People can expect to see futuristic concept vehicles, a gallery of supercars, more than 30 vehicles never seen before in Western Canada and even Hollywood North cars at the Vancouver International Auto Show this weekend.
The show, which celebrates its 95th anniversary this year, has expanded, now taking up almost 28,000 square metres on two levels of the Vancouver Convention Centre.
More than 30 brands from manufacturers around the world, including a number of Canadian firms, are represented.
Centre stage at Toyota was their innovative three-wheeled i-Road. The two-seater (the passenger sits behind the driver, more like a motorcycle configuration) combines the advantages of a motorcycle with an enclosed cabin.
What sets the i-Road apart from other three-wheelers is its 800-millimetre width, which is only 15 centimetres wider than a typical scooter.
Designed as an urban warrior, the concept is powered by a two-kilowatt motor with a range of 50 kilometres at a top speed of 45 km/h.
Toyota has incorporated what it calls Active Lean into the ride, with computers calculating optimal lean based on speed, steering angle and a gyroscope. The YouTube clips on the Internet show a fun, zippy vehicle.
At the other end of the spectrum was the appearance of a rare Porsche 918 Spyder. If the 4.6-litre V-8 wasn't enough power, Porsche put in two electric motors (one front and rear) to make it perhaps the most eco-friendly hybrid in the world capable of hitting 340 km/h.
The Kia Soul EV was named Green Car of the Year at the start of the auto show by members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. The Soul has also won Best New City Car honours from the same organization last year, Best Eco-Friendly Vehicle by MotorWeek and 2015 Car of the Year in Norway.
Lovers of automobile art need to make a special trip to the Infiniti booth, where the stunning Q80 concept is parked. This knock-your-socks-off show car may never get built, but the Japanese luxury brand says people can expect to see elements of its design to show up in future models.
Nissan brought its Blade Glider to the show. They call it an exploratory prototype with an electric powertrain.
Perhaps the most anticipated vehicle for lovers of everything Italian was the Alfa Romeo 4C coupe in the flesh. The Italian stallion, properly attired in Racing Red paint, is set to gallop back to North America after a 20-year absence. Last year, it was reported the base price of the coupe would be under $62,000. The model at the show, identified as the launch edition, had a sticker price of a little more than $80,000.
Honda rolled out the third-generation 2016 Pilot, its largest SUV. The new body is sleeker, shedding the boxy look of its predecessor. A revised engine includes direct injection and stop-start technology. An optional nine-speed ZF automatic will be available.
Not to be outdone, Lincoln debuted its 2016 MKX, a mid-sized premium SUV that builds on the success of the MKC. Expect to see it this summer.
Mitsubishi debuted the plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander. The manufacturer claims the Outlander PHEV is the world's only twin-electric motor four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid. It has a 60-kilowatt battery and a 2.0-litre gas engine. Visitors to the booth will see a cutaway version of the vehicle, showing how power is distributed.
Electric and electrified vehicles at the show, such as the BMW i8 and the upcoming Audi A3 Sportback e-tron got a boost with the announcement that the Clean Energy Vehicles for British Columbia (CEV for BC) program is returning Apr. 1. Under the new plan, the Province of B.C. will provide $7.5 million in incentives for the next three years for consumers purchasing battery electric, fuel cell and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Point of sale incentives of up to $5,000 per vehicle are available.
Perhaps the only electric vehicle not eligible for the just-announced incentive at the show was the all-electric Bigfoot monster truck.
The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette had a lot of company at this year's show, with seven generations and over six decades of the iconic U.S. sports car, from 1961 to today, on display.
Local talent is also on display, with Abbotsford's 360 Fabrications entering a custom-built 1963 Lincoln Convertible after a $1-million restoration. (See separate story on page E6). The car boasts the world’s first twin Focal Ultima speaker kit installation, making it North America’s most expensive car audio speaker system.
Apart from the main exhibition space, visitors will find booths and interactive displays interspersed in hallways. The displays are almost all virtual car simulators that allow drivers to put the pedal to the metal safely. They range from the super sophisticated, with occupants tossed around on a seat bolted to a hydraulic platform, to the basic, which invariably features three computer screens arrayed in front of the driver.
Best advice for the show? Wear comfortable shoes.
Tickets for today are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, $4 for children and $30 for a family of two adults with two children age 12 and under. For Saturday and Sunday, tickets are $17 adults, $12 seniors, $5 children, $35 family. Children age six and under free. The show runs 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Saturday and
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Vancouver Convention Centre, 1055 Canada Pl., Vancouver. For more information, go to vancouverinternationalautoshow.com.