Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
BEHIND THE WHEEL
Automobile Dealers Association in East Norriton a driving force for the Philadelphia Auto Show
EAST NORRITON > >Where else can the serious motorhead get a look at the latest automotive technology, right along with a healthy eyeful of classic cars, exotic imports and the hottest debuts on four wheels — and even get to drive a few — all under one roof?
That roof, of course, is attached to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where the Auto Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia is behind the wheel of the 117th edition of the Philadelphia Auto Show, running Jan. 27 to Feb. 4.
“Those nine days are the heart of the auto industry in our region,” said Kevin Mazzucola, executive director of the East Norriton-based organization that owns and produces the wintertime extravaganza of sheet metal and represents 190 franchised new car and truck dealers throughout the five-county Philadelphia region.
Nearly 200,000 new vehicles rolled out of those dealerships and into their new owners’ driveways in 2017, Mazzucola noted.
“It’s a huge market for the manufacturers in regards to the Auto Show,” he said. “But the show is not only for the manufacturers but the people who love cars. It’s a mecca. And it’s not just about the Fords, the Kias the Chevrolets, the Aston Martins … it’s like the car shack of Philadelphia.”
A car shack that draws about 250,000 fans and sends more potential buyers into area showrooms in the months following the show than any of the glitzier, more hyped auto shows in markets like New York and Los Angeles.
As automobile manufacturers crank the tech-o-meter well beyond 10 with amenities like adaptive cruise control and blind spot warning systems, the appeal of the Philadelphia Auto Show transcends time itself, Mazzucola pointed out.
“The great thing about the Auto Show is that in this day and age of being bombarded with promotion and digital in all its capacities … ‘like me’ here, tweet me there, the show remains vital because it is the opposite of all of that. It’s not digital, it’s not virtual, it’s not TV, not radio, it is nine days of tangibly and physically being able to get into these vehicles and compare them for the biggest purchase you will make in your life other than your home. And nothing can do that other than the Auto Show.
“That’s why it’s special,” he said. “I’d probably say it’s old fashioned. That’s why people enjoy it. It’s the same way you did it in the 1930s, the 1950s, and that’s why we’ve been there for 117 years because it fills that role — a role that is probably more important now than it was back then because we’re so bombarded and so promotionalized with a variety of things, not just the automobile industry. To be able to do this with the kids and make it a family outing and see what you want — and that’s just the new vehicles. Then we have the entertainment side.”
Among the new entries sure to rev up more than a few souls will be the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt, a limited edition tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Steve McQueen film of the same name.
Mazzucola was there for the unveiling of the iconic 2019 model, which shared the spotlight with its legendary inspiration at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit recently.
“They actually had the one from the movie and you could see how they took some of the styling cues from it,” he said.
To power up the performance of the vehicle that echoes the thrill of the greatest car chase in movie history, the modern Bullitt harbors upwards of 475 horsepower and a GT350 intake manifold under the hood.
Due in dealerships this summer, the car will come in limited color options, including Dark Highland Green, the color of Steve McQueen’s original Mustang GT 390 Fastback.
With Americans piling into pickup trucks more than ever,
it’s no surprise that Ford, Chevy and Ram will spotlight updated versions of the returning midsize Ranger, Silverado and the lighter, more aerodynamic 1500, respectively, for 2019, highlighting their ongoing confidence in the bread and butter vehicles of the auto
industry.
“Sixty five percent of all vehicles sold in this country are trucks and SUVs,” Mazzucola said. “The top three selling vehicles are the Ford F-150, Silverado and the Ram 1500, so it shows how important it is to these manufacturers to keep this market share growing.”
Six years ago there were under 50 crossover and SUV models; today there are more than 70, Mazzucola noted.
“People have a voracious appetite for these vehicles, especially the economical ones. You’ll see SUVs from Hyundai and Kia to Ferrari and Mercedes. The SUV is the hottest segment in the market, and that’s where you see a lot of new product coming in at the Auto Show.”
Camp Jeep returns to the Philadelphia Auto Show for its sixth consecutive appearance and features an interactive adventure zone
where professional 4x4 drivers allow riders to experience a Jeep’s on- and offroad capabilities right inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Spotlighted vehicles will include the Cherokee Trailhawk, the all-new Wrangler Unlimited, Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, Renegade Trailhawk and Compass.
You will also get the opportunity to “Find Your Next,” as the long-standing
Auto Show motto says, at the 2018 Ride and Drive Zone. Located on the street level of the Convention Center, the Zone will offer test drives from Kia, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota and Mazda.
The 2018 Philadelphia Auto Show hours at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., Philadelphia, are: Monday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays: 9 a.m. to 8
p.m. on Jan. 28 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 4.
Tickets are $14 for adults (age 13 and up) and $7 for children (ages 7-12) and may be purchased at phillyautoshow.com or at the Convention Center box office. Children ages 6 and younger do not require a ticket. Senior citizens (ages 62 and older) receive a special admission price of $7 on weekdays only. Senior citizen tickets are not available online.