Mark Miller and his son, Jeff, marked a decade Wednesday of their tradition of visiting the auto show’s opening day around Jeff’s birthday.
Unlike 10 years ago, both father, 50, and son, 30, brought their wives, and Jeff brought his 20-month-old daughter, Dani, to admire the hottest new vehicles.
“I like this or a pickup,” Mark Miller said while sitting in a Ford Expedition with his granddaughter on his lap. “We really enjoy coming every year. We do a lot of dreaming.”
The show, which features 46 brands and dozens of aftermarket and specialty-equipment companies, attracted hundreds within the first hour of opening Wednesday.
Ruiz Estrada, 9, was steering his family toward the Hummer2. “The style on the outside looks pretty cool, and some of the cars have a video thing inside,” Estrada said of the Hummers.
Subaru’s display of 2008 models attracted Mel and Pat Melancon. The ’08s have a newly designed front end and wheels, and Colorado is one of the car company’s top markets.
“I’m on my third Subaru,” said Pat Melancon, 74. “I love Subaru. They last long; they are strong, sturdy and dependable.”
A copper-colored 1963 Chrysler Turbine Coupe stopped Brandon Vanvorst, 21, and Jared Tilford, 20, who took photos of it with their cellphones. “They made it as a concept, and nobody liked it,” Tilford said. “It’s pretty ugly. I just like the rare stuff.”
The Turbine Coupe at the show is one of 10 that survived when the company trashed the concept because of the whistling sound the engine made.
“The car you should see is the Audi R8,” Vanvorst said.
The Audi R8 is a new sleek two-seat sports car with 420 horses and a top speed of 187 mph that will be released in September. The exact price has not been released, but company representatives said it would be in the six figures.
Across the floor, hunched over the diesel engine of a Duramax Chevy Sierra, Samantha Thompson, 21, Don Rugg, 33, and Keith Werner, 18, pointed to components and sensors, and followed hoses with their fingers.
The three are students at Lincoln College of Technology, specializing in automotive and diesel technology.
“The newest we have is a 2004 engine,” said Rugg. “I’m interested in looking at the new sensors.”
Juan Flores stared at the new Lincoln MKR, which rotated on a podium. The four-door, rear- wheel-drive concept car runs on E85 ethanol fuel and has a 415-horsepower twin turbocharged V6 engine. If it is produced, the car will cost more than $50,000.
“Look at the inside – it looks like an airplane,” Flores said.
