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CARS OF YOUR DREAMS IN AUTO EXOTICA
Popular feature returns to the Canadian International AutoShow
The Pininfarina Battista, presented by Pfaff Automotive, will be making its Canadian debut in Auto Exotica at the 2020 Canadian International AutoShow. it is one of more than two dozen luxury and super cars that will be on display in the popular exhibit at the AutoShow. (Photo Courtesy Pfaff Automotive)
Year after year, the room packed with dreams is among the most popular exhibits at the Canadian International AutoShow.
Auto Exotica is consistently selected by AutoShow patrons as their favourite part of the show, and there is little mystery why. The showcase is annually stocked with cars most of us can only look at longingly — among them this year are Tesla with a three-car display, Pfaff Automotive presenting a Pagani, Singer and Pininfarina Battista, Lotus/Gentry Lane with a pair of their supercars and Autostrada with a showcase of various collector cars including brands such as Ferrari and Lamborghini. The Canadian-made FELINO will be making its first appearance in Ontario.
“Our consumer research and feedback from show patrons tells how important the luxury car market is in Toronto,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow. “We have worked hard to reflect that at the AutoShow, and each year bring in some of the most stylish — and powerful — cars to be found anywhere in the world.”
Autostrada is anchoring Auto Exotica this year with a stunning 13-car display, plus a unique addition not usually seen at an auto show — a tractor. The 1966 Lamborghini Trattoria R1 tractor is a reminder of the humble origins of one of the world’s most renowned supercar marques.
But with the tractor will be an incredible collection of vehicles, including a 1966 Shelby Cobra Competition, Italian sportscar 1972 Lancia Stratos, the classic-looking 2013 Morgan Aero Supersports and a 1970 Lamborghini Miura, the first supercar to feature a rear mid-engined two-seat layout, and the fastest production car in the world when it was released.
Also featured in Auto Exotica will be the Canadian debut of the Pininfarina Battista, presented by Pfaff Automotive, a trio of cars from world renowned automotive auction house Barrett-Jackson — ’68 Camaro, ’69 Shelby GT500 Convertible and ’70 Hemi ‘Cuda — and a 1969 Ford GT40, the high-performance endurance car it developed specifically to take on Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (now immortalized in the movie Ford V Ferrari), presented by Legendary Motorcar Company.
Seen for the first time in Ontario, the FELINO cB7Ris one of only 10 being built. The Montreal-produced supercar — reaching speeds of 345 kilometres per hour — is the only Canadian supercar currently in production.
Last year, the AutoShow introduced Light Up the Night in Auto Exotica, when two different cars in the exhibit were fired up each night in front of a live audience, letting all hear the deep rumble of their powerful engines. It drew rave reviews, and Light Up the Night, presented by SiriusXM and featuring cars from Autostrada, will return bigger and better in 2020.
In total, more than 25 luxury and exotic cars will be on showcase in Auto Exotica, presented by Castrol and the National Post.
The collection of cars in Auto Exotica is contributing to the highest total value of cars that has ever been showcased at the AutoShow —a combined value exceeding $120 million.
Over the past several years, Auto Exotica has hosted of some of the world’s most exclusive hypercars.
It began in 2017 when the Aston Martin AM-RB 001, since rebranded as the Valkyrie, made its global auto show debut in Toronto. That was followed in 2018 when the record-setting Koenigsegg Agera RS — then the world’s fastest production car reaching speeds of 450 kilometres per hour — was showcased.
Last year saw the Canadian debut of the Devel Sixteen, a 16-cylinder, 5,000+ horsepower behemoth that is to be the first car produced in the United Arab Emirates.
While it won’t be physically located in Auto Exotica, the Canadian debut of the Bugatti La Voiture Noire will happen at the 2020 Canadian International AutoShow. The world’s most exclusive Bugatti — and most expensive new car ever sold — will be found in the Grand Touring Automobiles Display on the 800 level of the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Center.
