New Car Show Features Vintage Cars as Highlights

CITROEN displays the world's first front-wheel-drive model, the TRACTION AVANT. Photo by Chen Dareren

Auto Union Type C racing car. Photo by Chen Dareren

To recognize a brand’s status in the automotive industry, one of the most direct ways is to showcase vintage cars, even race cars with a legendary track record. This year’s World New Car Show features representative vehicles from brands such as Audi, NISSAN, and CITROEN.

CITROEN presented a TRACTION AVANT, a car launched by the brand in 1934, designed by the renowned Italian artist Flaminio Bertoni. It was the world’s first vehicle equipped with a front-wheel-drive system. Its all-steel chassis integrated with the body, welded construction, hydraulic brakes, independent suspension, and floating engine mount were all cutting-edge technologies at the time, helping CITROEN become Europe’s largest automaker back then.

NISSAN set up a GT-R exhibition area, showcasing multiple iconic models and detailing the history of the car line’s development. The first-generation SKYLINE GT-R originated in 1968 after the merger of Prince Motor Company and Nissan. The third-generation SKYLINE, with factory code C10, was the first to bear the GT-R emblem and went on to achieve an undefeated record of 50 victories in various races between 1969 and 1972. Taiwan Audi airlifted two legendary racing cars from Germany: the Audi quattro S1 Pikes Peak and the Auto Union Type C, valued at over NT$100 million.