Show prepares to pull off the wraps

MOTOR SHOW 2011: The Irish Times Motor Show kicks off this weekend with the latest models and supercars, the stars of the electric…


MOTOR SHOW 2011: The Irish TimesMotor Show kicks off this weekend with the latest models and supercars, the stars of the electric revolution and a dedicated kids' zone

AS WE approach 115 years since horseless carriages first went on display in Dublin, this weekend sees the return of a national motor show to the RDS, at a time when the motoring world is undergoing a technological revolution some suggest is comparable with the arrival of the combustion engines of the 19th century.

Just as the very earliest motor cars made their public debuts to an Irish audience in 1897, the centrepiece of the Irish TimesMotor Show will be a showcase of the latest in hybrid and electric cars.

Back in 1897 The Irish Timesreported that "a distinct treat is in store for the citizens during the present month in the form of a cycle and motor car show" which would take place "in Balls Bridge premises of the Royal Dublin Society." There were only three cars on display at that show but it gave an indication that this fledgling technology was about to catch on.

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On Monday, January 18th, 1897, the paper reported: “At all events it seemed strange to see his Excellency Lord Cadogan, Lord Mayo, Lord Fermoy, and other staunch supporters of the horse at a horseless exhibition.

“It may be assumed that they came to see, and having seen, they will, no doubt still possess the opinion that there is a future for the cycle and the motor car without interference with the horse...The motor carriage has yet to win its way in public favour, and opinions are divided as regards the build of existing models. But experiments are important and useful.”

In many ways a similar opinion pervades these days about electric and alternative energy cars. Yet their impact may well be just as great.

By 1960, the Royal Dublin Society’s Spring Show and Industries Fair featured 18 car firms showing 80 private cars and was described by this paper’s motoring correspondent at the time as having “an attendance on some days – more than of many important international motor shows.”

Back in the 1970s and 1980s there was immense glamour attached to the RDS show, which showcased the best of the then current models, unveiled a few new ones and if you were lucky, you would get to rub shoulders with the odd celebrity. The first official “Irish Motor Show” took place in 1976 and featured the Volvo 66, Lancia Beta HPE, Vauxhall Chevette and – a major crowd puller – the Lancia Alitalia Stratos.

At later shows, mime artist “the Diceman” dressed in the livery of some car brand or other, entertaining adults but frightening children.

I was one of those frightened kids, scared at the sight of a walking/talking Opel badge. For me, the Motor Show was the highlight of the year. You could jump in and out of the shiny new cars, get enough free pens to last you until retirement and leave, tiny shoulders heaving from the weight of brochures and posters.

Back then, 100 horsepower would have been a hot hatchback and an electric car on sale and on the roads was something out of Tomorrow’s World.

By the time of the 1982 Irish Motor Show, The Irish TimesMotoring Correspondent Andrew Hamilton noted that in Ireland, the excise duties and tax on a car selling at £6,000 in 1982 was 39 per cent of the selling price.

With this year’s arrival of mass-production electric cars on these shores, the new technology brings with it loads of questions and for the first time visitors will get the chance to inspect and ask questions about some of the latest in hybrid and electric car technology under one roof in the Electric Avenue exhibition section.

Vehicles like the European Car of the Year, the Nissan Leaf, Renault’s Fluence ZE, as well as the Toyota Prius Plug-In and the Audi R8 E-Tron will make their Irish Motor Show debuts and they will be joined by some of the best of the current crop of hybrid vehicles. The Toyota Prius and Corolla hybrid models also are on show in Electric Avenue – as are the new Lexus CT200h, Lexus RX Hybrid, and the Honda Insight and CRZ hybrid models. There will also be a display of the electric car recharging options for both public places and in households, with plenty of information for those considering a move to electric.

The aim is to provide a comprehensive guide to the electric car technology due not only in the next few years but also in the next decade or so. It’s arguably the most significant development in motoring technology for several decades and potential buyers need to be well briefed on what’s planned before they make their next purchases.

Premium brand Audi will have a particularly impressive presence at the show, with as we already mentioned, the R8 E-Tron concept model, which is making its Irish debut, and there will also be the R15 TDI Le Mans car – a massive draw for motorsport fans. While the E-Tron is a concept prototype, Audi has pencilled in an electric version of the R8 for 2012.

The brand will also be displaying the A1, their new A7 and A8 luxury cars, and the high-performance RS5.

Sister brand Volkswagen will give a debut to their new high-performance Golf R, but there will also be a display of their ultra frugal Bluemotion models.

Italian brands Fiat and Alfa Romeo will be out in force with a full range of their models. The Alfa MiTo TCT Twin Clutch model will be shown before it makes its official European debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Fiat will have their 500, Panda and Punto Evo models on show, as well as the Bravo, Qubo and Doblo versions.

Renault has enjoyed enormous success in the last year with a very generous scrappage policy, which has seen their market share increase dramatically. They will be showcasing new versions of the cars, which have been pivotal to this success and the new "Irish Edition" models will make their public debut at the Irish TimesMotor Show.

Ford will show their new Grand C-Max model as well as a Kuga and a new version of the Mondeo. Honda will show their full product line-up, which includes the Accord, Jazz supermini, the Civic and CR-V, as well as the CR-Z and Insight hybrids.

Czech brand Skoda will showcase their excellent Fabia RS, a car we loved when we tested it earlier this year and as well as that, there will be the Fabia Sport, the Yeti and the Superb Combi.

Volvo will have their latest new compact the S60 along with their new estate model, the V60 alongside their SUV, the XC60 and the C-30 R Design.

Spanish firm SEAT will have their new Alhambra on display, which will be one of the first chances the Irish public will have had to see the car.

Opel’s show line-up will include the Corsa, Astra in Elite, SE and SRi form, and the Insignia in SE, SRI, Elite and high-performance OPC versions. There will also be the Meriva and in the feature area there will be the Astra Nurburgring OPC model.

But it won’t just be the main car brands that will be on display, there will also be some special features including cars from Ferrari (430 Spider and 612 Scagletti), Aston Martin (Vanquish S), Porsche 911 GT3, McLaren SLR and for racing fans, the 1966 Ford GT-40, which will be displayed at the Team PR Reilly stand where it will be joined by the impressive Bloodhound model, an ongoing project that aims to produce a car capable of breaking the land speed record, topping 1,000mph.

With arguably more achievable goals, DIT Bolton Street will showcase their Formula Student Racing team and demonstrate their talents constructing engines against the clock. Car history experts Motorcheck.ie will also be on hand to offer visitors a free history certificate on any vehicle registered in Ireland or the UK worth €20.

For younger visitors, there is a chance for them to get their first taste of driving. The Irish TimesMotor Show has teamed up with Audi to create a custom-made indoor track for four to eight year olds. The "My First Licence" feature allows children to take their first ever driving lesson on a safe, specially constructed roadway, in a special toy Audi and to go home with their "first licence".

Finally, The Irish TimesMotors team will be on hand to answer any visitor Helpdesk queries.

Ticket prices start from just €12 for adults, from €8 with a concession, and kids under the age of 16 go free when accompanied by an adult.