SPECIAL EVENTS : PHOENIX AND LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOWS - DETROIT PREVIEW

Auto Show Season

Auto Show Season

6 • January-February 2007 • ARIZONADRIVER

PHOENIXArizona International Auto ShowPHOENIX CONVENTION CENTERNOVEMBER 23-26, 2006

“Green” vehicles, luxury rides and more

at the Arizona International Auto Show

More than 400 of the latest cars, trucks, minivans andsport/utility vehicles rolled into the Phoenix Conven-tion Center for the 2007-Model Arizona InternationalAuto Show in late November. This special automotiveevent allowed attendees to check out all the newestvehicles in a non-selling environment.

There was an opportunity to learn more about theincreasingly popular “green” auto movement, includ-ing hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles. The showalso offered the public an up-close look at conceptcars, crossover vehicles, sports cars and much more.

Visitors also got a look at the $600 million expansionof the Phoenix Convention Center, which will triple theCenter’s size by nearly 900,000 square feet of rentablespace to more than 2 million square feet total. Theexpansion is taking place in phases so the Centerremains open for convention business throughout.Phase one was complete in July 2006, and the balancewill be finished in 2008 and open for business in 2009.

Representatives from more than 30 leading manu-facturers were on site to answer questions and pro-vide information on the latest vehicles. Ride & Driveevents and special exhibits included:

Arizona Ford Dealers Ride & Drive and The All New

Chevy Silverado Ride & Drive: Attendees had a chanceto get a real feel for the performance and handling ofseveral Ford models including the redesigned FordExpedition EL. Attendees also checked out the all-newFord Edge (not available for test drives). They alsocould try out the all-new Chevrolet Silverado.

Exotic Vehicle Display: Come see a collection of high-dollar-value exotic vehicles from Ferrari & Maserati,courtesy of Scottsdale Ferrari Maserati.

Ford SEMA Vehicles: Ford brought two SEMAvehicles, the Ford Mustang GT Convertible “BuiltLive” and the Ford Explorer Sport Trac “Adventurer.”

Celebrity Vehicles on Display: Celebrity owned andcustomized vehicles, courtesy of G.A.M.E. Automotive.

The Arizona International Auto Show is produced byMotor Trend Auto Shows, Inc. and presented by theValley Auto Dealers Association. ■

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LOS ANGELESLos Angeles Auto ShowLOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTERDECEMBER 1-10, 2006

Over two dozen world and North

American debuts, and 1000 of the latest

cars and trucks, all at the LA Auto Show

The Phoenix show is a good one to get you in thegeneral mood, but the Los Angeles show is one of thebig boys, and pretty convenient for Arizonans toattend. This one’s on a par (arguably) with the biggestof all—Paris, Geneva, Tokyo, Frankfurt, New York andDetroit—but just a one-hour flight or six-hour driveaway. We opted for the flight, arriving for the twopress days on November 29-30 before the showopened to the public. (But of course we recommendthe drive if you have the time.)

This is a chance to walk through the whole show asthe finishing touches are put on displays, and in factbefore (and as) many brand new products andconcepts are revealed for the first time. The pressdays also mean a lot of miles of walking, all in the LAConvention Center, carrying cameras and notebooksand an ever-growing pile of literature, CDs, trinketsand memorabilia (professional bling), so it’s wise towear lightweight clothing and really comfortableshoes. At the same time, press days mean a lot ofmeet and greet, with name tag in place, so it’s wise towear a sport coat and really uncomfortable shoes.The best part is the media center, where all the heavygear and literature is packed and shipped back to ouroffice door by trained professionals.

The general show opened on Friday, December 1,though those with the means (or an extra itch for ajump on things) could attend Sneak Preview Night onThursday, touring the show with a VIP group of sortsand enjoying a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres for just$125 (or $250 with deluxe hors d’oeuvres). Don’t askus what the difference is—we were back in Arizona bythe time that event got going.

The displays have tremendous planning, fundingand energy behind them. Much is apparent during thepublic show, but press reveals can be as stunning fora mildly revised Japanese sedan as the stage show ata Pink Floyd stadium tour.

Growing number of world debuts

staged for LA Auto Show press days

In a shift of emphasis, automakers conducted moreworld debuts than ever before at the 2006 LA AutoShow. The LA show ran in January until a couple of

years ago, but now the earlier dates make the LA AutoShow the first major North American auto show of theseason. A record-breaking 21 world debuts and 12-plus North American introductions occurred duringpress days, November 29 and 30. The new dates helpautomakers looking to gain an early edge for theirnewest production and concept vehicles.

