Year after year, the AutoShow always impresses
Innovations have helped make the event Canada’s largest consumer show
Being around cars from an early age gave me an appreciation of the retail car industry, and I remember the sense of excitement when the newest models arrived at my father’s dealership in Toronto.
My appreciation for automobiles soared to new heights when, as a teenager, I attended my first auto show in Toronto. There, in one location, hundreds of new models sat glistening and gleaming under the spotlights.
Fast forward to the 2018 Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS), one of the world’s major venues for all things automotive and Canada’s largest consumer show. (The 45th, being held at the downtown Metro Toronto Convention Centre, will open tomorrow and run until Feb. 25.) AutoShow organizers have again put together a stellar agenda that will provide a dynamic visual and emotional experience for everyone who attends this year’s show.
For those who appreciate speed, the 2018 AutoShow will feature the fastest production car on the planet — the Koenigsegg Agera RS, appearing in Canada for the first time.
Another feature attraction will be a major display of cars celebrating the 70 years of Porsche. Visitors can learn about the evolution of Porsche and view a selection of historically significant Porsche models.
A new feature this year is ‘50 Years of Hot Wheels.” There will be a Hot Wheels super track, a dedicated display area featuring Hot Wheels collectors and their treasures, along with six life-size Hot Wheels replica cars.
The “Art and the Automobile” exhibit, presented by the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, will feature vintage automobiles, with a focus on the brands and mascots that made the classics the icons they are today.
A separate Art Room will offer unique automotive artwork for sale, and images taken from famed automotive photographer, Michael Furman, will be on display.
Lamborghinis, McLarens, Bugattis, Aston Martins and other magical marques will again form the basis of Auto Exotica, the most exotic and valuable collection of cars showcased anywhere in the country.
Tuner Battlegrounds will see the most elite and modified cars ever seen at the AutoShow. This online fan-voted competition will be created and hosted by Performance Auto & Sound Magazine, giving Canada’s top Tuner enthusiasts a chance to show their stuff.
New to the 2018 AutoShow is the eSports Zone, which is now a hugely popular and global spectator sport. The eSports Zone will feature simulated car races on the famous Nurburgring circuit on the Forza Motorsports 7 platform, where participating competitors can earn up to $1,000 in prize money.
Eight manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs) will display cars like the Nissan Leaf and the BMW i3 in the EVolution Zone, while 10 automakers will offer up cars for test drives in nearby special sections in both of the convention centre’s North and South buildings.
As well as the Leaf and the i3, other EVs available to test will include the Chevrolet Volt and Bolt, the Outlander PHEV, the Honda Clarity, the Volvo XC40, the Hyundai IONIQ and the Ford Focus Electric.
Audi will also present its own dedicated test-drive program, in which six vehicles from across its range will be available to test from the south loading docks behind the Audi display.
Ahighlight of each year’s AutoShow is the announcement of the Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year, selected by members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The awards will be a highlight of Media Preview Day today.
The year, for the first time, three more awards will be announced by AJAC. The Automotive Innovation Awards will be presented Feb. 21, for Best Safety Innovation, Best Green Innovation and Best Overall Innovation.
The Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) will provide exhibits, interactive displays, panel discussions and presentations about education and careers in the retail automobile industry. Daily during the AutoShow, the TADA will feature a different school, educational initiative or extracurricular group or team on the show’s Live Stage.
A new feature, the Automotive Intelligence Series, will involve industry leaders discussing issues affecting Canadian drivers. These talks will run most days and will be free for show attendees.
The Canadian International AutoShow has grown into a world-class event since I attended my first auto show as a teenager. After all these years, and all the incredible automotive innovations and new technologies, this is still a source of wonder and awe for me, as I am sure it will be for you!
Visit the 2018 AutoShow and experience all that it has to offer!