 |  | ||||
|
Friday, November 24, 2006 Auto shows roll out a variety By JOE CREWS ORLANDO — Whether one’s taste runs to new cars and trucks or vintage automobiles, all things four-wheeled are available this weekend.
In Orlando, it’s the Central Florida International Auto Show, where more than 400 of the latest cars, trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles from nearly three dozen domestic and foreign automakers are on display in the Orange County Convention Center. “There are so many makes and models here. People can see all of them in one place,” said Marty Beecham, show manager for producer Motor Trend Auto Shows Inc. “There’s really something for everyone here.” Research shows 70 percent of the show goers are going to buy a new vehicle within a year, and a third of those will buy within 30 days, Beecham said. The show gives potential buyers a chance to check out various models in a non-selling environment. “Manufacturers like (the show because) a lot of them use it to talk to their existing customers,” he said. “It’s easier to make a current customer a better customer than to make a non-customer a customer.” One trend Beecham is seeing is a move to more fuel-efficient vehicles and to gas-electric hybrids. “Manufacturers tell me that within five years, 15 percent of their sales are going to be hybrid vehicles,” he said. “Will it happen? Consumers will be the ultimate decision-makers.” The popular perception is that Asian and European carmakers are the ones producing fuel-efficient vehicles, but even domestic manufacturers like Chevrolet are touting a number of models rated at 30 miles per gallon or better, Beecham said. And while gas-sipping models are selling well right now, he doesn’t know if the trend will continue. “There’s still a market for SUVs, because people feel safer in them,” he said. In addition to new models of cars, trucks and SUVs, also on display are a handful of cars from the duPont Registry, the world’s premier registry for luxury cars, boats and real estate. “It’s the best luxury and exotics show I’ve ever seen,” Beecham said. A half-dozen classic cars from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s also are on display, courtesy of the Antique Automobile Club of America’s Orlando chapter, as are a 1911 Ford Model T and four Model A’s circa 1929, 1930 and 1931 from members of The Model As of Greater Orlando. Outside the convention center is the Toyota Trucks Off Road On Site Adventure, a course with a hill climb, acceleration run and evasive lane-change maneuver. Toyota hopes drivers 18 and older will get behind the wheel and test their skills in Toyota four-wheel-drive trucks. Closer to home this weekend, car enthusiasts also can take in the 33rd annual Turkey Run Car Show and Swap Meet at Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. The show features about 6,000 pre-World War II automobiles, hot rods and muscle cars from the 1960s, and exotic foreign sports cars. More than 4,500 vendors will be selling auto parts. The show opened Thursday and runs from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day through Sunday. Admission is $15 per person. In Ormond Beach, older vehicles will be on display in the 49th annual Gaslight Parade, Block Party and Antique Car Show that starts today and ends Saturday. A parade begins at 7 p.m. and is open only to cars built before 1980. No hot rods, modified or custom cars are allowed to participate. The parade starts at The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, heads east on Granada Boulevard, then south on Atlantic Avenue to Harvard Drive. The car show, for pre-1981 models only with no modified cars or hot rods, will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fortunato Park, on the northeast corner of the Granada Bridge and Atlantic Avenue. The parade and show are free to spectators. |
Copyright © 2008 NIE WORLD (www.nieworld.com). All content copyrighted and may not be republished without permission. The News-Journal has no control over and is not responsible for content on other Web sites. Privacy Policy. |