The Toronto International Auto Show
Starting on February 16 to 25 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the 2024 Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS) promises to bring plenty of four-wheel thrills to gearheads dreaming of horsepower and smoky burnouts in the middle of a Canadian winter. Last year’s event saw record attendance numbers, and the organizers are aiming to go even bigger this year!
Tickets are on sale now, priced at $26 for adults (save for $15 on February 20) or $16.50 for youngsters aged 12 to 16, and $7.50 for anyone between seven and 11 years old. Kidlets younger than that are free. Seniors can get it for the sum of 17 bucks. People can save 10 per cent off ticket process by pre-purchasing them online rather than just showing up at the door.
It may interest some readers to know that, once upon a time, shows like CIAS were almost exclusively populated with vehicles from local dealerships, businesses eager to display their wares in front of thousands of attendees. Over time, manufacturers themselves got into the game, some bringing entire ranges of models — or at least the newest ones for that year.
That dynamic has shifted recently, with large companies paring back their expense accounts and cutting costs. This explains why brands like Jeep and Dodge are part of this year’s soirée despite breathless headlines shouting the mothership for those outfits have abandoned auto shows en masse. Local dealers have stepped into pick up the torch, so those brands will have a presence, albeit in a slightly different form. It is not disingenuous to say the range of brands literally run the gamut from Alfa to Zagato. Oh, and, yeah, the Tesla Cybertruck will be there.
Rimac Nivera Celebrates Grand Touring’s 50th
As arguably the halo car at this year’s show, the Nivera is provided by Grand Touring Automobiles, a retailer which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. For those in need of a refresher, the bonkers Rimac is capable of hitting 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in about 1.8 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 451 km/h (280 mph) thanks to its very-nearly 2,000 horsepower and 1,725 lb-ft of torque. The auto group is also trotting out a Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport, Aston Martin DB12 Volante, and the new Lamborghini Revuelto.
