AJC CAR NEWS
AJC Auto Show revs up with 600 new cars, trucks and SUVs
Event takes place through March 22 at Georgia World Congress Center
For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, March 12, 2009
As anyone who’s ever been on the packed roadways here knows, Atlanta is a car lover’s town. And if one notices the varying styles of cars around them on the road, it’s clear that for most Atlanta motorists, just any old car won’t do.
AJC Auto Show
Thousands of area automotive enthusiasts attend the annual Atlanta Journal-Constitution International Auto Show to get a glimpse of the latest vehicles. This year’s show begins Saturday and runs through March 22.
Ford
Ford’s 2010 Mustang GT features a new exterior and interior design and more power. Ford and other automakers will showcase their 2010 pre-production vehicles at the auto show.
AJC Auto Show
Chrysler will be offering show visitors a look into the future with the area debut of its prototype Town & Country Electric Vehicle
Ford
The auto show will feature a large selection of pre-production vehicles, including the Lincoln C Concept, which officially debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year.
• Photos: Getting ready for the 100th AJC Auto Show
AUTO SHOW FACTS
What: Atlanta Journal-Constitution International Auto ShowWhen: March 14-22
Where: Georgia World Congress Center, B Building
Telephone: 770-916-1741
Description: Annual showcase of more than 500 new 2009 import and domestic cars, light trucks, vans and sports utility vehicles. There will be factory and dealer representatives on hand.
Participating lines: Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Scion, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo
2010 pre-production vehicles: Buick Lacrosse, Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford F-150 Raptor, Ford Fusion, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Mustang, Ford Taurus, Kia Soul, Lexus RX450h, Lincoln MKZ, Mazda 3 Sedan, Mazda 3 Five Door, Mercury Milan Hybrid
Concept vehicles: Lincoln C Concept
Specialty vehicles: Bondurant Driving School Corvette ZRL
Alternative fuel and electric vehicles: Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Escape, Ford Fusion, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon, Honda Civic CVT, Lexus RX400h, Lexus LS 600h, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner, Nissan Altima, Saturn Aura, Saturn Vue, Saturn Vue 2, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander
Show hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday; noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. March 21; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. March 22
Tickets: Adults, $10, children (6-12 years old), $5; children under 6 free
Discounts: $3 off adult admission Monday-Thursday with coupon from any participating new car dealer or in select ads in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. There are no Friday, Saturday or Sunday discounts.
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So it’s no surprise that even in a slumping economy, the 27th annual Atlanta Journal-Constitution International Auto Show, which will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center (Saturday through March 22) will be running at full throttle.
Organizers are expecting to showcase more than 600 new cars, trucks and SUVs from 35 different manufacturers in Building B of the World Congress Center, an area that covers more than 500,000 square feet. The show will feature everything from luxury vehicles, economy cars, sports cars, exotics, hybrids, alternative fuel vehicles, limited production cars, concepts and convertibles to vans, light trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles. It is billed as one of the 10 largest auto shows in America.
Among the exhibits will be a collection of European microcars from the collection of Double Bubble executive Bruce Weiner, who operates a microcar museum in Madison. Shayne Wilson, president of the Metro Atlanta Automobile Dealers Association, which puts on the show, said that many cash-strapped Atlantans have driven their current rides past their prime and will be in the market for new rides in spite of the economy.
“With the recent drastic decline in new car sales, there are many local consumers who are way past their normal trade cycle,” said Wilson, whose organization comprises 170 new car and truck dealers from the 18-county metro Atlanta area. “We’re expecting a large number of these people who want to take advantage of the great deals offered right now by all of the automotive lines. We’re also expecting to see many of our auto show faithful who attend year after year to see what’s new and exciting in our industry. They love to see every vehicle on the show floor and talk with the product specialists about the latest in technology.”
And he said there’s now doubt that it’s a buyer’s market for those looking at 2010 model cars.
“With the recent tax breaks and the unprecedented discounts, the cost of ownership for a new vehicle has never been lower than it is right now,” he said. “There have never been better products, warranties, discounts and interest rates. There’s also a great selection of inventory at area dealerships.”
