THE 2009 BOLOGNA MOTOR SHOW: A TREAT FOR VISITORS

The passion for cars and bikes comes up trumps again: up until Monday 7 December, more than 400,000 visitors had passed through the doors of the Bologna Motor Show. 

The visitor numbers were announced by the CEO of GL events Italia, Giada Michetti, at the end of the 34th Motor Show, which was held at BolognaFiere from 4 to 8 December 2009: “We will soon know the precise figure, which will in any case be similar to that achieved in previous years, even though the Motor Show traditionally lasts for 12 days, rather than this year’s 5. What we can say for sure is that the ‘Motor Show people’ were not dissuaded from attending by adversity, the crisis or the rain. The decision to hold a shorter Motor Show during this Italian public holiday period turned out to be the right one. By working creatively against the clock, we managed to bring supply and demand together, satisfying everyone in the process”.

The constant features of the five days of this year’s Motor Show included the queues forming at the box office long before the opening of the doors (often in the pouring rain), the crowded pavilions and the sold-out stands in the MotorSport Arena, which saw the arrival on the track of drivers such as Valentino Rossi, who participated in the Findomestic Memorial Bettega against Mikko Hirvonen, Marcus Gronholm, Sebastian Ogier and Petter Solberg, as well as Giancarlo Fisichella and Luca Badoer, who featured in the Ferrari pit stop, not to mention Andrea Dovizioso, Mattia Pasini, Andrea Iannone and Gianluca Nannelli, who went head-to-head at the wheel of Ford Mustangs in the Yokohama Superbikers Drifting.

Together with the drivers, thousands of car lovers responded to the Motor Show’s invitation to come and play with the two- and four-wheelers. Across the eight pavilions and seven external areas of the expo zone, visitors were given the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with the latest products and to learn all about the latest innovations in green solutions, as well as being treated to moments of pure spectacle, including the Tractor Pulling challenges and incredible acrobatics of the stuntmen. 

Visitors learned all about safety through tests on the track and simulations, and also got the chance to find out about the extraordinary creations put together by tuning enthusiasts (who came together for the first time at BolognaFiere). Moreover, audiences at the MotorShow Arena enjoyed the sporting passions of the teams on two and four wheels, as well as admiring the wonderful vehicles of the past being paraded through the streets of central Bologna. Last but by no means least, visitors were delighted to discover the Motor Valley of Emilia-Romagna – a land with a proud motoring heritage.

More than 15 car makers demonstrated their latest models in the Quattroruote area, while Ferrari’s famous shade of red tinged the quadrangle – heart of the expo zone – where the Maranello-based marque showcased a selection of racing vehicles. Lamborghini, another Emilia-based giant, was also present at the Bologna extravaganza in the form of the Lamborghini Show on the MotorSport Arena track, in addition to the three Gallardo Super Trofeos on show in Pavilion 29.

Ducati and Honda previewed their new bikes in the Moto Racing Paddock Show, which marked the return of two-wheelers to the Bologna Motor Show. Moreover, the Motor Show saw the Italian preview of Gonow Europe and the debut of the environmentally friendly vehicles made by Officine Meccaniche Burato, VEM and Tazzari.