Hub’s at center of auto universe
From sensible sedans to wild exotics, it’s all in the Seaport through Monday
Would you go to a bookstore that only sold cookbooks?
Would you go to a clothing store that only sold socks? You might, but … why? Thankfully, if you go to the New England International Auto Show, you don’t have to see only one type of vehicle. Instead, the 2019 show at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center that starts today and ends Monday gives showgoers the chance to see cars, trucks, SUVs and everything in between from A (Acura) to V (Volvo).
Manufacturers on display this year include Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, McLaren, Nissan, Ram, Rolls-Royce, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo and Volkswagen. That’s a lot of iron.
And aluminum. And chrome. And leather, technology … you get the idea.
Guests of the show can compare their wish-list vehicles side by side (and in some cases, even take one for a test drive). They can touch the contours, open the doors and see what it’s all about if they plan to make a purchase in 2019, or if they just like cars.
And according to the latest annual sales figures from autoalliance.org, almost 360,000 new vehicles were sold in the Bay State in 2017.
There won’t be 360,000 cars at the auto show, but there will be a lot.
Some of the coolest new vehicles expected to be at the show include the Northeast debuts of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator, the 2020 Lincoln Aviator, the 2019 Honda Passport and the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. And the 2019
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera makes its U.S. debut. James Bond would be envious.
The highly anticipated Gladiator is Jeep’s first return to the pickup segment in more than 25 years. Think Wrangler, but with a 5-foot bed. The Gladiator is 31 inches longer than a Wrangler, and it will debut with a 285-hp V6. Expect fandom.
The Aviator returns as a three-row luxury SUV with sharper styling than most Lincolns are known for, somewhat resembling an elongated BMW X6 or Land Rover Discovery. The comparison continues: The Aviator’s twin-turbocharged six produces a robust 400 hp.
The Passport SUV is back for Honda, slotted between the popular but smallish CR-V and the hefty Pilot. It’s got capable power with a six-cylinder motor churning out 285 hp.
Subaru is beloved in New England, and the Crosstrek is its most popular model. Drive down any Boston street and the odds are good you’ll see one. For 2019, Subaru is reintroducing a hybrid version of the all-wheeldrive mite. In this class, Subaru continues to make inroads because of its affordability and bang for the buck.
Try not to gasp when you see the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. The car is beautiful and looks ready to jet … no surprise because it’s got a 715-hp V12 monster under the hood. Zero to 60 time is 3.4 seconds. Strap in. As one might expect, this car isn’t for everyone: The MSRP is $304,995. But dreams are good.
Another treat to thrill enthusiasts this year is the show’s “Supercar Speedway” — a collection of extremely rare exotic vehicles valued at over $5 million. Visitors will want to scope out the McLaren display — the British marque sells fewer than 3,500 cars globally in a given year.
Anyone else with a few hundred thou burning a hole in their pockets can ponder a 2020 Bentley Continental GT, the 2019 Lamborghini Urus or the 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
The show will have a bevy of product specialists at each display to answer more detailed questions about the cars available.
For those who want to try a behind-the-wheel experience … sorry, the McLarens aren’t doing that. But, Mazda, Toyota and Volkswagen are. Ride-and-drive opportunities are available for licensed drivers.
Guests also can’t drive any of the cool classic restored muscle cars at The Muscle Car Showcase sponsored by ScrubaDub, the official car wash of the New England International Auto Show. They’ll want to get close to them anyway, and that’s allowed.
For racing enthusiasts, the Race Car Pit Stop will show off performance cars from the New England Region of the Sports Car Club of America.
There will also be a heavy dose of car-related specialty booths and displays, too.