South Florida Auto Show Opens October 6th

MIAMI, Sept. 28 -- Ever since Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone came down to check out the winter paradise that attracted other captains of industry, South Florida has been a magnet for crowd pleasing events.

Little did those pioneers know how important the modern expression of the automobile would become in Florida's climate and lifestyle. It jump-started an auto show that has lasted 36 years and became one of America's best.

The South Florida International Auto Show presented by Allstate runs October 6-15 and unveils some exciting new models, from the fresh and economical 2007 Nissan Versa hatchback to the elegant Bentley Continental GTC convertible, with some new in-betweens that include BMW's 3-series coupe, GM's Chevy Equinox, the newest Mercury Mariner and a pumped-up Jaguar XKR that rushes to 60 mph like a Porsche 911.

This annual extravaganza began in 1971, when Datsun introduced the 240Z, All In The Family debuted on TV and-are you sitting down?-gasoline was 36 cents a gallon. Today the South Florida show is among the largest in the nation. It gathers nearly 1,000 of the newest models from more than 40 manufacturers all under one roof at the Miami Beach Convention Center. All a stroll from zesty cafes and hangouts on Lincoln Road and South Beach. And all a quick drive from anywhere in South Florida.

"The auto industry always drums up excitement," said Chris Berian, show chairman of this year's event, "and the South Florida show is a favorite. It kicks-off the traditional car buying season."

This auto showcase gets a big share of new-model debuts, said Berian, because Floridians are eager car lovers and the South Florida venue opens the door to Latin Americans, too. Because the event is among America's top five, manufacturers use the best exhibits here to show off their newest models.

New to the show this year is Camp Jeep, an off-road playground DaimlerChrysler will build outside the convention center where consumers can ride Jeep models up a hill, through a water trough and over logs and boulders. When finished with that "Trail Rated" experience, some may wish to check out the cushy new 2007 stretched Chrysler 300. Designed for the limousine industry and retail customers, the rear cabin features 46 inches of legroom, lighted writing tables and two 12-volt ports.

This year's show also will present the latest examples of "green cars," with hybrid-electric and other technology designed to help Americans get more value out of their vehicles. Visitors also will find the latest crossovers, SUVs, pickups, concepts or prototypes and accessories. Again this year, an entire room is dedicated to the latest motorcycles. The Million Dollar Alley exhibit gathers Aston-Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Rolls-Royce and other pricey bling in their own corner collection. Families enjoy wandering through Memory Lane and its display of cars dating back to the 1920s.

Ocean breezes, exotic food and fun times surround this collection of excitement, reminding show visitors that few places match Miami Beach for its ability to show off something new. During the show's run, they often spot a new roadster turning heads on Lincoln Road or cruising past sidewalk tables on Ocean Drive.

One hundred years ago, up the coast, Louis Chevrolet and Ransom Olds were racing their cars on Florida beaches. But the sands of Ormond and Daytona don't match the sizzle of South Beach. When today's automakers look for places to parade their cars in Florida, they start here.

                         SCHEDULE OF PRESS EVENTS
                         Friday, October 6, 2006

  EVENT              LOCATION                          TIME

  MEDIA BREAKFAST    Camp Jeep                         8:00 a.m.
  Daimler-Chrysler   Camp Jeep                         8:30 a.m.
  Mercedes-Benz      Mercedes-Benz Display             9:10 a.m.
  BMW                BMW Display                       9:40 a.m.
  Ford               Miami Beach Convention Center     10:10 a.m.
  Ferrari            Million Dollar Alley              10:50 a.m.
  Bentley            Million Dollar Alley              11:10 a.m.
  Maserati           Million Dollar Alley              11:35 a.m.

  MEDIA LUNCHEON     Mezzanine / Third Level           NOON
                     Speaker: Jay Spenchian,
                      general manager
                      Saab Automobile USA

  GM                 Chevrolet Display                 1:15 p.m.
  SobreRuedas        GM Display                        1:50 p.m.
  Nissan             Nissan Display                    2:20 p.m.
  Infiniti           Infiniti Display                  2:45 p.m.
  Subaru             Subaru Display                    3:20 p.m.
  Hyundai            Hyundai Display                   4:00 p.m.

  * This is a Tentative Schedule of Press Day Events*