By Michel Deslauriers for Autos.ca
Photo Gallery: 2013 Montreal International Auto Show
Montreal, Quebec – As new-vehicle sales are climbing to all-time highs in Canada, manufacturers are cranking out more and more new models, trying their luck in emerging or well-established categories they aren’t yet covering, and seeking to get noticed with breathtaking new designs.
The 2013 Montreal International Auto Show has all the bases covered with a record 49 vehicle unveilings; from spacious SUVs and crossovers to dazzling sports cars, with some pretty fuel-efficient cars in between, there is something for everyone to feast their eyes on this year. The show is open to the public from January 18th to the 27th at the Palais des Congrès de Montreal. Pricing, directions and opening hours can be found on the Show’s website at www.montrealautoshow.com.
Small cars are slowly gaining popularity, and the Province of Quebec has always been partial to pint-size vehicles. It’s no coincidence that the MIAS is host to the world premiere of the Honda GEAR Concept, a minicar study aimed at the Gen-Y crowd.
    2013 Montreal International Auto Show. Click image to enlarge |
Fiat will be expanding its lineup with the new five-door 2014 500L as well as the 2013 500c Abarth cabriolet. Nissan is showing off its new compact commercial vehicle, the 2013 NV200, while Volkswagen will host the Canadian introductions of no less than four models: the 2013 Beetle Convertible, the 2013 Beetle TDI as well as the Wolfsburg Edition Golf and Wolfsburg Edition GTI.
Mitsubishi will be entering the subcompact category with a yet-unnamed five-door hatchback, making its North American premiere in Montreal; the most probable name choices should be Mirage or Colt. Speaking of subcompacts, the updated 2014 Ford Fiesta is also on display alongside the brand’s other recently redesigned offerings.
The mid-size sedan category is an important one in North America, and Mazda is on the warpath with their all-new 2014 Mazda6, which adopts the company’s Kodo styling language and Skyactiv engineering philosophy. Also at the show is the 2014 Mazda CX-5, now available with a more powerful engine, as well as the 2013 Mazda MX-5 and CX-9 which receive cosmetic tweaks and new interior appointments.
There is plenty of eye candy on the luxury brand floors as well, with the 2013 Audi RS 5 Cabriolet, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz B 250 Sports Tourer and 2013 GLK 250 Bluetec crossover as well as the updated 2014 BMW Z4 roadster, the new 2013 6 Series Gran Coupé and a 3 Series Sedan with a new turbodiesel engine.
    2013 Montreal International Auto Show. Click image to enlarge |
The 2013 Jaguar XJ AWD and XF AWD, the 2014 Porsche Cayman, the 2013 Lincoln MKZ and the 2014 Lexus IS sedan are making their first Canadian appearances, as are the redesigned 2013 Range Rover and 2013 Land Rover LR2 SUVs. In addition to showcasing its all-new 2014 RLX flagship sedan, Acura is hinting at their next new vehicle with the MDX ‘Concept’ on display.
Growing families will be pleased to see the new seven-passenger 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL as well as the reworked and improved 2014 Kia Sorento. Kia is also introducing its redesigned 2014 Forte compact sedan and is allowing show-goers to check out one of their latest concept vehicles, the Tracks’ter.
Truck lovers will rejoice at the Canadian intro of the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup, while budget-minded folks will be able to get a closer look the new 2013 Chevrolet Trax subcompact crossover. GM is also presenting the totally redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Impala sedan and is offering sports-car fans a glimpse of the future with their alluring Code 130R and Tru 140S concepts.
    2013 Montreal International Auto Show. Click image to enlarge |
As usual, there are plenty of new high-end exotics to drool over, such as the McLaren 12C Spider, the Bentley Continental GT Speed, the Aston Martin DB9 Volante as well as the breathtaking 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish. Visitors can also take a walk down memory lane in Auto Hebdo’s Centennial Avenue exhibit.
