Airport looks to lure luxury car buyers with new Automall complete with performance track

Luxury car buyers and motor fans across southeast Asia and Europe will be urged to “fly, try and buy” their high-end vehicles at Brisbane’s new Automall.

LUXURY car buyers and motor fans across southeast Asia and Europe will be urged to “fly, try and buy” their high-end vehicles at Brisbane’s new Automall.

The Mark Skaife-designed performance track is expected to be complete late next year, with land also handed over for car group AP Eagers to start building their sales and service hub at the same time.

The "skidpan" feature at Brisbane Airport's Automall, which will be a collection of car dealerships surrounding a special test track.

Head of property development George Delibaltas said the Brisbane Airport was talking to two potential track operators and wanted to make the CAMS-registered T3 rated track a major draw for visitors.

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“We see this opening up not only European market but certainly Southeast Asia with the opportunity to come here, drive and either garage their vehicles here and be able to enjoy it or experience any other event,” Mr Delibaltas said.

The combination of multiple car dealerships and a racetrack near an airport is a world first. Picture: Supplied.

He said the airport could have opened a standard cluster of car dealerships but saw the tourism opportunity on the back of the massive $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf casino project that would be helping bring highrollers to Brisbane.

“We’ve created a track that can be split up into different modules,” Mr Delibaltas said.

The airport saw the tourism opportunity on the back of the Queen’s Wharf casino project and its potential to attract high rollers. Picture: Supplied.

“You can really test the performance of a car through a number of these modules, including four-wheel drive track.

“It’s quite a unique part of the whole precinct.

“It’s the point of difference. Nothing like this has been done anywhere else in the world.

“It gives us the opportunity to run a whole myriad of different activities and experiences on the track, but also provide test driving opportunities, driver training and education opportunities and research and development opportunities there.”