Highlights From The Canadian International Auto Show

February 27, 2023

The Canadian International Autoshow wrapped up this weekend in Toronto, Ontario. The event opened with Christian von Koenigsegg next to the record holding Koenigsegg Agera RS on display. The current record holder for fastest production car wasn’t the only vehicle on display, however, as car makers from across the globe came to show off their newest tech, concept vehicles, and celebrating their achievements.

Porsche had their “70 years of Porsche” display, which featured iconic cars from across the brand’s lifetime. On display were five vehicles, including an original 1948 Porsche 356, shipped in from the company’s museum in Germany, as well as a 1950's 550 Spyder. Porsche also had a model of their new electric Mission-E series, which included a VR element to the display, and promises of lightning quick charge times.

Also available was the Hot Wheels display, celebrating fifty years of making miniature cars. The exhibit featured a giant cityscape track, a kids’ build zone and full-sized models of Hot Wheels cars that have become icons in their own right, including the famous Darth Vader Car.

Jeep’s display played on Canadian themes, displaying the Rubicon on top of a massive rock with a lake in the background to appeal to the campers that make up their core demographic. The display featured shrubbery and a working waterfall, in case the mossy rocks didn’t transport you to the cottage already. Jeep also had the Cherokee Trailhawk on exhibit, for those looking for that Jeep off-road capability but in a family-friendly shell.

Infiniti unveiled two concepts to the Canadian public, the Project Black S and the Prototype 9. Project Black S sounds more like a scheme by a Bond villain than a car, but the sporty coupe is a reimagining of the Q60, built in collaboration with Renault Sports Formula One Team.The Prototype 9 answers a question no one knew we wanted the answer to: what if Infiniti were making cars during the 1940s? We’re glad they asked. The Prototype 9 is an open roadster with a hankering for the classic days of racing torpedo tubes on wheels, built with the knowledge from seventy-five years in the future.

The show also featured an E-Sports tournament, inviting guests to play Forza Motorsport 7 and compete for the fastest time on the track, as well as $10,000 in prizes. Daily ‘Kings of the Track’ - those who posted the fastest track times each day - were invited back for a championship race. It looks like we’ll be gearing up for a double showing of the 24 hours of Le Mans if the E-Sports market takes a shine to racing.

No auto show would be complete without the Auto Exotica section, which put some of the fastest and hottest supercars in reach of us plebs. Cars from Aston Martin, Bugatti, Rolls Royce, and others were on display for the public to wet themselves over. One of the most exciting vehicles in this line-up is the Lamborghini Urus, the Italian supercar makers second SUV. The Urus pushes out over 600 hp from a twin turbo 4L V8 and claims a 0-62 time of just 3.6 seconds.

Of course, these are just some of the highlights from the Canadian International Auto Show this year.

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