A larger than usual number of new vehicle introductions and the addition of an exotic car section have added to the appeal of the 2015 Edmonton Motorshow.
New vehicle introductions have usually been made elsewhere by the time the Motorshow rolls around in April. But this year is different with the unveiling of new models from Volvo, Toyota, Scion and Mitsubishi.
The wraps came off the Volvo XC90 sport utility, the new Toyota Tacoma compact pickup, the Scion iM, which stirs memories of the Toyota Matrix, and the Mitsubishi Outlander.
An exotic car section containing marques such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati and Rolls-Royce has been added to the show, which runs until Sunday at Edmonton Expo Centre.
The new Toyota Tacoma was unveiled at the Edmonton Motorshow.
Dave Halliday, Driving
In addition, there are separate sections of the show for luxury cars, commercial vans and trucks and collector vehicles.
The highlights among the exotics include the Ferrari F12, Lamborghini Huracan, Maserati Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Wraith, as well as entries from Lotus and McLaren.
Toyota vice-president Stephen Beatty said trucks represented half of the company’s sales in Canada last year. A third of new Tacoma pickups were sold in the Prairie provinces.
Toyota drew on its 70 years of experience building trucks when it designed the new Tacoma, Beatty said. The truck is available with four-cylinder and V6 engines as well as new manual and automatic transmissions.
Scion Canada director Cyril Dimitris said the new iM will be available with front-wheel-drive, emphasizing versatility and practicality. Although similar in size to the Toyota Matrix, the iM will not offer all-wheel-drive.
This 1959 Cadillac is one of the cars that is consigned for the collector car auction at the Edmonton Motorshow.
Dave Halliday, Driving
The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander made its Canadian debut with dramatic new looks and driving refinement.
Mitsubishi Canada president Kenny Yamamoto said Mitsubishi set a new sales record for the brand in 2013 and then broke that record in 2014. Alberta dealers, including those in the Edmonton area, played a role in that performance.
Manufacturers use the Motorshow as a place to not only demonstrate new technology, but also to show how it has spread throughout the vehicle lineup.
For example, the technology that allows vehicles to park themselves was introduced about a decade ago on high-end luxury vehicles. This year, Ford is showing how its full-size F-150 pickup can park itself. The F-150 is one of several vehicles in the Ford and Lincoln lineups that have park-assist technology.
In addition to the vehicles on display, one hall is devoted to accessories that can dress up a car or make it perform better. Commercial vehicles fill another hall and most of these vehicles are outfitted and ready to go so that prospective buyers have a better idea of how they would perform in the work world. There are vans outfitted with storage racks that tradesmen will need as well as heavy-duty trucks equipped for towing or with a service body and crane a utility company might need.
Edmonton Motorshow manager Bob Vilas poses with the Rolls-Royce Wraith. This is the last year Vilas is head of the show.
Dave Halliday, Driving
The final piece of the Motorshow is the Electric Garage collector car auction that features dozens of restored, custom and hot rod cars.
Many of those segments that added appeal to the show came about through the efforts of Bob Vilas, who led the event through tremendous growth and change.
This is the last show for Vilas, although he will continue as executive director of the Edmonton Motor Dealer Association for two more years. His assistant, Eleasha Naso, takes over the show for 2016 and will also replace him eventually as head of the EMDA.
The EMDA honoured Vilas for his years of service before the show opened to the public.
With Vilas in charge, the show has more than doubled in attendance and grown in size from 180,000 square feet to just more than 500,000 in the Edmonton Expo Centre. The show fills all the exhibit halls and this year takes over a ball room as well to show off the exotic cars.
“Back in 2000, no one thought the show could be the size it is today,” said Motorshow president Gerry Lorente.
By dividing the show into sections with specific themes, organizers cater to visitors who want to zero in on what interests them. For example, if you come to the show to shop for a family vehicle, you may have little interest in exotic cars and commercial vehicles.
Depending on the individual, the show can be a venue for car shopping or entertainment — it’s what Vilas calls the automotive event of the year for the car enthusiast. When Vilas took over the show, visitors spent 45 minutes at the event, but added attractions have helped boost that to four hours today.
In addition to its entertainment value, the Motorshow also plays a role in aiding automotive apprentices. Proceeds from the Motorshow are used to provide financial awards to help apprentices continue their training. Apprentices are not paid by their employers when they’re in school.
Hours and admission for 2015 Edmonton Motorshow
Location: Edmonton Expo Centre
Hours:
Friday, Saturday: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Tickets (available at Edmonton Expo Centre box office or online at http://www.edmontonmotorshow.com)
Adult: $15
Seniors (60+) and students with valid ID: $13
Family pass (2 adults, 2 children): $36
Children under 6 are free when accompanied by an adult
