Some 350 new cars and trucks will be on display during the First Hawaiian International Auto Show at the Hawai‘i Convention Center this weekend.
The show will feature cars at the leading edge of the auto industry’s rapid move toward autonomous vehicles.
FIRST HAWAIIAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW
>> When: Friday, noon-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.
>> Where: Hawai’i Convention Center
>> Cost: Adults (13 and over) $10; military (with DOD ID) $8; seniors (62 and over) $7; children (12 and under) free. See website for discount coupons and promotions.
>> Info: autoshowhawaii.com
The Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell electric car, will be making an appearance for the second straight year.
“The Toyota Mirai, whose name is Japanese for ‘the future,’ helps set the tone for the show because the future is here for you to see right now,” said Dave Rolf, executive director of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association. “Only a handful of the auto shows in the country have a Toyota Mirai on exhibit. It’s a car that uses a clean, renewable fuel: hydrogen. Its only emission is water vapor.”
Servco Toyota is expected to soon make the Mirai available in Hawaii, giving residents here an opportunity to own a hydrogen fuel cell car earlier than most of the rest of the country. Hydrogen fueling station infrastructure will be a key factor for the Mirai, which has a range of 312 miles.
Rolf said the whole future of automobiles is moving at light speed for the autonomous vehicle.
“Some of the cars on the show floor can park themselves, hands-free,” he said. “Some can remain hands-free in a highway driving lane. These features are part of the first tier of autonomous vehicle movement.”
The auto show will feature a four-football-field-size exhibit floor with more than 30 auto manufacturers represented.
The Hawaii show is one of the 22 Motor Trend-produced auto shows across the country. The show, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of people, opens Friday and runs from noon to 10 p.m. Its hours on Saturday are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“These 350 cars are just loaded like a pizza with the works,” Rolf said. “So many cars have standard features on them now that used to be options just a few years ago — from backup cameras to anti-collision systems, which is the precursor to the autonomous car.”
Rolf said features like voice activation technology, hands-free lift gates and more set these new vehicles apart from vehicles shown just a few years ago.
Rolf said the auto show will feature what he calls “the i cars,” referring to cars whose names end in the letter “i,” such as the Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati, among a multimillion-dollar exotic vehicle display. There also will be a rare collection of antique vehicles on display as well as customized and classic makes on display, provided by a variety of car clubs.
In addition to the Toyota Mirai, there’s another car making a rare appearance. It is the Bentley Bentayga, an ultra-luxury sport utility vehicle.
“It can go zero to 60 in four seconds, which is amazing,” Rolf said. “I think it’s the fastest SUV there is. It’s 29 miles per gallon on the highway, which is amazing. It has an unblemished bull-hide upholstery from northern Europe. Its eucalyptus veneer in the inside is simply gorgeous. Its price is about $240,000 to $300,000.”