Jalopnik: Booth Babes

2009 Pirelli Calendar: Elephants And A Whole Load Of NSFW

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

It's that time of year again, when Pirelli sends aspiring Playboy photographers out on calendar assignment, letting them dream up ridiculous ways to photograph nude or nearly nude models in exotic locations. What this has to do with the business of selling tires we have no idea. Whatever, nekkid ladies! Hit the jump for a large and VERY NSFW gallery from the 2009 Pirelli Calendar.

'When did they make 2009 a year of 28 months?' you ask. They didn't, but Pirelli, bless their hearts, threw a lot of the images that didn't make the final cut onto their website. The things they do to sell tires. Speaking of which, we were thinking just now about how Pirelli's are a superior tire in every way, and a brand that adds not only performance, but style to automobiles. Wait, what the...? The marketing! It works! Nooooooo! [Pirelli (NSFW)]

The Booth Professionals of the 2008 Guangzhou International Auto Show

Andrew Didorosi — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:30:00 EST

As a result of covering an auto show or two in our time, we've become veritable connoisseurs regarding the mistresses of motors we lovingly refer to as Booth Professionals. We've brought you delightful displays of debutantes from far away locations such as Geneva, Paris, Las Vegas and Detroit. Apologies for the blurry nature of a few of these pictorials, we've got the shakes from a bit of bad Mu Shu pork.

[ABChina]

The Booth Professionals Of The 2008 SEMA Show

Ray Wert — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:30:00 EST

Two days ago we asked you to pick your choice of "booth professional" using a comparison from last year's SEMA-stained gallery of booth saleswomen from the tire section of the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association show to the more conservative flesh-baring of Geneva, Paris and Detroit as our lede. Now, we've put together a bevy of booth professionals from this year's SEMA show for you to find out if your "choice" made the cut. So take a gander — perhaps you'll answer differently after taking a look at this year's batch of tire-selling sales professionals. Or not.

Photo Credit: Dean Chandler

Les Hôtesses Of The 2008 Paris Motor Show

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:21:00 EDT

Here we are at the end of the 2008 Paris Motor Show with all of these extra images again in our camera. Unfortunately, we can't use them because those hard working booth professionals (we decided to use the local vernacular spoken by gents in hushed and reverent tones, "les hôtesses") keep walking in front of the production cars and concepts. We don't feel too bad because we know they're doing their job of informing inquisitive journalists of the merits of the vehicles and demonstrating features too complicated for the journos to figure out. While we normally would just toss these into the recycle bin and be done with them, we figure some of you out there may want to see how many shots we have to grudgingly go through before bringing you the best possible coverage from the show.

Booth Professionals Of The 2008 Geneva Motor Show

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST

One of the many drawbacks to the auto show system is that there are so many people trying to get access to a car that, occasionally, one of them ends up in the shot. This is especially true of the professionals who are responsible for aiding in the display of the more important models. We call them booth professionals. Every time you try to get a shot of a new car, there's one of them pouting her lips, arching her back or leaning seductively against something. It's a rough life. But rather than let the photos go to waste we've included them here in a gallery so that you can see the hardships we must endure as automotive journalists. Pity us.

Ya Know, It Is A Bit Nippy Here In The Geneva Expo Center

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:20:00 EST

Was it particularly cold near the Lambo stand yesterday at the Geneva Motor Show? This Lambo-loving lady minding the bull-headed brand's booth needs to be careful near the merchandise. She could scratch the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 if she's not careful! [via AutoUnleashed]

Now It's Time To Play Guess The Age Of The Geneva Booth Babe!

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:00:00 EST

So come on guys n' gals, what do we think? Is she 18? How about 17? How about a really well developed 16? God only knows. Seriously, God and her. Why are we beginning to get worried about child slavery every time we come to a European show? [via AutoUnleashed]

Who Had Your Favorite Booth Babes?

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:30:22 EST

Normally booth babes are virtually invisible at the Detroit Auto Show - all bundled up in pantsuits and acting as "spokesmodels". This year saw some cracks in the wall of political correctness through which a few foreign manufacturers snuck in very lovely ways to make a bunch of dudes look at their cars. The field of candidates expanded this year to include our darling of the show BYD, as well as BMW, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, and Audi. We certainly enjoyed taking these pictures, and now we want to know which manufacturer went above and beyond with the most fetching selection of spokesmodels. Poll after the jump.

What's Up With Booth Babes?

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Today's Question comes from the apparently born again, fundamental, puritanical Al Navarro. Yeah, we know, right? Still, as it is our most-of-the-time policy to ask the questions you send in, we're asking Al's. Here's what the self-described Sevangelist sent us:

What is the point of a booth babe?

Would you want your daughter to be a booth babe?

Well, we think Al's first question is fairly obvious. As for the second, no, we want your daughter to be a booth babe. Can I get an amen?

