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Tuning Shows International Auto Show Regions | International Auto Show Regions |
| Source: edmunds.com | |
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Dozens of new cars, trucks and SUVs go on sale each year, but if you want to see all the latest new models before they hit dealers the annual international auto shows are where you'll find them. Held throughout the U.S. and abroad, these car shows allow the manufacturers to showcase all their latest sheet metal to the automotive press and the buying public. More than just car fancy stages and car show girls, these events create buzz for hot new products that often carries over into dealerships months down the line. Its official name is the North American International Auto Show, but the Detroit Auto Show, as most people know it, is considered the most important car show in the world. It's the biggest car show in the biggest market, so if you want to make a splash the Detroit auto show is the place to do it. Detroit is where you'll see the biggest displays and the most debuts, with as many as 50 new concept and production vehicles being shown for the first time. It's the only good reason to be in Detroit in the first week of January. The Frankfurt International Motor Show is held every other September and is generally considered the biggest car show in Europe apart from the Paris International Motor Show which assumes that role during Frankfurt's off years. The timing of these auto shows puts them at the start of the auto show season so there are always plenty of new models on hand. As you might expect, German marques dominate Frankfurt's stands, but there are always more than enough international debuts to keep it interesting. Paris has its share of Peugeots and Renaults, but it, too, attracts an international crowd The Tokyo Motor Show comes around every other year in the month of October. Like Frankfurt and Paris, it's heavy with hometown favorites. But you'll see more than just the latest Hondas and Toyotas as the Tokyo show is often the home of outrageous concept vehicles that stretch the boundaries of car design. Springtime sees the annual Geneva Motor Show that brings together the biggest manufacturers as well as the smallest design houses. Without the dominance of a hometown brand, Geneva often attracts an eclectic mix of production and concept cars. If you're into design, the Geneva Motor Show is the can't-miss car show of the season. Detroit may grab most of the attention in the U.S., but there are still several other international auto shows in the States that host major debuts. The Los Angeles International Auto Show has shared a January time slot with Detroit for several years now, but in 2006 it will move to November giving it the potential to become the "other" big car show in the U.S. Grabbing that title won't be easy as February's Chicago International Auto Show is gaining more attention thanks to a gigantic show floor that can accommodate the most elaborate displays imaginable. Then there's the New York International Auto Show in April. It may have the fewest numbers of people that drive to it, but that doesn't stop it from capping off the auto show season with huge attendance and plenty of new model debuts.
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