NightWalker's Picture Show - Bangkok International Motor Show 2011

Motor Show 2011

The Bangkok International Motor Show happened from March 25th until April 5th 2011 at the IMPACT Exhibition Center in Muang Thong Thani and was organized by GrandPrix International Co. Ltd.

Opening Hours:

Weekday: 12:00 - 22:00
Weekend: 11:00 - 22:00

Taxi Mafia

As described on IMPACT's WEB-site, we had to take Exit No. 4 at Mo Chit's BTS Terminal.

But where was the Shuttle Bus?

There wasn't any sign, not even an advertisement from the show!

We asked some 'officials' and the street vendors for the shuttle bus.

We had the impression that nobody did know anything.

They all told us 'no shuttle, take taxi!'.

They played the same game when my Thai lady asked for the way!

In fact the shuttle bus parked just about 5 meters on the back of the street vendors, but wasn't visible from the sidewalk, only from the nearby footbridge...

TiT (This is Thailand!)

Expats are used to deal with answers like this, but it gives a very bad impression of Thailand to every single tourist.

Unbelievable...

It's simply unbelievable how it's possible to run an exhibition center attracting millions of visitors each year without a connection to an adequate public transportation system.

It is anticipated that about 1.8 million visitors will attend this Motor Show.

And they all have to arrive with cars...

Thailand's Taxi Mafia must be more powerful than Thailand's rationality.

It's a Show only!

Whole the event is a show only.

Do not expect any reliably information.

No salesperson and no leaflet knows the actual fuel consumation of a given car or motorcycle...

You just can get the price, the available colors and the approximate delivery time.

Chairs

Many boothes used this chairs. They seem to be popular in Thailand now.

I owned the originals from Knoll. I bought them 1964 in Switzerland...

The Cost

The total costs for the two way transportation, including the 100 Baht entry fee, was 546 Baht/person.

AIS is watching you!

Be warned: Big Brother is watching you!

Shortly after entering the IMPACT center a SMS from AIS greeted us as a visitor of the Bangkok Motor Show 2011.

Just a minute later we got a second SMS:
An invitation from Mercedes Benz.

Four hours later Mercedes Benz invited us again to visite their booth.

AIS 1-2-call is observing constantly all the steps of its mobil phone subscribers and is sending event based advertisements according to their actual position!

A nightmare came true...

Fast Links

Bangkok Motor Show 2011

Mercedes Benz didn't showcase its SMART cars, but Brabus did.

Big Brother Toyota showed its version of a SMART inspired vehicle, the well-known FT-EVII.

A Chinese version of the SMART car from Wuling Motors.

Piaggio also presented its inspiration of a smart car on its Vespa booth.

Mitsubishi, a former partner of Mercedes Benz,
and the producer of SMART's now defunct FourFour model showed the iMiev.
I think Mitsubishi can't use the name in German speaking countries:
Miev (correctly written mief, but pronounced the same way) means stale air.
I'm sure, Mitsubishi doesn't like to sell a ponging car...

Mitsubishi also presented its version of a 'big mouth' vehicle

Citroen's version of a 'big mouth'.

Jaguar too showed a 'big mouth' on its XJ. The back of the car reminds to an old Tatra vehicle. The Indian owned Tata manufacturer sells the car for 13.4 million Baht only. A Bargain, they say...

Proton from Malaysia showed the Lekir, also featuring a 'big mouth'.

Mazda too designed a 'big mouth' into one of its zoom-zoom cars...

... as Mitsubishi did it with its new Lancer.

Mitsuoka, a Japanese manufaturer of luxury vehicles, prefers 'big mouthes' too on almost all of its cars:

Mitsuoka's version of a sports car.

Also from Mitsuoka, the Himiko. An approach to integrate different styles into one single design.

Sometimes you have to be born in Asia to be able to admire todays cars.

Lexus too showed an Asian inspired car.

Thairung from Thailand showed its own prototype, designed and produced in Thailand,
probably inspired by Hummer or Jeep, but for sure not cheap!

Mercedes Benz, as most other manufacturers, tried to sell their cars with Thai models (or vice versa?).

Wiesmann presented its Roadster, the MF5, with ladies too.

Morgan was back with its Classic Cars: 4.6 - 6.3 million Baht only, the salesperson said.
Even without ladies: Life isn't cheap in Thailand, but beautiful - at least with cars like this.

