Who sold the most at the Bangkok International Motor Show?

Mazda3

Each year there is competition between the various manufacturers as to who can get the greatest number of cars out the door. Having a new model, such as the Honda Brio, does help generate interest and then sales. There are also many inducements offered by the manufacturers to stimulate purchases during the show.

The attendance figures for the show were 1.9 million people through the doors, and other interesting figures included 193 exhibitors and 34,369 booking sales.

The big mover, as usual, was Toyota and some of the figures quoted are very interesting, as can be seen by the table:

TOYOTA 8,487

HONDA 5,172

NISSAN 3,288

ISUZU 2,995

MAZDA 2,850

MITSUBISHI 1,920

CHEVROLET 1,763

FORD 1,316

PROTON 1,162

M-BENZ 1,033

BMW 954

HYUNDAI 882

CHERY 613

SUZUKI 580

MINI 72

WULING 72

In the pick-up section, Isuzu is still top dog with almost 3,000 sales, with the other pick-up manufacturers such as Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Chevrolet and Ford with sedans as well as pick-ups in their overall figures.

Proton outsold Mercedes-Benz, which is to be expected with the price differential, but Proton also outsold Hyundai, Chery and Suzuki, all with similar offerings.

Way down in the sales figures was Mini, selling as many as Wuling. There’s a message there somewhere, but BMW won’t get it.

Now is this thing ‘cool’ or not?

“He’d fly through the air with the greatest of ease,

That daring young man on the flying trapeze.”

And that was written in 1867, but now we don’t even need the trapeze with a New Zealand company behind an ambitious aeronautical project called the Martin Jetpack, a strap-on personal flying machine, now in the final stages of development, with the first machines to be dispatched for solo flights by the end of the year.

Martin Jetpack

Military agencies, border control and rescue organizations in the US will be the first to use the $75,000 personal flying device.

Inventor Glenn Martin predicts it will be just 18 months before other wealthy enthusiasts get their delivery.

The jetpack resembles two leaf blowers welded with a two liter, jet-powered engine that can reach 100 km/h at heights of up to 50 meters, and it carries enough fuel for 30 minutes of flight.

It is categorized as a microlight so it has many restrictions on its use and cannot be taken into the city centers; however, there are hopes that this classification this may change under US law.

Martin’s machine, lauded as Time magazine’s most anticipated invention last year, has been more than three decades in the making.

The Christchurch man began tinkering with the concept in the 1970s, inspired by the limited success of the US Bell Rocket Belt, which stayed airborne for just 26 seconds before crashing.

It was designed to be the “simplest aircraft in the world,” said inventor Martin, and “as Newton said, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So when you shoot lots of air down very fast you go up and you’re flying.”

According to Martin, it is safe (or as safe as anything that flies can be, I suppose) and they look for safety in design, operations, through pilot training and have incorporated structural design and emergency systems that minimize the impact of an accident. The Martin Jetpack’s extensive safety features include a rapid deploying parachute, roll cage structure and shock absorbing undercarriage.

An unmanned remote-controlled (UAV) version is well advanced in its development with field trials expected to begin in the second quarter of 2011.

Sandy Stuvik’s 2011 calendar

The Royal Automobile Association of Thailand (RAAT) and Sport Authority of Thailand (SAT) have officially announced their support for 15 year old Sandy Stuvik as the Thai Athlete Representative for competing in Formula Renault Eurocup 2011.

Sandy Stuvik suited up and ready to represent Thailand

The young Thai racer, who last year became the youngest Asian Formula Renault Champion ever, was invited to race by many teams in Europe, but he has settled on the Danish team Keo Racing for the 2011 season. Sandy said, “Eurocup will be a tough challenge for me, considering all the young talented drivers from around the world competing in this series. I have so many things to learn for this year. Everything is quite new for me. It is my first time to experience all tracks. Even it is still formula Renault, but the engine and the gear are totally different. The engine and car body are bigger than last year and it is paddle shift gears, the same as in Formula 1, with electronically managed downshifts. I will do try my best to learn and adjust myself as quick as I can. I know I will likely start the season in the lower half of the grid, but are determined to get into the top half as soon as possible. I would like thank all my sponsors: Singha Corporation, The Pizza Company, Dacon Inspection Services, RAAT and SAT.”

Fortunately, Sandy has a few years up his sleeve to graduate through the ranks, so 2011 will not be a ‘make it or break it’ year.

The first race of the season was 16-17 April 2011 at the Motorland Circuit in Spain followed by Spa Francorchamps, then Nrburgring, Hungaroring, Silverstone, Paul Ricard, before ending back in Spain at Catalunya Circuit in October.

Racing drivers who have graduated from Formula Renault Eurocup and are now in Formula 1 include Pedro de la Rosa, Felipe Massa and Kamui Kobayashi.

Nissan 370Z wows the Down-Under market

There are a few Nissan 370Zs floating around Thailand, but with our Draconian import duties, you would be lucky to see any. Down-Under they do not have such barriers to owning such vehicles and the 370Z comes in at around 2.4 million baht on a sheer currency exchange figure. For that sort of money you would be lucky to get a Mini in this country, I am afraid.

Nissan 370Z

The new 370Z is claimed by Nissan to be Australia’s best-selling two-seater sports car, and it just got better with additional equipment alongside minor safety and cosmetic improvements.

These include Nissan’s “next generation” audio and navigation system, which the company claims has more functionality and features, including a touch screen display, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, 9.3GB hard drive and reversing camera.

The Coupe variant also gets a luggage-bay cargo blind for hiding valuables from prying eyes, while the Roadster gets climate controlled seats that cool or heat the cushions.

In March, the 370Z sold 140 units which represents a 22 percent market share. On annual figures from last year, the Z’s yearly sales of 264 units put it equal second alongside the Mercedes CLC-class, behind the fugly BMW 1 Series. (Have Australians no taste these days?)

Autotrivia Quiz

Last week I asked who started in 81st place in a race in Europe and came through to win? Clue: he was driving a Mors. It was the French driver Fernand Gabriel in the 1903 Paris-Madrid race, which he won at an average speed of around 110 km/h. The race was eventually stopped because of serious accidents and Fernand was declared the winner.

So to this week. What is this sports car? Two liter, six cylinder, 220 km/h top speed, built 1967-70, and they made less than 350 of them.

For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email [email protected].

Good luck!