CONSUMER SHOW REPORT
You won’t hear engines revving up or horns blowing, you won’t smell the fumes from exhaust pipes, smell gas or see an oil spill anywhere in this parking lot.
This year marks the 40th Anniversary for the Canadian International AutoShow and they have been celebrating that milestone with something to interest everyone, from new concept and production cars to green vehicles and hot rods.At least 40 North American and Canadian vehicle premieres are the highlight of the 40th anniversary of the Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS) being held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. These include:
| – 2014 Audi R8 – BMW M6 Gran Coupe – 2013 SRT Viper – Ford Fiesta ST – 2014 Cadillac ELR – 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray – Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid |
– 2014 Kia Cadenza – Jaguar F-Type – Jaguar XFR-S – Lexus LF-CC – Lexus LF-LC – Maserati Quattroporte – 2014 Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel |
BMW 351s
Mercedes Benz
The Honda Accord Sedan was named as 2013 Canadian Car of the Year while Hyundai’s Santa Fe 2.0T took home the title of 2013 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Porsche 911 Carrera S was awarded Best New Design.
This year’s collection of CONCEPT CARS is nothing short of breathtaking!
Topping the list are the:
– Volkswagen Cross Coupe
– Honda Urban SUV Concept
– Acura NSX Concept
– Hyundai Genesis Concept
– BMW i8 Concept
– Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe
– Toyota Fun-Vii Concept
BMW i8 Concept
Hyundai Genesis Concept
AUTO EXOTICA! If you have any interest at all in cars, exotic cars have a magnetic attraction. There is no dream more compelling, no vision more appealing than the image of one day owning and driving an exotic and this year’s show is sure to help fuel those dreams.
“Auto Exotica” which was a spectacular feature of the 2012 Canadian International Auto Show is back again for 2013, returning to its exclusive location in the Constitution Hall on the 100 level of the North Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
On display at the Auto Exotica exhibit includes the Ferrari 599XX, the Maserati MC12 Corsa, the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider and much more.
ECO-DRIVE SHOWCASE: Continuing from its “premiere” in 2012, the 2013 edition of the “Eco-Drive Showcase” highlighting fuel efficiency technologies, has expanded and relocated to the 800 level of the South Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
The expanding range of high-efficiency and low-environmental-impact vehicles and the technologies they employ is not well-understood by much of the general public. Here, potential consumers can have their FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) answered.
The exhibit features an array of clean, fuel efficient vehicles and technologies from more than a dozen manufacturers that are on the market right now-or soon will be.
The exhibit’s focus will be to demonstrate that there is not just one but a broad range of energy-efficient alternatives, and the display will highlight a broad spectrum of those technologies. Featured vehicles will include diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric powertrains as well as advanced conventional technologies.
CRUISE NATIONALS: Along with exhibits of more than 1000 new cars and trucks, the Canadian International AutoShow is famous for its classic vehicle exhibits. Inspired by the popularity of weekly car cruises, CRUISE NATIONALS was born, with a mandate is to support and celebrate the weekly car cruise and, in conjunction with the CIAS, provide automotive enthusiasts the opportunity to share their passion at Canada’s premier automotive event.
For the past 9 years, Cruise Nationals has showcased the very best custom and restored cars and trucks from Southern Ontario that were built prior to 1975.
The format for selecting the 10 vehicles for the Cruise Nationals display is based on an elimination process, with 10 Cruise Nationals Regional Cruises hosting car shows to select 60 representative vehicles. At a season ending event entitled “Cruise Nationals Season Finale” 10 finalists are selected from those 60 for display and selection of the winner at the CIAS. As Cruise Nationals is not a concours event, the artistry of each vehicle is to be appreciated on a “first impression” basis.
This year’s finalists are:
– Steven Bloom (1955 Ford F100 Pick-up)
– Bob Cram (1953 Chevrolet 1300 Pick-up)
– Paul Hopla (1970 Dodge Challenger)
– Alex McClure (1955 Mercury Montclair Convertible)
– Cleo Tobias (1969 Lincoln Mark III)
– Kevin Saindon (1939 Rord Roadster)
– Jules Saari (1934 Ford 3 Window Coupe)
– Frank Mitchell (1937 Studebaker Dictator Model 6A)
– Jason & Teresa Villari (1956 Ford Thunderbird)
– Robert & Fiona Young (1971 Plymouth Cuda)
HOT ROD AND CANADIAN CUSTOM BUILDERS SHOWCASE: Not everyone is content to leave their vehicles as they were delivered from the factory. Many enthusiasts prefer to put the stamp of their own personality on their conveyances.
Decades ago that desire spawned the construction of both hot rod and custom cars and the business of building such cars has blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar business.
The 40th-anniversary 2013 AutoShow celebrates the craft of the hot-rod and custom-car builder with a display of fabulous and at times, outrageous vehicles from Canadian Hot Rod builders. These builders represent the genesis of automotive design in the expression of their talent and craftsmanship in their creations.
Whatever your tastes dictate, you’ll find a thousand reasons to dream and scheme to own one of the many cars and trucks on display at this year’s show. Be sure to make your way to the GM display and visit the HOT WHEELS presentation of the full scale Camaro and a chance to win a collector’s edition Hot Wheel of the same car by simply tweeting at the setup kiosk.
This show is not to be missed.
Photographs and Review by Joey Cee
