FYI Philly: Philadelphia Auto Show kicks off this weekend
CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Auto Show, which is one of the city's premier events kicks off this weekend, and they are turning the Pennsylvania Convention Center into the ultimate showroom.
The show runs from Saturday January 30th through Sunday February 7th and features eight days of automotive bliss.
"We're gonna have the best Philadelphia display that you've ever seen," said Dave Kelleher, Chairman of the Philadelphia Auto Show.
More than 700 cars and 250,000 auto lovers will make their way to the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the event.
"The show's been around for 115 years and each and every year you can see the smiles on the faces of the Philadelphians," said Kevin Mazzucola, Executive Director of ADAGP.
The indoor ride and drive from Jeep is back along with their rock climbing wall.
The Viper simulator will unleash the power of Dodge's super car.
"This is a full-sized viper that you get behind the wheel of and you look at the screen and you get a chance to drive it and it reacts to your turns. It's gonna shift, it's gonna shake, it's gonna give you that experience of really driving that car down the track," explains Mike Gempp, Director of the Philadelphia Auto Show.
There will even be a soccer clinic run by FIFA Women's World Player of the Year and Delran, New Jersey native, Carli Lloyd on Sunday, January 31.
"It will be a real interactive appearance so to speak from Carly Lloyd and seeing all the aspects of which she has to say to the kids. She is a hero to a lot of soccer players in and around the greater Philadelphia area," said Mazzucola.
But the cars are always the true stars.
"You really can't skip a year. You have to come every year, because the amount of advancement in the 12 months from the last time you went to the show is crazy," said Kelleher.
Of course the exotics will be there but remember those Fiats that drove the pope around during his visit to Philadelphia? They will be on the showroom floor as well.
"I was at all the papal events just like so many Philadelphians were. And to have that piece of history - it's a one time opportunity right?" said Kelleher.
"We'll have an auction right at the auto show during the Black Tie Tailgate with the Fiat that the pope drove in, so it's kind of an exciting little nuance to the black tie event," added Mazzucola.
Manufacturers are bringing the latest technology - from phone integration on your dash to safety features that might put mom's arm out of business.
"Mom may want to do that but you don't have to anymore. These are the safest vehicles that have ever been on the road," said Mazzucola.
There will be classics, exotics and for the first time in Philly - Alfa Romeos!
"You can look at it as an exotic, you can look at it as a high end luxury car. It's a great new addition to have at the show," said Gempp.
If you're looking for some ideas to supe up your ride, the Dub Showroom has more than 100,000 square feet of customized cars.
"You're basically getting 2 car shows for the price of one. And what Dub does better than everybody is they show what you can do with a car to make it your own. Personalize it," said Gempp.
The event kicks off Friday night with the annual Black Tie Tailgate gala. It's one of the city's biggest parties and also one of the biggest fundraisers for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, raising nearly half a million dollars last year.
"Neurology has not been the recipient of one of these major events before. Our patients, and our families and my staff could not possibly be more excited," said Dr. Brenda Banwell, Chief of Neurology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Two dollars from every ticket sold to the show goes directly to the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation.
For tickets and information on the Philadelphia Auto Show, CLICK HERE.
And don't forget to watch FYI Philly's full preview of the Auto Show on Saturday at 7 p.m. on 6abc.
