Weekend Fun: The Washington Auto Show

The 2010 Washington Auto Show show brings 42 domestic and international automobile brands under one roof to display over 700 cars, trucks, SUV, hybrid and electric vehicles, crossovers and minivans.

The show features over a dozen all-new production cars over two floor of the Washington Convention Center including the sporty Cadillac CTS Coupe and the Ford Fiesta, a super-mini that’s been available overseas since 1976 and was available in the US for just three years (1978-80.)

Auto buyers looking to replace their gas-thirsty SUVs can check out the latest crossover vehicles ranging from the compact 4-cylinder Nissan Rouge to the 8-passenger Chevy Traverse.

Sports car enthusiasts should visit the Porsche display for a look at their all-new Porsche Panamer, a 4-door luxury sedan available with a 392 hp, 4.8 liter engine or an over-the-top blistering 493 hp twin-turbo power plant.  Also the classic Nissan “Z” is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the US.  This spring, Nissan will be selling a special 2010 370Z to commemorate the car’s anniversary.

Fuel efficient cars at the show include the Honda Insite, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and the soon to be released (Nov. 2010) plug-in hybrid electric Chevy Volt.

Besides all the cars and trucks, a long list of celebrities will be on-hand including:

• WWE wrestlers
• Washington Redskins Cheerleaders and Wizards Dance Team
• Washington Capitals hockey players and mascot
• Washington Nationals Presidents
• Washington Wizards players (sans any handguns)

If a new car is in your future or you simply enjoy keeping up on cars, the Washington Auto Show – 2010 is the place to be this weekend in Washingotn, DC.

Washington Auto Show – 2010
Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Washington, DC 20001 (map it)

Dates and Times – through Sunday, January 27 – 31, 2010

• Sat. – 10:00 – 10:00
• Sun. – 10:00 – 7:00

Tickets – Adult – weekday – $10.00, weekend – $12.00. Seniors and military – $2.00 discount with ID, Children 6 – 12 – $5.00, Under 6 are free.  Tickets available online or at the door.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Mt. Vernon Place / Convention Center – Yellow and Green lines, the a 1-block walk, or Metro Center – Red, Orange and Blue lines, then a 3-block walk.

Parking – Very limited metered street parking is available, along with paid garage and lot parking in the area.

Images – Porsche Panamera, Ford Fiesta, Flickr – Nissan 370Z