Cars take over Santiago

The Maserati on display at the Santiago Car Show.

With more than 400 car models for exhibition, the “Salón Internacional del Automóvil de Santiago 2010” (Santiago International Motor Show 2010) started in Espacio Riesco, where the most important brands released their new models to the public. The main focus this year is ecology, with models which don’t affect the environment. That is why it’s not a surprise that the stars of the exhibition are the electric Zero-emission models.

In this new field and in order to be a part of this new tendency, Chevrolet presented its traditional truck S-10 Apache, the first green model of the brand which works with ethanol. Also Chevrolet presented the Silverado Hybrid which can work just with electricity at 50 miles per hour.
Following with the tendency, Honda also had a green proposal led by the Honda CR-Z, the first hybrid sport car in the world, and the Honda Insight, another hybrid car which is going to be on sale in Chile next year.

But if we want to talk about zero emission, the electrical models are a must. The Nissan Leaf is a model 100% electric, with 107 horsepower and with an autonomy of 160 kilometers, can be charged at home, just like any other electrical device, and will be on sale in Chile in 2012.

Meanwhile, BYD released another electrical model, the E6. This car has an autonomy of 400 kilometers and can go from 0 to 100 miles per hour in 8 seconds.  Just like the S18 EV (Electric Vehicle) from Chery. To work, this car, instead of using a gasoline motor, works with a motor of permanent magnets, and its energy comes from a lithium ion battery, which with a full charge can do 70 kilometers at 120 miles an hour.

These models have been a total success in other countries, This is why this year the exhibition is a perfect opportunity to show them to the public, as a preview of the new era in environment friendly cars.

Because everyone wants to be like the fast and the furious

But without a doubt the ones which stole more glances were the sport models, those which are every man’s dream, with a powerful motor and beautiful design, those were made to stand up while you drive on the street.  That’s why the BMW is back to the Santiago International Motor Show 2010 after 11 years, and the brand’s come back was big. The M package gave sportsmanship to the brand, with models like 116i M which it made its debut at the Motor Show. With a four-cylinder motor, 1.596cc and 115 horsepower with a 6-speed gearbox can go from 0 to 100 miles an hour in 10.8 seconds.
Meanwhile the Fiat group released the Maserati GranCabrio. This convertible has a V8 motor of 4.7 liters, a gearbox ZF automatic of 6 speeds, 440 horsepower and can go from 0 to 100 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds.

But in the luxury area, one of the important announcements was made by Chevrolet. General Motors decided to introduce into the Chilean market the Corvette. This decision was based on the high demand for luxury sport cars in Chile.
At the Motor Show, the released Corvettes were the Corvette Grand Sport and the Corvette ZR1, the fastest car in the history of General Motors. But one of the most impressive, which a cost of 2 million dollars is the Chevrolet Stingray, a prototype made for the 50 anniversary of the Corvette which was used in the Transformers II movie. With a reverse opening hood, scissor doors, sports seats and hybrid engine, the Stingray it’s all about engineering and luxury.

All this models can be seen at Espacio Riesco, where also will be several demonstrations of motorcyclist and different activities for cars lovers. The exhibition will be open to the public until November 1st.

Photos by Gardner Hamilton (c) I Love Chile 2010 All Rights Reserved