Hypercar debut is a Star exclusive
Aston Martin-Red Bull 001 on display at our booth for first look in North America
If you go to an auto show in Detroit, Chicago or Los Angeles, you’re pretty much guaranteed one or two knock-your-eye-out attractions. It can sometimes be something exclusive, like a world unveiling; other times, it’s perhaps something new to North America.
The Canadian International AutoShow sometimes finds itself in a tough spot trying to find a “Hey, Martha! Look at this!” attraction because it comes after two of those three other shows (L.A. and Detroit) and is usually held at about the same time as Chicago’s.
Which means exclusivity can be elusive.
But this year, Canada’s largest consumer trade show, with more than 300,000 visitors expected to take in the show at the downtown Metro Toronto Convention Centre, has got something it can really boast about. It’ll be the North American debut and the global auto show debut of the Aston Martin-Red Bull 001, a streetlegal Formula 1 car.
This incredible machine — it’s a prototype, so it doesn’t have an engine or even insides yet — will be on display for the duration of the Feb. 17-26 show in the Toronto Star booth on the 300 level of the North building, not far from the Front Street entrance doors.
In the words of Lynne Munro, the Star’s vice-president of promotions, the appearance of the hypercar is “terribly exciting.”
To put icing on the cake, Dr. Andy Palmer, president and CEO of Aston Martin, will personally accompany the AM-RB 001 to the AutoShow, which has show general manager Jason Campbell excited.
“It is a special treat for Canadian car enthusiasts to be the first in North America to get an in-person look at this breathtaking Aston Martin-Red Bull concept hypercar,” he said.
“It is extra special to have a global automotive leader of the stature of Dr. Palmer on hand to share the story of the car and his vision for Aston Martin.”
The hypercar will not be the only Aston Martin at the Star booth, Munro said.
Aston Martin Toronto and Aston Martin Uptown Toronto, part of the Grand Touring Automobiles Group of Companies, will be showcasing the AM-RB 001’s sister car, the Aston Martin DB11.
The DB11 is renowned as the most powerful, efficient and dynamically gifted DB model in Aston Martin’s history.
And that’s not all. Because of Aston Martin’s partnership in the project with Red Bull Racing (the influence, particularly on the suspension, of legendary F1designer Adrian Newey can be noticed immediately), the Red Bull F1 simulator will also be in the Star booth.
Have you ever wondered what it’s really like for Max Verstappen or Daniel Ricciardo to drive a Red Bull F1 car? Well, now you can find out. But don’t be surprised if you spin out before you can drive out of the pits.
As the Star and the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) do every year, $50,000 toward the purchase of a new car from an authorized TADA dealership will be on offer. Kiosks at the Star booth will have keypads where you can enter to win.
But you don’t have to attend the show to enter. Here’s how to qualify for that $50,000 if you can’t make it down to the convention centre.
Mail a letter with your full name, address and day and evening tele- phone numbers as well as an original 100-word essay on which car you would like to use the prize credit toward and why to: “TADA $50,000 Giveaway” c/o Toronto Star, Promotion Department, 1 Yonge St. 5th Floor, Toronto ON, M5E 1E6.
There is a limit of one mail entry per person. Full rules can be found online at Wonderlist.ca/autoshow2017.
Good luck — and see you at the show.