The annual skills contest is “one of our core programs of people development for our dealerships apart from the regular knowledge and skill training programmes,” said Morikazu Chokki, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co Ltd.

Valuing customers is a key mission of the company, said Chokki, leading to “an emphasis on [employee] development and recognition among our dealer network nationwide, as the staff play a crucial role to directly provide support, troubleshooting, and satisfaction to Mitsubishi’s customers.”

The 18th Mitsubishi Motors Skills Contest 2017 was designed for six professional functions – sales consultant, customer relations, technician troubleshooting, technician periodic maintenance, service advice and parts.

This year, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand for the first time brought more intensive assessment to the sales consultant and customer relations functions with an online pre-test prior to the regional and final rounds.

More than 1,700 contestants from Mitsubishi dealer network nationwide participated in the skills contests.

The company also holds an annual competition for students under the Vocational School Support Project (VSSP) to provide educational and career opportunities to vocational programme students.

Jaturont Komolmis, chairman of the organising committee, said on Monday that all used vehicles on display for sale had been thoroughly inspected and screened for quality.

“We are also raising the standard of the used-car show to the international level, by offering warranties and sales promotions matching those of new cars,” he added.

A total of 14 used-car dealers are participating in the event, which kicked off today.

The main Motor Show started on March 28.

Nissan said the free inspection service by skilled technicians is offered through its dealers nationwide and supports the Department of Land Transport’s Anti Road Accident campaign.

Nissan customers can visit any of the almost 200 Nissan service center outlets between April 1 and May 31, 2018 to receive the free vehicle inspection.

Wallop Chalermvongsavej, the company’s vice president for after sales, said registration fee for the A1, A2, A3, A4, Q2 and Q3 models is Bt20,000, while for the A5, A6, A7, Q4, Q5 and TT the fee is Bt50,000.

A fee of Bt100,000 is required for the Q7, A8, Q8, R8 and all S and RS models.

“Apart from quicker service due to the database, the vehicles will also get a free 40-item inspection as well as all software updates,” he said.

The original warranty of the vehicles are not affected, he said.

Over 39,000 orders were placed for new models at last year’s event, which attracted 1.6 million visitors.

Organiser Prachin Eamlumnow says that 30 auto and 15 motorcycle brands are taking part in the show, which is considered the largest automotive exhibition event in the region. The event officially starts today and runs until April 8 at the Challenger Hall, IMPACT Muanthongthani.

The theme of this year’s event Is “Revolution in Motion”, and many are expecting to see the latest innovations in the automotive world, including EVs (Electric Vehicles) and PHEVs (Plugin Electric Hybrid Vehicles).

One of the most talked about EVs being displayed is the MINE Mobility, which is owned by Energy Absolute PCL, a Thai company. Three models are being shown,  all priced under Bt1 million, each offering an operating range of 200250kms on a single charge. Energy cost per kilometre  is approximately Bt0.30.

Other EVs being shown include models from FOMM, developed in Japan, China’s BYD and Hyundai’s Ioniq EV, coming with  a top speed of 165km/h and a range of 280kms, priced at Bt1.749 million. One of Nissan’s highlight is the Leaf EV, which is being marketed commercially for the first time in Thailand.

Meanwhile German luxury car makers are putting emphasis on PHEVs such as  MercedesBenz C 350 e as well as MHEVs (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles)  the Audi A7 Sportback.

Ford is also attracting big crowds at its booth, with the official launch of the Ranger Raptor fulloption pickup. Priced at Bt1.699 million, it is the most expensive 1tonne pickup made in Thailand.

Toyota staged the soft launch of its  CHR sporty subcompact crossover late last year, but will be hoping to collect more orders from the Bangkok Motor Show.

Luxury cars have a strong position here, with RollsRoyce introducing the new Phantom, which is the costliest production car at the show with retail prices starting at Bt59.5 million for the longwheelbase version.

Nissan fans are celebrating as Nissan Motor Thailand has decided to officially offer the GTR in Thailand. Retail pricing for the 555horsepower allwheeldrive sportscar has been set at Bt13.5 million.

The GT-R will be available at a price of Bt13.5 million, complete with a warranty that covers three years or 100,000 kilometres, backed by bespoke service from Siam Nissan TKF – the newly appointed exclusive Nissan High-Performance Centre – to provide best-in-class customer service.

The GT-R is manufactured at Nissan’s world-class plant in Tochigi, Japan, said Antoine Barthes, president of Nissan Motor Thailand.

During its first year, Audi Thailand was able to meet its sales target of 600 units thanks to an attractive lineup of completely built up (CB) vehicles being offered at completely knocked down (CKD) prices.

Apart from Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) that are being offered by rivals such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz (Audi hasn’t completed its electric vehicle feasibility study for Thailand), Audi’s range in Thailand covers all major segments ranging from the diminutive Q2 subcompact SUV to the A8 L flagship model which was officially launched early this month in Pattaya.

It’s also surprising that the most popular model for Audi during the past year isn’t a sedan or an SUV, but the TT Coupe, which has become a favourite among both male and female buyers visiting the Audi Thailand showroom on New Phetchaburi Road. The TT Coupe 45 TFSI quattro S-line with 230hp (Bt3.199 million) and the TTS Coupe quattro with 286hp (Bt4.599 million) are offered.

However, my favourite Audi model from the current portfolio is the A4 Avant 45 TFSI quattro S-line Black Edition, priced at Bt3.249 million.

