 2011 Mazda2. Click image to enlarge |
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2010 Vancouver International Auto Show
Vancouver, British Columbia – The 90th edition of the Vancouver International Auto Show is going on all this week at B.C. Place Stadium, and though not quite as big or as flashy as past shows, it’s still the best and only opportunity for B.C. residents to see and compare so many brand new vehicles all in one place.
Last year, over 76,000 people visited the six-day show, and organizers are expecting to top 100,000 this year, although that remains to be seen. Over 400 new vehicles from 20 different automakers are on display on the main floor of the stadium, but savvy auto enthusiasts will notice that three automakers are missing: Nissan, Suzuki and Kia.
 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. Click image to enlarge |
Still, there’s a lot of new metal to ogle including some notable vehicle unveilings such as the 2011 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid; the radically restyled 2011 Hyundai Sonata sedan; the redesigned 2011 BMW 5-Series sedan; the exciting new 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with its “gullwing” doors; the new 2011 Audi A8; 2011 Volvo C70 hardtop convertible; 2011 Porsche Panamera four-door sedan; 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet; 2011 Jaguar XJ, 2011 Ford Shelby GT500; and the new 2011 Buick Regal.
Among the more affordable new cars on display is the North American version of the subcompact Ford Fiesta and Mazda2, the cute Fiat 500 to be imported by Chrysler, and the compact Chevrolet Cruze.
For exotic car fans, the SuperCars exhibit on the main floor includes the new four-door Aston Martin Rapide, a Ferrari 16M Scuderia Spider, Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, Bentley Continental CGT Supersports, a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster, and the new Lotus Evora mid-engine 2+2.
  2011 BMW 5 Series GT (top) and 2011 Audi A8. Click image to enlarge |
Additional exhibits on the 2nd Level Concourse include a Motorcycle Expo, Tuner Alley, Classic Alley, a special collection of classic cars from some of B.C.’s best private collections, Natural Resources Canada’s most fuel-efficient Energuide winners; and Terry Fox’s restored 1980 Ford Econoline van that accompanied him on his Marathon of Hope, his 143-day journey to raise funds for cancer research.
2010 may be the last year the Vancouver International Auto Show will be held at B.C. Place Stadium, recently the site of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics Opening and Closing ceremonies. The stadium’s white, canvas roof, supported by air pressure, will soon be replaced by a $485 million retractable roof, but it won’t be ready in time for next year’s show. Show organizers have already booked the recently completed Vancouver Convention Centre on Vancouver’s waterfront for the 2011 show. The show is supposed to return to B.C. Place in 2012, but if exhibitors get cosy in the new digs, they may find it difficult to return.
The 2010 Vancouver International Auto Show runs Tuesday, March 30th through Sunday, April 4th.
Show Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: Noon – 10:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Admission*:
Tuesday – Thursday General Admission: $10.00
Friday – Sunday General Admission: $15.00
Seniors/Students: $10.00
Children 7-12: $4.00 (when accompanied by an adult)
Children 6 and under: Free (when accompanied by an adult)
Family Pass:
Tuesday – Thursday: $25.00
Friday – Sunday: $30.00
(2 adults & 2 children 12 & under)
*GST included
Location:
BC Place Stadium (enter via Gate A on the Terry Fox Plaza), 777 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver BC Place Stadium directions, parking, and transit info here.
View the floorplan
More information:
VancouverInternationalAutoShow.com