Among the exhibits at this year’s nine-day show are the Lincoln C Concept, which recently debuted in Detroit, and a large selection of pre-production vehicles.
Atlantans’ love affair with things automotive is nothing new. It can be traced back almost to the birth of the automobile itself.
This year’s show marks the 100th anniversary of the Atlanta National Automobile Show, which was held Nov. 6-13, 1909, at the then-new Auditorium-Armory, a building that later became the Municipal Auditorium and now is part of the Georgia State University campus.
The show was the first of its kind held in the Southeast.
Earlier events were held at Madison Square Garden in New York and in Chicago. The driving force behind the Atlanta show was Coca-Cola founder Asa G. Candler, who was the chief organizer of the Atlanta Automobile Association.
According to newspaper reports, there were 67 automakers that applied for space at the show. Among them were Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Packard, Maxwell, Pierce-Arrow, Franklin, Marmon, Overland, Reo, Locomobile and White. Invitations were sent to more than 1,500 automobile dealers and garage owners. Also invited were sellers of carriages, since many of those businesses were starting to gravitate to motor cars.
The timing of the 1909 show was just right from an economic standpoint. That fall, Georgia farmers had harvested 1.75 million bales of cotton, which was valued at $160 million, including fiber and seed. And in that infancy for the auto business, the Southeast was considered virgin territory for sellers.
Among the festivities surrounding the 1909 auto show were automobile races on a piece of property near Hapeville that was owned by Candler.
Atlanta Speedway, a 2-mile oval patterned after Indianapolis Motor Speedway, held its first race Nov. 9, attracting some of the top drivers of the day, including Barney Oldfield of Indy racing fame. But the races didn’t prove as popular as the races at Indy or cars themselves, and the track closed a year later. The next venture on the site was an air show. It was better received. Today the old speedway is still in the flying business as the home of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Also held that week was a parade, the “Good Roads Reliability Run” sponsored by The Atlanta Constitution. Reports in the afternoon newspaper, The Atlanta Journal, estimated the total attendance for the auto show and racing events at 150,000, a sizable number for a town where only 1,300 cars were on the roads.
Wilson, the organizer of the current auto show, said he and his staff are impressed by what they’ve learned about the original Atlanta auto show.
“We are amazed at what was accomplished at this one-week, citywide event,” he said.
What’s not surprising to Wilson is the automotive enthusiasm apparent among the populace of that era.
“In 1909 there were very few individuals who owned automobiles in this area,” he said. “There were thousands of people, though, who were fascinated with this new form of transportation, and the first auto show was a huge success. People in Atlanta are still fascinated with new cars, trucks and SUVs.
“Our auto show’s yearly growth is testimony to this public adulation.” running at full throttle.
AUTO SHOW FACTS
1. Everything in one place
This is the Atlanta area’s largest annual exhibition of new cars, trucks and SUVs from more than 30 manufacturers in one location. It is the best place to shop and compare hundreds of makes and models.
2. Information overload
There is a wealth of information available. Each manufacturer has staffed its exhibit with product specialists who will speak about the latest in technology and answer your questions. Don’t forget to pick up brochures for the vehicles that you’re interested in.
3. Look into the future
If you’re interested in seeing what’s in the future, check out the concept and pre-production vehicles. Lincoln will show its Lincoln C Concept for the first time in the Southeast, and Ford will exhibit the Explorer America Concept. You can also see Chrysler’s Town & Country Electric Vehicle, plus a large selection of 2010 pre-production vehicles from a number of manufacturers.
4. Special attractions
There are many attractions, including an appearance by Iron Man on Saturday and Sunday. There also will be Atlanta Falcons players appearing in the Ford exhibit March 21, plus SpongeBob SquarePants on March 21 and 22. Visitors can also visit the Muscle Car Showcase and the Nationwide Insurance’s Show Car Pit Stop.
5. Rare vehicles
Bruce Weiner’s Microcar Museum will have a selection of his rarest vehicles at the show. Weiner owns the largest collection of these vehicles in the world.
