Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Wednesday, December 11, 2024 77° Today's Paper


First Hawaiian International Auto Show caters to consumers

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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Richard Johnson sits in his 1954 Kaiser Darrin as he made last-minute preparations for the First Hawaiian International Auto Show beginning Friday. The Darrin is the first fiberglass car and the 104th of 435 made.
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COURTESY ERIC ROSSO
Kia’s new luxury sedan, the 2015 K900, was loaded onto a Pacific Air Cargo Boeing 747 in Los Angeles on Monday for shipment to Honolulu for the First Hawaiian International Auto Show this weekend.

With polishing cloths at the ready, Hawaii auto dealers are making last-minute preparations for the annual First Hawaiian International Auto Show which begins at noon Friday at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

More than 30 domestic and import manufacturers will showcase their latest cars, trucks, crossovers, vans, hybrids and electric vehicles, and sport utility vehicles.

Displays will include the popular multimillion-dollar exhibit of exotic cars from manufacturers including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati and Bentley, courtesy of the JN Exotics unit of JN Automotive Group.

Among its other vehicles to be exhibited, Servco Automotive again will show off a limited-edition V-10 Lexus LFA, worth more than $500,000, which is one of only 50 produced.

Preproduction and 2015 models making their Hono­lulu debuts will include the Kia K900 luxury sedan that Aloha Auto Group brought in aboard a Boeing 747.

Other vehicles showing for the first time in Honolulu include 2015 models of the Corvette Stingray, Ford Mustang, Audi A3 sedan, Subaru WRX and Ford F-150, among many others.

Consumers can check out the cars of their dreams as well as vehicles more aligned with their budgets plus all the latest in automotive technology from Friday through Sunday.

Some of the new tech consumers can check out includes inflatable rear seat belts that provide extra protection for passengers, accident-avoidance sensors, built-in Wi-Fi and integration features that connect drivers and their cars via smartphone.

"It’s going to be quite a show this year," said Dave Rolf, executive director of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.

"Lots and lots of dream cars," he said, noting that the rights to the song "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" were obtained for promotion of the show.

The nonselling environment is a key component of the more than 20 events produced by Motor Trend Auto Shows across the U.S. each year, said Shaun Foley, public relations project manager. "That’s what we heavily pitch."

The purpose of the shows is "getting consumers excited about cars" so they can meet sales staff and freely ask questions in a stress-free way, Foley said.

Many dealers will offer vehicles for test drives by attendees. "It’s a great opportunity to take their auto show experience one step further," he said. A representative will ride with them "to explain all the bells and whistles and cool features" as they get a feel for the vehicle.

Traditional- and alternative-power-train vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle, will be available for test drives along an on-site course. The first 500 test drivers will receive a voucher for a free pizza from Papa John’s.

"We’re not Detroit, L.A. or New York," Foley said, referring to auto shows intended mainly for the industry and automotive press. Those shows are geared toward product launches, debuts of concept cars and the like.

Rather, Motor Trend Auto Shows productions are aimed at consumers to help arm them with information to take to their selected dealership and make purchase decisions suited for their needs, he said.

Some people already own their dream cars and those will be on display courtesy of various Hawaii auto clubs, which will exhibit their antiques, classics and souped-up newer vehicles.

REVVING UP
The First Hawaiian International Auto Show will take place over three days at the Hawai‘i Convention Center:

>> Hours: noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday
>> Admission: $10 for ages 13 and older; $8 for military with ID (two-for-one on Saturday); $7 for ages 62 and older; free for children ages 12 and under.
>> Advance tickets: www.HiAutoShow.com. A $1 discount off regular adult admission is available with a coupon from an Oahu First Hawaiian Bank branch or participating new-car dealer. Get $2 off an adult admission by presenting a receipt from any merchant at Ala Moana Center.
>> Freebies: Papa John’s pizza sampling in the gazebo; download of the new Motor Trend Auto Shows app on iTunes or Google Play that allows for ticket purchases, on-site route mapping and vehicle information from participating manufacturers; and complimentary one-year subscription to Motor Trend magazine, with sign-ups at the show.

GETTING EXOTIC

A list of exotic vehicles that will be on display:

Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati Ghiblis
Lamborghini Aventador roadster
Ferrari 599 GTO
Lamborghini Gallardo coupe
Ferrari California
Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Flying Spur
Maserati Quattroporte
Maserati GranTurismo
Ferrari FF
Ferrari 458
Lotus Evora

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