Big changes are in store this year for fans of the South Florida International Auto Show. Most notably, the show will officially change its name to the Miami International Auto Show (MIAS), paying homage to the alluring destination it has called home for the last 42 years.
The show also will be sporting a whole new look, complete with new exhibits and interactive elements when it opens Nov. 9 for its annual 10-day run at the Miami Beach Convention Center. “We are so excited to unveil the new features of the Miami International Auto Show, and feel the name now truly reflects the culture and history of this time-honored South Beach event,” said show chairman Mario Murgado.
Among the new exhibits planned for this year’s show is Eco Experience, which will educate environmentally conscious consumers with cutting-edge displays focused on renewable energy and alternative fuel vehicles. Show-goers will also be able to experience select electric cars inside on the main show floor, during a first-timeever inside track event.
The redesigned show also will debut its first ever “Topless in Miami” exhibit, presented in partnership with the Southern Automotive Media Association (SAMA). This unique showcase will allow guests to fully experience a convertible car in a picturesque Miami environment, while never leaving the showroom floor.
Recognizing the impact of social media, the 2012 show also will offer the hundreds of thousands of show attendees an opportunity to connect and interact with each other in real time via Twitter. Prominent screens will be displayed at high traffic points across the show floor, encouraging visitors to engage in a conversation about their experience at the Miami Show. In addition to the new exhibits, show-goers can also expect to see returning favorites such as Memory Lane, which will feature American muscle vehicles and a special exhibit showcasing classic automobiles from Havana. In Million Dollar Alley, visitors can fantasize about their ultimate joy toy, a six-figure motorcar. Camp Jeep and an outside test drive program will put visitors behind the wheel of popular new models.
“As always at this auto show, car enthusiasts and the general public alike can see and experience hundreds of new cars up close and personal, all under one roof,” said Murgado. “It’s a once-a-year chance to get a glimpse of the newest models and to see what the future of the industry will hold.”
Each year, approximately 40 auto manufacturers fill the hall with several hundred new cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs, making this event one of America’s top five in attendance. The South Florida Automobile Dealers Association, which today comprises more than 190 dealerships in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties, has been the official sponsor of the show since its inception in 1971.
For information, tel. 305-981-1448 or visit www.sfliautoshow.com
