New Models Sparkle On Miami Beach; South Florida International Auto Show Opens Fall Season SOUTH FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW LOGO Logo for South Florida International Auto Show. (PRNewsFoto)[PM] MIAMI, FL USA 09/25/2000

3 October 2000

    MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Oct. 3 America's first major auto show
of the season opens for a 10-day run this Friday, October 6, in Miami Beach
and showcases 1,000 new cars, sport utility vehicles, trucks, vans and
accessories from 40 manufacturers for the new year 2001.
    (PHOTO:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000925/FLTH099LOGO )
    Opening day press conferences are scheduled for the unveiling of new
models from Saturn, Ford, Kia, Hyundai, Volvo and Chrysler.  Global coverage
via streaming media is available on The Auto Channel Internetwork
(http://www.theautochannel.com), which will carry vehicle introductions, celebrity
interviews, exclusive video footage and other features during the opening
weekend.  The auto show's flagship television station, CBS affiliate WFOR-TV,
and Telemundo network affiliate WSCV-TV, also will originate special
programming for this major auto exhibit.
    The annual South Florida International Auto Show -- which typically draws
crowds exceeding 610,000 persons from Florida, the Caribbean and Latin America
-- also features concept cars that reveal the industry's future designs.  A
special Million Dollar Alley display will spotlight exotic automobiles with
six-figure price tags.  A Memory Lane exhibit presents a room-full of classic
cars from yesteryear, reaching back to the 1920s.
    "This is our 30th anniversary show," said Phil Smith, auto show chairman,
"and it offers exceptional variety.  It reflects the South Florida automotive
market, which is one of the most enthusiastic in the nation."
    Two related exotic cars will inhabit separate dens at this year's show.
The Million Dollar Alley exhibit will include the Qvale Mangusta, a sexy new
Italian-American sports car that revives a famous name from the '70s --
De Tomaso Mangusta.  This 2001 Mangusta, with molded resin panels that hide a
lusty V8, lurks just a stroll from Memory Lane, where a predecessor 1974 De
Tomaso Pantera rests among other classic cars.
    "The Toyota Sequoia 8-passenger SUV is our Official Show Car this year,"
said Smith, "and visitors can register to win either a Chrysler Sebring
convertible or a Volvo S60 sports sedan.  One of each will be given away."
    The South Florida International Auto Show is produced by the South Florida
Auto-Truck Dealers Association, which comprises more than 220 dealers in four
counties.  The show's Web site is http://www.sfliautoshow.com .