Sharjah Motor Show 28 Nov-1 Dec 2012

Roundup of what to see at the Sharjah Motor Show

By Shahzad Sheikh

Sharjah Motor Show 2012

The Sharjah Motor Show opened yesterday at the Sharjah Expo Centre, timings are from 10am to 10pm except for Friday when its 4pm to 10pm. Admission is free. Show website.

So what can you expect to see at the show this year? Well there’s the Middle East Motor Awards – you can check out a spectacular line-up of nominated and winning cars.

See our full gallery of images on our Facebook page at this link!

Sharjah Motor Show 2012

New launches Mitsubishi Lancer Fortis and Mirage

As for genuine new car launches, well there actually are a couple. Both from Mitsubishi, the Lancer Fortis and the Mirage.

The Mirage, more popularly known as the Colt, is a marque that’s been around since 1978 you might be surprised to know. This is the sixth generation, and it is a Thai-built model, that comes with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with a CVT or manual producing 77bhp.

Sharjah Motor Show 2012

The Lancer Fortis is a weird one. It’s actually based on the very handsome little EX Lancer, but is built in Taiwan, and for some reason the cool-looking front and rear has been replace with a dull and staid generic style.

It’s intended to replace the regular Lancer, that’s the beloved of rental fleets here, and which almost everyone here as at one time or another driven. So they’ve taken a stylish car and ‘cheapened’ it! How cheap? Well prices will start at around AED50,000 ($13,600) and rise to AED60k.

Sharjah Motor Show 2012

Nissan Altima and Usain Bolt GT-R

On the Nissan stand there’s a chance to see the new Altimawe’ve drive it, read that story here. And you can’t pass up the opportunity to get your picture taken on the starting blocks alongside the Usain Bolt special edition Nissan GT-R.

Sharjah Motor Show 2012

Read what happened when it went head-to-head with the McLaren MP4-12C here.

And if like Imthishan you have some bizarre fetish for commercial vans, you can also check out the all-new NV350 Urvan in its first public showing.

Sharjah Motor Show 2012

Rolls-Royce special editions

Two bespoke Rollers at the Sharjah show include the global debut of the Rolls-Royce One Thousand and One Nights Ghost collection – boy, can they fit all that onto a plaque? – and the first regional showing of the Phantom Coupe Aviator Collection.

Sharjah Motor Show 2012

The Ghost features two-ton paint with ‘shades inspired by the warm colour palette of dusk and dawn’ and has hand-painted coachlines incorporating calligraphy. By the way, this edition is only ‘Chapter 1’ of this theme and there will be a Chapter 2 and 3.

The Phantom Coupe Aviator Collection is finished in Aviator Grey and features aeronautical influences.

Sharjah Motor Show 2012

GM and Liberty Motors

There’s a massive presence from GM and its dealers Liberty at the show, plus it’s a chance to feast your eyes on the awesome Chevrolet ZL1 read our review here.

You also get a chance to crawl all over the new Cadillac XTS (our review here) and its clever gizmos, but perhaps even more important, this represents the regional show debut of the new Caddy ATS – a rival to the BMW 3 series. We’re hoping to get our hands on that car very soon.

http://motoringme.com/mme-webshow-episode-7/

Liberty Motors is exclusively distributing Opel products in the UAE – and you thought the Opel brand had left this market. The full line up of cars included the Meriva, Corsa, Astra and Insignia. In fact the three-door Astra is a very good looking car indeed. We’ll bring you more on those cars soon.

http://motoringme.com/mme-webshow-episode-7/

One of the absolute stars of the show is the Firebreather! This is essentially a Camaro with a bodykit that makes it look like a modern-day Firebird Trans Am – since they aren’t made anymore. In fact the Firebreather is based on a hero car from a forthcoming movie called Jinn, set to be released by the middle of next year.

http://motoringme.com/mme-webshow-episode-7/

If you really really wanted a new Pontiac Trans Am then this is the way to go. This actual car here on the stand is priced at AED320,000 ($87k), but prices will range from AED285k-360k ($77k-98k) depending on spec and options – yes you can base it on a ZL1 and yes, you can ask for even more power and a louder exhaust!

If that doesn’t wake the spirit world, nothing will! More on this car coming soon.

http://motoringme.com/mme-webshow-episode-7/

Also at the show

All the German brands are represented at the show this year. You can check out the full line-up of Mercedes SUVs, and both the SLS and the SLS Roadster. BMW has the startlingly sexy 6-series Gran Coupe, Mini has John Cooper Works editions and the Countryman, Volkswagen is showing its line-up plus the Amarok pickups and Audi too boasts and impressive line-up.

http://motoringme.com/mme-webshow-episode-7/

Don’t forget to check out the classic section with an extreme low-rider hot-rod front and centre on display.

http://motoringme.com/mme-webshow-episode-7/

Did you go to the show? Let us know what you thought of it below!

4 responses to “Sharjah Motor Show 28 Nov-1 Dec 2012”

  1. وكاله عامه بالموقع

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