Brisbane and Melbourne motor shows face off

A MEDIA war between this year’s Brisbane and Melbourne motor shows has begun in earnest with a number of unveiling announcements from both camps.

Kicking off from Friday, February 1, the 2008 Brisbane International Motor Show will play host to Australian public debuts of Maserati’s new Granturismo flagship, as well as the final production version of Toyota’s belated TRD HiLux.

Wearing Toyota Style Australia clothing and offering 25 per cent more peak power than the standard engine's 175kW (with peak torque jump from 376Nm to “well over 400Nm”), the TRD-fettled, dual-cab 4x4 version of the biggest selling vehicle in Queensland in 2007 will enter production in late February, ahead of a second-quarter launch.

Mitsubishi will use the Brisbane show to showcase the Lancer Evo sedan and a new range of “Panther” accessories for its Pajero, Triton, Grandis and Lancer models.

Meantime, Subaru has confirmed its third-generation Forester will make its Australian debut at the Melbourne motor show four Fridays later on February 29.

Apart from the wider, taller and roomier new Forester, which goes on sale from mid-March, Melbourne will also play host to Audi’s 426kW twin-turbo V10-powered RS6 Avant super-wagon.