The 2010 edition of the Greater Milwaukee Auto Show promises an exciting mix of old and new.
And, hopefully, will draw greater numbers of prospective buyers into showrooms in spring.
So said Brad Schlossmann, the chairman of the Automobile Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee, which is presenting the event.
“I think with the economy being a little bit better than it was last year at this time, I think people will be a little more positive about automobile purchases,” he said.
There are 120 dealers in the association, all of them from the Milwaukee area, said Shelbi Okumura, spokeswoman from Spin Communications, the San Francisco agency handling the publicity for the show.
Okumura said the sponsors don’t provide attendance estimates, but about 30 manufacturers will be represented.
“I know of employees who go down to see it,” said Bill Kolosso, co-owner and general manager of Kolosso Toyota-Scion in Grand Chute. “They’ll do one or the other. They’ll do the Chicago show or the Milwaukee. On the weekend they’ll run down there, just out of curiosity to see what’s out.”
Several all-new or redesigned 2010 vehicles will be on display at Milwaukee. They include the Chevrolet Camaro, Honda Accord Crosstour, Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Mazdaspeed3.
The collection of hybrids include the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe, Honda Insight, Lexus LS and Toyota Highlander.
Pre-production 2011 models will include the Buick Regal, Ford Super Duty, Ford Fiesta, Ford Mustang V6, Lincoln MKX and Hyundai Sonata.
Camaro authority, Scott Settlemire, will be available at 10 a.m. during today’s opener.
And then there’s a Rolls-Royce with a history available for the viewing.
“It was built specifically for Princess Diana (and) it’ll be an unveiling of the car in Milwaukee,” said Schlossmann. “It’s never really been shown to the public before. This particular car was the car she used the last time she visited the United States before she died.”
