Quebec City – The 29th edition of the Quebec Auto Show opened its doors to the public yesterday, presenting over 250 new vehicles to the people of the “vieille capitale”. Held until March 7 at the Centre de foires de Québec, the event has attracted all the major manufacturers, including Ford, returning after a year-long absence with a huge stand created specifically for this show and exclusively emphasizing the brand’s cars.
After a tough year in 2009 that saw both consumers and manufacturers toning things down, the show’s organizers are happy to present a beefed-up version this year. Much ado is made over the seven vehicles making their debut in the province: the 2011 Ford Focus and Mustang, the diminutive Fiat 500, the new Hyundai Sonata, the Infiniti M, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet and the Kia Forte Hybrid.
The “Expo Lambo” is another high point of the event. Gilles Lessard, president of the Corporation des concessionnaires de la région de Québec (CCARQ) who is organizing the show, is very proud to announce that this attraction alone represents “nearly three million dollars of pure-blooded machines!” The attraction is made up of four exceptional Lamborghinis on loan from collectors: a Super Trofeo GTR, the only one of its kind in North America ($410,000), an LP 650-4 Roadster unique in Canada ($559,000), an LP 670-4 SV ($614,000) and an LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni ($349,860), the only one of their kind in Quebec.
Centre de foires expansion postponed once again
Naturally, the Quebec show suffers from the cramped space of the exhibition hall where it is held. With only 125,000 square feet available, the Centre de foires doesn’t allow the show’s organizers to bring together all the vehicles sold in Canada in one spot. Comparatively speaking, the Montreal International Auto Show has over 300,000 square feet at its disposal in its Palais des Congrès venue.
“This year, we simply don’t have enough space to do anything more,” says Bernard Ferland, CEO of the CCARQ. “Some automakers are asking for a bigger show, but it’s simply physically impossible. The show is currently bursting at the seams.” Every year, the government authorities responsible for running and developing the Centre de foires de Québec promise to expand the grounds. The project currently on the table plans for nothing less than doubling the square footage. Unfortunately, the project seems condemned to chronic postponement year after year.
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com |
After a tough year in 2009 that saw both consumers and manufacturers toning things down, the show’s organizers are happy to present a beefed-up version this year. Much ado is made over the seven vehicles making their debut in the province: the 2011 Ford Focus and Mustang, the diminutive Fiat 500, the new Hyundai Sonata, the Infiniti M, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet and the Kia Forte Hybrid.
The “Expo Lambo” is another high point of the event. Gilles Lessard, president of the Corporation des concessionnaires de la région de Québec (CCARQ) who is organizing the show, is very proud to announce that this attraction alone represents “nearly three million dollars of pure-blooded machines!” The attraction is made up of four exceptional Lamborghinis on loan from collectors: a Super Trofeo GTR, the only one of its kind in North America ($410,000), an LP 650-4 Roadster unique in Canada ($559,000), an LP 670-4 SV ($614,000) and an LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni ($349,860), the only one of their kind in Quebec.
Centre de foires expansion postponed once again
Naturally, the Quebec show suffers from the cramped space of the exhibition hall where it is held. With only 125,000 square feet available, the Centre de foires doesn’t allow the show’s organizers to bring together all the vehicles sold in Canada in one spot. Comparatively speaking, the Montreal International Auto Show has over 300,000 square feet at its disposal in its Palais des Congrès venue.
“This year, we simply don’t have enough space to do anything more,” says Bernard Ferland, CEO of the CCARQ. “Some automakers are asking for a bigger show, but it’s simply physically impossible. The show is currently bursting at the seams.” Every year, the government authorities responsible for running and developing the Centre de foires de Québec promise to expand the grounds. The project currently on the table plans for nothing less than doubling the square footage. Unfortunately, the project seems condemned to chronic postponement year after year.
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| Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com |