Manila International Auto Show - MIAS 2007: Modern Mobility

MIAS 2007: Modern Mobility

The 2007 show was held from 29 March to 1 April at the World Trade Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. MIAS 2007 attracted 68,000 visitors (not including the exhibitors and their employees and associates). Approximately 250 cars were on display within the WTC main hall and lobby.

Manila International Auto Show 2007 presented a total of 21 brands including BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, JAC, Jaguar, Jeep, Kama Trucks, Land Rover, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Suzuki. Notably absent in the commercial exhibits this year was the country’s biggest automotive brand Toyota, as were Audi, Porsche, Kia and Volvo. Summit Media's BBC Top Gear Philippines was a sponsor and primary media partner.

Highlights of the show included:

Mazda Wins the Best Exhibition Booth Award The Mazda Pavilion was chosen as “Best Exhibition Booth” this year because of overall design, difficulty in execution, architectural balance and harmony, adherence to its corporate identity and concept. The Mazda team received the award given to them during the third day of the show. A big photowall served as backdrop for its models and invokes the youthful lifestyle of the brand.

Ford Group Philippines has the biggest outdoor and indoor exhibition space With a total of 400 square meters of interior showcase and over 2,000 square meters of outdoor space consisting of a specially designed outdoor 4x4 circuit track, Ford has the biggest combined outdoor and indoor showcase in the recently concluded Manila International Auto Show. Visitors queuing up for their turn in test driving their favorite Ford SUV and pick-up trucks. A specially modified Ford Focus was also prominently displayed in their indoor exhibition together with some other models fitted with aftermarket bodykits and alloy wheels.

Hyundai puts out the biggest indoor single brand showcase With a total of 611 square meters, Hyundai has the biggest indoor showcase exhibition. Special space frame trusses were hoisted over their exhibition area that came with a plethora of halogen spot and flood lights illuminating its various models. Several photographic walls served as backdrops for its various models.

Formula Motorsports Philippines came out with the most exotic showcase Combining a mixed brand of 3 Ferraris, 4 Jaguar saloons and 3 luxury Range Rover SUV’s made Formula Motorsports Philippines came out with the most exotic showcase in the recently concluded show.

Hyundai wins the best presentation award With the public debut of its Veracruz, Elentra and Coupe, an oriental inspired dance number coupled with a professional singer was a big hit with the media who voted this presentation as the best among all the presentations made during the show. Several other exhibitors did their best to create a festive and lively atmosphere with lights and sound effects that made judging a tough choice to make.

Guinness World Record Holder Russ Swifts wows the MIAS crowd Subaru used 3 high performance sedans to be used in a series of precision stunt driving performances by Guinness Record Holder Russ Swift, who performed two-wheel, donut spin and the thrilling fist-tight parallel parking maneuvers at the backstage area of the World Trade Center. The world-famous British stunt driver was behind the famous stunt scenes of the movie “The Italian Job” and is a regular performer in the most prestigious international auto shows in the world.

Motul Nismo Skyline GT-R in Manila A Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 was specially imported for the MIAS exhibit by Autoplus Sportszentrum, the country’s exclusive distributor for MoMotultul Oil. The red Number 22 Motul-Pitwork Skyline GT-R was driven by Masami Kageyama and Richard Lyons in 2003 and won many victories in the fiercely competitive Japan Grand Touring Car Championship. The name Godzilla is appropriate, as it is accorded in Japan a demigod-like cult status, and was on loan courtesy of Nismo (Nissan Motorsports) Japan. Displayed beside the Godzilla was another Nissan Skyline owned by Autoplus. The highly modified blue colored Skyline GT-R was the country’s first car to break the 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) record.