You may glimpse the future occupant of your parking stall at the 2015 First Hawaiian International Auto Show next month.
Among the choices being displayed by more than 30 domestic and import manufacturers, the show will feature its first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the pre-production Mirai FCV (fuel cell vehicle), by Toyota. In Japanese, Mirai means future, and the design work for the vehicle began some 20 years ago, according to the Toyota website.
FIRST HAWAIIAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
» Place: Hawai’i Convention Center.
» Dates: March 13, noon to 10 p.m.; March 14, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; March 15, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
» Cost: $10 adults, 13 and older; $8 military with ID; $7 seniors 62 and older; free for children 12 and younger.
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"In 2008, our projection was that the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle would be here in March of 2015," said Dave Rolf, executive director of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association, in a recent interview.
HADA has proposed legislation to try to ensure there will be refueling infrastructure for the new breed of alternative power train vehicles as production begins and market share grows.
In the meantime, customer demand for nontraditional vehicles continues to rise in Hawaii, as evidenced by registrations of electric and hybrid vehicles hitting a record high of 3,659 units in 2014, a recent report showed.
Upgrades in technology for traditional, electric and hybrid vehicles likely will also command great attention at the show.
Inflatable rear seat belts enhance safety for children and adults in rear seats; crash-avoidance sensors are available on even more models this year, as are push-button gear selectors and parking-assist technology.
Americans are increasingly device- and Internet-dependent, so several vehicles have built-in Wi-Fi, inductive technology that allows for charging of devices by just setting them down in a specific zone, and many vehicles offer app-based smartphone integration to check such things as charge level or tire pressure, or to remotely start the engine.
The crowd favorite, a multimillion-dollar exotic vehicle display, will likely ignite lust, with the JN Automotive-provided Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Bentley models kept a safe distance from salivating onlookers.
Local car clubs also will show off their members’ pride and joy throughout the weekend.
Test drives of selected models again will be available during daylight hours, and the first 500 test-drivers will receive a voucher for a free Papa John’s pizza redeemable online.
Free tickets for admission before 6 p.m. March 13 are available at select First Hawaiian Bank branches. After that time, the passes are redeemable for the purchase of up to two $8 tickets. More discount information may be found at the auto show website.
On the Net: www.HiAutoShow.com
MOST DEPENDABLE VEHICLES
J.D. Power on Wednesday released its annual rankings of vehicle dependability. The rankings are based on problems per vehicle as reported by owners of 2012 model year cars and trucks. Here are the most dependable models by segment.
» Small car: Scion xD
» Compact cat: Toyota Corolla
» Compact premium car: Lexus ES
» Compact sporty car: Scion tC
» Midsize car: Chevrolet Malibu
» Midsize premium car: Mercedes-Benz E-Class
» Midsize sporty car: Chevrolet Camaro
» Large car: Buick LaCrosse
» Small SUV: Kia Sportage
» Compact SUV: GMC Terrain
» Compact premium SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
» Compact wagon: Scion xB
» Minivan: Toyota Sienna
» Midsize SUV: Nissan Murano
» Midsize premium SUV: Lexus GX
» Large SUV: GMC Yukon
» Midsize pickup: Honda Ridgeline
» Large pickup: GMC Sierra
» Large heavy-duty pickup: Chevrolet Silverado HD
Source: J.D. Power
BEST IN CLASS
Consumer Reports released its annual list of top auto brands and individual vehicles on Tuesday. Here are the winners, by category:
» Best overall: Tesla Model S
» Compact car: Subaru Impreza
» Midsize car: Subaru Legacy
» Large car: Chevrolet Impala
» Green car: Toyota Prius
» Luxury car: Audi A6
» Sport sedan: Buick Regal
» Small SUV: Subaru Forester
» Midsize SUV: Toyota Highlander
» Minivan: Honda Odyssey
Source: Consumer Reports