Has Porsche's declined invitation spurred the lodge members behind the Detroit Auto Show to showcase their appeal to luxury brands? So that might not be the reason, but the NAIAS brain trust has put together a private soiree that will highlight the other exclusive marques, like Bentley, Ferrari, and Maybach. NAIAS Senior Co-Chairman Carl Galeana said, "This unique event was designed for those individuals who favor high-end, luxury vehicles and wish to have a special preview of the elite vehicles on display." That isn't exactly true, because we favor high-end, luxury vehicles and we didn't get an invite. Which means this event is strictly for those that have a different working definition of "liquid" than we do.
So far, 200 plutocrats and Big Bank Hanks have been offered access to The Gallery. To also feature music and gourmet food, as well as the opportunity to meet company executives and designers, the invite-only event takes place the evening of Jan. 13 on the show floor.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GENERALMOTORSMAN4LIFE @ Dec 4th 2007 8:58AM
Glad to see someone will be catered to and happy with this disappointing event. I attended this show last year and it was horrible. There were partioned walls up surrounding the different automakers, which added to the incredible congestion inside of COBO Hall! People still were trying to push their small children around in stretch limo sized baby strollers. There were Detroit city policemen all over the place as if it were a rap concert instead of an autoshow. You had to wait to be escorted inside of the Mercedes Suv display by Mercedes salesman just to view the damn vehicles, and with it being extremely crowded in this exhibition hall, you can imagine how long you had to wait just to see ML, RL series vehicles. It seemed all of the auto manufactures had next to no vehicles to view as in the past the there were so many vehicles to view they needed to put some of the auto manufactures in the basement. The model on the Camaro convertible display had an attitude, she wasn't friendly and wasn't thrilled to answer questions after I fought my way up to the display through the crowd. The vehicles sat at ground level so you couldn't even see the vehicles unless you were 7ft tall because there was a ring 8 people deep surrounding them! The show was horrible! I'll be attending the show in Chicago instead.
Guenther @ Dec 4th 2007 10:32AM
dude- they are putting on a completely separate and PRIVATE event. It will have very little to do with the rest of the show. I hope Chief Quame got his invite.
As for the crowded conditions, participating automakers have been asking for a Cobo expansion for some time now. Big advice- don't go to the show on the weekend. Hit the show on wednesday or thursday night, and it will be much more pleasant.
The City does all the staffing for the show, so DPD, rather than some rent-a-cop outfit get the detail.
Unfortunately, lots of damage happens to the vehicles on display, so high end marques, like MB limit the people in the display. You can get a priority pass from a dealership ahead of time.
The "model" at the blabla display is just that- a model. she's been standing around in uncomfortable shoes all day, getting hit on. Chances are she's just about to lose her voice. Cut her some slack.
As for kids, they should charge full admission for EVERYONE, except perhaps weekday a.m. passes. That way the $30 it would cost to bring the kids, can just pay for a sitter for a few hours.
GENERALMOTORSMAN4LIFE @ Dec 4th 2007 11:40AM
Guenther-the point is was making was NOT to debate tooth and nail each of the issues I brought forth. The show was crowded not due more people but due to more of the exhibition floor real estate absorbed by the stupid partition walls around the car displays in lew of the elloborate and unique displays of years past. The walls also made it difficult to have a panoramic view of the entire floor making it difficult to find the automaker of your interest without the use of a map like in years past. The points that I brought to the attention of people on this blog were only a few of the planning and logistical issues that I and probably others have with the NAIAS. COBO hall doesn't need additional space for cars used to bigger and their displays were bigger as well and it all fit with more people in the same foot print. The NAIAS needs to return to glorifying the car like past days. The displays used to be creative and ellaborate even if the car was butt ugly-theres no more glamour and glits. Particulary absent were concept vehicles that later showed up in LA and Chicago shows. These issues are real and are not an opinion to be debated and they obviously are true, for you have dwindling attendance to the NAIAS every year, while the Chicago show increases in attendance-even with Chicago's inclement weather! New York and even LA have been growing! Detroit is the Motor Capital of the World and it is a shame the the Autoshow is nothing like it used to be, so to each his/her own on attending NAIAS-i'll be at the Chicago show for I love automobiles and attend the shows to see it-like it and buy it!
Karyn @ Dec 5th 2007 1:24PM
Adding an exclusive luxury event to the show definitely increases the value of the show to Detroit.
The fact that the show is so crowded only further illustrates and emphasizes the success of the show and the fact that the North American International Auto Show needs more space.
ronnie schreiber @ Jan 15th 2008 9:41PM
The walls are not the fault of the NAIAS. The show organizers don't put up the displays, it's the exhibitors, so blame the car companies for the high walls that separate the different booths. Before the show is set up, Cobo is one big empty room.
I can understand someone deciding to go to Chicago's show instead, but only because you will see most (but not all) of the concepts and new production cars from the Detroit show plus the new reveals in Chicago. But not all the Detroit cars are ever on display in Chicago - the mfgrs do try to keep the displays fresh from show to show.
The problem with Cobo, though, is indeed a lack of space. The exhibitors all want more space but since none is available at Cobo, they resort to things like Scion's rack of cars or other companies hanging cars off of walls. For the media preview at least a couple companies had to display in the concourse. In contrast, McCormick Place was recently expanded. Not only are all the displays on one floor, but there is now additional space available in case the exhibitors want it.
Cobo must be expanded. Chicago is actively lobbying to see the NAIAS move there. Of course, DADA owns the NAIAS name, but there is no question the Chicago organizers would like to see their show replace Detroit as the one with the most product reveals. At this point, Detroit is still way out in the lead, by a 2:1 margin, but a few years ago it was more like a 3:1 margin.
In the meantime, I'd like to see them install a moving sidewalk in the concourse, and allow the exhibitors to sell cars and merchandise on the show floor. At Chicago and Toronto, the exhibitors can sell cars and merch, but it's not allowed in Detroit. I don't know why, but just about all you can buy on the floor of the Detroit show is Ryba's Fudge.