Auto Exotica can be found on the 100 Level in the North Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Among the cars that will be showcased at Auto Exotica are:
| Autostrada 1966 Lamborghini R1 Tractor 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Competition 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 1970 Lamborghini Miura S 1972 Lancia Stratos 1987 Porsche 959 2013 Morgan Aero Supersports 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder 2015 Ferrari Enzo 1993 Jaguar XJ220 2019 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster | Barrett-Jackson 1968 Chevrolet Camaro 1969 Shelby GT 500 Convertible 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda | Felino Cars FELINO cB7R |
| Legendary Motorcar Company 1969 Ford GT40 Competition 2006 Ford GT 2018 Ford GT Competition | Pfaff McLaren Pagani Huayra Roadster Pininfarina Battista Singer | |
| Tesla Model X Model S Model 3 | Lotus/Gentry Lane Evora GT 2 | |
| Caravaggio Corvette Z06 - Red Corvette Z06 – Marone Metallica |
The 2020 Canadian International AutoShow, presented by The Toronto Star and wheels.ca, takes place February 14th to 23rd at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For tickets and show information, please visit autoshow.ca.
Stay connected with the Canadian International AutoShow on Instagram @cdnintlautoshow, Twitter @autoshowcanada and Facebook /autoshowcanada.
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Theme for the 2020 Canadian International AutoShow — Transformative Times
The automotive industry is experiencing a complete disruption in technology and approach.
Like the industry it showcases annually at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the AutoShow is viewing this theme through a multi-faceted lens. Without question, the ongoing progression of new technology is changing cars and the way we drive; but this theme is also about the consumer experience in buying a car and the excitement that is building in the automotive industry. The connectivity in the auto industry is not just between the driver and the car. We live in an age where cars are communicating with other cars, and peers are connecting with peers.
“What we are experiencing now is a complete disruption in the technology and approach of the automotive industry,” says David McClean, Director of Marketing at the Canadian International AutoShow. “The auto industry is changing. The auto industry is evolving. These are transformative times.”
The 2020 AutoShow will be based on three main pillars that illustrate the transformation taking place in the automotive sector:
Technology is Changing — Automotive tech has been changing in leaps and bounds. From safety features to predictive and entertainment technologies, today’s cars bear little resemblance to what we were driving just a decade ago, never mind a generation ago. This isn’t slowing down, especially as we enter the next “always on” phase of 5G connectivity.
Our Relationship with our Car is Evolving — We used to be known as car owners, and we talked about car ownership. But today, what are we when we get behind the wheel? Have we become users? Drivers? Operators? With the proliferation of ride hailing and ride sharing, how do we define our relationship with the car?
The Auto Industry is as Unique as our Lifestyle — The auto industry has always been good at identifying the next trend and catering to the next batch of drivers. What does Gen Z have in store? Is it the earth-conscious fully electric, a hybrid or a gas-sipping car? Millennials love going straight from work to their favourite outdoor activity — and to satisfy that want we have seen strong growth of crossover vehicles.
Within the Transformative Times theme, the 2020 AutoShow will see the return of fan favourites like Auto Exotica and classics from Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance and special features showcasing the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame and the Canadian military.
“There has never been more change in the auto industry than there has been in the last 12 months,” says McClean. “At the AutoShow, we are the complete 360-degree view of all things automotive. We mean it when we say that this is The Total Automotive Experience. Our passion never stops, as we curate the best content and work with valued partners to build a uniquely Canadian automotive extravaganza.”
The 2020 Canadian International AutoShow, presented by The Toronto Star and wheels.ca, takes place February 14th to 23rd at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For tickets and show information, please visit autoshow.ca.
Stay connected with the Canadian International AutoShow on Instagram @cdnintlautoshow, Twitter @autoshowcanada and Facebook /autoshowcanada.
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A Peek Into The Future
The Future Tech Hub at the 2020 Canadian International AutoShow is showcase of the new and innovative ways that technology is changing transportation, including the Drone Delivery Canada Condor drone, a mini helicopter that can carry 400 pounds of payload 200 kilometres away. (Photo Courtesy Drone Delivery Canada)
The 2020 Canadian International AutoShow picked the Transformative Times theme for its show this year because the automotive industry is, indeed, in the midst of great change.
Technology is changing the way we do almost everything, and some of those impacts on the automotive world will be encapsulated in the Future Tech Hub, a special installation at the AutoShow showcasing some of the new and innovative technologies transforming the world of transportation.
“The car is no longer just something to get us from point A to point B,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow. “They are intelligent computers where we potentially spend a significant portion of our day. We are seeing automation potentially easing some of gridlock with new ways to deliver packages and goods and we are getting more efficient and environmentally aware.”
