Mustard “visits” CIAS for Media Day 2024!…
The 2024 edition of the Auto Show was “electrifying” in every sense of the word. The emphasis on this year’s show was definitely skewed “E.V.” No more ‘hinting at’ the electric segment by the big Auto Makers, it dominated this year, with all the manufacturers showing off their electric offerings.
Smack dab in the middle of the show’s main floor was the ever controversial, over-the-top, TESLA Cybertruck – and it made a bold statement with it’s size and unconventional design. | #cybertruck
Cybertruck aside, the E.V. market has come a long way in a short period of time when it comes to “design”. The original electric cars [for the most part] were hideously designed, boxy and always seemingly out of proportion, that has (finally) changed, thanks to Chrysler Corp.
On display for everyone to gaze at was the magnificent Charger Daytona SRT Concept | 100% Electric Muscle Car – this bad boy had the Mustard Report caught “staring like a deer right into those LED headlights”! If this is the E.V. future… the future looks bright for EV’s! Our guess is, this car is still “concept” because its uncontrollable at the moment. | #chargerdaytonasrt
OK, on with the Show…
Opening ceremonies 2024 was set up quite differently from previous years. Because all of the vehicles receiving awards were electric, this presented a unique opportunity for the Show to drive each winner right up to the stage to accept their award, then drive on through.
Before the Awards were handed out, the Media that was gathered got to hear the story behind the Rimac Nevera electric “Hypercar” by it’s entrepreneur builder; Mr. Mate Rimac. This car (and it’s story), was fascinating. The Nevera is the world’s quickest car, it can hit 100km/h in a ridiculous 1.8 seconds, and is spec’d out at 1,888 horsepower. The top speed is 451km/h. – so if you’re into crazy “hypercars“, this is IT! | #rimac
It wasn’t just electric passenger vehicles and supercars at the show this year, there were ALSO luxury electric pick-up trucks and SUV’s. The operative word is “luxury”. As far as pick-up trucks go, there wasn’t one truck that looked like it could be used as an actual “work truck”, but eye candy-O-plenty! The new electric RAM is not a truck Mustard Report would be driving to any job site, but if you have Theatre tickets, there would be no shame in handing the FOB over to the Valet to park this thing. | #ram
Also presenting at the Show this year was a company called Vinfast, they have been quietly building their brand since 2017 and made a big splash at this year’s CIAS with the unveiling of their “VF Wild” (another in the long trend of electric “luxury” trucks) and the newest addition to their “VF” line up of E.V.’s. | #vinfast
Mustard Report admits to being a tad taken with the Vinfast “VF3”. As a Honda Element owner/driver, this unique little vehicle looks like it “could” possibly fill the void left behind by the discontinued Element.
Unfortunately it’s doors were not open, so you couldn’t see what it looked like inside, not sure if it had the same unique interior versatility as the Element, and it was definitely a smaller vehicle overall, but it certainly caught Mustard’s attention and is worthy of a future follow up. | #vinfast
CIAS Media Day 2024 continues…
Once again JEEP® dominated the main level with their purpose built indoor off-road circuit that takes visitors around their “off road” course, showcasing the power and versatility of the electric JEEP® line up.
JEEP® really stepped up “post Covid” with this experiential display last year, and it looks like ‘that popularity’ brought it back for another round of hands-on excitement for everyone, kudos JEEP®! | #campjeep | @jeepca
CIAS 2024, “is” something for everyone…
Electric Cars, Trucks, SUV’s, Supercars, Hypercars, Jeeps, etc. are all well and good for today’s “eco-naughts”… but for the rest of us:
Not to be outdone by anyone (at any car show), Ferrari reserved their own private room and filled it with juicy red goodness. With the exception of the [above pictured] beautiful Rosso Cina (China Red) coloured 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, everything else was smothered in the unmistakable Rosso Corsa, (the more familiar red colour from Ferrari’s swatch book, which translates as ‘Racing Red’). Impressive next level machinery on display for everyone to marvel at… and drool over – only at CIAS 2024. | #ferrari
Finally made it… Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance at CIAS!
If you are a frequent reader of the Mustard Report, you will know firsthand that Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance is Mustard Report’s MOST FAVOURITE of favourite events to cover, both here… (and thanks to it’s Founder and Chair, Mr. Rob McLeese), every fall at Cobble Beach – full stop.
Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance will NEVER disappoint, they dig up some of the most obscure and interesting vehicles to be found out there. Case in point, check out the amazing, deep metallic red, 1971 Pegasus Concept car pictured above, Mustard Report can only surmise that it was politely yoinked (courtesy of Cobble Beach Concours) from the GM Heritage collection, exclusively for CIAS 2024. This Bill Mitchell concept is a gumbo of American and European design stylings, and is hiding a Ferrari V12 power plant under that long red hood. Just wicked. | #cobblebeachconcous
Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance completely knocked it out of the park with their Tribute to Performance, well done Rob McLeese and team!
CIAS 2024, simply so much to see…
It doesn’t matter if you’re into cars “in general”, a “specific brand”, “specific make”, “model” or “discipline”, you WILL find what you’re looking for, “somewhere” inside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre MTCC at CIAS.
Take for example the above pictured farm equipment, on the left: PORSCHE, on the right: LAMBORGHINI, which would you choose to plow you fields?
Even BOATS can’t escape the electric onslaught!… MERCURY [pictured below] made a BOLD move with an “Auto Show” display dedicated to “watercraft”. Introducing the AVATOR | #mercuryoutboards
…and let’s not forget the “Little Car Company“ [seen below] for sharing their collection of 3/4 scale ultra high-end rides. | #littlecarcompany
the solution for those with ‘too much money’ and ‘too much empty space at the compound‘.
Porsche!…
Porsche took over the room (usually occupied by our friends Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance) for a few new launches, as well as announcing the Porsche Experience Centre Toronto (click that link and check out this place!!), currently under construction in Pickering ON.
Right smack in the middle of their room, front & centre, Porsche had a fantastic display of the record-breaking Porsche 911 that drove to the top of the worlds highest volcano “Ojos del Salado” in the Chilean Andes, it’s the highest altitude a gasoline or diesel-powered car has ever gone. This thing looked mean, rough and, tough as they come (not typically “Porsche”).
Outside the doors to the Porsche Room, there to lure you in sat the stunning Porsche Vision GT concept car – impressive to say the least.
Porsche enthusiastically unveiled the 2025 Taycan, the 2024 Panamera and The Sonderwunsch Porsche 911 GT3 RS (with cool Canadian themed livery) to a massive crowd of media. This 911 GT3 is worth just shy of $250,000cad, its a lot of money, but its a lot of car. | #porsche
MEDIA DAY! in the books for another year…
“Media Day” at the Canadian International Auto Show Toronto is always a treat in more ways than one. Not only are you treated with the utmost respect for your craft by the Show’s Organizers, you get to work alongside some of the best in the business when it comes to Automotive journalism.
Thank you once again Canadian International Auto Show Toronto for affording Mustard Report the opportunity to cover and be a small part of your GIANT Event! Looking forward to seeing you again in 2025!
