket seats, a specially designed carbon-fibre centre console, leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, alloy sports pedals and premium chrome highlights on the instrument cluster.

It is powered by Suzuki’s 1.6-litre VVT engine that will deliver 100kW (up 8kW on the previous 1.6-litre Swift Sport and 30kW up on the standard 70kW 1.4-litre Swift) and it will be matched, for the first time, to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.