The media preview day kicked off the 42nd Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto.
The theme of the 42nd edition of the Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS) held in Toronto is “Life is in Motion” — and there was plenty of motion during the Media Preview day on Thursday, Feb. 12.
As per the usual drill, packs of journalists, photographers and videographers moved from booth to booth throughout the vast show floor to capture images of the newest models. This year’s show featured dozens of unveilings and 45 Canadian firsts.
Some of those unveilings include the Audi TTS coupe and TT roadster, the BMW M6 Coupe and 650i Cabriolet, the Mustang GT350, Acura NSX and the Mercedes AMG GTS.
The unveiling of the mighty Mustang GT350
Also debuting for the first time in Canada were the Chevrolet Volt, Jeep Renegade, Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell, Jaguar XE, Mercedes-Maybach 600, Ranger Rover Sport Diesel, Nissan Titan, Volkswagen Golf R, Dodge Charger Helicat and Chevy Equinox.
Media Preview day is also when organizations announce their various award winners, such as the Canadian Black Book 2015 Best Retained Value awards and the AJAC Car and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the year.
Ted Lalka, Vice-President of Product Planning and Marketing, Subaru Canada, with the AJAC Award for the Canadian Car of the Year.
AJAC AWARD WINNERS
Not unlike the Oscars, OEM leaders were on hand hoping that their name was called out when it was time to crown this year’s AJAC Canadian Car and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year winners.
The award winners are determined after an exhaustive three-day Test Fest event where 70 journalists test drive 150 vehicles back-to-back, and generate more than 1,640 test drives. These tests produce 106,405 data points and more than 500 category ballots. The scores are rated are then tabulated, and AJAC doesn’t even know the winners until KPMG presents them with the winners on the day of the event.
The finalists for the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year were:
• Hyundai Genesis
• Mercedes-Benz C 300 4Matic
• Subaru Legacy
• Volkswagen Golf
This year’s Canadian Car of the Year was:
• Subaru Legacy.
The Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year finalists were:
• Ford F-150
• Porsche Macan S
• Subaru Outback
This year’s Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year was:
• Ford F-150.
Dianne Craig, President and CEO of Ford Canada with this year’s Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year winner, the Ford F-150.
“This is tremendous,” says Dianne Craig, President and CEO of Ford Canada, when accepting the award. “This is just a great day for us.”
“It just makes us so proud and humbled, so thank you so very much,” she says.
It was a good morning for Ford, as this was the year it kicked off Media Preview day. Ford invited Joe Hinrichs, Executive Vice-President and President the Americas for Ford Motor Company, to deliver the morning address.
“At Ford, our opportunity involves far more than just motion of vehicles. It’s really about progress,” says Hinrichs.
He discussed what he called four “megatrends” around the future of mobility that is driving Ford’s thinking.
• Urbanization
• Global middle class growth
• Air quality
• Changing consumer attitudes
Hinrichs went through each of the societal challenges these megatrends create, and explained how Ford was responding.
Ford announced that its 2017 Ford GT supercar will be made in Canada, in partnership with the Markham, Ont. based company Multimatic.
In terms of autonomous vehicles, Hinrichs said Ford is already making great progress and is actively testing different vehicle technologies. “Our priority is to make the first autonomous vehicle available to everyone and not just luxury customers,” says Hinrichs.
He also discussed ways that Ford wanted to improve its customer experience, making it simpler and easier for customers to interact with Ford and its dealers. The company wants to move from a “transaction” to a “true ownership” experience, which means things such as new digital shopping tools, new ways to finance vehicles, and booking service appointments online.
This year’s CIAS show is about a lot more than just new vehicle launches. There are a host of interactive and themed displays aimed at engaging consumers and firing their imagination about vehicles and mobility.
The Art and the Automobile exhibit, presented by the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Murdoch Mysteries, features 19 Concours-quality classic cars that span the decades from the early 1900s to the late 1960s. Canada’s oldest car — a Seth Taylor steam buggy from 1867 — is also represented.
Auto Exotica is also back, featuring exotic and luxury vehicles that are out of reach for most attendees, but still inspire their dreams. Attendees can take in vehicles such as the Aston Martin Vantage GT, the Bentley GTC, the Lamborghini Huracan, the Rolls-Royce Wraith, and others.
There is also an educational component showcasing some of the work of Canada’s automotive designers who are doing live demonstrations of 3D and clay modeling. Visitors can also try their hand at sketching a vehicle of building their own clay model.
There are also concept cars, the world’s smallest car, and a host of other eye-catching activities to ensure that the Canadian love affair with their vehicles continues to grow — so that dealers can continue to provide for them.
The CIAS is the largest consumer show in Canada, and organizers expect as many as 300,000 to attend the 125 exhibits, displaying more than 1,000 cars and trucks in 500,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space filling the vast north and south Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
This year’s event runs from Feb. 13-22.