The Future Tech Hub, which can be found in the main showroom on the 800 level in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, will bring together several elements that offer a glimpse into the future of transportation, including:
- Drone Delivery Canada — A Toronto-based global leader, partnered with Air Canada, Drone Delivery Canada is focused on pioneering technology to commercialize and implement a viable drone delivery system internationally. It is disruptive technology that will redefine the traditional shipping and delivery logistics market. At the AutoShow, Drone Delivery Canada will be showcasing three of its delivery units — known as the Sparrow, the Robin and Condor. The Condor, a small helicopter with a payload of 400 pounds and a range of 200 kilometres, should be a crowd stopper.While most of the deliveries currently being made by Drone Delivery Canada are business to business, the days when they are making deliveries directly to consumers are not far off.
“People will be surprised to learn how far along this technology and service is,” says company Chief Executive Michael Zahra. “People tend to think delivery drones are a futuristic, pie-in-the-sky technology and we may see them in five to 10 years. But what we are doing is real and it is happening now.”
Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association — Using a luxury sportscar 2020 Karma Revero GT as the demonstrator, the APMA is featuring some of the leading edge technologies it plans to incorporate on its recently launched Project Arrow concept car. Project Arrow will be a zero-emissions, tech-packed vehicle built exclusively from Canadian parts and technologies. The project should be fully built by 2022. Answering the Prime Minister’s call for a Zero-Emissions future by 2050, this project will bring together the best of the best of Canada’s electric-drive, alternative-fuel, connected and autonomous, light weight technology in the road-going Arrow. As a starting point, the all-new Karma APMA demonstrator at the AutoShow features award-winning Canadian lidar technology for autonomous drive, Canadian voice-activated control systems for the Knight Rider experience and is the world’s first quantum-encrypted vehicle, featuring Canadian leading edge technology keeping hackers at bay.
“At the intersection of advanced mobility and climate change lies the challenge of our times,” says Flavio Volpe, President of the APMA. “Future generations will ask if we ran faster or stretched out our arms farther. The Arrow will be remembered as the gauntlet we dropped in response to this call to action.”
FLO — A leading North American charging network for electric vehicles, FLO is a major provider of smart charging software and equipment. Since 2009, FLO and its parent company, AddEnergie, have supported 3.5M charging events and enabled the transfer of 29 GWh in electricity, thanks to 25,000 high-quality stations deployed on public networks, commercial and residential installations.
“Easy access to reliable EV charging is essential to maximize the benefits and enjoyment of driving an electric vehicle,” says Louis Tremblay, President and CEO of FLO. “FLO chargers are specifically designed to deliver exceptional reliability and convenience. Having a charging station at home means that every day, you will leave home with a fully-charged battery – which is typically more than enough to enjoy a smooth, clean and quiet ride to work and back.”
EV Test Drives — The electric vehicle segment is growing fast in Canada, and that is reflected at the AutoShow. A record number of EVs will be on the show floor, and once again the AutoShow, in partnership with Plug‘n Drive and the EV Discovery Centre, is offering EV Test Drives. The sigh up booth for the South Building drives will be located in the Future Tech Hub.
“The growing line up of electric vehicles available in Canada is well represented at the AutoShow,” said Cara Clairman, President and CEO of Plug’n Drive. “The EV Test Drive program is an excellent tool for consumers to learn more about the environmental and economic benefits of electric vehicles while gaining an understanding about the benefits of electrification versus the traditional combustion engine.”
“The automotive industry is changing, and the growth of technology in the sector is astounding,” says Mr. Zahra from Drone Delivery Canada. “Our technology and innovation is a big part of that. There is more blurring of the lines between a typical delivery vehicle application and what we are doing. We will see wide-spread autonomous flying delivery drones before we see the same with autonomous cars, and that will lead to unmanned flying taxis in the future.
“We are evolving the drone delivery business, starting with business-to-business in low density population areas, then consumer applications in suburban areas before piloting into densely populated urban areas. After that, the industry will evolve to moving people in unmanned flying taxis. It’s not immediate, but not far off either. They are working on projects like this in Dubai. We will see it in a few years.”
The 2020 Canadian International AutoShow, presented by The Toronto Star and wheels.ca, takes place February 14th to 23rd at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For tickets and show information, please visit autoshow.ca.
Stay connected with the Canadian International AutoShow on Instagram @cdnintlautoshow, Twitter @autoshowcanada and Facebook /autoshowcanada.
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