But while weve always had the Megatrade Hall-based Trans Sport Show held every April, that wildly popular show caters more to the aftermarket high-performance side of the car business. Its more like Las Vegas annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) show where both car manufacturers and aftermarket companies converge to showcase their latest go-fast/look-sharp products and services. In fact, Trans Sport Show has just recently been given accreditation by SEMA according to Sophie de los Santos, the brilliant and hard-working woman behind Trans Sport Show.
But what about a show that will highlight the best and the brightest of the mainstream car industry? As far as I can remember (and Ive been attending shows for over a quarter of a century), weve had none. At least none that the car industry, as a whole, has embraced as their own. Until now.
Occupying the full 5,000 sqm of the world-class World Trade Center in Roxas Blvd., the recently concluded (April 28-30) Manila Motor Show accomplished in its first time what previous shows had failed to do: bring the heavyweights of the automotive industry under one roof.
But before you think that it was just one multi-branded showroom of brand new cars peppered with smooth-talking salesmen eager to make a sale, take a look at the accompanying picture and see what a grand scale the Manila Motor Show truly was.
Ive been to the motor shows in Tokyo, Detroit, Melbourne, Bangkok and Macau so I know an international show when I see one. And the aptly named Manila Motor Show (other international car shows are named after their host cities), organized by Worldbex International, is most definitely one.
Aside from the usual assortment of production cars some of which were just making their public debuts like the new Chryslers, Peugeots and Hyundais the Manila Motor Show was chosen as the venue for some sneak peeks at upcoming models, notably the Ford Focus. Of course, the usual assortment of dream cars like Ferraris, Maseratis, Jaguars, BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes, Volvos (highlighted by the high-performance turbocharged S60 T5 model) as well as a gaggle of awesome Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions drew lots of crowds.
The Car Awards Group (CAGI) composed of local motoring journalists also showcased the ten category winners of their recent Car of the Year Awards (CoTY), headlined of course, by the overall winner, the Honda Accord 3.0 V6. The Manila Motor Show also gave visitors a chance to try several vehicles with test drives around the World Trade Center grounds. Ford even had a special off-road track built for people to try out the abilities of their family of SUVs.
If there was one thing missing, though, it was the futuristic concept cars. Hopefully, well see them next year, as I spoke to the organizers and they fully intend to launch an even bigger and better show next year. Hopefully too, the Manila Motor Show will send a signal that the Philippine car industry is alive, kicking and most definitely growing.
Last weeks set of backseat drivers, wary of all the happenings on the road and in these pages, had this to say
The recent jeepney strike proved that in the long-term life would be better without them. There was hardly any traffic and the streets were smog-free! 09178459239
Someone should put a stop to people making minor roads their own personal playgrounds, converting them into basketball, volleyball and badminton courts. 09178571423