50th Anniversary Canadian International AutoShow Crosses The Finish Line

The 2023 Canadian International AutoShow has marked a successful return as Canada’s largest automotive and consumer show.

Celebrating its 50^th anniversary, the AutoShow has been a showcase of automotive excellence and innovation, from the latest models offered by some of the world’s biggest automotive brands to the newest EVs that are leading to an electrified future to the luxury and exotic cars that tickle the imagination. For 10 days at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the automobile was the centre of attention, delighting fans young and old.

“The AutoShow has always been a reflection of the automotive industry, and we have seen that clearly at the 2023 AutoShow,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow. “Over the course of this year’s show, we have seen the direction the sector is headed. New innovations are changing the way we drive. The government has put us on path to zero-emission vehicles, and we are exploring more electric and hydrogen options. Our manufacturer partners are connecting with potential consumers at the Show in new ways through engaging attractions and interesting cars.”

Some highlights of the 2023 AutoShow include:

NEWEST VEHICLES

• The global debut of the all-new 2024 Buick Encore GX.
• The North American debut of the Hyundai N Vision 74 hydrogen hybrid concept car.
• Canadian debuts of the Hyundai RN22e concept, Nissan NISMO Off Road Frontier V8 concept, Dodge Hornet, Alfa Romeo Tonale, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20^th anniversary edition, Kia Seltos, Subaru Crosstrek, GMCSierra EV Denali and Toyota Grand Highlander.
• A showcase of electrification of the automotive sector. More than 75 fully-electric vehicles were found across the AutoShow’s displays and attractions this year, along with 18 hybrids, 14 plug-in hybrids and two hydrogen cars.
• Concept cars, including the ones mentioned above along with Buick Wildcat, Nissan ARIYA Surfwagon and the Project Arrow car, a collaborative project of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association and 50 partners that produced an all-electric vehicle that was designed, engineered and built in Canada, entirely with Canadian parts.

NEW SPECIAL FEATURES

• The first Canadian appearance of Camp Jeep, an indoor course with five-man-made obstacles that showcase the rugged capabilities of the famed 4×4 vehicles.
• Electric City put a spotlight on the infrastructure needed to support the EV future and electrified micro-mobility alternatives. A repayable Government of Canada investment of $500,000 through the Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to create Electric City supports the federal mandate for zero-emission vehicles in Canada.
• The EV Test Track— the largest indoor track of its kind in Canada — proved immensely popular, with as many as 925 test drives being taken a day.
• The REVZONE showcased some of the cars and events that are broadcasted on REV TV, with several interactive exhibits and live broadcasts.
• Accessible Mobility with Universal Motion featured six modified vehicles highlighting support available for those in our society who find themselves challenged by their mobility.
• Mississauga-based manufacturer Roshel showcased its Senator APC, an armoured personnel carrier. The Canadian government purchased 200 of the vehicles to be sent to Ukraine as part of Canada’s contribution to the international effort in aid of that country’s defence.

FAMILY FEATURES

• The LEGO Group returned to the AutoShow with another full-sized model of a supercar — this time the Lamborghini SIAN FKP 37, which made its first-ever appearance in North America. The model took 10 months to build and is made from more than 400,000 pieces.
• Hot Wheels helped the AutoShow celebrate its 50^th anniversary with a selection of six life-sized versions of cars from the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends and the original “Sweet 16” diecast Hot Wheels that were the first produced by the brand in 1968. In partnership with PASMAG Tuning 365, Hot Wheels presented The AutoShow Anniversary Selection, a collection of customized cars selected from fan submissions.

FAN FAVOURITES

• Auto Exotica once again featured stunning and rare luxuries and exotics: A Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport and Koenigsegg Regera among the collection from Grand Touring Automobiles; cars once owned by celebrities Jenifer Lopez and Floyd Mayweather in the Autostrada display; some classics brought in by Barrett-Jackson; a championship Porsche in the Pfaff display; the S, 3, X and Y from Tesla.
• Cobble Beach presented 75 years of Porsche, a collection of 16 rare and important Porsches from over the past three-quarters of a century, including the most expensive car at this year’s AutoShow, a 1969 Porsche 917 Long Tail Chassis 005.
• OBLIVION, a Celebration of the Cars and Culture of the ’80s and ’90s, brought back a replica of the DeLorean time machine from the Back to the Future movies, along with some unique cars from the era that included the Magna Vehma Torrero prototype from the late 1980s.

As the final Saturday of the 2023 AutoShow was drawing to a close, the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame inducted its 2022 class in a gala event in the John Bassett Theatre in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The induction included 12 individuals and one racing team, plus another racing team in the International Category. The 2022 inductees are:

Pfaff Motorsports was honoured in the International Category. (For more information on each inductee, please see the Backgrounder below.)

Planning will now begin for the 2024 Canadian International AutoShow, which will take place February 16^th to 25^th, 2024, back in the North and South Buildings of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.