Motor Show swaps dates to avoid Games clash

The Melbourne show will open on Thursday, in Brisbane's traditional period. In turn, the Brisbane show, at the Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Bank, has been put back to March 3-12.

Both shows will revert to their usual dates next year.

Brisbane's organisers say the delayed start will allow car companies to arrange more new models and concept cars than usual.

Many one-off show cars, as well as production models which will go on sale this year, have been shipped to Australia for the Melbourne show, and are expected to feature in Brisbane as well.

These range from exotics such as the Redback Spyder sports coupe and Jaguar XK convertible to bread-and-butter models like the Toyota Yaris sedan.

Brisbane Motor Show spokesman Chris Nixon said the date change is a "a real opportunity".

"We expect that whatever appears in Melbourne by and large will come on to Brisbane.

"With our usual date in February, things are always a rush for the car companies."

He said the later show also allowed Brisbane to host the launch of the V8 Supercar racing season on Saturday, March 4, at the show. "It's an absolute one-off opportunity for us," Mr Nixon said.

Melbourne Motor Show director Russ Tyrie said their show had been in the March timeslot since the 1940s. But the venue, the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, is required for weightlifting, badminton and boxing at the Games, which begin March 15.

He said talks with the Brisbane organisers to arrange the date swap began several years ago.

"It's probably the best outcome for both of us," he said.

Mr Tyrie said moving a huge event like a motor show forward a month had been a lot of work.

"It definitely takes you out of your comfort zone.

"But we're delighted by the response of exhibitors in arranging new products and show cars."

The Melbourne show, to run until February 19, expects 235,000-plus visitors.

Brisbane's organisers are confident they can beat last year's record of 128,000.

The Brisbane show is expected to be the national debut of the Jaguar S-Type diesel sedan, the Ssangyong Keyron 4WD, Proton Satria hatchback and VW Passat.

From the Melbourne show will come new convertibles like the Jaguar XK, Volvo C70, Lamborghini Gallardo roadster and Maserati Gransport Spyder, along with Italian supercars such as the Ferrari F430 and 612 coupes and Maserati Quattroporte GT.