That familiar new-car smell is again wafting through downtown Toledo's SeaGate Centre.
The Toledo Auto Show returned Thursday with more than 150 new vehicles from 23 manufacturers filling the floor. But one shiny, blue sports car on a backlit platform may steal this year's show.
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 caught the eye of 10-year-old Brett Zimpfer of Sylvania.
"It's pretty good-lookin'," Brett said. "I bet the engine is pretty suped up too."
The supercar boasts a 760-horsepower engine that reaches 60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds, making it the fastest vehicle Ford has ever produced. The GT500 on display features a black racing stripe, spoiler, and racing seats, and carries a price tag of $103,000.
Other sports cars at the Toledo show include the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro convertible. Joe Francis, of Monclova, is a fan of Chevy's latest Corvette.
"The Corvette is out-of-this-world awesome," Mr. Francis said. "They totally hit it out of the park with that one. For the price points they have with a midengine vehicle — not that $60,000 is cheap — but for a midengine sports car, that's very competitive. And it looks amazing."
Mr. Francis and his family come to the Toledo Auto Show every year. They recently purchased a Toledo-built Wrangler, and now the family is trying to persuade Mr. Francis to buy Toledo's other Jeep product — the Gladiator.
Mr. Francis, a Jeep enthusiast, likes what he sees in the 2020 North American Truck of the Year.
"My family loves it. I'm hoping it's a success for Jeep," he said. "The kids are thinking we need it. I'm thinking I'm not so sure yet. I would get another Wrangler, but [the family is] working on me."
Jeep has a significant presence at its hometown show. Enthusiasts can sit in all its new models and also check out some classics, thanks to the organizers of Jeep Fest. A blue and white 1979 Honcho pickup, which has been almost entirely rebuilt, is on display.
Other auto show highlights include new models of the Ford F-250 Super Duty and Mustang convertible, and new cars from Lexus, Lincoln, and Mercedes-Benz.
Multiple people at the show commented on the laid-back atmosphere free of pressure commonly found at dealerships. Kelly Danison, the Ohio Auto Dealers Association’s director of events, said that's by design.
"The main goal of the show is to get the consumer excited about what's out there and what new cars are coming," Ms. Danison said. "They can then go visit our local dealers and make those purchases. But we're still here to help the consumer find the perfect vehicle without any pressure and without having to travel from dealership-to-dealership."
The Ohio Auto Dealers Association consists of 825 dealers. In 2018 they sold more than $20 billion worth of new cars, generating $2 billion in state sales tax.
The Toledo Auto Show runs from noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $8 at the box office and $6 online.
A two-year lease on a 2020 Toyota Corolla will be given away, and show-goers can also participate in a selfie contest for a chance to win a 55-inch television.
First Published February 7, 2020, 12:48 a.m.
