The Canadian International AutoShow, from A to Z

From kids just forging a love of cars to veteran enthusiasts in pursuit of nostalgia, and from collectors with garages full of supercars to people just browsing for their next family vehicle, the Canadian International AutoShow – which opens Friday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto – has something for everyone.

Here’s a playful and alphabetical look at 26 things you’ll find on this year’s show floor, many of which just might surprise you.

A is for awards, and plenty of them are being celebrated on this year’s show floor, including the winners of AJAC’s Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility of the Year on the 600 Level of the South Building.

B is for Battista, the hypercar that heralds Pininfarina’s transition from exclusive design house to electric vehicle manufacturer. Displayed by Pfaff, you’ll find it in Auto Exotica on the 100 Level of the North Building.

C is for Corvette – the Stingray Convertible variety, to be precise, with its mid-engine configuration housing a 6.2-litre small block V8.

D is for DBX, the first-ever SUV by Aston Martin, being shown for the first time in Canada at the Grand Touring Automobiles stand on the 800 Level.

E is for EV test drives. Close to 20 electric vehicles are on site and available for test drives by show attendees.

F is for Ford, and it’s a big year for the Blue Oval with the Canadian debut of the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover.



G is for GV80, the first-ever SUV from Genesis, the four-year-old premium division of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group.

H is for historics, which will be in the spotlight in the Cobble Beach Classics exhibit – formerly known as Art and the Automobile – located in the 700 Level gallery in the South Building.

I is for Infiniti. An ‘80s-style arcade game called Infiniti Fast Forward is playable on classic stand-up machines at the brand’s display to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

J is for Jaguar, which is showing the redesign of its premier sports car, the 2021 F-Type.

K is for Karma, the brand behind the Revero plug-in hybrid sport sedan. A custom demo car called Project Arrow Revero GT models the technology and cybersecurity that can be packed into an automobile. It’s located in the Future Tech Zone on the 800 Level.

L is for La Voiture Noire, the privately owned one-of-a-kind Bugatti that’s the most expensive new car of all time at $16.1 million. It’s being shown at the Grand Touring Automobiles booth.



M is for McLaren, which is featured in two separate displays: a room full of historic McLaren racing cars can be found on the 100 Level, while the brand’s entire supercar lineup can be seen at a new booth on the 800 Level.

N is for Nissan, which goes edgy by displaying the Kicks Street Sport concept first shown at SEMA.

O is for Onward, the new Disney Pixar film to be released on March 5. A replica of Guinevere, the groovy purple van featured in the film, is on the show floor as part of The Pixar Vehicle Experience.

P is for PlayCare Centre, a place where kids aged 2 to 10 can be cared for and entertained while their parents browse the show floor. Presented this year by Toys ‘R’ Us, you’ll find it on the 600 Level. (And for those with infants, a nursing room is right next door.)

Q is for Q4 e-tron, Audi’s smaller sibling to the e-tron all-electric crossover.

R is for the Rock the Road Raffle to benefit Prostate Cancer Canada. The winner of this raffle will receive not one, but two 2020 Toyota Supras donated by the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association.

S is for shuttles, which you can use to transfer between the North and South Buildings. Follow the signage in the lobby areas to climb on board.



T is for TS050, the Toyota hybrid race car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2019.

U is for unconventional, a great way to describe Honda’s new auto show booth. Dubbed ‘The Intersection,’ the concept highlights the brand’s contributions to safety and mobility innovations in an inventive space.

V is for Vision M Next, BMW’s concept for an electrified sports car.

W is for WorldGaming Network, which is hosting the Forza Motorsport 7 WGN Championship driven by Pfaff. The finals will take place on the show’s final day, Sunday, Feb. 23.

X is the generation you’re likely from if you’re excited by the replica DeLorean decked out in full time-machine regalia, found in the Oblivion exhibit on the 700 Level.

Y is for Yukon, the newly redesigned large SUV from GMC. The Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and the Cadillac Escalade have all been redesigned as well, and each can be viewed at its brand’s respective booth.

And finish up by tacking a few Zs together for the nap you’ll need to take at the end of your very full day.



By Stephanie Wallcraft / Special to wheels.ca