Last week the Miami Beach Convention Center welcomed back the annual South Florida International Auto Show, the first major U.S. auto show of the season. The event wrapped on Sunday after a 10-day exhibition beginning November 5. Nearly 1,000 vehicles from more than 40 leading automotive manufacturers were on display—a combination of cars, trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles, hybrids, and concept cars.
To celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary, the organizers added some new components (including some vintage models from 1971, the show’s inaugural year, in its recurring Memory Lane exhibit) and two all-new exhibits catering to niche markets. "Green Way," an area for consumers interested in alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, made its debut, along with "Miami Street Rides," meant to attract a younger, more urban audience with an affinity for low-riders, tuners, exotics, and drift cars.
Nissan’s new, all-electric LEAF, Audi’s A3TDI, with clean diesel engine technology, and a preproduction version of an extended-range electric sedan from Chevrolet called the Volt, all had a presence at the eco-conscious exhibit, which lasted all 10 days. “Green Way gives special recognition to the industry’s recent advancements,” said Richard Baker, president of the South Florida Automobile Dealers Association, which organizes the trade show every year and is made up of 190 dealerships in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe counties. “The goal was for manufacturers to be able to reach South Florida consumers with the latest eco-friendly vehicles under one roof and also to give the consumers the chance to compare these models side by side. ”
Miami Street Rides took place throughout most of Saturday, with a focus on so-called “tricked-out” cars and customizable features such as paint jobs, audio systems, and rims. The exhibit also had a live entertainment component to it—a first for this particular auto show. Break-dancers and M.C.s engaged in live battling, while local DJs provided the musical entertainment for the all-ages crowd. “We've never had entertainment before, because [here in Florida] we’ve always been of the belief that the car is the star,” said Baker. “This year, we wanted to attract a younger crowd to, first of all, come see all the new 2011s, but also go into this separate room to see the cars that appeal to them. We want to build on the future, so we may keep this exhibit for a while.” Lexus also had incorporated entertainment via a listening lounge, a small stage set up for live music and DJ lessons.
The 2010 auto show saw a 7 percent boost in overall ticket sales over last year— when an estimated 500,000 people attended—as well as an increase in total square footage (520,000, up from 350,000 last year). It also welcomed back Mercedes Benz and Infiniti, two big car manufacturers that were noticeably absent in 2008 and 2009. “When the world supposedly came to an end two years ago, the first thing these car manufacturers did was say, ‘Let’s cut back on our expenses at auto shows,’" said Baker. "But their competitors were there, so now they’re back in the marketplace realizing that you have to show your cars to the consumer, and that helps to generate sales. Hopefully, they’re back for good now. ”
As in previous years, the South Florida Automobile Dealers Association donated a portion of the proceeds from the auto show to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida organization. This year’s donation totaled $15,000.