According to Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president ofglobal design, “California has long been a leader incutting-edge design, advanced technology and envi-ronmental awareness—three areas that are literallyredefining the automobile around the world, and threeareas where GM is intensely focused right now,”Welburn said. “The Los Angeles Auto Show is a majorplatform for positioning our company with globalautomotive leaders and media.” He meant it, too, asthe press days began with a keynote by GM ChairmanRick Wagoner, introduced by Los Angeles MayorAntonio Villaraigosa, in which both men addressed thechallenges and opportunities facing governments andautomakers, head on. The theme for this year’s show,A New Beginning, aptly captures this pivotal point.

Another shift occurring with the LA Auto Show isthe growing emphasis of design. In addition to theshow hosting upwards of 500 automobile designers atthe third Design Los Angeles conference, there will bea record number of seven concept vehicles makingtheir world debut. Four of these seven—Acura, Honda,Hyundai and Mazda—were designed by their LosAngeles-based studios. These concepts are among themost forward-thinking expressions of new designdirections for their brands.

“With our US headquarters in the Los Angeles areaand our R&D Design Centers playing an ever increas-ing global role, it makes great sense for AmericanHonda to increase our presence at the LA AutoShow,” said John Mendel, senior vice president ofAmerican Honda Co., Inc. “We believe (our) conceptsreflect the automotive excitement and passion of ourSouthern California designers.”

Additionally, more than a dozen vehicles wereintroduced to the North American market for the firsttime. From Audi and its R8 super sports car to Volvo’snimble new C30, a wide range of model types wererevealed, including vehicles from Ferrari, Hyundai,Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.

Acknowledging the growing importance of the LAAuto Show, the Organisation Internationale desConstructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA), an internationalautomotive trade association, has placed the show onits international calendar for the first time.

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KEEP RIGHT >>

Dodge Challenger

Aston Martin AMV8

Toyota FJ Cruiser

Audi R8

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

J Mays and the Ford Interceptor Concept

BMW X5

GM Chairman Rick Wagoner

LOS ANGELES(CONT’D)

To get a feel for the breadth and depth of the LA AutoShow, from which we can bring you only a handful ofimages here, check out this list of debuts andconcepts from the 2006 show:

World debutsAcura Advanced Sedan ConceptAston Martin V8 Vantage RoadsterAudi TT RoadsterBMW Hydrogen 7BMW X5Buick EnclaveCallaway C16Chrysler Sebring ConvertibleFord EscapeFord Escape HybridGiugiaro Mustang ConceptGMC Yukon HybridHonda FCX ConceptHonda REMIX ConceptHonda STEP BUS ConceptHyundai HCD 10 HellionLamborghini Murcielago LP640 RoadsterMazda Nagare ConceptNissan Altima CoupeNissan Sentra SE-RSaturn Aura Green LineSaturn VUEVolkswagen Tiguan

North American debutsAudi R8Ferrari 599Hyundai TiburonJaguar XK-RKia AmantiKia RondoLand Rover LR2Lotus Exige SMercedes Benz CL63 AMGMercedes Benz S63 AMGPorsche GT3Porsche Targa 4Volvo C30

Concept vehiclesAcura Advanced SedanChrysler ImperialDodge ChallengerDodge HornetGiugiaro MustangHonda FCXHonda REMIXHonda STEP BUSHyundai HCD 10 HellionMazda NagareSaab Aero XVolkswagen Tiguan

Aftermarket

Of course, any Arizona motorhead also tries to attendthe SEMA show in Las Vegas, earlier in November. Ifyou want to get a bit of SEMA at the same time as therest of this show action, consider this: the LosAngeles Auto Show has a tremendous aftermarketshow included. In addition to amazing displays fromall the major vehicle manufacturers, the LA AutoShow is a place to discover and purchase almostanything you can think of associated with cars, trucks,vans and SUVs. Kentia Hall is where it's at for all thefun things one to can do to a vehicle. Here is aglimpse of what we found at this year’s show:

Specialty Vehicles - Conversion vans remain popularwith families and folks with active lifestyles and given$3/gallon fuel, alternative fuel vehicles were there, too.

DUB Celebrity Car Showcase - This giant exhibit, likeDUB Magazine itself, featured tricked-out vehiclesfrom some of the hottest music and sports celebrities.

Wheels, Tires & Suspension - Stock just won't cut itanymore, and wheel manufacturers were on hand toshow all the latest styles and sizes for cars, trucks andSUVs. Of course a set of wheels won't do you muchgood without tires to match, so Yokohama Tire had anassortment of the round and black rubber on display.

Tuners & Performance - The quest for more has nowreached dealerships and manufacturers.

Trucks, Vans & SUVs - Truck, van and SUV ownerscertainly aren't left out when it comes to vehiclepersonalizing at the LA Auto Show.

