Preview for the 2014 Canadian International AutoShow

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

As Canadians, we are once again enduring a challenging winter that has brought all the snow and cold weather we are accustomed to north of the 49th parallel. Skiing, snowmobiling or building a snowman allows many of us to maintain our humour and happiness during this season that always wallops Canada in full force. For automobiles, winter presents a period where our favourite four-wheel conveyance is expected to perform in hostile situations. Left out on frigid driveways or unheated garages, roads covered in snow and/or whatever traction solution our municipality chooses for safety, this is a time of the year where we forget the true beauty of motoring. Maybe in this month of February it is the perfect time to remind ourselves how great the automobile can be. For this reason, the arrival of the 2014 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto is ideal.

Opening this Friday in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the 2014 edition of the Canadian International AutoShow will be the 41st time the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (operating as the Toronto Automobile Dealers' Association until the 2012) will hold the exhibition. Promising over 600,000 square feet of cars, trucks, crossover, vans and vehicle-related displays, the 2014 Canadian International AutoShow is expected to welcome over 300,000 spectators from the casual motorist to the die hard auto enthusiast. From affordable subcompacts like the Chevrolet Sonic to exotic machines such as the Maserati GranTurismo, the convention property will be sheltering roughly 1,000 vehicles. Some of the new cars promised to make high profile appearance at the 2014 Canadian International AutoShow includes the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Chrysler 200, Subaru WRX STI, 2015 Ford F-150 and concept cars like the Jaguar C-X17. Exhibition in both the north and south building will be dedicated to the best showpieces of each brand. For attendees wanting to see high-class vehicles barely less expensive than most Toronto homes, a special Auto Exotica display room will fill you with envy for whomever will own those pricy rides.

Aside from the new car on display, the 2014 Canadian International AutoShow will also possess a large share of classic cars. Escaping the garages where their owners have diligently managed their finest wheels, the Cruise National finalists will present some of Canada's best classic cars. Gary Fernandes's 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Pace Car edition vehicle and Louis Losier's 1969 Plymouth SuperBee are two of the ten finalists presented for a grand judging that will see a gold, silver and bronze metal given out. In addition to the 2014 Cruise National (that has one car crowned as the gold metal award winner), past award winners on a "Classic Concours" will be assembled to celebrate ten years of Cruise National events occurring within the Canadian International AutoShow. A Muscle Car Alley, Sport Compact Evolution and a special display for Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame inductee Ron Fellows is also occupying floor space inside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

A new automotive-related presentation called the AutoConnect Showcase will also be a major component of the 2014 Canadian International AutoShow. With the imminent likelihood of more technology such as advanced electronic media suites and even autonomous driving nearing, the AutoConnect Showcase will provide an education of what motoring in the near future will entail.

The 2014 Canadian International AutoShow opens on Valentine's day February 14th and runs until Sunday, February 23rd. If you are planning to attend, be sure to keep you eyes peeled for discounts during the week of the show as well as on the auto show's website. Ahead of the 2014 Canadian International AutoShow, please feel free to view some of my images taken at last year's exhibition.