Gratuitous MotoGP Umbrella and Bikini Babe Gallery

Mike Bumbeck — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EDT

Don't think for a second we forgot about booth and umbrella babes, or the needs of our readers while at the MotoGP. We just wanted to wait until Monday, so y'all could get in hot water for looking at squirt gun wielding bikini babes while at work. (This may not be safe for work!)

Toyota Takes Over SEMA For 2007

Ray Wert — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:30:55 EDT

It looks like the second foreign car manufacturer in as many years will be the major sponsor of the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association aftermarket trade show out in Vegas. Last year it was HoMoCo as the first to drop their dime on the show, and this year the number one super awesome best automaker from the land of the rising sun is getting a piece of that sponsorship action. That's right, Toyota will be taking over the Las Vegas Convention Center this fall, and we totally can't wait to see what they're going to have as the grab-bag prize this year — will it be a Scion or Toyota-branded booth babe bustier? When we know, you'll know. [UPDATE: Honda was top dog in 2005. In 2006, General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler shared the VMOS spot under the theme "American Muscle"] – Ray Wert

Toyota to sponsor SEMA trade show [Detroit News]

[Picture via DubspeedDriven]

GM-Daewoo Limits Self To Only 30 Booth Babes At 2007 Seoul Motor Show

Ray Wert — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:40:00 EDT

Some automakers are users and abusers of the "booth babes," including them in displays in order to create a visceral reaction from the high horsepower cars and attractive women perched atop them. The automakers that employ them are all over using them because they want the auto writing media folks to do two things — equate their cars with the potential for sex with a hot woman, and then to take pictures of the hot women with cars behind them so that others will equate their cars with the potential for sex with hot women. But autonistas are becoming wise to the wily automakers ways, and many of the employers of booth babes are looking to drop the levels of usage, specifically in the overseas market. Thus, we've now heard:

"Spectators for the upcoming Seoul Motor Show 2007 are likely to see fewer female models showcasing the newest automobiles.
Carmakers, such as Hyundai Motor and GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, have decided to reduce the number of female models compared to 2005.

The downsizing could serve as a major disappointment for male visitors looking to glance on the female models during the show. The 10-day car event will kick off on April 6 at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) in Koyang, northwest of Seoul...GM Daewoo will limit their number of female models to 30. Ssangyong Motor and Renault Samsung Motors are also planning to follow the move."

Now that's restraint on the part of GM-Daewoo. We, on the other hand, know not what this "restraint" thing is — thus, the gallery below. – Ray Wert

Seoul Motor Show to Use Fewer Scantily-Clad Female Models; GM Daewoo Limits to...30 [GMInsideNews]

Jalopnik Poll: The China Show's Got Booth Babes Too!

Ray Wert — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 13:46:00 EST

Yes, that's right, it would appear in addition to capitalism, the Chinese have also learned about the importance of selling metal with flesh. But unlike some of the other shows, the booth babes of Beijing's China Auto Show appear to be of a more classy variety than a couple of the other second-tier shows, like say...Moscow...or Paris. But we do hear there's different strokes for different folks. Why don't you take a look for yourself and help us pit the winner of our last booth babe bonanza, the lovely ladies of Moscow — against the winners we found in China. [Hat tip to Gridskipper!] – Ray Wert

Moscow Auto Show Booth Babe Gallery

China Auto Show Booth Babe Gallery

Beaucoup Belgium Booth Babes: The 2006 International Tuning Salon

Ray Wert — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 13:01:00 EST

The 2006 International Tuning Salon just finished up over in Belgium and although we weren't there, the pictures and video we've seen indicate it was one hell of a party. Although the 330 custom cars and tuners are more than outmatched by the orgy of aftermarket product uses on display at SEMA, the copious flesh on display at the Nekkerhal Mechelen make the Las Vegas ~~strippers~~ booth babes look like a convent. Although we do have to say there may be a line they've crossed out in Belgium, because we've no idea what fire-breathing and panty-stripping lesbians have to do with cars — but whatevs, we'll roll with it. The gallery below and the video after the jump are definitely Not Safe For Work. – Ray Wert

SEMA Show: How Can You Sell Tires If You Don't Have Any Booth Babes?

Ray Wert — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 13:00:00 EST

As Jalopnik photographer-of-the-star-cars Curtis Walker was want to tell us — there are rules for booth babes at SEMA. Apparently, this stuff doesn't just happen by chance — and here's his explanation of where you'll find the booth babes, what they'll be wearing and why — and all with a helpful reference gallery below:

"It would appear that there is a correlation between skin factor and company size. Ford and GM, for example, don't have booth babes. Companies selling rims and exhaust systems have girls with cleavage showing in the front or rear."

While we'd agree with Curtis' assessment, we feel compelled to add the following addendum:

"Companies selling tires have girls with cleavage showing in the front and the rear."

Because you know, that's just how they roll — we mean, how else are you going to get folks to snap pictures of your tires? – Ray Wert

[2006 SEMA Booth Babes Gallery] (NSFW)