Howdy Webriders! Dr. VW here with a San Diego Auto Show update! With the official start of the show beginning today, I figured it’d be worth giving you all a rundown of what there is to see and do aside from the various exhibits. Last year the upper ballroom had an expo on aftermarket products as well as some sensational club exhibits. They will of course be making a return this year, but the other activities are new in a lot of ways. Hit the jump to find out what they are!
First up are the Ride and Drive’s! Every year different automakers participate, but this year Ford and Hyundai are your options. Ford gives you the option of test driving the new Flex and F-150– interesting cars but by no means a reason to come to the show in and of itself. However Hyundai does dangle a glimmering ruby– the Genesis. Word on the street is you can get behind the wheel of the Genesis and actually drive it around at Hyundai’s booth out in the Ride and Drive area. Considering the Genesis is a much more interesting vehicle than either the Flex or the latest incarnation of the F-150, expect some long lines. Hyundai will also have some of their other vehicles on hand as well, a good way to get the word out that Hyundai doesn’t suck the big chalupa anymore.
Toyota ups the ante beyond the Ride and Drive however, offering a challenging and over the top offroad track out back, allowing regular show goers to show off their Baja 1000 skills and put Toyota’s offering of full size trucks and SUV’s to the test– just like in the commercials. While it might be a ton of fun, I don’t see many people running to the dealerships for these monsters after driving them, considering the price of gas combined with the current economic climate.
Moving inside the to the actual convention floor, there’s the Eco-Center. Expanded over last years rather pitiful exhibit, this year the focus has shifted, and strongly, towards green cars. The result is the new and improved Eco Center! Now I havn’t seen it yet, but it promises to be larger and more engaging than last years exhibit, which consisted of the Volt and a few informational placards. Hopefully I’ll get to sit behind the wheel of a Tesla!
Finally– something for the kids. Every year there’s the whole 12 and under getting in free with a paid adult crowd, but this year Mazda puts on a show by inviting the Marvel superheroes! Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Spiderman, and Wolverine will be on hand to greet the kids. Should make for some interesting photos!
That’s all for tonight webriders, remember to check back often to see the galleries as they go up from the San Diego Auto Show! This is Dr. VW– signing off.
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