Bugatti Veyron was set its price at 165 million baht at Bangkok Motor Expo 2007, while most production cars were cut their prices to below 1 million baht to boost their sales.
Although the new-car market has taken a beating this year, with sales sliding 12 percent, there was no shortage of exotic supercars at the Bangkok International Motor Expo 2007, which exhibited during the first two weeks of December. Each auto company hoped to make up for the drop in sales during the rest of the year.
Bugatti Veyron was set its price at 165 million baht at Bangkok Motor Expo 2007, while most production cars were cut their prices to below 1 million baht to boost their sales.Carmakers were trying to make sure that Thai customers knew their cars were E20-gasohol capable. But what made the real difference for customers was the 5-percent cut in excise tax that most auto-makers have been passing on to customers. Ford, Honda, Mazda and Nissan have formally introduced lower prices.
While, Honda took the occasion of this expo to launch its new 2008 Accord, which now comes with the option of a 3.5-, 2.4- or 2-litre engine. Another option is a global positioning system (GPS) for navigation.
Subaru launched its new-generation Impreza at the Expo, which will now cater more to the mass market with the help of a 1.5-litre engine and price tag of 1.1 million baht. "The latest Impreza will definitely boost our sales, we expect to sell 50 units," said an importer of Subaru.
To show its commitment to Thailand and wow people with its technology, Hyundai showed off the i-Blue - a fuel-cell vehicle that can travel more than 600 kilometres on a single tank of hydrogen. "After having left the Thai market for more than a decade, many Thais have a poor impression of Hyundai. But by displaying the i-Blue here, we want people to know we're here to stay and not behind in technology in any way," said Hyundai Thailand marketing manager.
But the most exciting ones for Thai customers were supercars. And the most expensive one at the show was the Bugatti Veyron, imported by SEC, Thailand's largest grey-market importer. The Veyron's 8-litre turbocharged engine produces an astounding 1,001 horsepower and can boost it from zero to 100kph in a dizzying 2.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 407 kph. In Thailand, it goes for 165 million baht including tax.
Japanese exotic-supercar manufacturer Mitsuoka was also at the show, so be ready to pay a heavy 11 million baht for the Orichi and 3.8 million baht for the Galue.
Raging-bull Lamborghini had two models on display: the Gallardo Spyder and the Gallardo Superleggera. Alongside was the British sports-car manufacturer Lotus with the Exige S. And Hummer, with its H2 on display. All three makes are imported into Thailand by Niche Cars.And as usual, after the show many of these supercars will be purchased by sons of Thai billionaires.
