The show kicks off on Friday, January 27th with the annual Black Tie Tailgate gala.
"It's a great way to see the show in a totally different way," says Michael Gempp, Philadelphia Auto Show Director
The 2012 Philadelphia International Auto Show's Black Tie Tailgate is a party, a preview and a charity event all wrapped up in one cool evening at the newly expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center. "The fact that we have the honor to really show that off to the public and open that up with the black tie, it's really a great thing," Gempp says.
Scott Lustgarten of the Caring for Kids Foundation added, "This year's been really unique. It's all on one floor, it's a fabulous building. I'm really excited how this is going to set up. It's going to be spectacular."
With more than 600,000 square feet of space and more than 700 vehicles, this tailgate offers an up-close look at the hottest rides in the auto industry and benefits a worthy cause.
"We've supported the efforts of CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) chop for more than 25 years," said Kathy Spencer, the Black Tie Tailgate coordinator. "We've donated over $4.5 million to CHOP."
Supporting a good cause has also never tasted so good. With unbelievable food selections from Stephen Starr Events, chef Marc Gagnon has been working an preparing some exciting stuff for the event.
"There's really something for everybody," according to Lustgarten. "When you come up the stairs and you walk through the doors and you see a party, cars everywhere people dressed up, it's like no other event in the city."
