2009 Honda Fit. Click image to enlarge |
Article and photos by Greg Wilson
Photo Gallery:
2008 Vancouver Auto Show
Vancouver, British Columbia - As one of the last auto shows of the 2008 season, the Vancouver auto show doesn't usually provide an opportunity for B.C. consumers to view never-before-seen cars, but this year is an exception: there are at least six vehicles on display for the first time in Canada, at least ten vehicles on display for the first time in western Canada, and dozens on display for the first time in B.C.
Running now through April 6th at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, the 88th Vancouver International Auto show is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors to view the more than 450 new vehicles displayed on 250,000 square feet of floor space on two levels.
2009 Nissan Maxima (top) and the 2009 Infiniti FX. Click image to enlarge |
Canadian premieres include the new 2009 Honda Fit subcompact hatchback which is scheduled to go on sale this Fall; the gorgeous new BMW M3 Cabriolet that will go on sale May 17th with an MSRP of $81,900 (over $6,500 lower than the last model); the bigger, roomier 2009 Acura TSX that's expected to go on sale in late April; the uniquely redesigned 2009 Nissan Maxima sedan; the bigger, more aggressively styled 2009 Infiniti FX; and the sleek new 2009 Audi A4 Avant wagon.
Western Canada premieres include the Canada-exclusive 2008 Mercedes-Benz C230 and C230 4MATIC sedans with a new lower price-tag; the redesigned 2008 smart fortwo coupe and cabriolets with a new gasoline engine; the slightly larger 2009 Subaru Forester which goes on sale in April; the roomy seven-passenger 2009 Chevrolet Traverse SUV; the awesome Nissan GT-R super coupe; and the new Volvo V70 and XC70 models.
First-time-in-B.C. vehicles include the sexy 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 muscle coupe; the all-new seven-passenger 2009 Dodge Journey crossover; the retro-styled 2008 Ford Mustang Bullit; the new Australian-built rear-drive 2009 Pontiac G8; the new 2009 VW Tiguan compact SUV which starts at $27,575 (FWD) and $30,975 (AWD);
2009 Volkswagen Passat CC (top) and the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. Click image to enlarge |
2009 VW Jetta TDI clean diesel sedan; the sleek new 2009 VW Passat CC coupe; and the all-new 2009 VW Routan minivan which is based on the new Dodge Caravan. The all-new Jaguar XF sedan and the new rear-drive Hyundai Genesis luxury cars are also on display. As well there is a trio of green vehicles from GM: 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, and 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid, plus their Volt electric car concept.
In addition, popular new models like the 2009 Toyota Corolla, 2009 Toyota Matrix, 2009 VW Jetta Wagon, 2009 Hyundai Elantra Wagon, 2009 Hyundai Sonata, 2008 Saturn Astra, 2008 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Hybrid, 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman, and 2009 BMW 1-Series coupe and cabriolet are sure to attract consumers looking to touch and feel the cars they might actually buy.
The show also includes many aftermarket and accessories vendors, a luxury car display, and new "Best of the Best" display - one car from each of the top summer collector car shows, a 1936 Lagonda LG 45 representing Gastown's Steamworks Concours d' Elegance Classic Car show, a very rare 1906 Zust representing the Langley Good Times Cruise-in, and a 1936 Ford Club Cab representing the annual Downtown Port Coquitlam Car show. Visitors will have an opportunity to vote for their favourite and the car with the most votes will be named the "Best of the Best" on the last day of the Show.
Visitors to the show have a chance to win a Grand Prize of a specially prepared 2009 Toyota Corolla valued at over $35,000.
For show times and admission fees, visit the show's website.
