Every year around the time the ice melts and Irises bloom, the Greater Columbus Convention Center smells of that new car for about four days or so. This is when you know it is time for the Columbus International Auto Show delivered to you by Huntington Bank. And this year’s show has something for everybody from antiques to motorbikes to concept cars to dream cars that will make you drool.
Nowhere else can you see 43 manufacturers under one roof allowing you to get up close and private with the car. One can feel the leather seats, touch the console, and even try a few spins!
Any indoor Ram Off-Road experience will lead you to believe that a 2015 Ram 1500 or Ram 3500 will not leave you stranded. Attendees to the 2015 Columbus International Auto Show can test the agility of the truck for themselves by driving it through dirt, logs, hills, and Ram “mountains” for the ultimate indoor off road experience.
If you do not like trucks, but you still want a thrill, do not worry. The Polaris Slingshot has a rotating head with the look of the 2015 SL model. It’s a three-wheeled motorbike that looks like something Batman would do for a spin. This low profile motorbike is just 5 inches from the road and looks a lot like a race car with an open air cockpit and even equipped with a backup camera. It’s like nothing you have seen before!
But an auto show would not be an auto show without everyday vehicles like Buick, GMC, Chevy, Nissan, Ford, Honda, and Toyota. Well-dressed representatives appeared on behalf of 43 manufacturers, answering questions and showing off cool features on most of the models. But there are a select few that nobody should touch. Barricaded behind the partition are Rolls Royce, Aston Martin DB9 Volante, Bentley, Maserati, and Lamborghini which will run you a cool $538,375 and lots of more luxury vehicles that will make your wallet ball a fist. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little goal setting and dream shopping!
If 2015 is not new enough for you, the Columbus International Auto Show features plenty of 2016 models to look at such as the Land Rover Discover Sport, Acura RDX, Honda HR-V, Ford Explorer, and the previous Buick Cascada that just premiered at the Detroit auto show.
And once you get tired of looking at the cars, as if they were in fact happening, you can take a break in the lounge which is equipped with multiple TVs showing NCAA tournament play and a close by cash bar. During your visit, you are continually reminded to vote for the “Ugliest Car in the Columbus Contest” where several ‘highly liked’ cars are on display. The lucky winner with the most votes will soon become the owner of a 2015 Honda Accord. Ford even has an interactive ride where you can experience the excitement of driving a real racing car. The Columbus International Auto Show is fun for the entire family, housing an Adventure Zone for youths to indulge in a COSI science den, participate in a climbing wall, or make American Girl kid crafts and life-size doll travel tags. Special appearances of former Ohio State Buckeyes and animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium are a crowd pleaser attraction that takes place over an extended weekend.
Needless to say, the Columbus International Auto Show is an event not to be missed, bringing something new and glossy to Central Ohio every year.
