It’s auto show time
A how-to guide for the largest consumer show in Canada
The Canadian International Auto Show is the largest consumer show in Canada. Here’s a primer to help you make the most of it. How big is it? Very big! There are a thousand cars and light trucks — as many as you’ll see at the huge Detroit auto show — spread over 650,000 square feet of carpeted area.
The show fills the two large halls of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, plus several smaller halls and all the walkways in between. When’s it on? For 10 days over two weekends, Feb. 12-21. The show opens at noon on Friday, then is open every day until Feb. 21starting at 10:30 a.m. It stays open until 10 p.m. every night, but closes on the final Sunday at 6 p.m. How much does it cost? That depends on how you buy your tickets.
If you buy them online before the show, up to Feb. 11, there’s a 10-per-cent discount off the regular adult, child and family admission tickets. Go to Auto Show.ca. Regular adult admission costs $23, but $5 discount coupons will bring the price down during the week to $18.
You can find coupons in the Toronto Star throughout the show or you can ask your TADA dealer. Each coupon is good for one admission. Coupons are not valid on Monday (Family Day), or on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets for youth aged 13-16 cost $16, children 7-12 cost $7. Kids 6 and under are free.
A family of two adults and two kids aged 7-12 qualifies for a Volkswagen Family Admission ticket, which costs $45.
Seniors aged 60+ cost $11, but only on the two Fridays of the show, Feb.12 and19.
Tuesday, Feb.16, is Super Tuesday, when admission tickets for adults and youth cost $12.
All prices include HST. Should I bring my kids? Sure, though an adult must accompany them — you can’t drop them off for the day.
Just tell them to ask you before touching anything. They don’t even have to be that interested in cars — there’s plenty to see and do.
Younger children aged 3 months to 8 years old, with ID for each child, can visit the Volkswagen Children’s Playcare Centre, which provides a professional daycare service at no charge for two to three hours, with arts and crafts, dress-up, DVDs and more.
Older kids can visit the Xbox One Gaming Area in the South Building, where they can race cars on Forza Motorsport 6.
How do I get there? And what do I do with my jacket? The North Building is on Front St. and the South Building is underground, next to the CN Tower. There’s covered parking for 1,700 cars at the centre and plenty more nearby, though it fills quickly and isn’t cheap: expect to pay up to $30 all day.
Transit is the better way, even to a car show. You can walk from Union Station through the covered Skywalk to both halls.
Check your coat when you arrive for $3 so you don’t have to carry it around the show — it can get warm under the display lights.
How do I get between the two halls? There’s a wide inside corridor over the railway tracks that links the two halls, and either escalators or elevators to pass between levels. As well, there’s a free continuous outside shuttle bus between the two halls.
What is there to eat? Can I bring my own food? There’s food for most tastes, and it’s not overpriced. There are two food courts, as well as the Muskoka Brewery Restaurant for pulled-pork sandwiches and craft beer.
You’re welcome to bring your own food, but you’re asked to eat in designated areas, not in the exhibit areas.
Can I buy a car at the show? Yes, but there’s no pressure to do so. Most manufacturers will direct you to your local retailer.
What are the best cars to see? Pretty much every new car and light truck that’s sold in Canada will be on display, but there are plenty of others, too, including concepts, hotrods, Indy race cars, autonomous cars, street tuners and exotics.
At least 40 new production cars will be making their Canadian debuts at the show, never before seen in this country. They’re expected to include the Cadillac CT6, Chevrolet Bolt allelectric, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, Chrysler Pacifica minivan, 2017 Ford Fusion, Lincoln Continental, Jaguar F-Pace, 2016 Mazda CX-9 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.
What concept cars are at the show? At least 11, including the hydrogenpowered Audi H-Tron, Hyundai Santa Cruz Crossover pickup truck, and the Buick Avenir fastback that was a hit at last month’s Detroit auto show. Even the Nissan Rogue War- rior, which took all the attention at January’s Montreal show, will be there with its tracked wheels for snow.
What’s the most expensive car at the show? It’s the 1996 McLaren F1 GTR, an irreplaceable race car that won Le Mans on its first time out. The last McLaren F1 that sold at auction fetched almost $14 million. That means this is probably the most expensive car to ever be at the Auto Show.
This car is being displayed by Pfaff Motors Inc. and is owned by BMW North America, which supplied its 6.1-litre V12 engine.
It’s No.17, and was driven by Johnny Cecotto, Danny Sullivan and Nelson Piquet.
What other exotic cars are at the show? Where to begin? Aside from the high-end BMWs, Mercedes, Jaguars and Porsches on the main show floors, the collection of exotics in the Auto Exotica hall is unsurpassed.
Confirmations this year include a Ferrari California T, Bentley GT Continental Speed Convertible, Rolls-Royce Wraith, Aston Martin DB9 GT, Lamborghini Huracan coupe, Maserati GranTurismo GT, McLaren 570S and 650S and a Pagani Huayra.
Are there any collector and vintage cars at the show? Lots! Five local auto fans won space at the show to display their prideand-joy and you can vote for the show favourite: a 2015 Corvette Z06, 1936 Ford Pickup “Copperhead,” 1974 Citroen 2CV, 1971Ford Mustang Mach 1 or a 2011 Ford Mustang GT.
In the Art and the Automobile exhibit, there are 17 cars set against the advertising that promoted them when they were new, from a 1904 Oldsmobile and 1929 Cord L-29 to a 1963 Studebaker Avanti.
One of the rarest cars is the American LeBaron-bodied Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A SS, one of only two made, which was awarded Best in Show at the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2013.