Thailand's universities showed examples of their designs.
Apparently the term 'aerodynamics' doesn't exists in Thai language & Thai design(s).

Ford (made by Mazda) presented its popular Pic-Up in a new version.
Larger seating, but smaller loading area.
Next year, I was told, you just will have the space to store some small umbrellas!

Chery, a manufacturer from China, showed a 'modern' version of its A1.

BMW showed its latest versions of its Mini brand,

including a 4-door version, a Maxi-Mini?
The new Minis must be a nightmare for Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, its inventor.

Skoda presented its Fabia, according to MyLady™, an inflated Mini.
Thai's like big cars, as large as possible, she told me, even if they don't know to park them.

SsangYong from South Korea at least enjoyed a boy with its 'look back' backseat.

For most Thais, only 33% own a car, fooding is still more important than a vehicle.
Therefore the larger exhibitors run their own restaurants.
At Mazda's food & drink outlet, pictured here, the staff wore shirts in Kawasaki's popular green color.
I was told that the bar created a new drink for that special event - called Makazaki.

Suzuki, Honda and BMW presented Cars & Motorcycle as well, sometimes even on the same booth.

This year Harley Davidson had a large booth and showed many of their bikes to very interested visitors.
Real motorcycles seem to attract always a lot of fans.

Nevertheless, Honda as well as Yamaha and Suzuki prefered to show their motorized plastic boxes.

A Suzuki dummy 'wrapped' in plastic.

A lot plastic could be seen at Yamaha's booth too,
but the company had some real bikes on the show and sexy Thai ladies by the dozens.

Honda presented its approach to an electric scooter with sexy & always smiling models,

Yamaha did the same with its eco3 scooter,
but forget to tell the visitors that it already introduced this electric bike in 2002.
Nevertheless, the salespersons informed the people that it's a show piece only and don't will go to the shops.

But this copy from China is in production and will probably hit Thailand's street.
I saw it already 2 years ago when Stallions started its business.
The Panda bike will be available with Lead-Acid or Lithium batteries.
Prices will start at about 29'000 Baht. Today GEMASIA will be the distributor.

Vespa showed a 'Thai Designer Version' of its most popular scooter.

Suzuki showed a nice 125cc version of its VanVan bikes.
Attendants at gasoline stations know that motocycle very well:
They have to fill up its mini-tank almost every few minutes...

M-Bike, JRD, Platinum and Zongshen Ryuka, all assembler of China-bikes missed the show, but Tiger presented two of its most popular models: The Retro 110 and the Retro Sport 110.
Both are priced at about 30'000 Baht. Tiger shared the booth with BigBull, a newcomer.

Stallions is a brandname for China made (fun-) motorcycles.
The company is backed by a strong car reseller from Bangkok. With their Stallion's Mini range of motorcyles, mostly copies of small Honda bikes, they entered the Thai market about 2 years ago.
It seems to be a success: On a large booth they presented dozens of funbikes in different shapes and colors.

Stallion's Solo.
Most of Stallion's bikes are currently manufactured by China's Jiangsu Sacin Motorcycle Co., Ltd.
In the export market also known as SkyTeam.

Stallion's 'new' Pony, a replica of Honda's Dax, in production (at Honda) during the 70's:
In China a popular bike, manufactured by many different companys, mostly known as Giraffe.
Will hit the shops in different versions starting from 39'900 Baht.

BigBull, the Soul of Motorcycles Maniac, is a newcomer on the Thai market.
According to a saleswomen, the company has no connections with Stallions or Tiger.
It runs the same marketing strategy like Stallions, but with small choppers and a dirt-bike.

BigBull's Rock, a Replica of Honda's former Jazz (motorcyle) and popular in China and its export markets.
Usually produced with 50cc, 72cc & 90cc engines.
In Thailand available only with a 125cc motor. Thai's believe that less than 125cc can't move them...

BigBull's Rock in an eyecatching version. Available for about 42'000 Baht.

SYM, a manufacturer from Taiwan who runs its own factory in China, showcased its scooters and this bike.
The Wolf is a popular motorcycle in both countries.
According to a salesman, the company doesn't sell the Wolf in Thailand.

In the Accessories Department of the Show Olay presented its 'Men Solutions' with Ladyboys:

I had to say thank you - not for me!

I prefer Chevrolet's Superior Stake Truck from 1926 and its fruits!

See you next year again - or tomorrow at another event!