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Keith McCord reporting It's been a standard event for more than 25 years, and it's back again. It's the always-anticipated Utah International Auto Show. The show officially opens to the public tomorrow, but we can give you a preview tonight.
The Utah International Auto Expo began with a VIP charity preview party tonight. Each year at this event, several members of Utah's auto industry are inducted into the Hall of Fame.
This year's inductees included the late Gus Paulos. He started his Chevrolet business in 1980. His wife said tonight that everyone has a funny story about Gus.
Also honored was Dan Eastman. He ran his Chrysler and Jeep dealership in Bountiful for 19 years; he's currently a state senator. Gary Howe was also inducted. Gary served as legal counsel for Utah's auto dealers for 37 years.
There are more than 400 vehicles on display at the South Towne Expo Center; manufactures from 35 companies have something here to show off!
Today is set-up day, and we were able to get inside and get a look at some of the cars as they were being rolled in and given a final polish.
The Utah Auto Show is one of the biggest shows in the Intermountain West. It's one of four that's being held in the country this weekend.
Motor Trend Auto Shows produces these events, and it puts on nearly three dozen of these shows between October and March. For the automobile dealers, this is the perfect time of year to show off the new stuff. "It jump starts the selling season for the year. Typically, December and January are slower car months, and this show, it springboards. It gets people excited about what's there, gives them the options, and it really helps the car season for 2008," explained Craig Bickmore, executive director of New Car Dealers of Utah.
"This show, for density--in what we rate is density, meaning number of people per square foot--is one of our highest rated shows. It's a very, very crowded, popular show," said Marty Beecham, event manager for Motor Trend Auto Shows.
A couple of fun things to look for this year: The Chevrolet Camaro concept car--nice and sleek looking, 400 horsepower, V-8! Also at the show is Ford's concept truck--the F-250 Super Chief. This thing is giant, and it's billed as the world's first-ever tri-fueled vehicle. That means you can run it on hydrogen, ethanol and gasoline!
Concepts, hybrids, big, small; there are all sorts of autos to see this weekend.
The show opens to the public tomorrow morning at 10:00 and runs through Monday night at 8:00. It's a hands-on show, so come on down and get behind the wheel and kick the tires. They want you to do that!
For more information on the show, click the related link.
