The Dhaka Motorshow is not a glamorous affair filled with glittering new debuts and yet unseen models. What it is, though, is a way for our automotive dealers to display their wares to a buying crowd. Organised by CEMS Global, the Dhaka Motorshow attracted thousands and gave them an automotive feast for three whole days.

The 11th instalment of the Dhaka Motorshow combined with the 2nd Dhaka Bike Show and 3rd Rallycross Championship concluded on the 2nd of April. Held at the International Convention City Bashundhara, the 3 day event featured vehicles from Honda, Toyota, Ford, Great Wall and local assemblers Pragati.

Ford and its fiery Fiesta. Minus the Ken Block.

Toyota authorised dealer Navana brought out the brand new 2016 Avanza MPV, alongside the new RAV4, Vios and Yaris. Honda distributor DHS Motors brought out the CRV SUV, City Executive Line sedan and the hot selling HRV compact SUV. Ford's stall had the Fiesta, Ecosport min-SUV, and the Ranger pickup. Chinese manufacturer Great Wall, distributed by Ace Auto, displayed the H5 double cabin pickup and the H6 SUV. The Pragati stall featured a myriad collection of the vehicles they assemble locally – the now familiar Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and ASX, SUVs and pickups by Foday and a SUV by Mahindra.

Toyota’s RAV4 - sleek and smooth. Practical, too.

Across the grounds in the second hall, the Bike Show was a lively affair featuring more than eight stalls with motorbikes on display, from the likes of Suzuki, Keeway, UM Motors, and others. With everything from entry level road-bikes to sport bikes and cruisers, the bass thumping matched the loud colours and audience reception. A marvelous addition was a stall featuring four classic sport bikes from Yamaha and Honda, complete with fact sheets and specs.

The Pragati stall - the best of what Bangladesh can do at the moment.

Outside in the parking lot, Dhaka's automotive enthusiasts put on a different kind of show. Crazy bodykits, loud exhausts and many horsepower Mitsubishi Evos, Subaru STIs, Toyota Celicas and more filled up the parking lot and rounded up an otherwise excellent event. On the final day, there was a huge spike in the visitor crowd as rally bred machines carved their way around the adjacent rallycross track.

Great Wall had a range of pickups/SUVs. Look for a review of the Haval H6.

The Dhaka Motorshow will hopefully be back next year, louder, bigger, and better than ever before.

Head to our site, www.thedailystar.net, for further coverage and exclusive shots of the Motorshow.

Photos: Farhan Ahmed

Redefining old school precision through this retro JDM KE70 coupe- the right amount of show that's needed with the go.

From an econo autobox to a GT-4 spec watercooled turbo screamer, this Celica overshadows its MR2 sibling.

The 3rd rallycross was seriously deprived of STis, except a 10 minute display of this 700BHP beast.