Canadian automotive consumers continue to show their hunger for new cars, trucks and SUVs — and to indulge their automotive fantasies — at the 2023 Canadian International AutoShow.
The AutoShow set a single-day attendance record on Sunday, and has experienced its largest audience over the first three days of the show in its 50 years. Sunday’s attendance of 56,122 topped the previous high from 2019 — which was also set on the Sunday of the Family Day long weekend.
“The Canadian International AutoShow is the best auto show not just because of the new cars, but because of the attractions and features we have built around what the manufacturers are displaying,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow. “We offer seven special exhibits and features that give people something new to see every year.”
Among the new cars fans are flocking to see are two concepts unveiled by Hyundai. People have been loving the all-new RN22e and N Vision 74.
The RN22e — a fully electric high-performance car developed by Hyundai’s N brand division — is being seen for the first time at a North American auto show. Setting a new standard for high performance, the RN22e is a rolling lab exploring how to overcome the physical limitation of the EV while maximizing the EV-specific driving fun. It is testing and verifying state-of-the-art technology that will be transferred into N production models.
Making its Canadian debut in Toronto is the N Vision 74, the first hydrogen-hybrid rolling lab. The N Vision 74 pays homage to the Hyundai Pony coupe concept from 1974 — incidentally, also the first year of the AutoShow in Toronto. The design profile transcends time, inspired by the past while moving towards a high-performance future.
One of the special features this year is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the AutoShow by inviting car enthusiasts to share the pride and passion from their own garages, with the chance to have their rides displayed at the AutoShow. The vehicles chosen as part of the AutoShow Anniversary Selection, in partnership with PASMAG Tuning 365 and presented by Hot Wheels, are:
- Striped Tomato — With 33,000 original miles, this 1974 Ford Gran Torino is a tribute to the car made popular by the 1970s TV cop show Starsky and Hutch. This car is powered by its original 351 Cleveland V8 and C6 transmission. It’s a true crowd pleaser, especially for fans of the show.
- Clementine — This 1974 Volkswagen Beetle was purchased from a farm where it was just “taking up space” and painstakingly restored as part of a long-standing family tradition with Beetles.
- Boppin — A customized 1957 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe designed in a Southern Californian street-cruiser style. Powered by a big-block Chrysler 440 six-pack engine with hydraulic suspension all around, its interior contains four 1964 Chrysler bucket seats with a hand-made full-length console and custom instrument cluster.
- Nasty — A 1966 Chrysler Windsor blended with a 1968 Chrysler 300 hood, grille and bumper, this car has hand-built custom taillights, performance torsion bars and air adjustable rear shocks. The frame had to be strengthened to support the 425 6.1L HEMI crate engine. The interior is customized and modernized with a touch-screen GPS.
- Super Speedster — From Caravaggio Corvettes, this is a modified wide-body C5 Corvette customized into a one-off speedster. Painted in Rosso Corso featuring a custom Alcantara interior with carbon fibre seats, this is unlike any Corvette on the road. The build is rounded out with 20” and 21” centre knock wheels, custom stainless exhaust and a 550-horsepower V8.
- Duali8tr — A modified Jeep Gladiator, it has replaced the factory rear axle with a 2008 Ram 3500 axle. Acknowledged as a “polarizing” vehicle, it still turns heads at car shows.
- Chevy 454 – This 1990 pickup is powered by the 454 LS6 from a 1970 Chevy Chevelle, it features a custom body that is five-inches wider than factory. It also has custom-forged 20” wheels, Alcantara interior and old school Recaro seats with a custom steering wheel design.
The “Hottest Wheels” selections can be found in the Hot Wheels exhibit alongside six life-size replicas of cars from the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends collection, in the South Building on the 800 level.
With record crowds attending the AutoShow this year, guests are reminded that peak hours are between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are discounted $6 after 6 p.m.
For more information or to buy tickets, please visit autoshow.ca. Media accreditation to the 2023 AutoShow is now online and can be requested at autoshow.ca/media-registration.
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