One of the many international media here covering the Bangkok International Motorshow 2014 asked me yesterday what was my favourite aspect of the show. Admittedly, I was a little stumped. It’s hard to pin-point exactly what’s the best aspect of BIMS, there are so many to choose from, hence I decided to categorise them like this. For the record, this is my personal opinion on what appealed to me the most at the show, so here goes!
MOST EYE CATCHING CAR – BMW i8
I mean, seriously, just look at it. Pictures really don’t do it justice. Perhaps the platform it’s sitting on helped a little, but this car just makes you want to stare at it all day. It was hard to get a clear shot because everyone wanted their photo taken with it. The crew (in black) were working overtime just keeping this beauty ‘smudge-free’ from the hordes molesting it…
MOST SURPRISINGLY POPULAR CAR WITH THE CROWD – Mazda3 Sport Hatch
I pretty much had to elbow people out of the way, and ask others to ‘please step away from the vehicle!’ like a cop, to get these shots. This car generated heaps of interest, especially with the younger male crowd and for good reason. It looks fantastic. In fact the more you look at it, the more appealing it gets. Its proportions are just right. Nice one Mazda!
BEST PAINT JOB – Hyundai Veloster Turbo
I’m not sure if a gun-metal grey ‘matt’ finish qualifies as paint, but somehow it really works on this car!
WORST PAINT JOB – Aston Martin Vantage S
I’ll admit, yellow does look good on some cars, but NOT on an Aston Martin for God’s sake! That’s borderline automotive blasphemy! But yeah, I wouldn’t say no if someone wanted to give me this…
BEST ‘WELCOME BACK, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN’ – MG
Thanks to SAIC-CP, the MG brand is back again! They chose BIMS to unveil their new MG6, in both regular and ‘extra crispy’ racing form. I actually had to do a double-take when I first saw this stand, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me…
BEST BIKE DISPLAY – Ducati 1199 Superleggera
Strangely enough, this display is outside the main Challenger Hall. It’s a ‘lead-in’ to the Ducati stand, and shows exactly how they made this bike one of the lightest and most powerful superbikes in the world, by ‘breaking’ it down into its various components, brilliant!
UGLIEST CAR OF THE SHOW – Chevrolet Spin 1.5 LTZ
This thing reminds me of that scene in ‘Men in Black 1’ where the alien cockroach uses the farmer’s skin as a camouflage, and it’s too loose so he ‘pulls’ it back, stretching it a bit too much across the face, remember that? Sorry, I can’t bear to look anymore… it’s not much better from the back either…
THE MOST OSTENTATIOUS CAR ACCESSORY – Rolls-Royce Picnic Set
There’s an old adage that goes “If you have to ask how much, you can’t afford it”. Well, I did, and no I can’t, because I don’t want to have to sell two of my own cars to buy this… It is exquisitely made though, and yes, I’d be afraid to use it.
THE CUTEST CAR OF THE SHOW – Mitsubishi Mirage “Hello Kitty” Edition
Created especially for BIMS 2014, this limited-edition Mirage is only for sale at BIMS. It features very high quality HK decals all over the car, and HK seat covers too. Needless to say girls were swooning over this thing and many ‘selfies’ were being taken with it in the background. If Mitsubishi are trying to attract the fairer sex, this really did the trick.
COOLEST CAR OF THE SHOW – Mercedes-Benz CLS 250 ‘Shooting Brake’
I still think it’s a silly name, but I guess ‘Estate’ or ‘Station-wagon’ are just too passé for something as biblically sexy as this. I reckon this car will single-handedly alter the preconceived notion that wagons are boring, resoundingly. It’s just unbelievably gorgeous.
THE “I’D SELL ALL MY CARS FOR JUST THIS ONE” AWARD – Classic Porsche 911
It’s a classic Porsche 911. It’s in mint condition. It’s red. ‘Nuff said.
AND FINALLY….THE AWARD FOR “COMPLETELY DEFEATS THE PURPOSE” – Carlsson
Carlsson, a tuner, unleashed the hottest-dressed models at BIMS, I kid you not, they were really pushing the boundaries of decency on this one. They garnered a huge crowd of course, but I noticed no one was taking any photos of their cars! Well, not even me actually….see what I mean? See more photos of them in the updated photo gallery soon, if I don’t go blind editing them first.
