Hundreds of Thousands Expected As Philadelphia Auto Show Opens
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Auto Show opens tomorrow at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, allowing you to feast your eyes on concept, classic, luxury, and exotic cars -- or maybe your next vehicle to drive to work every day or to the store.
Today, during a preview event, auto show director Mike Gempp noted that 700 vehicles from 40 manufacturers will give attendees the opportunity to not only drool, but to do test drives and ridealongs.
"In my opinion, this is probably one of the best product lineups I've ever seen at the show," he said.
There are very few manufacturers on the floor that don't have either a brand-new or a significantly redesigned vehicle. Consider next year's version of the Ford F150 pickup, the top-selling truck for the past 37 years.
Ford's Yaro Hetman says the 2015 model uses aluminum alloys in its body and bed. But, he adds, think military-grade Humvee, not soda can.
"It is stronger, more dent-resistant and, most importantly, lighter -- and does not rust at all," he says.
GM's Steve Martin says the 2015 Corvette (white vehicle at left in photo) is all new, top to bottom and front to back.
"They really wanted to build a car that could be put back up on the bedroom wall of a little kid," he tells KYW Newsradio.
And Evan, of Maserati of the Main Line, wants auto show visitors to check out the GranCabrio MC, from the company's racing division.
"It's top dog of the Maserati lineup," he says. "The MC stands for Maserati Corsa. It's designed in-house to not only be a fast grand tourer, but it's also very luxurious."
About 250,000 attendees are expected over the show's nine-day run.