Dealers set to unveil wares
AS the momentum builds for the Automobile Dealers Association (ADA) car show, which is to be held on the weekend of March 23 to 25, several new-car distributors are indicating they are ‘revving up’ to showcase their newest rides.
The annual auto show, which began in the 1960s and is scheduled for the National Arena in St Andrew, affords new-car dealers an opportunity to put their best models on display. The ADA comprises 18 dealers.
“We’ll be unveiling two exciting models,” said Dawn Green, public relations and marketing executive at the Spanish Town Road-based Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG). She was, however, tightlipped about which brands falling under her company’s portfolio would be ‘introduced to the public’.
KIG is the local authorised dealers of Ford, Subaru, and Yahama motorcycles.
“I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise now. I want patrons to just come on down to the auto show and see,” she said. “The most I can say is, one launch is at 6:00 pm and the other is at 7:00 pm on March 23.
Kent LaCroix, who wears the hats of chairman of the ADA and special project manager for Stewart Automotive Group, said his company intends to pull the drapes from two new Suzukis at the event.
“Two Suzukis will be unveiled,” he said. “It will be an exciting affair.”
Stewart Automotive Group are dealers of BMW, Mini, Mercedes Benz, Suzuki, Mitsubishi and Honda motorcycles.
Adam Harris, VW brand manager at ATL Automotive, said Jamaicans will get a chance to get up close and personal with the new-and-improved Tiguan and Touareg.
ATL Automotive, owned by hotielier mogul Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, are distributors of the Land Rover, Range Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Honda and Volkswagen brands.
“The 2012 Tiguan represents sport and style and this is the top-of-the-line model. It has the GTI, 212-horsepower (hp) engine, up from the standard 180-hp that we used to have,” he said.
The Touareg, according to Harris, has a 3.6-litre, V6, petrol engine and pushes 208 horse power.
“It’s fully loaded and the real deal,” the VW brand manager continued.
