AutoRAI 2009: More cars than ever

Compared to other shows, AutoRAI 2009 will show a reengineered concept : the cars will no longer be grouped by brand, but will instead be exhibited in six experience worlds, next to cars in their own market segment. This updated concept will be launched for the first time in Amsterdam RAI. What’s more, the number of cars on display will be larger than ever: more than 575! AutoRAI 2009 will be held in the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition Centre from 1 to 11 April.
Close consultation between RAI Association, Amsterdam RAI and the exhibitors has led to the development of an updated concept that appeals to exhibitors and visitors alike. Even more emphasis than in previous years will be on how visitors experience the cars: instead of being exhibited by brand at the stand of the exhibitor or importer, the cars will be displayed at AutoRAI 2009 in six separate ‘experience worlds’ where comparable models of rival brands will be exhibited alongside one another. This gives prospective car buyers an ideal opportunity to compare models in any given market segment.
 
International interest
‘Holland has often served as a testing ground for updated concepts,’ says Fernand Molenschot, exhibitions manager of Amsterdam RAI. ‘It’s not so easy to jettison a trusted and trusted formula, but together with the total motor industry we’re now leading the way. Much interest in the updated concept has also been shown by other countries: we’re mounting a more interesting motor show at a lower cost for the exhibitors while improving  the level of visitor experience.
The worlds in which the cars will be exhibited are ‘Family & Travel’, ‘Cabrio’ (convertible), ‘Luxury and Sports’, ‘Adventure’, ‘City & Compact’ and ‘Green Innovations’. Amsterdam RAI’s largest exhibition hall – the Europahal – will also stage a unique event known as AutoRAI Life. Here spectacular live shows feature the celebration of the “car”.
Luxury & Sports  world will be all about power, aerodynamic design and garish colours: sporty driving enthusiasts will immediately feel at home here. And this world will also feature the most exclusive cars on sale in the Netherlands.
Green Innovations is a world in which visitors can find out how quickly advances in clean and economical motoring are taking place. Here they can see the latest innovations and find out how everyone can contribute to a cleaner environment.
City & Compact will feature fast, trendy, handy and safe cars. Not only do they offer no-hassle parking but they are also easy to manoeuvre in busy urban traffic and a fast and easy way of getting from A to B. These cars are made for this.
Family & Travel will display cars regularly used by families for ferrying the kids around. If you need a spacious luggage area for holidays, a place in the back for the dog and the possibility of taking the bikes as well, look no further. But they’re also a comfortable way of getting to and from work. Family & Travel will feature multifunctional cars suitable for all these purposes.
The Cabrio experience will give visitors the chance to imagine the joys of open-top driving. Motoring is fun and this is what you can experience in the Cabrio world with a wide selection of soft and hard top convertibles.
SUVs have a rugged image and offer safety on the road. Whether you want an SUV for use in the urban jungle, an exciting off-road adventure or just the macho look, you will find plenty of inspiration in the Adventure world, where there will be an ample choice of 4-wheel drive models.
 
Pavilions: extra attractions at AutoRAI 2009
AutoRAI 2009 will be more than just a display of cars on sale to consumers. Special theme pavilions will highlight particular niches of the motoring world. Each of the pavilions will have its own special character and will be located in the ‘worlds’ to which it belongs. One example will be the Supercar Paddock, where unique dream cars will be exhibited in cooperation with car magazine Autovisie. Another magazine – Carros – will display four special armoured cars, including the Mercedes-Benz of Helmut Kohl, in the ‘Panzer Pavilion’. For children there will be the Disney Pavilion where aspiring young drivers can obtain their Duck City driving license. Lovers of veteran, vintage and classic cars can feast their eyes in the ‘110 years of AutoRAI’ Pavilion.
 

Source: Transportweekly