“It looks and smells like an auto show,” I thought as I walked into the Denver Convention Center showroom. Two years ago, I visited the Denver Auto Show when it was held outside in the Elitch Gardens parking lot due to Covid. Let’s just say that despite the organizer’s best efforts, the exhibition was lackluster at best.
However, the Centennial State Auto Show was back in full swing this year. The showroom was covered in carpets, shiny new cars and model booths to answer questions from the public. During media day, I walked the empty auto show floor with other automotive journalists from the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP). Together, we saw new car model introductions from a few manufacturers, plus a lot of current stuff you can find on dealer lots.
There was a lot to see at the 2023 Denver Auto Show
Automakers usually save big new model reveals for the four major auto shows: Detroit, Chicago, New York and LA. I wasn’t expecting big debuts at the 2023 Denver Auto Show. Also, these four major shows are much bigger and attract more manufacturers. In Denver, there were 17 manufacturers present (if you count Stellantis as an entity), and most of the cars came from local dealers.
There was still plenty to see, including the new 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, Toyota Grand Highlander and Lexus RX 500h. The Ford booth had a performance driving simulator on hand in addition to an electric vehicle test track featuring the Mach-E, F-150 Lightning and a Volkswagen ID4.
Toyota unveiled the new 2024 Grand Highlander
On the presentation front, a Toyota representative went over all the specs and features of the upcoming Grand Highlander. For those who don’t know, the recently launched 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is a larger version of the brand’s popular SUV. It’s bigger in every direction and offers ample space for seven people and all their stuff.
Inside, the Grand Highlander boasts some tech features like a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 13 cup holders, seven USB-C ports and a wireless phone charger. There are also heated/ventilated seats in the first and second rows, a heated steering wheel, and a power liftgate.
Finally, the Grand Highlander is available as a petrol or hybrid car, making it ideal for long road trips and daily errands. Pricing and on-sale date will be announced this summer.
Stellantis showed off the Dodge Hornet
After the Toyota presentation, we went to the Stellantis booth for a presentation of the Dodge Hornet. Again, the Hornet has already debuted, but it was great to see it in person. The Hornet is a compact SUV that has a decent amount of room for five people and comes with a hybrid or turbo powertrain.
The Hornet GT is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 268 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. But the real showpiece of this car is the available Hornet R/T trim that comes equipped with a hybrid powertrain. In total, the hybrid setup delivers 288 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, allowing the car to reach 60 mph from a standstill in 5.6 seconds.
According to Dodge, this makes the Hornet “the fastest and most powerful utility vehicle in the segment while offering more than 30 miles of all-electric range.” It’s impressive, for sure. And it looked great in person.
McLaren showed the GT, not the Artura
Next up was the McLaren stand, which had a few models on hand that stuck with the public. Fortunately, since our group was part of the important motoring press, we were able to go behind the lines to see the majestic McLarens up close. The spokesperson was supposed to talk about Artura, but they couldn’t get him, so he gave us the GT summary.
The McLaren GT is a lightweight supercar that is meant to be driven daily by the ultra-rich. The GT offers more passenger space and more cargo space than other cars in the automaker’s lineup. It’s also powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 612 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough power to shoot the car to 60 mph from a standstill in just 2.8 seconds.
For example, the McLaren GT is a supercar that only a few people will get to experience. Fortunately, I sat there while others took pictures from afar, which was good enough for me.
Side note: I heard someone in the audience sneak in with our group and was quickly told to leave. The exclusivity was real.
Nissan showed some current models
Next, it was on to the Nissan booth to get up close and personal with some of the current models. The spokesperson showed us the Ariya, the Pathfinder Rock Creek, and the Z. Reviews and news on all three cars can be found on MotorBiscuit.com, so be sure to check them out.
The 2023 Denver Auto Show was a fun experience, but it was mostly for the public
Overall, I had a fun time walking around the 2023 Denver Auto Show. There were a lot of nice cars to look at and sit in. Hopefully, I’ll be able to review some in the future. Although, I don’t expect to get my hands on a McLaren GT. However, if anyone from McLarens reads this, please contact me asap.
That said, the Denver Auto Show is great for the general public to see cars in person that they normally wouldn’t. If you live nearby, I highly recommend it, as it will be running from April 14th to the 16th.
