Electric City and Oshawa-tested, electrically-charged Project Arrow kick off Auto Show

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Published February 17, 2023 at 9:04 am

It was an electric start to the Canadian International Auto Show as the biggest annual automotive spectacular in the country held its Media Day preview with the all-electric, Oshawa designed and tested Project Arrow concept car and the Electric City showcase – complete with an EV test track – getting the biggest charge from the ink-stained wretches in attendance.

“We are headed full-steam towards an electric vehicle future, and that is reflected in this year’s AutoShow,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow. “All of our manufacturer partners at this year’s Show have electric, hydrogen or hybrid vehicle options for people to browse; but we are taking that a step further with our EV Test Track, giving consumers a chance to try an electric vehicle out for themselves from behind the wheel.”

The Media Day event started with the first Canadian auto show appearance of Project Arrow, a concept electric vehicle that was designed, engineered and built entirely in Canada with Canadian parts. A project of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association in collaboration with more than 50 partners – chief among them Ontario Tech University, its students and its ACE research and testing centre – it is an answer to the challenge of the Canadian government to be at Net Zero by 2050.

Project Arrow

The electrification of the automotive sector set the pace at the Media Day preview of the 2023 Canadian International AutoShow — the 50th anniversary of the event – starting with the Canadian debut of Project Arrow, the popularity of the EV Test Track and the political minister-rich  ribbon-cutting of the all-new Electric City. But there were dozens of new electric vehicles showcased by the manufacturers on display and the electric sector scored a huge boost with a double-win in the AJAC Car of the Year and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards.

The Automotive Journalists Association of Canada truly put an electric stamp on the proceedings in presenting its Car of the Year Award to the BMW i4 and the Utility of the Year to the Hyundai IONIQ 5 – both fully electric vehicles.

Hyundai also unveiled two alternative fuel vehicles during Media Day, with the hydrogen hybrid ‘rolling lab’ N Vision 74 making its Canadian debut and the North American auto show debut of the fully electric RN22e.

Media Day also included the official Canadian unveiling of the GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition and the global debut of the 2024 Buick Encore GX from General Motors and the Canadian unveilings of the refreshed 2024 Kia Seltos, the fully re-designed 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, the 2023 Dodge Hornet, 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale and the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition from Stellantis.

One of the new features added to this year’s AutoShow is Electric City, which was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included federal cabinet ministers François-Philippe Champagne (Innovation, Science and Industry) and Filomena Tassi (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario), as well as Vic Fedeli, the Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Electric City is a showcase of the electrification of the automotive sector and micro-mobility, with an indoor micro-mobility test track where attendees can try a range of electric bikes from Amego EV, as well as the SARIT (Safe Affordable Reliable Innovative Transport) – the latest innovation from Magna founder Frank Stronach.

As well, LEGO presented a steering wheel built with LEGO bricks and emblazoned with a “50” to commemorate the half-century anniversary of the show.

The Canadian International AutoShow opens to the public at noon today (February 17) and runs until February 26. For more information visit autoshow.ca.

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