Auto shows are for everyone, right? Well, not necessarily for the organizers of the 2010 NAIAS in Detroit, who proudly announced on December 16 that prestige brands will make a return to the Motor City… except that their highly-coveted cars won’t be showcased inside Cobo Hall along with the rest of the industry.
No, if you want to see Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, Spykers, Aston Martins, Ferraris and Bentleys, you’ll have to visit the MGM Grand about one kilometre north of the main attraction.
This two-day sideshow (on Monday and Tuesday, January 11-12) is set to take place right at the same time as the media days for the regular show. Admission for adults is $25 -- twice as expensive.
What this all means is that Detroit will host a plebian show and an elitist show.
No need to go down in the streets and demand justice for the less fortunate. After all, Rolls-Royce and the like don’t sell cars to these people. And let’s face it: hosting an auto show is not mainly about flashing eye candy. Rather, it’s a business event aimed at stimulating car sales.
Therefore, what better way to reach customers of premium makes than a special, exclusive gathering in a prestigious location with less peeping Toms and more potential (serious) buyers?? No doubt there will be a lot more suits at the MGM Grand than at Cobo Hall.
The sideshow concept is nothing new, though. One such event actually took place in Montreal back in 2001 and 2002. Another will be held next summer in downtown Toronto during MotorExpo.
No, if you want to see Rolls-Royces, Lamborghinis, Spykers, Aston Martins, Ferraris and Bentleys, you’ll have to visit the MGM Grand about one kilometre north of the main attraction.
This two-day sideshow (on Monday and Tuesday, January 11-12) is set to take place right at the same time as the media days for the regular show. Admission for adults is $25 -- twice as expensive.
What this all means is that Detroit will host a plebian show and an elitist show.
No need to go down in the streets and demand justice for the less fortunate. After all, Rolls-Royce and the like don’t sell cars to these people. And let’s face it: hosting an auto show is not mainly about flashing eye candy. Rather, it’s a business event aimed at stimulating car sales.
Therefore, what better way to reach customers of premium makes than a special, exclusive gathering in a prestigious location with less peeping Toms and more potential (serious) buyers?? No doubt there will be a lot more suits at the MGM Grand than at Cobo Hall.
The sideshow concept is nothing new, though. One such event actually took place in Montreal back in 2001 and 2002. Another will be held next summer in downtown Toronto during MotorExpo.