2017 MotorTrend Auto Show
NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS GET TO ENJOY ONE OF THE LARGEST AUTO SHOWS IN THE CAR INDUSTRY
Motorheads, families looking for a new vehicle and folks just interested in the latest trend, will find what they are looking for at the Auto Show. The 2017 MotorTrend Auto Show, today April 22 to April 23, has everything car enthusiasts desire, and even a little bit more.
Ford GT
The super-charged Ford GT, which hasn’t been to very many auto shows, will be at the Albuquerque show, said Charles Henson, president of the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association. “It is costing thousands of dollars just to bring that car to the show,” he said of the street-legal race machine that dominated the endurance racing circuit in the late 1960s. “To begin with, the car has a $200,000 price tag. To transport vehicle, it has its own semi-driver, handler and display materials--that’s for one car. The handler comes out to the show earlier, makes sure everything is set up right, then drives it up onto the rotating platform.” Created years ago to compete with Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, the newest version has a number of changes in its design that should kindle memories of its racing glory days. “This year they have made dramatic changes to the Ford GT,” Henson said.
Car Options
That’s not all for the 14th annual show at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Downtown. “A lot of people always ask, ‘What’s new each year,’” he said. “We’ve made it a point that the stars of the show
are always the cars, that’s what’s new each year. With technology moving as fast as it is, every year brings so many neat and dynamic features. The cars alone, and the changes in the cars keep them fresh and new,” added Henson. Some 300 cars will cover about 140,000 square feet of both ends of the convention center, and virtually every brand name will be represented.
“We have a broad span of both domestic and imported manufacturers,” Henson said. “We have everything in the show, from the minivan to the half-ton pickup truck, from the hottest sports car to the latest sports utility vehicle--and SUVs are just huge right now. We have something in our show for everybody. We have vehicles that will haul the soccer team and vehicles that will haul a full load of cattle feed.”
The great thing from a consumer’s perspective is not only are all the latest and greatest makes and models on the floor, but it’s a no-sell show so there is no sales pressure whatsoever, said Gary Housley, president of Don Chalmers Ford. “It gives the people a great venue to look at a lot of different vehicles in one place,” he added. “The timing is perfect because it helps with the spring season sale, which gets people out and looking.”
Albuquerque gets a big show
The event is huge for Albuquerque because of its sheer size, said Pat Melloy, who runs the Albuquerque FIAT/Alfa Romeo store. “It is truly eye opening and it’s a big event for New Mexico,” he said. Before Albuquerque had a show of its own, the big shows were in Detroit, Los Angeles or New York. The people in New Mexico had to watch the highlights from those big shows. It’s pretty exciting and people absolutely love it.” It’s a chance for all the brands to be measured in the eyes of the public, as they are all side-by-side, Melloy said. “The most important thing is for each of the manufacturers to get out so the public can see it, and the auto show gives every manufacturer equal footing to do that. People can preview all of the new products all in one place.”
Car Incentives and kids
Although it’s a no-sales show, manufacturers frequently offer incentives to show attendees, Melloy said. I know FCA, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, offers additional incentives to people who go to the show and within a week buy a car,” he said. It’s not a hands-off show as anyone who is 18-yearsold with a valid driver’s license can take one of the many available cars out for a test drive, Henson said. “This thing is not a bargain basement,” he said. “With the ride and drives, we’re going to have Chrysler, Dodge, Ram trucks, Fiat, Ford, and Toyota. You will probably be given a breathalyzer, but you can actually drive these cars at the show on a course that cars follow downtown. Attendees can drive several makes within that brand.”
That is a tremendous incentive to attend, Henson said. “That’s kind of cool because you can ride the cars, drive the cars and see the cars, without the pace that you encounter at the local dealership. As a non-alcoholic family show, there’s even something there for kiddies, Henson said. “We were the first car show in the nation to start the Kids’ Autobahn,” he said. “Any child 3-to 9-years-old who’s accompanied by an adult can drive one of the small, battery-powered vehicles that they can sit in and drive.” It’s something that started with the first show and has been a tradition ever since, Henson said. “We do it every year and it is a lot of fun watching them. They’re just like the rest of the New Mexico drivers--they’re looking everywhere except where they’re supposed to be looking.”