The annual Denver Auto show, one of the oldest car exhibitions in the United States, has started on Sunday, March 17, with a static Green Car Parade in Denver, Colorado.

“This year’s show is shaping up to be one of the best in the show’s 111-year history and it reflects the positive improvements in the industry,” said Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association and presenter of the Denver Auto Show. “Visitors will be able to see, touch and sit in most of the vehicles represented by 37 car lines all under one roof. In addition to seeing 2013, 2014 and concept cars, visitors can ride with a professional driver to experience off-roading at “Camp Jeep”; test drive new cars in downtown Denver; and see the latest in luxury cars, popular “green cars”, custom styling and accessories; and enjoy entertainment for the whole family.”

Denver Auto Show 2013 runs from March 20 to March 24 at Colorado Convention Center and it promises to unveil more than five hundred new vehicles.

The newest cars, trucks, hybrids, vans, crossovers and sport utilities on the market will be on display.

Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, FIAT, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Ram, Scion, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, Volkswagen are the exhibiting manufacturers represented at this year’s show.

The “Ride & Drive” program at the Denver Auto Show allows attendees to test drive the new 2013 models from Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT, GMC, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Ram and Scion.

The 2014 models include: Aston Martin Vanquish, efficient clean diesel Chevrolet Cruze, elegant Chevrolet Impala, sporty Ford Fiesta ST 5-door, powerful GMC Sierra 1500, Jaguar F-Type S, stylish Kia Forte, Kia Green Lantern Soul, sporty Mazda6, Mercedes-Benz CLA Concept Style Coupe, Subaru Forester, Toyota Tundra prototype, and Toyota SEMA Avalon hybrid.

On March 19, the Charity Preview Party opens on the showroom floor at the Colorado Convetion Center, providing exclusive access to the five hundred new cars and trucks on display. The charity event supports National Jewish Health, the Clear the Air Foundation and The Denver Post Community Foundation.

At the party will be announced the most outstanding car, truck and SUV of the year, as selected by the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Audi A5, Lexus GS350 F Sport and Scion FR-S are the contenders as car of the year, while GMC Sierra 2500HD, Nissan Frontier and Ram 1500 are competing as truck of the year, and the Audi allroad, Ford Escape and Kia Sportage as SUV of the year.

Also, there will be special appearances at Denver Auto Show 2013:

Denver Broncos team members DeMaryius Thomas (Friday) and Joel Dreessen (Saturday) at the GMC booth.

Miss Colorado – Hannah Porter – at the Cadillac booth on Saturday and Sunday.

Denver Nugget Danilo Gallinari and “Rocky” the Nuggets’ mascot with the Nuggets Dancers at Kia booth on Friday.

Also on Friday, Telemundo sponsors Hispanic Day with live entertainment on stage.

The sixth annual Denver’s Green Car Parade took place at the State Capitol on Sunday, March 17.

On the emerald green St. Patrick’s Day, “green cars”, some of the most innovative alternative powered and high mileage cars available were parked along the west side of the State Capitol’s Circular Drive.

Electrics and fuel-efficient gasoline-engined vehicles, gas/electric hybrids, clean diesels were displayed by members of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association.

Mitsubishi MiEV was on display at the Denver’s Green Car Parade on March 17. This event precedes Denver Auto Show 2013 which runs from March 20 to March 24.

The oldest and newest alternative power trains in the form of the Honda Civic GX and the Mitsubishi MiEV were showed at the parade.

The Honda Civic GX was first introduced in Japan during 1998 and is now available in 35 states. It is the oldest commercially produced vehicle to utilize compressed natural gas as a combustion fuel.

The MiEV has an EPA rating of 116 mpge. It can be charged overnight with 110V current and faster with 220V or 240V.

Also there were Chevrolet Tahoe converted to use both CNG and gasoline, Scion iQ, Nissan Leaf with an EPA rating of 116 mpge, Ford F-150 converted to CNG, the Dodge Dart SE, scoring 7 of 10 for greenhouse emissions and 6 or 10 for particulates.

Other green cars were: Ram 3500 Heavy Duty turbo diesel pickup from Chrysler, Silverado Z71 4X4 King Cab from Chevrolet, configured for dual fuel, gasoline or CNG. The Fisker Karma, a hybrid vehicle, as well as Prius V and C-Max Energi, Ford’s plug-in hybrid contender for Toyota’s title as the king of hybrid vehicles were on displayed along with Fusion Energi, another plug-in hybrid from Ford, and the all-new BMW Active Hybrid 3.

This year marks Denver Auto Show’s 111th anniversary, it has started in 1902, six years before the first Ford Model T autos left the factory.

Denver Auto Show 2013 (video)

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