The New England International Auto Show is by far the most impressive large-scale automotive exhibition that comes to Boston each year. For the first time, the show, which was open all of last week, was housed in South Boston's new Convention and Exhibition Center. The gigantic room (picture a dome over all the Mods and the Mod Lot and you would have an approximate size comparison) hosts over 40 car companies, each with as many as 10 different models on the floor. The layout is organized so that each car company has a designated area of the room to work with. In addition, there was a Mack Truck demonstration, some NASCAR-esque displays, and a few other special exhibits. It was easy to overlook these other exhibits, since the overwhelming majority of automobiles at the show (about 98 percent) were new models currently for sale at dealerships, models coming out for the 2008 or 2009 model years, and prototypes that may or may not undergo production a few years down the line. Each company's exhibit included prime examples of their entire lineup so that potential customers could sit in, play with, and otherwise scrutinize the cars. Full posters and color brochures were also available at every location. Basically, you could do all but drive the cars on display, provided the car was unlocked (most were), and was not sitting atop a platform adorned with a 30-year-old, scantily clad female eloquently reciting a memorized list of facts about the model she has been assigned (an attention-getting sales tactic that was present across the board, so it must work).
Who attends the Auto Show? At just $12 a pop for an all-day pass; anyone and everyone. There are auto aficionados like me who go merely to be in the midst of such a vast number of automobiles, and to spend considerable time checking out the latest from Maserati, Mercedes, Audi, and the like. However, I do not always succumb to the snobbery of such luxury brands; although I marveled at the pacific blue Bentley Azure convertible priced at a shocking $349,000, I was put off by the fact that the Bentleys were roped off and guarded, in an effort to exclude all but the most special of customers. I think I would have needed to be at least 40 years old and dressed in a suave suit to have even attempted a shot at conversation with the Bentley reps. I couldn't help but see this aspect of the show as a microcosm of American society: The wealthy who could "talk the talk" got to sit in the Bentleys.
An average Joe may not have been outright refused, but certainly would have been screened for a few minutes prior to entering into this special zone. Who wants to deal with that? I walked to the next display.
Luckily, when it comes to cars, I am also a realist. In an effort to maintain knowledge on every genre, I wedged my way into a Saturn Sky (sharp, but too tight inside for anyone over about 5-feet-9-inches), checked out the familiar Mercury Grand Marquis which has looked basically the same since 1993, hopped into the new, chunky, cool-looking Jeep Wrangler, and checked out the ultimate "need for speed best buy," the Ford Mustang GT. The sleek two-door R8 Super Car from Audi dressed in polar white quite possibly stole the show style-wise, albeit a bit out of reach at $120,000.
There are normal people who go to the show too - LOTS of them. In fact, the show is filled with everyday people whose hobby is not cars. They go because it is a perfect opportunity for one-stop car shopping. You can literally acquire knowledge about the price, specifications, comfort and features of ANY car you are considering in one room, in about an hour or less.
Innovative features in a variety of new cars captivated housewives, 10-year-olds, and car nuts alike; for example, the feature of four rear seats in the Grand Caravan that automatically swivel to face each other, with a card table in between for game-playing, and entirely recline for DVD-watching. The crossover cruiser called Ford Flex, coming out in July, featured a small-but-mighty refrigerator between the rear seats that can cool beverages up to 40 percent faster than the average home refrigerator, along with seven different interior lighting motifs that the driver can change according to his mood. Perhaps the best oxymoron of the show was the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, featuring a lower front fascia for improved aerodynamics and some lighter materials to decrease curb weight. Most importantly, it sports three large "HYBRID" logos, so the "Ari Golds of Hollywood" will be recognized for their deep concern regarding fossil fuel preservation. Gas mileage for the Escalade Hybrid is expected to be a whopping 20 miles per gallon, about 5 mpg better than the normally aspirated model.
Some other show highlights included: an opportunity to sit at the helm of a full-size Mack Truck in the "Share the Road" demonstration; the chance to win a new Dodge Caravan (I entered with ideas of winning and immediately reselling); a $75 check from Ford if you made your way to any Ford dealer to test-drive a new Ford before the first of the year; and participation in Toyota's trivia game to win a free coffee mug. An example of a question asked to a middle-aged woman was: "The 2008 Toyota Highlander features which of the following: (A) Dual automatic climate control, (B) Available rear-seat DVD player, (C) Ejection seat for obnoxious mother-in-law." The Auto Show encompasses entertainment and politics; it is a fascinating display of both the sociology of big business and the current trends in modern-day automobile design and engineering. Grandiose and vibrant, the compelling presentation contains a wealth of information for the prospective consumer, and has something for everyone to leave them feeling fulfilled. You really don't have to be a "car person" to appreciate the innovative ideas of the thriving business that is the automobile industry. There is more to be seen and enjoyed than the cars that meet the eye.
Keep on revvin'.
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