Michigan International Auto Show revs up Thursday

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The 28th Michigan International Auto Show gets underway Thursday at DeVos Place, with hundreds of vehicles from more than 30 manufacturers.

“It’s interesting to watch things progress after the last three decades. The colors, the car styles, the changes in technology,” explained showrunner Dianna Stampfler. “It’s a great place to come find your next new car.”

You can come get a hands-on look at the latest and greatest. If you’re in the market for a new car, everything is under one roof.

“Every car has a different feel. You want to see what the seats are like. Can you reach all the dial accessories? What are the functionalities?” Stampfler said. “You can sit in each of these cars, and instead of driving all over town to do it, you can come here, feel it all out and really help make that purchase.”

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If you’re coming just to dream, you can find plenty of inspiration as soon as you walk in the doors. One of the first eye-catching booths is from Gentex, displaying glare-eliminating mirrors, digital mirrors and cutting-edge audio systems.

As you pass through the Gentex space, you can check out Octavia, a 1971 Aston Martin DBS custom built by Ringbrothers. The vehicle is fully hand-built.

Luxury cars abound at the Million Dollar Motorway, with nearly $3 million worth of horsepower all in one room. For the first time this year, visitors will have the chance to sit and take pictures in the cockpit of one of the six-figure vehicles, a Bentley convertible.

Electric Avenue is also back, showcasing the best electric vehicles on the market. Among the vehicles are the Hyundai IONIQ 9, Hyundai IONIQ XRT, Volkswagen ID.4 and Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

You can also step back in time with unique vintage models, even one predating the Model T.

Jay Follis with the Museum of the Horseless Carriage — located on the campus of the Gilmore Car Museum — showed off his retro driving gear to match a piece of history.

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“This car is pretty remarkable. It’s a survivor,” Follis said, standing in front of an early 1900s Model N from Ford. “This car sat untouched for about 112 years. Last license plate on this car is 1912 — the Titanic was 1912. Pretty remarkable history on this car.”

Follis said the historic vehicle stands as a testament to the origins of the automobile.

“If you think about racing, if you think about any of the cars out here, even the electrics … it all started here.”

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The auto show offers fun features throughout the weekend for the whole family. You can even have some fun with the RC car tracks.

Doors open Thursday at 1 p.m. On Thursday, first responders and former and active military members can get in for free by showing their badge or proof of service.

The auto show runs from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For tickets, click here .

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