Auto Show Season Starts Its Engines
Written by Allan Brewer · December 28, 2006
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Photo: Allan Brewer
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93rd Indianapolis Auto Show Among Nation’s Oldest
Exotics to Everyday Fill Indiana’s Convention Center
With the change of seasons, and a full week of down-time between holidays, the nation’s new-car shows begin their annual schedule displaying the finest automotive jewels to the public. The Indianapolis Auto Show, now in its ninety-third year, gives the Midwest its first glimpse of what’s new for 2007.
Hosted by the Greater Indianapolis Metropolitan Automotive Trade Association, this year’s show offers nearly four hundred vehicles from thirty-nine manufacturers. There’s everything within the nearly 400,000 square feet display hall from the kitschy Dukes of Hazard Plymouth “General Lee” to Chrysler’s impressive Imperial concept car, and the exotic Saleen S7 supercar to the drop-dead gorgeous Bentley Continental GTC convertible to tempt the automotive aficionado.
One of the featured vehicles of this year’s show is the new Volkswagen Eos. This compact jewel has a mechanical “Panorama” 5-piece roof that retracts into a hatch mid-car much like the Mercedes SLK clam-shell roof. The attractive Silver Essence model with 18 inch Velos wheels was a crowd-pleaser in standard four-cylinder engine configuration. Imagine what a thrill the 250 hp 3.2 Liter V-6 model would provide when stomping on the accelerator! The car starts at slightly less than $28,000 with the four-cylinder under the hood.
Another interesting find tucked into the corner of the VW display is the new Volkswagen Rabbit. Readers of a certain age will remember this econo-box with its legendary fuel mileage when running under diesel power. A friend of mine had one and claimed fifty-five miles to a gallon on the interstate highways, which I believe was actually true. The new Rabbit runs a 2.5 L 5-cylinder engine generating a surprising 150 hp. Put a Barracuda Bike Rack atop the black Rabbit with 17-inch Activa wheels and you will be a force to be reckoned with on the roads and at the valet park. The price of starting your own warren begins at less than $15,000.
Prominently placed amid the Ford lineup is this year’s Detroit super-car, the Shelby GT 500. Aiming to top Corvette’s Z06, this Mustang-on-steroids packs a whopping 450-plus horsepower out of its supercharged, inter-cooled, 5.4 Liter V-8. The cobalt blue model with the white GT500 stripe on its side is a stunning combination of muscle and good looks. If you have $40,000 that you need to put into transportation, this demon pony will provide all the ride you can handle. Kudos to Ford’s Special Vehicles Team on another winner in the high-performance category.
Finally, on my personal must-see list for the show are BMW’s new 3-series models. The car that does everything, and does it so very well, has undergone significant changes externally. It has the low-hooded, svelte look of an athlete-on-wheels. As the badge implies, this car continues the 3.0 Liter 6-cylinder, double-overhead cam tradition of the marque. Boasting 230 horsepower the sedan is the uber-darling of every young executive-in-waiting, or diva-in-waiting if that fits the description of you better. Expect to be somewhere in the neighborhood of mid-thirty thousand dollars lighter though when you waft home in your new dream car, base price.
The show runs through New Year’s Day at Indianapolis’ downtown Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome. Check it out if you’re car-mad and football-overfed this week, or even if you’re not.
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It seems to me “Car Show Season,” (wabbit season) began in Los Angeles some time a-go? All the same, I do suppose a Plymouth Roadrunner
“General Lee” would be a bit “kitschy.” It’s a shame they could not afford a Dodge Charger like the car’s used in the TV show. Personally I especially enjoyed the 2007 Camel Toe. Now thats “svelte.”