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The North American International Auto Show, also known as the Detroit Auto Show due to its location at the heart of the American automobile industry, is a veritable paradise for car junkies of all ages. Walking through the doors of the Cobo Center out of the cold of the Michigan winter brings visitors face to face with the newest and most interesting vehicles on the market, arranged in row after row of elaborate factory displays. It’s possible to wander for hours throughout the show and still not see it all, making it one of the most immersive automotive experiences around.
Of course, perhaps the only real catch that comes along with the Detroit Auto Show is the fact that while attendees can ogle the cars for as long as they want and even slip behind the wheel to see how a particular automobile feels, there is no way to turn the key and take any of the beauties on display for a spin. Car lovers must walk a thin line between ecstasy and torture as they gaze longingly at the vehicles that they won’t be able to test drive, mentally making plans to hit the local dealership as soon as they get home and schedule their own personal encounter with the car that caught their fancy.
Realizing that there was a potentially untapped entertainment possibility here, the organizers of the auto show have introduced something new for 2009. The basement of the Cobo Center has been converted into a race track of sorts that is surrounded by over 100 trees along with other assorted foliage and 2 life-size ponds with miniature waterfalls. It’s called the Michigan EcoXperience, and it is advertised as a way for those attending the show to actually make their driving dreams come true.
Running a fleet of automobiles in an enclosed space is usually a recipe for disaster, but the EcoXperience lives up to its environmentally conscious name by not only providing a wilderness-themed driving space but also only allowing attendees the chance to pilot electric cars. Ford, General Motors, and Mitsubishi are the major manufacturers who will be providing the vehicles in question, although boutique electric car maker Tesla will also be on hand to demonstrate their new products and allow consumers to get their first taste of what the small company hopes will be the future of the automotive market.
There is somewhat of a melancholy air hanging over the entire Michigan EcoXperience. The space that has been allocated in the basement of the Cobo Center is only available due to the fact that many automakers have pulled out of the Detroit show due to budget tightening. The recession has moved the Chinese car companies out of the basement where they found themselves last year and up onto the main floor where they occupy the space vacated by heavyweights such as Nissan. Organizers of the show paint the EcoXperience as a great way to not only turn a potentially negative situation into a positive, but also interest consumers in environmentally-friendly vehicles.