Philadelphia Auto Show to debut new vehicles

By Olivia Biagi
Collegian Editor
January 30, 2007

The 2008 Philadelphia Auto Show will feature brand new vehicles and events this year. The show kicks off Feb. 1 with the Black Tie Tailgate Preview Charitable Gala. The event, which will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., is an annual benefit for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. It is sponsored by the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation. Tickets are $200 a person. The show will open to the public Feb. 2 at 9 a.m.

The Philadelphia Auto Show, also held at the Convention Center, showcases over 700 automobiles from more than 40 international manufacturers, from concepts to pre-productions to luxury vehicles. According to press releases, the show will unveil 16 vehicles never before seen, including the highly anticipated 2008 Dodge Challenger, which will make its world debut both in Philadelphia and Chicago Feb. 6.

“Part of the excitement of the show…is having the opportunity to check out the new vehicles that will be available for purchase over the next 12 months before they hit local dealerships,” said Scott Lusgarten, chairman of the 2008 show, president of Martin Dealership Group, and the vice president of Wilkie Lexus and Lexus of Chester Springs, in the news release.

The auto show, which is owned and produced by the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia, breaks down the featured vehicles into several categories.

The first is green technology autos. Manufacturers have the chance to show off the latest technologies in fuel efficiency and alternatives. At the 2007 show, General Motors, the parent company of Chevrolet, Cadillac and others, announced that it was working with Daimler Chrysler (Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep) in developing the first full-sized SUV hybrid. The show featured the pre-productions of the first two models, the 2008 Chevy Tahoe and GM Yukon. The new Tahoe will return to the 2008 show floor along with the Cadillac Escalade and Ford Escape. Also, Chevy’s Hydrogen-fueled Equinox will be featured.

 The next category is the concept vehicles. The concepts are prototypes of automobiles that manufacturers are currently working on, still in design stages. The two biggest concepts of 2007 were the 2009 Chevrolet Camaro (the first Camaro to be released since 1997) and the 2008 Audi R8. This year, Chevy is back with the concept Camaro convertible, along with the Chrysler Nassau and Jeep Trailhawk.

Concepts are followed by pre-production models. These automobiles give attendees the chance to check out finished products of previous concepts before they hit dealerships. This year’s pre-productions to check out include the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, Ford Flex, Nissan GT-R and the Dodge Challenger.

Finally, showcased in the Grand Ballroom of the Convention Center, are the exotic vehicles. That is, the elite of the car show with $100,000 price tags. Last year, the Rolls Royce Phantom, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the Jaguar XKR convertible were featured upstairs. For 2008, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin return along with Lamborghini, Bentley, and Maserati.

Other highlights of the auto show include a vintage display, featuring classic cars such as the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible and 1906 Reo Model B Roadster. Also, the Tuner Car Salon showcases customized vehicles from Mazda, Scion, Honda and GM.

Other events will be held throughout the week. The Body2Body Competition will kick off Feb. 5 at 3:30 p.m. Twelve contestants, randomly divided into two teams, must maintain physical contact with one of two Toyota vehicles without letting go until Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. There will be 15 minute breaks every three hours for the contestants. The last two people remaining will win the contest, but there has been no word yet on the prize.

 The Philadelphia Auto Show will run Feb. 2 through Feb. 10. The hours are 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10. Tickets purchased online are $10, and tickets purchased on site are $12 on weekends, $10 on weekdays.

biagio1@lasalle.edu