At 10am today, Audi dealers Premium Motors (tel: 2528 1862) launch the 420bhp RS4 ($1.2 million, above) at its Kowloon showroom (Unit B, G/F, 5 Wang Kee St, Kowloon Bay). Powered by a new 4.2-litre V8 engine, the four-door has direct petrol injection and a new generation of quattro four-wheel-drive technology on 19-inch alloy wheels, the marque says. The RS4 is said to sprint to 99.2km/h in 4.8 seconds, and 0-195km/h in 16.6 seconds, with top speed at a governed 248km/h.
The MG Car Club of Hong Kong has been unlucky with the weather this year. Its annual concourse was washed out on February 27, and drenched again last Sunday. But old British cars teach their owners to be optimistic, and every cloud had a silver lining at this second attempt in Taikoo Place.
Quarry Bay was extra quiet on Sunday, with most sensible Mother's Day celebrations indoors. But, one by one, 19 old MGs lined up in Taikoo Place - just as the heavens opened. There was no way the concourse wouldn't run, organisers say, no matter what.
The cars were warm and ran fine, although the weather resulted in some modifications: Angus Wilkinson drove up in his maroon 1950 MGTD convertible, holding an umbrella. He says the umbrella was an easier option than erecting his old car's roof. There were concerns for Bryan Carter - last year he got a speeding ticket - but in he came in his Green 1969 MGB, drenched in a tonneau. And Ray Yip turned up in his shocking pink 1971 MGB showcase.
A few new classic car concourse contenders emerged this year. Ian De Witt's 1972 MGB would have delighted the Hong Kong Mini crowd, with a Union Jack bonnet, a Bauhinia Flag boot and renovated interior and engine. The few onlookers were impressed with the bodywork and interior of Tony Cheung's white 1969 MG Midget, and Ennio Wong's green 1970 MGB GT looked superb this year. But Dennis Leung's green 1998 MGF won the best interior prize, at its first attempt, and Martin Siu's pristine, green 1974 Mark III Midget took best of show, best engine and bodywork prizes.