Moscow International Automobile Salon 2012

Thus, the Moscow Motor Show opened. There were presented 24 world premieres, the most notable of Audi, BMW, Mazda, Nissan and AvtoVAZ. The exhibition presents products of more than one hundred companies. For a free visit to the exhibition will be available from 31 August to 9 September.

Reaching one reportage everything stands is not possible, so I will try to briefly go through the main novelties and their neighborhood models. In short, in the segment of premium all excellent, among the cars of the middle class in an obvious crisis of Japanese companies, and the public sector in the classroom suddenly lead to renewed AvtoVAZ Kalina.

By the way, just I want to say that I plunges into shock at car shows. Obvious to everyone that aimed spotlights create glare on the shiny body of the car - it's not just unpresentable photos, but also the inability to adequately assess the proportions and body lines.

It would seem that complicated to make the white ceiling (at least to pull a white cloth) and get a soft diffused light over the entire area of ​​the exhibition hall, sending a spotlight on it. But no, hundreds of reports from an exhibition full of horrible and ugly photos of new products and concepts. Absolutely I do not understand it.

The first stand - Infiniti. The photo concept Etherea, on which in the near future will be the compact model premium. Under the hood, the hybrid power unit (2, 5-liter turbocharged petrol and electric) and first brand Infinity drive to the front axle. Also, at the motor show was held the European premiere of crossover Infiniti JX.

Land Rover introduced an updated Freelander 2. The changes affected the front and rear optics, grille and alloy wheels. Salon has changed more - with a seven-inch touch screen new instrument panel and center console. In technical terms, there is no major changes, except that the petrol version is now represented by a 2-liter engine with turbo and 240 hp, the same engine mounted on the Evoque. New Range Rover on no show.

Volvo shows two plug-in hybrids V60 (pictured) and the XC60. It is the world's first hybrid electric vehicle with a diesel engine and charge the battery from a household power socket. More on the stand you can see a high-tech concept car Concept You, stuffed with monitors and touch screens.

The new executive sedan Lexus LS, which is in fact a late model. The flagship version of the LS 600h is equipped with a five-liter petrol engine and two electric motors with a total capacity of 445 horsepower.

Cadillac introduced the concept of luxurious Ciel, as well as a sedan and a coupe CTS-V sports series.

Maserati Quattroporte is undoubtedly excellent, as well as the GranTurismo and the GranCabrio, but popular with visitors, they do not use obvious reasons - afford to buy such a machine may be a few.

BMW introduced the representation sedan seventh series. The dashboard is now a 10-inch liquid crystal display (the first time such a decision has been applied to the Range Rover), in fact it is very cool, t. To. On the same screen can be displayed images with the thermal imager (Night Vision) which previously appears in the central display, which was extremely uncomfortable.

I also want to pay attention to the heavy duty LED head lights. This reflector optics in which the LED is located on top of the lights. Very simple and ingenious solution. You will see that under this scheme will make the LED headlamp cost cars in 5-7 years. The disadvantage of this scheme is that it is impossible to make the simulated headlight.

Hybrid Concept BMW i8 Spyder comprising slightly more than entirely of carbon fiber and aluminum. The BMW rely on relief without loss of body stiffness, with the development of composite technology is really real.

In the Audi stand still cool as ever, each model presented - a masterpiece of engineering thought. Here is a line of "charged" cars - S6, S7, S8. Nearby is the new A3 and became too glamorous A6 Allroad Quattro.

World premiere at the booth - Audi R8 supercar with a ten-cylinder engine capacity of 550 horsepower. Generally, if I see that Audi presented only the most powerful versions of their cars.

Hyundai booth. We will not find fault with the design of the stand in a way that prevents read the description bar, as well as the design of the contrast too with black walls and white floor, when you are on the bench, the discomfort is felt. Actually about the concept - a total cruising range of 700 km, while the electric he can drive no more than 120. It is clear that the remaining 500 kilometers it will slowly and slowly move driven by a "dead" petrol engine.

And this is a real masterpiece. Koreans put the layout of the ship of the desert, which is amazing even its very existence. Simply quote the description: "Desert Ship Noah. On this ship there bioferma and research lab, it is designed so as to provide a fully autonomous operation. In addition, it uses methane, solar and wind energy. Worry about the energy does not have, even in the desert. " In short, in case the apocalypse at the time.

The New Generation Hyundai Santa Fe. Powertrains old - petrol 2, 4 and 2 turbodiesel, 2 (other than the engine, by the way). Car honestly liked, at least by the fact that the Koreans finally made all 4 windows automatic (and in general including brain with interior design). Well, in general it looks good from the outside and inside. Prices do not know, but if Hyundai does not obnagleet, it is a real contender for the leadership of the class crossover sales.

But the Honda apparently affairs of the company are not going well. It is not imbued with that same conceptually new about this concept Honda Crosstour. Huge behemoth with increased ground clearance, no more.

At the presentation of the new Honda CR-V again danced and entertained the few spectators already rather podnadoevshy robot Asimo. Judging by the specifications Honda's engineers have spent all the money allocated to rabotku new engines at this most of the robot, so the CR-V boasts a revamped interior and only ekstrerom. It looks nice.

At the booth Subaru is almost no visitors, however, I have already said that I did not understand why the company persists in making cars, focusing solely on the fans of the brand. There is nothing wrong with that, but from a business perspective it is a losing position. I hope that beauty will save the BRZ a little situation. This sports coupe was developed jointly with Toyota. Under the hood, two-liter naturally aspirated boxer petrol engine capacity of 200 horsepower. The drive to the rear axle.

