Sharjah: The Middle East Motor Tuning Show, to be held in October simultaneously with the Sharjah International Automobile Show, will feature an auto tuning design contest, organisers said.
The contest will highlight the customised car show at the exhibition.
Entrants are invited to upload their designs on www.customdesigncup.com.
The winners will be chosen by a panel of experts and journalists led by Shaikh Marwan Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Chairman of the Emirates Motor Sports Federation and owner of the Umm Al Quwain MotorPlex. The designs will then be brought to life by Bear Garcia and his team at local outfit Bespoke Auto Design.
The Custom Design Cup is the Gulf's first open competition, giving people the chance to have their own interior and exterior designs brought to life on a Ford Mustang, provided by Al Tayer Motors. The modified vehicle will be unveiled on the first day of the Middle East Motor Tuning Show.
The event will also feature the latest trends in car modification from the likes of Invader, Top Speed Performance, Bespoke Auto Design among others.
International auto show
The 10th International Auto Show itself will kick off with an action-packed schedule for families and car enthusiasts alike, organisers said.
The exhibition, taking place at the Expo Centre Sharjah from October 14 to 18, will feature leading manufacturers and distributors as well as interactive features. Show highlights include the first Middle East Motor Awards and a state-of-the-art 4x4 driving course by Off-Road Zone. The track will include an extreme rock driving track, complete with artificial wadis, log drives and an RC Racer Zone.
"The show aims to complement other auto shows in the region rather than try to compete against them," said Saif Al Midfa, Director-General of the Expo Centre Sharjah.
"With the latest manufacturers' models, custom cars, SUV demonstrations and a hands-on driving experience, we want to focus on Emiratis and Arabs, young and old. Having said that, we also plan to have a vintage car rally with vehicles provided by the Sharjah Classic Car Museum, which will appeal to everybody," added Al Midfa.
The exhibition — together with the Middle East Motor Tuning Show — will span 58,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor space and is supported by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Emirates Motor Sports Federation.
There will be a number of visitor-focused initiatives, including safety, which will be one of this year's main themes. Instructors will give demonstrations and offer driving tips to visitors in a purpose-built area.
Educating drivers
"With the prevalence of accidents on the UAE's roads, safety has become a prime concern for the authorities and drivers alike. Our experienced instructors will be on-hand to educate drivers, not only about how to drive safely, but on the importance of using safety belts for children, which will hopefully help to make our roads safer and cut down on the number of unnecessary injuries inside cars," said Al Midfa.
The first Middle East Motor Awards 2010 will be held on the first day of the show, judged by a panel of 12 senior motoring journalists, representing seven countries from across the Middle East. There will be 10 categories, including Best Luxury Car, Best SUV and Best Saloon Car, culminating in the prestigious Car of the Year. There will also be a special hybrid category.
"The International Automobile Show is the Middle East's most popular bi-annual auto exhibition for car lovers and enthusiasts and hosts some of the finest automakers from across the globe. The show attracts car lovers and auto enthusiasts in large numbers, not only from the UAE but from across the Middle East and with events for all ages we are looking forward to a success show this year," said Al Midfa.
