New SUVs, trucks hot at Dayton Auto Show
The Dayton Auto Show continues today at the Dayton Convention Center. The hottest attractions are the new trucks and SUVs being offered this year.
U.S. auto companies are on track to sell about 16.7 million vehicles this year, and once again people are in love with trucks and SUVs as gas prices remain low. A redesigned Silverado and a new GMC truck will be unveiled later this fall.
One of the interesting trends with automakers is new diesel technology. Ford and General Motors both plan diesel engine options for the 2019 F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, and Fiat Chrysler is reportedly going to announce a diesel option for the Ram 1500 later this year. Diesel is even featured on the 2018 Chevy Cruze sedan, which promises 702 miles on a tank.
While you can’t drive one out of the convention center, the show offers patrons an opportunity to check out the vehicles without a high-pitch offer from salespeople, who are not allowed to make a sale from the show.
Get in here!
Speaking of car sales, auto dealer Steve VanGorder continues to build his auto dealership. The well-known pitchman’s company, SVG Property, recently acquired a former Beavercreek dealership near U.S. 35.
Reporter Thomas Gnau reported the company paid just over $1 million for the 5.8-acre property at 3415 Seajay Drive, former home of Eastgate Ford.
Since leaving Jeff Schmidt Auto, VanGorder has been aggressive in building his own dealership in the Dayton area. SVG Motors is in Dayton at 400 Shoup Mill Road, as well as Eaton, Urbana and Greenville.
Gas bill going up
You can expect your gas bill to go up next year.
Reporter Thomas Gnau reported Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio has applied to the state to increase its rates for customers in the Miami Valley. The average residential customer would pay about $7 a month more if state regulators approve the change, Gnau reported. According to Vectren, its average residential customer paid about $55 to $60 a month in 2017.
Vectren told Gnau the average residential natural gas bills are projected to be about 15 percent lower than the bills customers saw in the late 2000s, when natural gas prices were at record levels.
Troll Pub coming soon
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, downtown Dayton’s newest bar will open in the Oregon District.
Reporter Mark Fisher reported the Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse will open at 220 Wayne Ave. — just up the street from the Dublin Pub.
The new Troll Pub Wheelhouse is a 6,500-square-foot restaurant and bar expected to seat as many as 250. The second location for the popular Troll Pub Under the Bridge in Louisville, Ky., the Dayton pub will offer an extensive selection of craft beers and bourbons and will offer a food menu that general manager Ben Barker told Fisher is “pub grub but made from scratch.”
Rich Gillette is the Dayton Daily News business editor. He can be reached at rich.gillette@coxinc.com or follow him on Twitter @richgillette.