WISHLIST: Thailand International Motor Expo cars we wish we had too

The 39th Thailand International Motor Expo is currently being held in Bangkok from Dec. 1 to 12, 2022.

Our friends at AutoFun Thailand are hard at work covering this major event, located in one of Southeast Asia’s largest car manufacturing hubs.

From the details and photos that they’ve been sending in on the ground, let’s just say we’re quite jealous about the cool, new rides that Thailand is getting.

Here are some cars from the show that really got our pulses racing.

Toyota GR Corolla

Wait a minute, VJ – we already get a GR Corolla here in the Philippines.

Ah, but this particular GR Corolla is not a warmed-up Toyota Corolla Altis but the long-awaited big brother to the turbocharged, four-wheel-drive GR Yaris. Beneath those flared fenders and vents lays the hottest Corolla of all.

It uses the same turbocharged, 1.6-liter, twin-cam, 12-valve inline-3 gasoline engine as the GR Yaris, but it’s been cranked up to 304 PS and 400 Nm. This is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and full-time all-wheel drive. 

As of press time, only nine units of the Toyota GR Corolla have been confirmed to arrive in Thailand, making this model a rare gem indeed.

It looks like the Subaru WRX will finally have a Japanese rival long after the death of the venerable Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Neta S

Scissor-style front doors, a sleek hoodline, and gorgeous black alloy wheels.

With its fetching green paintwork, you’d think Aston Martin unveiled an all-new super sedan. But the Neta S is actually Chinese and fully electric.

Built by Hozon Auto, the Neta S does offer supercar-like performance, with the most powerful version offering 462 PS coursed through the front and rear electric motors. Zero to 100 km/h is done in 3.9 seconds.

The Neta S is also available as a pure electric vehicle (EV) or, like a Nissan Kicks, an EV with a gasoline-powered range extender. The former can go up to 715 kilometers, while the latter has a claimed maximum range of 1,100 kilometers.

Style, performance, and economy really can go hand in hand.

MG4 EV

While we’re on EVs, Chinese carmaker MG also made waves in Bangkok with its all-new MG4 EV.

It comes with a 51-kWh or 64-kWh battery pack and pumps out 204 PS for the rear-wheel-drive version or 449 PS for the four-wheel-drive model. The former is priced in Thailand at the equivalent of ₱1,399,000, while the latter is around ₱1,560,000.

MG claims a maximum range of 450 kilometers.

Who knew that a small family car could be so electrifying?

Mercedes-Benz EQS

On the other end of the EV market are jewels like the Mercedes-Benz EQS.

With its stunning black paintwork and enormous alloy wheels, this German EV is a full-size liftback that comes with a wide range of power options. 

The base model gets a healthy 292 PS, while the top-of-the-range EQS 53 AMG will likely knock your teeth out (silently, of course) with 761 PS.

The EQS was also the most aerodynamic car in the world when it was introduced in May 2021, with a drag coefficient of 0.20.

Ora Good Cat

Well, maybe our pulses weren’t racing with the Ora Good Cat, but it is adorable!

With headlights that look big, beady eyes, a two-tone paint job and, joy of joys, racing stripes, this little Chinese EV comes with a 47.8-kWh or 59.1-kWh battery pack.

The front-mounted electric motor produces 143 PS and 210 Nm of torque. Those who get the larger battery can expect a claimed maximum range of 500 kilometers.

And if you want a kitty that purrs, there’s even a Good Cat GT that pumps out 172 PS and 210 Nm. It even comes with an aggressive body kit and bigger alloy wheels.

The Good Cat has been in production since November 2020 and is made by Ora, the EV brand of Great Wall Motors. GWM recently found a new distributor here in the country and should be introducing a new model lineup by next year.

Which of these lovely machines showcased in Thailand do you think should be brought over to the Philippines?