Gold Nissan GT-R in Abu Dhabi
150 exhibitors, 500 vehicles displayed at Motor Show
Gold Godzilla has come from Japan and is expected to sell in Abu Dhabi for $1 million.
abu dhabi — The Gold Godzilla, a golden painted, hand carved Nissan GT-R is the eye catcher at the capital’s first International Motor Show Abu Dhabi (IMSAD), taking place until Saturday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Presented by Kuhl Japan car company, the Gold Godzilla travels for the first time outside Japan, and the company’s managing director Takahiro Kataoka hopes to sell it here for $1 million.
“We are now looking for agencies that could eventually handle repairs and maintenance, but for now, if you buy the car and get into an accident, we would either have to send you the spare part from Japan or you might have to send the car to Japan to be fixed and re- designed,” he told Khaleej Times.
The Gold Godzilla, a 2016 Ver R35 GT-R is painted in gold-like metal colour created by the Kuhl company and the design is hand carved by the company’s art craftsman. For now, there is just one person who does the engravings on the cars and he takes six months to complete just one car.
The car also comes with titanium exhaust and an 800 horsepower engine (V six cylinders), but according to Kataoka it can “easily be pushed to 1000 horse power”.
The three-day show which began on Thursday, packed with custom made, off road modified and race vehicles, expects to attract at least 25,000 visitors.
“We have over 150 exhibitors, including international automakers such as Dodge, Chrysler, Volvo, Chevrolet, GMC, Peugeot, Renault, Nissan, Infiniti and Subaru and around 500 vehicles displayed in the show,” said Saeed Al Marzooqui, CEO of Custom Events, organiser of the IMSAD.
The show is part of this year’s Abu Dhabi Auto Festival, which also includes the Custom Show Emirates and Middle East Car of the Year 2016.
“IMSAD is providing an opportunity for visitors to purchase their new vehicles through ‘show-only’ offers, such as from Al Hilal Bank, which is the exclusive bank and main sponsor of the show, and is offering its popular car finance programme starting at an unbeatable 1.99 per cent only,” added Al Marzooqui.
Over the weekend, the festival will give car and bikes enthusiasts an opportunity to compete in a drifting challenge for modified 4x4 and sport cars, or watch the Bikers Build-Off competition, where two master bikers will build a custom bike “live” at the show.
Roman Gavrilin, COO of Customs Events, added that for this third edition of the Middle East Car of theYear (MECOTY) award senior executives from the entire industry have confirmed their attendance.
“This year, a special award will also be announced between traditional rivals Nissan Patrol and Toyota Land Cruiser — as the public voted for their favourite ‘King of the Desert’ vehicle,” said Gavrilin.
Tickets to the show are priced at Dh50.