Big bikes take the
honours at Motor Show
Whilst not as numerous as
the cars on show at the Bangkok International Motor Show,
there was still a very good representation from the two
wheeled industry. Most of these exhibits were in the special
motorcycle pavilion, but there were some dotted around in
other areas, such as BMW, who had their giant R1200 RT
motorcycle, which looks like a two wheeled car. The exhibit
was complete with a lovely evening-gowned lady to explain it
all, including how she was going to swing a leg over such a
huge beast (no doubt she would have ridden side-saddle, as all
nice Thailand ladies do). Incidentally this is known in the UK
as Mr. Blobby!
With Moto GP having easily overtaken Eff
Wun as a spectator sport with real action, the motorcycle
manufacturers were out in force to show their wares, backed by
a racing pedigree. Honda displayed one of the bikes used by
Sete Gibernau in the 2004 challenge where he came second.
Number 15 is his favourite number. Unfortunately for Honda, he
looks like coming in strong second again.
Suzuki had its monster Hyabusa on the
stand. This monster is famed for shredding its rear tyres
every 2,500 kays, so unless you take spare rubber, don’t buy
this little beast as a touring bike!
Yamaha did the impossible last year in the
Moto GP series. Offered Honda’s 2003 championship winning
rider Valentino Rossi a huge sack of gold to come and ride
their previously outclassed Yamaha GP bike. Rossi took the
gold and ran away from the opposition, to win the 2004 crown
and leave Honda gnashing its corporate teeth, and making a
lifelong enemy of Gibernau. Yamaha are still saying, “Thank
you very much!” and displayed a Rossi replica. These Moto GP
bikes are 990 cc and are V5 formation engines, for both the
Honda and the Yamaha.
Yamaha also had their 1,670 cc big bike
there as well, which would have to be another tyre shredder,
and if it ever fell off the side stand you’d need a crane to
get it upright.
Not to be outdone, Kawasaki brought over
their 2,000 cc V-twin. These bikes are now bigger than the
Harley Davidsons that used to be thought of as the largest
motorcycles.
Proving that they can make engines as small
as 250 cc, Yamaha stuffed one in a scooter, to make it the
ideal runabout for a Thai family of seven.
Harley Davidson did not have a stand in the motorcycle
tent, but one of their bikes was on display in a special
tuning stand. This was a weird and wonderful creation with a
tube frame that looked like it was made of spaghetti. I reckon
it would have to have all the torsional rigidity of a sponge
cake.
Mr.
Blobby
Sete
Gibernau’s bike
Suzuki
Hyabusa
Rossi
replica
Spaghetti
tube HD
Kawasaki’s
big V-twin
Yamaha’s
big scooter
Hyundai
fortunes
Hyundai might be in trouble in some
countries, but not in China. Automotive News in its China
Conference reported on Hyundai’s expansion into the Chinese
market, a marketplace that you ignore at your peril, if you
are a motor manufacturer.
According to Automotive News, three years
ago, Hyundai formed a joint venture with the Beijing
Automotive Industry Group. And now that venture - Beijing
Hyundai Motor Co. - plans to sell more than 500,000 vehicles
annually in China by 2008. That figure is just short of
Thailand’s total production last year from all automakers
here.
Given the size of the Chinese market, any
carmaker that is not a significant player in China will slip
down the global rankings of top automakers, Automotive News
reports. It is the job of Beijing Hyundai President J.M. Noh
to make sure that doesn’t happen to Hyundai.
“We want to enter the ranks of the
world’s top five automakers,” Noh said in a 2003
interview. “We know we can’t get there without increasing
our Chinese market share.” With the sheer size of the
Chinese market, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to
see that Mr. Noh is right!
What Mr. Peugeot might send
us! A 407 V6
Our Down-under correspondent John Weinthal
came through with the latest from Peugeot. Here are the Words
from Weinthal.
“France’s Peugeot is one of the
world’s older car makes. It became a household name here
when a round-backed 203 won the first Redex Around Australia
in the 1950s.
“Over the next 30 years the 203 and later
models built substantial reputations as cars which were more
than tough enough for outback Australia while setting high
sedan standards for handling, ride comfort and near-silent
ride.
Peugeot
407
“The latest Peugeot to come here is the
Camry-sized 407. This 407 has some of the most distinctive
styling of any sedan or wagon around with a Ferrari-like mouth
and long nose - to my eye it is extraordinarily attractive,
though not all agreed.
“Even more distinctive than the sedan is
the panoramic glass-roofed 407 Touring, or station wagon. Both
the sedan and wagon are offered with a 116 kW 2.2 litre
four-cylinder engine, a 2 litre 100 kW diesel and a 155 kW V6.
“We drove the V6 sedan with a six-speed
automatic transmission which includes a tiptronic function for
greater driver control, and an adaptive program which - in
theory at least - means that the car anticipates your driving
mood and adjusts change gear points accordingly.
“The 407 range starts at $A 42,800 for a
6-speed manual ST sedan rising to $A 59,000 for the V6
six-speed auto wagon with all the toys most could wish for.
They are exceptionally well-equipped and notable for their
plethora of safety equipment starting with eight airbags
across the range.
“There’s ABS anti-lock braking with
brake assist, an electronic stability program and most
effective and smooth operating traction control - as one would
hope in a near 1.5 tonne 155 kW front-wheel-drive family
sedan.
“There are parking sensors and automatic
xenon headlamps with washers. Rain-sensing wipers turn on
automatically and adjust wiper speed according to the
prevailing precipitation.
“The fully leather clad deeply padded
seats accommodate five people with more than adequate head,
leg and shoulder room. The steering wheel adjusts for rake and
reach and the front seats are power adjustable.
“That’s the good news - distinctive to
look at, loaded with safety and comfort items and with a
strong heritage, but the 407 competes in an arena crowded with
worthy opponents. There’s the supremely competent
supercharged Mercedes C class, Nissan’s excellent new Maxima
(Teana in Thailand) and Honda’s Accord not to mention the
appealing Citroen C5 which comes from the same stable as the
Peugeot and is also available with a diesel and a V6.
“The Peugeot has a few annoying features.
The six-stacker CD holder is in the boot. The audio and
climate-control buttons are small and confusingly arrayed
meaning one’s eyes leave the road for any adjustments. The
air-con, as on a number of European cars, only just coped with
our recent hot weather and was no match for any Holden
Commodore or Australian Ford Falcon or even the most basic
Korean and Japanese offerings in the speed of cooling.
“On road the 407 offers a soothing ride
without setting any new standards in the areas of handling,
communication with the road or isolation from road noise.
Performance from the V6 is more than adequate but far from
sporting. I am sure the four cylinder petrol engined 407 would
struggle somewhat.
“Basically this is a good car with
stand-out styling and an extensive equipment list. The wagon
is a real standout from the crowd load hauler. However, after
a week which included a number of electrical component
glitches which were no doubt specific to the test car, but
something of a worry nonetheless I had to conclude that it is
fighting above its weight when the opposition includes Maxima,
Accord, C Class Merc and the Citroen C5.”
(Thank you John, for your usual no holds
barred approach. Dr. Iain.)
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week, I asked what was the weight of
Karl Benz’s first vehicle (without driver). The answer was
265 kg!
So to this week. We mention Peugeot this
week, so let us look at the connection between the Peugeot
company and Porsche’s 911 series. Just what is the
connection?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be
the first correct answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