Electronics & Technology - Satellite technology hastaken the automotive world by storm these past fewyears, especially for navigation systems and radio.

Appearance - This is what gets you noticed on thestreets and in the valet lots.

Motorsports - Plenty of exhibitors to whet theappetites of racing enthusiasts for the 2007 season.

Hydrogen and alternative fuels

Outside the LA Convention Center, we found a fullcontingent of hydrogen-powered (and other alternativefuel) vehicles, from Honda, Ford, GM, even a bigDodge pickup, including some already in use by themilitary. We were offered a chance to drive several ofthem, and we’d like to say we did. We’d also like to saywe drove them up Highway One with Arnold Schwarz-enegger. But, alas, we had a plane to catch and thisstory to file by deadline, so we had to pass—for now.But we’ll be back next year, and we’d encourage you tostarting planning, now, to do the same. ■

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Mazda Nagare Concept

Nissan Altima Coupe

Land Rover LR2

Volkswagen Tiguan

Scion xA

PHOENIXCycle World International Motorcycle ShowCARDINALS STADIUMNOVEMBER 3-5, 2006

Street bikes, dirt bikes, ATVs and more at

Cycle World International Motorcycle Show®

presented by Toyota

Hundreds of 2007-model street bikes, dirt bikes,cruisers, concept bikes and vintage bikes from morethan 17 manufacturers rolled into the new CardinalsStadium for the three-day 2007-Model Cycle WorldInternational Motorcycle Show® presented byToyota. From cool custom choppers and tricked outsport bikes to everything off-road, this show offeredsomething for everyone. This motorcycle extrava-ganza gave enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity tocheck out the latest gear and aftermarket accessoriesand see amazing live-action entertainment, includingthe BOSS “Ball of Steel” Freestyle Stunt Show. Newthis year, a welcome center educated potential first-time riders on how to get started, safety courses,necessary gear and more.

There were representatives from more than 17manufacturers—including Honda, Yamaha, HarleyDavidson, Ducati, Suzuki, Victory, Kawasaki, Vespa,Aprilia, BWW, Buell, Husqvarna, Moto Guzzi, MVAgusta, Piaggio, Star and URAL—on site to answerquestions and provide information on the latestmotorcycles. For the 13th consecutive year, CycleWorld, the nation’s most popular motorcyclemagazine, was the title sponsor for the series, andToyota returned as presenting sponsor. ProgressiveMotorcycle Insurance was once again the officialproduct sponsor.

The Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows®presented by Toyota is Fueled by Advanstar, theleading provider of integrated media solutions to theautomotive aftermarket, off-road and powersportsindustries (www.advanstar.com).

For information about next year’s show, check outwww.motorcycleshows.com ■

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THE ENTHUSIAST’S GUIDE TO LIFE ON TWO WHEELS

ARIZONARIDERDETROIT PREVIEWNAIAS: North American International Auto ShowCOBO CONFERENCE/EXHIBITION CENTERJANUARY 13-21, 2007

We’ll bring you some news of this enormously signif-icant show in our next issue. Here are some of thehighlights already on the schedule for Detroit:

Debuts and concept vehiclesAcura Advanced SportsAudi Q7 V12 TDI2007 BMW 3 Series Convertible2008 Cadillac CTSChevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept2008 Chevrolet MalibuChevrolet Volt ConceptChrysler Nassau Concept2008 Dodge Avenger2008 Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-82008 Dodge Viper SRT-10Ford Airstream Concept2008 Ford Focus2008 Ford Five Hundred Ford Interceptor ConceptHonda Accord Coupe Concept2007 Hyundai VeracruzJaguar C-XF ConceptJeep Trailhawk ConceptKia Kue Crossover Concept2007 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 RoadsterLexus LF-A Concept2008 Lexus IS-FLincoln MKR ConceptMaserati QuattroporteMazda Ryuga Concept2008 Mazda Tribute HEV HybridMercedes-Benz Ocean Drive Concept Convertible2007 Mini Convertible Sidewalk2008 Mitsubishi Evolution X2008 Mitsubishi LancerNissan Bevel Concept2008 Nissan RoguePontiac G6 GXPPontiac G6 GXP StreetPontiac Torrent GXPPorsche CayenneRolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe2008 smart fortwo2008 Subaru Legacy and OutbackToyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept2007 Toyota Tundra CrewMax2007 Toyota Tundra Double CabVolvo XC60 Concept ■

ARIZONADRIVER • January-February 2007 • 13

smart fortwo

Nissan Bevel Concept

Kia Kue Concept

Jaguar C-XF Concept