Brisbane auto centre launched

Brisbane's airport precinct is set to play host to one of the most ambitious auto retail complexes ever proposed Down Under.

Dubbed 'Auto Mall', the development proposed by the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) could boast several Australian firsts – including a Mark Skaife-designed private test track.

Auto Mall will be located next to the Brisbane airport, opposite the international terminal, on a 50 hectare site. BAC is currently looking for a joint venture partner to help fund the project, which is expected to cost several hundred million dollars.

BAC says the complex could house up to 30 new car (or allied) dealership operations. However, it's the 2.5km long track that has grabbed the lion's share of attention since the project was announced.

John Tormey, BAC's general manager of commercial businesses says the primary use of the track will be for new car customers to test vehicles, however, he says the scope of the facility opens the door to new opportunities.

"Someone buys a new car and wants to go for a test drive… They just go out the back and there's no traffic and it's hassle free.

"It's 2.5 kilometres long. It's a decent-sized track. Then we've got a second stage that'll take it another kilometre longer again. It's significant," Tormey added.

"It'll not only be available for test drives. We could imagine car clubs and so on booking the track for the day. It's got wider applications than just test driving," he said.

Tormey says one of the aims of the Auto Mall is to create a new auto destination.

"We envisage people could come out for the day; bring the family; look at half a dozen different cars then have lunch somewhere. We provide all that retail backup facility now as well."

Asked how many dealers the site would accommodate Tormey suggested: "It would be the biggest in Australia. I feel confident it would attract most of the major car manufacturers and dealers."

Although BAC is still looking for a joint venture partner to help fund the project, Tormey is confident it will go ahead.

"We're pretty sure it'll happen," he told motoring.com.au.

"It'll cost several hundred million [dollars to develop], but it really depends on what we settle on in the end. It's a very big site so if we get a bit of traction early it'll keep growing. It'll be in the hundreds of millions by that time," he said.

Does the idea of an 'auto mall' with its own private test track appeal to you? Would you be more inclined to visit a car precinct with test track than a solo dealership? Have your say below in the comments section.