But the long-awaited presentation of the Mazda 6 has collected a huge number of journalists. Under the hood, two-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine capacity of 150 horsepower from the company actively promoted Skyactiv series (with a compression ratio of 14: 1). From the new - energy recovery braking system i-ELOOP.

On the stand of Ford lot of interesting things. This premier Ford Kuga (pictured), and Focus ST models and Mustang. As well as the long-awaited in the Russian market Ford Ranger.

On the stand Skoda brand is nothing new. Showed Yeti Sochi Edition has a more "refined decoration" and the version with 1.4TSI engine and DSG-7. Citigo compact in Russia, unfortunately, did not bring.

At Volkswagen on the stand you can see a concept electric car E-Bugster, which has previously been shown at the Motor Show in Detroit. Also on the stand VW Beetle, Scirocco GTS version of the long-awaited and Amarok with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota believes that the new two-liter engine for the Camry - this is a serious bid for the prime minister. Near the updated Land Cruiser 200 and appeared this year in the Russian market of premium minivan segment Toyota Alphard. And of course GT86 - "sister" Subaru BRZ.

In the center of the exhibition stand Citroen DS5 several cars though the main premiere dealership French believe the new C5. For me so much of a difference in appearance to the previous C5 is not, so look better on a nice DS5.

But GAZ, frankly, scared the new series of light commercial vehicles "Gazelle NEXT". Moreover, in the spring they go on sale next year.

A terrible appearance - it's not all that novelty can boast. Inside - no less terrible salon with protruding screws of the door handles, but with the navigation system and audio controls on the steering wheel buttons. Okay, to the inner can not find fault, but to be honest, "Business Gazelles" looked better.

What happens in the company Suzuki - impossible to understand. In addition to the external restyling there is nothing new. Or the "new" (as they called it), the Grand Vitara, Jimny any renewed, which was fake hood scoop (or more precisely, it is the version of the hood with the engine turdonadduvnym 0, 6 liters, is only sold in the domestic market). No, tell him it's okay to have a model in 2012 under the hood of engines developed nearly 10 years ago?

SEAT shows already podnadoevshy IBX concept, but there is much more interesting extension of the model range of models available in Russia. Finally in Russia will sell extremely popular in Europe minivan Alhambra.

On the Chevrolet stand the most attention to itself attracts the Camaro, although a number you can see a novelty - Malibu sedan with a completely inhumane price (1, 2 mln.). Oh, and for dessert - a huge pickup Colorado, the beginning of sales of which should be expected no earlier than next year.

ZAZ presented a new modification of the budget Vida car. Simple and without frills, just over 400 thousand rubles.

Renault Stand looks unusual. Here retroavtomobili stand side by side with the "popular" Duster, electric cars Zoe and the Twizy, sporty Megane RS and the Captur crossover concept with a very strange seats (pictured).

The only novelty Mitsubishi - new crossover Outlander. However, judging by the activity of the managers who are trying to conduct a survey among the visitors what they think of the car along the way begging phone model is not very popular. But they have the most beautiful girl model on the stand. As for Outlander, you have nothing to say, inside the interior without a hint of design and ergonomics, but with a fully translated into Russian inscriptions on all panels and keyboards.

But AvtoVAZ has surprised most. Firstly, it is a concept crossover X-ray, which looks so cool that requires no comment.

In the second place, it is updated Lada Kalina, new and aggressive design. Jokes on the Internet on the topic "What could be even worse," did not come true, the machine looks stylish and beautiful. Not to mention the technical stuffing - Spotlight optics, rain sensor, navigation system. If AvtoVAZ will not stop there, then after 3-4 years Kalina will be the leader in the budget segment.

Kia showed the Sorento new, despite the fact that last model appeared less than 3 years ago, the market, and that's good. But the novelty, which plans to oust BMW's seven in a class of executive cars - Quoris (pictured). By the way, pnevopodveskoy. But I have serious doubts that Russia will be the demand for Korean cars of the premium segment. No self-respecting "authority" does not buy Kia for one simple reason - to friends and colleagues do not understand.

The prize in the nomination "The failure of the Year" gets Nissan presented a new Almera. If the front "is" like TEAH and looks at first glance, not so bad.

That is a rear view of the degree of misery is quite able to compete with the Lada Granta. But most importantly - a salon. I decided not to show that you are not disappointed with the Nissan brand. Imagine the interior of Logan, diluted with plastic, with a nasty smell in the spirit of the budget Chinese cars. But the model is maximally adapted for Russia - with increased ground clearance, two-millimeter underbody protection and a navigation system. The cost of new items is expected to reach 500 thousand rubles. But the sedan, which are so loved in Russia. I honestly can not imagine who would buy it for the money.

It is actually only a part of the exhibition, but the general idea should be clear.

AvtoVAZ is actively pulled forward (leaving far behind the UAZ and GAZ), Europeans and Americans confidently hold positions in all market segments - from budget to premium, Koreans improve the design and ergonomics, introducing advanced technical solutions, the Chinese are catching up, but it is too early to declare loudly about they, with the Japanese situation is ambiguous: in the premium (Lexus, Infiniti) segment, everything is fine, while the middle class cars do not correspond to the needs of our time.