Kawai RX-2 Millenium...

[ghostclaws]

Has anyone heard of the Kawai Millenium grands?
I was at a Kawai dealer today shopping for a RX2 grand; he showed me this one special demo model on the floor with the designation RX2-ME (apparently built in 2003).
The difference between the regular RX2 and the ME according to the salesman is that the sound board of the regular RX2 is made with Alaskan Sitka spruce whereas the soundboard of the ME is made wth Italian spruce which is apparently superior.
Upon playing both, I did find the ME tone to be more pleasing, somewhat more brilliant and interesting than the regular RX2. The price difference is roughly about $3000 Canadian.

Questions:
1. Does anyone know when the Millenium series were manufactured and when did Kawai stop making them? (apparently they are not made anymore) Were they still made in 2003 as the salesman told me?
2. Were these Millenium grands sold in North America (i.e. US and Canada) since the salesman told me that they got the piano in the showroom by making a bid on some kind of auction in Japan of the remaining stock (only a few left).
3.Could extra voicing have livened up the tone of the ME grand in the showroom?

I appreciate any info regarding this Millenium series, since I quite like the tone of this grand in the showroom. I'd rather pass on by if I think the salesman has been less than honest on his presentation of the facts!

Thanks so much in advance!

 

GC