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| Opening presentation of the 2007 Montreal Auto Show. |
The 39th edition of the Montreal Auto Show was very encouraging. As I was walking out the doors of the Palais des Congrès, I really felt as though the Montreal was back on the map. This year's show was actually quite good. The air felt crisper and renewed. The layout of the show was revamped and a number of manufacturers had new displays including Ford. Honestly, I think that this was our best show in close to a decade.
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| Volvo C30 designed by Simon Lamarre. |
Press day was also good. Almost every make had something to say or to show. One of the presentations I was happiest with was Volvo's for two reasons: A: They were present (finally) and B: The Canadian Premiere of their hot new C30 was in Montreal. The fact that the designer, Simon Lamarre, is a fellow Quebecer might have something to do with it... Otherwise, we were treated to a large number of interesting premieres.
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| The Hyundai Veracruz made its Canadian debut. |
Those that caught my attention included the Jeep Patriot, the lowest priced 4X4, which will be an important player for the company. The Hyundai Veracruz crossover will again help the Korean company make waves in the industry. Two other Crossovers that I mentioned in my Detroit impressions, the GM triplets namely the Buick Enclave as well as the Mazda CX-9, will offer a viable alternative to those that do not want a minivan. The Kia Rondo, a mini-minivan with all the versatility and added driving pleasure, will surely do well. Lastly, the Audi TT Coupe, is one hot looking car.
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| An electric vehicle made in Quebec. |
Every year, the Show has a Green Section. There were a number of interesting green machines but I especially enjoyed two of them. Both of them were electric vehicles. The first was called the Zenn (the letters stand for Zero Emissions No Noise). It is built in St-Jerome by a Torontonian company called Feel Good Cars. The other was the Hydro Quebec Cleanova. This service vehicle is basically a Renault Kangoo prepared by a French company called Dassault and uses an electric motor. All in all, the show is well worth the visit.
photo: Philippe Champoux