World debuts for Melbourne show

Today's Melbourne International Motor Show opening will host a number of world premieres, including BMW’s 3 Series replacement, an all-new A-Class from Mercedes-Benz, Audi’s blistering new 313kW RS4, the next-gen Mazda MX-5 and Bentley's new Continental Flying Spur.

These significant new models were revealed to international press two days ago on March 1 but will go on show to the public following their local press reveals from 5.00pm today – about three hours ahead of the Geneva show’s public opening.

The virtually simultaneous public reveals in Melbourne and Geneva also means Australians will see the facelifted 2005 7 Series first, too, while BMW’s M5 and 5 Series Touring are also making their Australian debuts in Melbourne.

While the new 3 Series sedan will roll sinto BMW dealers from June, the RS4 won't arrive until early 2006, while the new MX-5 is expected on sale Down Under in October.

For Mercedes-Benz, the A-Class premiered ahead of its introduction in May, the CLS four-door ‘coupe’ has arrived before sales start in June, and the SLK 55 AMG, to be launched later this month, has also turned up in advance.

Others premiering at the Melbourne auto extravaganza include Audi’s S4 Cabriolet (due on sale here later this year), Aston Martin’s V12 DB9 coupe, Volkswagen’s Golf GTi, the successor to Honda’s Legend luxury sedan, Renault’s seven-seater Grand Scenic (due on sale in the third quarter of this year) and Citroen’s all-new C4, which is due for release in April.

There are right-hand drive versions of both Chrysler’s 300C sedan (due for release here in late 2005) and Nissan’s Pathfinder SUV (due on sale in June), and one of just two Maserati Spyder 90th Anniversary models to arrive Down Under.

Land Rover has introduced the 287kW Range Rover Sport hyper-SUV and the updated 2006 Model Year Range Rover, the latter including a new Vogue model.

Australian-first concept cars are found from one end of Jeff’s Shed to the other, with notable entrants including Honda’s striking HSC supercar, a 154kW John Cooper Works-tuned Mini Cooper S dubbed Red Devil and Subaru’s seven-seater B9 SUV concept. Don’t forget the Focus Vignale on the Ford stand, either.

On the local front, Toyota reveals a supercharged Camry concept (see separate story), Holden will preview the Tigra cabrio, Astra Turbo three-door and Astra wagon Euro trio (left) it will import later this year and Ford will announce a major export deal for Territory (watch this space for details tomorrow).

With Mitsubishi’s much-anticipated Magna replacement scheduled for unveiling at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney show in October, the triple-diamond brand has again relied upon showcasing its CZ3 Tarmac concept and the Lancer Evo VIII, the latter heralding the release of a new local shipment.

Other significant displays will include that of Kia’s new Sportage SUV due on sale in April, while making their second local appearance following their Brisbane show debuts in February will be the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, the new Lexus GS sedan and Peugeot’s latest 407 HDi diesel and Touring wagon models.

Also on show in Melbourne will be a homegrown, 522kW supercharged V10 super-coupe dubbed Rosso-Italia and capable of a claimed 340km/h, plus a blown 225kW/422Nm Magna AWD prototype courtesy of Sprintex Superchargers, which will also exhibit a supercharged Harley-Davidson V-Rod.