Excited motor enthusiasts, some tugging at desperately fleeing spouses and companions, crowded Cape Town’s Motor Ex on Saturday to catch a glimpse of their favourite cars, including several unreleased models.
Excited motor enthusiasts, some tugging at desperately fleeing spouses and companions, crowded Cape Town’s Motor Ex on Saturday to catch a glimpse of their favourite cars, including several unreleased models.
The Motor-Ex Show was well supported by local manufacturers and importers who dazzled the local crowds at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Tucked away at the back of the hall was one of the show’s surprises that the GM show team assured us had only arrived on the previous Tuesday. The black Opel Tigra almost went unnoticed in its cramped and poorly-lit surroundings, but this cheeky little coupé-cabriolet will soon become a regular feature on South African roads.
The car is fitted with a electric-hydraulic metal roof with two sections that open and close at the touch of button. The interior features bucket seats as standard and an aluminium-like instrument panel borrowed from the Corsa.
Soon to be launched, the Tigra is available with either the 67 kW 1,4-litre, or the 93 kW 1,8-litre ECOTEC engines with a five-speed gearbox as standard. Preliminary prices for the Tigra are R204 000 for the 1,4 and R235 000 for the 1,8.
In attendance too was Honda’s versatile FR-V MPV with its three-by-three seating arrangement popularised by Fiat’s Multipla. The vehicle will be launched in October with the choice of a 110 kW 2,0-litre engine or 92 kW 1,7-litre petrol engine and a six-speed manual transmission as standard.
Based on the CR-V soft-roader’s platform, the FR-V will probably sell for about R230 000, a Honda official said.
The two-car Ferrari/Maserati stand was dominated by Ferrari’s F430 that sent the cameras clicking away when it’s engine bay was uncovered to reveal the car’s 4,3-litre V8, capable of punching out an awesome 360 kW at 8 500 r/min and 450 N.m of torque at 5 250 r/min.
As promised, Alfa’s new 147 in striking blue pulled quite a crowd with its signature profile and fresh new styling. Prices for the model when it is released shortly will range from R183 000 for the three-door 1,6-litre derivative, to R219 000 for the five-door 1,9-litre JTD Multijet.
The car was flanked by its mates, the Alfa GT and 156, while on the adjacent stand, the Fiat line-up comprised the flagship 1,9 JTD Multipla and the new Strada pick-up.
At the Subaru stand, the Impreza WRX STi was swamped by eager enthusiasts vying for a chance to slide behind the steering wheel of the cult car, while a Forester with cut-outs showing the car’s mechanisation was another point of interest.
The Tigra was shown alongside other models from the General Motors stable, such as the Isuzu KB, Saab 9-3 convertible, Chevrolet Lumina Ute and the Opel Corsa Utility and Astra.
DaimlerChrysler’s Mercedes-Benz stand featured the new A-Class and CLS among its displays, while the Jeep and Chrysler stands showcased the new Grand Cherokee and Lancer Evo, respectively.
Audi showed off it’s A8, A6, A4 and S4, with the obvious omissions being the A3 in both three-door and five-door Sportback guises. The facelifted A3 will be launched at the end of July, while the Sportback is currently being launched.
BMW showcased a car from every range, while at the Citroën stand, the cute C2 VTS and the novel C4 were both overrun with keen showgoers.
Peugeot’s people-mover, the 807, and its Ssangyong counterpart, the Stavic, were in attendance too, though the attention they received was not as great as their more glamorous neighbours.
