2018 Twin Cities Auto Show

The 45th Annual 2018 Twin Cities Auto Show is now bigger than ever.

For 2018, more space has been made available inside the Minneapolis Convention Center for new exhibits, an additional test track, and some exclusive debuts of vehicles never seen before. This year’s Twin Cities Auto Show will showcase 36 brands showing their latest and greatest on the main floor. In total, visitors will expect to see 600 automobiles on display throughout the convention center.

Starting with the latter, there is now a new exhibit area called Acceleration Alley. This exhibit will feature the fastest and hottest vehicles priced over $75,000. The main attraction of this exhibit is a pair of custom-built modern muscle cars from Hurst Heritage cars. Marking Hurst’s 50th anniversary of its “gentleman’s hot rods,” now taking the form of a Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang. The Mustang features a Kenne Bell supercharger attached to its 5.0-liter V8 producing 750 horsepower. Each vehicle is set to have a sales limit of 50 units per model. Both cars are making their first appearance at the Twin Cities Auto Show.

One could also enjoy the finest automobiles sold in the Twin Cities by walking through the Luxury Ballroom – which would include vehicles from Bentley, Maserati, Aston Martin and other luxury brands. Since there is a growing number of owners of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles in our region, there is the Electric Room. This is where you can the latest in vehicles and charging systems.

Inside the main hall will be two ride-along experiences. Camp Jeep returns with its interactive course showcasing the abilities of Jeep’s latest products. New this year is the Mitsubishi Minnesota Mile, showcasing the abilities of their two newest products – the Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross – on a course that will feature an ice bridge and a set of orange cones to show handling agility.

Potential customers could drive the newest models outside of the convention center on a short loop through the Ride & Drive program. This year, Chevrolet, Ford, Mazda, Toyota and Volkswagen are slated to offer these experiences through their latest vehicles.

The Auto Show will feature some special nights for everyone. Friday, March 16 is where the lights turn low for After Dark. This will give the Auto Show a new experience with a nighttime look – with some lighting, of course. You can check out the Crime Fighting Cars exhibit, where you are able to solve mysteries through the lens of some of the most iconic stars on the small screen – the cars, themselves.

Every year, the Twin Cities Auto Show presents a “Car of The Show.” This year is the all-new 2019 Infiniti QX50. The new premium compact SUV is developed from the ground up to replace the long-running namesake to compete in one of the hottest segments in the business. The showcase of the new QX50 is an all-new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a variable compression ratio – the first such engine to reach production. This engine was designed for more efficient operation and performance equally through on demand delivery.

The auto show will run from Saturday, March 10 through Sunday, March 18. Doors open at 10:00AM on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday during the show run. All other days, the doors open at 4:00PM. Except for Sundays, the show remains open until 10:00PM.

Tickets are available in advance for $10.00. For teenagers aged 11-15, the ticket price is $6.00. If you are attending on Wednesday, March 14, tickets for everyone are just $6.00. If you are an active duty member of the Armed Forces, a retired or disabled veteran, you can attend the auto show on Tuesday, March 13 for free.

There are plenty of discount coupons available through various auto retailers and Superamerica stores. Advanced ticket sales are through the auto show’s website at twincitiesautoshow.com