For the auto industry, 2009 will probably be a year to forget. With a few exceptions, the majority of car makers have suffered the worst results ever. The results haven't been pretty either with job losses, bankruptcies, yadda yadda.

So, I've decided to dispense with 2009 news early. Let's look forward to 2010.

The car pictured above is the next generation Toyota Wish, and based on it, I think the we have reason to believe that things will get better in 2010.

Am I the only one who remembers when the toll on the Don Muang Tollway rose from 40 to 55 baht? If memory serves, this was a reasonably gradual increase over time, 5 baht here, 10 baht there. Now, the increase is simply impossible to understand. How can a 30 baht price hike be justified?

Paultan.org has some caught some snaps of a lightly disguised Persona facelift that is due next year. It doesn't look a whole lot different, with some minor changes to the light clusters, and the front end.

The Thailand International Motor Expo 2009 came to a close on Sunday, and the final sales results are in. A grand total of 25,220 new car bookings were made at the Expo, which is 10,000 more than event organisers had forecast. This could be taken as some indication that the economic situation is improving. Or it could just mean that impulse buying is rampant.

Regardless, it is interesting to see the shakedown of the final sales results. We reported earlier on the first day's results, and now we can share the final results complete with some comments on what it means for the industry in Thailand, if anything.

The 2009 Thailand International Motor Expo is underway, and sales results from the first day have been tallied. Overall the results aren't exactly fantastic with a mere 931 cars sold, but it's early days with the show running until 13th December.

Read on for the highlights from the first day of sales, complete with a few images.

Sometimes after living in Thailand for a few years and witnessing the crazy things that drivers do on the roads, you might hear people saying things like, "Only in Thailand." Well, this compilation video is not from Thailand. It's from Europe, and I think it shows that people are the same the world over.

Video after the jump.

Updated (24/11/09): Running Footage Video added.

Regulars here will know that we don't do a lot of talking about premium cars. The fact is that if you are reading this blog, you probably don't have the cash to buy a BMW. But I feel compelled to write a little bit about the new styling direction taken by BMW with the new 7-series and now, the 5.

Simply put, BMW are officially making cool cars again. The pictures speak for themselves. This is a very nicely balanced design. Of course it's still going to be ridiculously expensive, and you'd be much better off buying a few houses, and a Jazz.

The Thailand International Motor Expo is set for another mindless run. From 2nd to 13th December prospective car buyers can go to the Impact Arena, Muang Tong Thani to check out the same cars that they can see at their local dealers. As usual the show has a theme, and this year it is: "Driving... for Sustainability."

It's time to start getting really excited, and not because of cars, but because of ones and zeros!

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology little boys (and other people) can immerse themselves into astonishingly realistic racing simulations, hopefully satisfying the need to go fast.

GT5, and Forza 3 look so realistic that you need to keep reminding yourself that this is not real. Although not quite photo-realistic, the graphics look amazing. You can check out preview videos of GT5 and Forza 3 after the jump. And then start saving for a PS3 or an Xbox 360!

A piece in the Bangkok Post titled "Safer roads, anyone?" reveals some shocking statistics from the WHO concerning road deaths. I'm not going to repost the article here, but please do read it.

This is a serious issue. Think about it. Take action.

Tesla Motors are powering ahead with their Model S. The sedan is set for launch as a 2011 model and Tesla are trying to keep us interested, remind us that they are still around, and further heighten or expectations with this latest video.

For the most part it is the usual self-indulgent designer attempting to convince us that this is the greatest design ever. There are some interesting details in the video though and it's worth four minutes for anyone who is looking forward to a world that finally kisses the ICE goodbye. If the Model S is realised, then Tesla is looking set to drag the rest of the industry kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Enjoy the video.

What motor show would be a motor show without a few funny cars? And the 2009 Bangkok International Motor Show had a few very funny cars. Chinese automaker Chery with the Faira gets my vote for the silliest car of the show.

VW is taking a more serious stab at the Thai market, and chose to show a number of interesting models at this year's Bangkok International Motor Show. But are they actually going to have a hope of selling these cars in Thailand at these prices?

Earlier I gave a brief look at some of the "highlights" from Toyota's floorspace at the 2009 Bangkok International Motor Show. Right across the aisle from Toyota is Honda who seemed more interested in some "Honda Pretty" competition thing, than they did their cars. Anyway that's the way of things at the Bangkok Motor Show, and to be fair Honda needed something to take the attention off the lack of new metal.

Visitors to the 2009 Bangkok International Motor Show will find that Toyota has a "new" Yaris, a Prius II "Prototype" and a 1/X Concept. Exciting!