I first saw the A4 Avant on Audi’s stand at last year’s Motor Expo and was impressed with the black wagon (Avant). While the wagon versions of the BMW 3-Series (Touring) and Mercedes-Benz C-Class (Estate) don’t look as exciting as their sedan siblings, that’s not the case with the A4.

Actually I think that the A4 wagon looks much better than the sedan, which over the years has always been a bland choice compared to its competitors. The wagon comes with rather compact body dimensions too, with short front and rear overhangs, so don’t expect a bulky mom-and-pop station wagon.

According to Audi Thailand, the customers of the A4 Avant aren’t soccer mums, but rather young hipster singles with active lifestyles. Being 50 years old, I didn’t appreciate that statement very much – I’m sure I can be hip too, even at this age.

Well, part of the reason that it’s popular among the younger crowd is that this ain’t no regular A4 Avant for the supermarket or department store, but the performance model with all-wheel-drive and sporty S-line/Black Edition packaging.

The A4 Avant looks great in black (the demo car even came with black solar film giving it that secretive mafia look), which adds a good degree of fierceness to balance with the unisex Audi design. The 19-inch wheels with low-profile tyres, along with the low ride height gives it even more character. This is a wagon that people are really going to notice (you will need a new exhaust system to get the maximum effect though).

Get inside and you are greeted by a luxurious mix of leather, aluminium and other high-quality materials Audi is well-known for. Assembly quality is excellent and in my point of view is a strong point of any Audi.

The bucket seats are pretty deep and tight (totally unlike the comfy seats in the Q7), reminding you of the vehicle’s sportiness, but I didn’t like the granny-styled diamond-cut design, which was more suited to an elegant British sportscar for the true gentleman rather than a compact German power wagon.

You don’t get the latest Audi Virtual Cockpit in this model, and will have to do with the usual analog meters. But there’s nothing to complain here. The flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel comes with controls for everything.

There’s a lot of information being displayed, and it takes a little getting used to where each is located. For example, try looking for the clock and you’d spend some time searching around.

There is plenty of room inside for both passengers and cargo. The luggage compartment holds 505 litres – with the rear seat backrests folded you can get as much as 1,575 litres.

For the Thai market, currently the A4 Avant is offered with one powertrain choice – a 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged engine with active boost control. Engine size seems pretty small for a wagon weighing in at 1,575kgs? Not really.

The turbocharged powerplant pumps out as much as 252hp and 370Nm and can propel the A4 Avant from 0-100km/h in 6 seconds flat just like a performance model. Top speed, meanwhile, is claimed at 250kph.

The 7-speed DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) isn’t jerky and provides smooth shifts. Manual mode can be operated via shift paddles behind the steering wheel, and the gear position is also displayed while in auto mode.

On the highway, driving the A4 Avant 45 TFSI quattro was like driving a sports sedan with extra stability, thanks to the quattro all-wheel-drive system. Apart from the swift acceleration at every speed range, it also held on to curves with plenty of grip, offering the driver lots of confidence.

The electromechanical steering adjusts the weight nicely between low and high speeds. Steering precision is good too, turning into corners sharply like it’s not a station wagon. The 5-link front and rear suspension, plus low-profile 245/35 ZR Michelin Pilots on 19-inch alloys, also do ther job well in maintaining good composure at all speeds and in all driving situations.

Despite coming with the Driver Select function offering various driving modes, including comfort auto and dynamic, there’s not much audible enjoyment. The engine is smooth and the noise is well-kept from the cabin resulting in a quiet atmosphere, but there’s just no fun when you floor the pedal. With this type of performance, you’d expect to hear a much sportier exhaust note from the 252-hp A4 Avant.

After driving the Audi A4 Avant 45 TFSI quattro S-line Black Edition for three days, I admit that I had fallen for it. At this pricing and with the performance offered, along with the versatility of the wagon bodystyle but without having to look bulky, this is going to be one of my top 10 drives of the year.

Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI quattro S-line Black Edition specs

Engine: 4-cylinder 16-valve with turbocharger

Displacement: 1,984cc

Bore and stroke: 82.5×92.8mm

Compression ratio: 9.6:1

Max power: 252hp/5,000-6,000rpm

Max torque: 370Nm/1,600-4,500rpm

Transmission: 7-speed DCT

Ratios: 3.188/2.190/1.517/1.057/0.738/0.557/0.443

Final drive ratio: 4.270

0-100kmh:  6.0 secs

Top speed: 250km/h

Fuel economy (km/litre)

City: 12.5

Highway: 17.2

Combined: 15.1

Average CO2: 150 g/km

Suspension (f/r): 5-link, stabiliser/5-link, stabiliser

Steering: speed-dependent electromechanical rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 11.6 metres

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/disc

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,725

Width: 1,842

Height: 1,434

Wheelbase: 2,820

Track (f/r): 1,572/1,555

Weight: approx. 1,575 kgs

Wheels: 19-inch alloy

Tires: 245/35 ZR19

Fuel tank capacity: 58 litres

Price: Bt3.249 million

Distributor: Audi Thailand (Meister Technik Co Ltd)

The CR-V, with 228 points, beat runners-up the Toyota Yaris ATIV (192 points) and the BMW 5 Series (157 points).

Meanwhile, the TAJA also handed out “Motorcycle of the Year” awards for two categories – under 400cc, and 400cc and over.

The winners were the Honda CB150R Exmotion and Yamaha R6, respectively.