Porsche commits to MIMS

PORSCHE has been confirmed as a starter for the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show (MIMS) from February 27.

The Stuttgart sportscar maker will give three new models their Australian debuts at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre – the brand’s first oil-burning model in the Cayenne diesel, plus facelifted versions of the Cayman coupe and Boxster convertible.

The compression-ignition Porsche SUV will appear at “Jeff’s Shed” for two and a half days only, however – between 5pm and 10pm on opening day and between 10am and 10pm the next two days (Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1).

As previously reported, the Cayenne diesel hits Porsche dealers in April, priced at $101,900 in standard automatic guise and powered by a 176kW/550Nm Volkswagen-sourced 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 that returns 9.3L/100km.

The upgraded Boxster and Cayman twins – due on sale here in mid-March – pack new 188kW and 195kW 2.9-litre flat sixes respectively at base level, up a respective 8kW and 15kW over the 2.7-litre engines they replace.

As well as being more powerful, the new engines also offer improved fuel consumption and will be offered with Porsche’s new PDK double-clutch automatic transmission.

Left: Hyundai Genesis.

Hyundai’s Genesis Coupe has also been confirmed this week for the 2009 MIMS, which will be Australia’s only major motor show this year after the announcement that the Australian International Motor Show will alternate between Sydney and Melbourne from 2010.

Hyundai’s first rear-drive performance coupe will join the same brand’s previously-confirmed i30cw wagon on show in Melbourne, despite the fact it will not be produced in right-hand drive form and therefore will not go on sale in Australia.

The Genesis Coupe made its Australian public debut at last night’s opening Top Gear Live show in Sydney and, elsewhere, will be powered by either 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder or 3.8-litre DOHC alloy V6 engine.

According to show promoter, the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic) – the dealer division of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce – this year’s exhibits will represent 94.9 per cent of Australia’s total car sales.

Makes to miss Melbourne will include Jaguar and Land Rover, Chrysler, Dodge, Volvo, Mini, Smart and all Ateco-distributed brands including Citroen, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ferrari and Maserati.

“At least two new hybrids” have also been heralded for the event, along with the electric vehicles confirmed last week in Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV and Subaru’s Stella.

BMW, which will show its M1 Homage concept, will be the largest exhibitor at this year’s Melbourne show, with Volkswagen and Lexus also confirmed to take extra floor space – the latter to display its all-new RX SUV and LF-A Roadster concept.

Volkswagen will stage Australian debuts for its Passat CC (to be launched next week) new Golf VI range (due on sale in March) and Robust Pick-Up (RPU) concept.

The VACC this week also confirmed the presence of Audi (which will show its upcoming Q5 compact SUV), Toyota (Prius MkIII), Ford (which could show its facelifted Territory), FPV, Holden, HSV, Bentley (Continental GT Speed), Lotus (Evora) and Lamborghini (Gallardo LP560-4).

As previously reported, Mazda (which will show its redesigned Mazda3 range in Australia for the first time), Peugeot (308 CC), Honda (Insight), Mitsubishi (i-MiEV), Subaru (Stella EV), Nissan, Kia, Renault, Izuzu Ute Australia and Suzuki will also be at MIMS.

Also as previously reported, Skoda will unveil its facelifted Octavia ahead of its March release (with RS and Scout versions to follow later this year) and its new Superb flagship, which goes on sale in late May.

However, both the Superb wagon and the Czech brand’s Fabia small hatch are not confirmed for Australia.

While GM Premium Brands will have a MIMS presence, it is not yet known what will be exhibited after the indefinite postponement of Cadillac’s Australian relaunch via the CTS sedan.

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