My VIP Experience at the 2015 North American International Auto Show #7AutoShow #NAIAS

The Detroit Auto Show is where the Cars are the Stars....

On Thursday night, my son and I were fortunate to attend a Tweet Up during Industry Days at the North American International Auto Show sponsored by Channel 7 News and Specs Howard School of Media Arts. We are part of a group of about 100 Metro Detroiters who received complimentary VIP access to the show to view all the cars and displays up close and personal. After putting on our special Tweetup t-shirts and credentials, we are all set to view the pageantry.

The Ford exhibit was awesome and the Ford GT was the star...

As a Ford employee, you know I had to make a stop at the Ford exhibit where the all new Ford GT was on display and getting lots of attention. The Ford exhibit also has a lot of interactive displays, one of which is a camera that displayed a photo of my son and me on the ceiling (made to look like the sky) of the exhibit for everyone to see.

I could not believe that I was sitting in a $400,000 car! Thank you Bentley....

When we came to the Bentley exhibit, I could not believe that they were allowing people (in groups of 4) to enter the display and sit in the $400,000 cars.  And yes, everything inside and outside of a Bentley is quality to the max.

Best inactive display was from Dodge where the car was the video controller...

If you like interactive displays, one of the best was in the Dodge exhibit were the driving game controller was an actual Dodge Charger!!!

Alfa Romeo has a $10,000,000 car on display!

The Alfa Romeo exhibit pays homage to the past with some classic race cars on display that are worth over 10 million dollars. And yes, there are people standing guard to make sure no one touches these priceless cars.

With so much to see and do, make sure to check it out for yourself during public days at the North American International Auto Show which run from Saturday, January 17th thru Sunday, January 25, 2015.

Check out the NAIAS website for info on tickets and parking

North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)
Cobo Hall in Downtown Detroit
January 17 - 25, 2015
www.naias.com

We absolutely LOVE this! MT @wxyzdetroit: WOW! What a fantastic turnout for the #7AutoShow Tweetup! #NAIAS pic.twitter.com/NJ87OTugqU #FordNAIAS
— Ford Auto Shows (@FordAutoShows) January 16, 2015

And be sure to follow Channel 7 Detroit on Facebook and Channel 7 Detroit on Twitter so you will be "in the know" when they announce other great social media VIP events like this Auto Show Tweet Up.

Like my photos in this post? They were taken with my awesome Samsung Galaxy Smart Camera which I reviewed back in 2013


Enjoy!


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CONTEST: WIN $500 for the Best and Most Creative Reason why #MichiganIsAuto - ENDS 1/23 #NAIAS

I was selected for this sponsored post by HayThereSocialMedia.com. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ford makes engineering transparent at 2011 Detroit Auto Show - photos by Jackie Harper

MICHauto is Giving Away $500 for the Best, Most Creative Reasons Why #MichiganIsAuto...

I have lived in Michigan all of my life and am very proud to be from the Motor City - HOLLA!!!  One thing that I learned from a very early age is how much we love our cars in this state.  When I was a kid, my father would take our photos using a backdrop of his prize Cadillac of the moment. And going to an auto dealership to look at cars was considered entertainment in our family.

That is probably why I love taking my son every year to the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall.  Who can resist the cool cars filled with "James Bond"-like technology that are easy on the eye and a pleasure to drive.  In Michigan, the cars are truly the stars and the Detroit Auto Show is where we all go to pay homage to the creativity and engineering genius behind each vehicle.

1903 Ford Model A from 2013 Detroit Auto Show - photo credit Jackie Harper

Dodge Viper - 2010 Detroit Auto Show - photo credit Jackie Harper

Mercury Lincoln exhibit at 2010 Detroit Auto Show - photo credit Jackie Harper

My son and I hanging at the Chevy Photo Booth at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show 

For this post, I had the pleasure of going back in time and finding all the cool photos that I have taken at the North American International Auto Show over the years. From the 2013 show which showcased the oldest surviving car sold by Ford Motor Company back in 1903 - a Model A Rear Entry Tonneau, to the beautiful Dodge Viper from the 2010 show, to the 2011 show where Ford cut a vehicle in half to show us what's really under the hood, I am amazed each year by everything that I see and all the engineering talent that goes into making these awesome products.

And I will always remember the awesome video (see above) of my son at the Ford exhibit during the 2012 Detroit Auto Show where he got to virtually hang out with race car driver Ken Block - can you tell that he had a ball and learned a thing or two about eco-boost technology?

And with the 2015 North American International Auto Show right around the corner  I and my son are looking forward to another awesome event where we learn more and more about why Michigan Is Auto!

Have a great reason why #MichiganIsAuto? Time to share it!

As the global automotive industry heads to Detroit for the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), MICHauto – the state’s automotive accelerator – is using this gathering of industry leaders and stakeholders as a platform to reinforce why Michigan is the epicenter of the auto industry.

From January 12th through January 23rd, MICHauto will award two $500 VISA gift cards to the entry that posts the best, most creative reason why #MichiganIsAuto.

To enter, post your submission on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the hashtag #MichiganIsAuto. If possible, tag MICHauto in your entry post using the social media handles below :

- Twitter: @MICHauto

- Facebook: www.facebook.com/michauto

- Instagram: @MICH_auto

To learn more about the 
#MichiganIsAuto campaign, 

visit http://www.michauto.org

Tune in to MICHauto’s social media channels on Friday, January 16th and Friday, January 23rd to find out the winners of each $500 gift card.


Good Luck!


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FREE Uber Rides in Downtown, Corktown, Midtown Detroit 1/12 - 1/16 #UberCADILLAC #NAIAS

Get a Slice of the Detroit Auto Show experience for FREE with Uber and Cadillac...

This week, Uber users can get an exclusive auto show experience outside the walls of Cobo Center with FREE rides in the latest Cadillac vehicles!

Uber Detroit teamed up with Cadillac to bring you American luxury, on-demand with #UberCADILLAC. Vehicles include the 2015 and 2014 Cadillac CTS, XTS and SRX. All vehicles have capacity for 4 passengers.

To catch an #UberCADILLAC, open the Uber app and select "Cadillac" during the following dates and times:

Monday, January 12 between 7am - 10:30pm
Tuesday, January 13 - Thursday, January 15 between 7am - 10pm
Friday, January 16 between 4pm - 11pm

#UberCADILLAC rides are limited to 15-minute duration and 4 passengers. Pick-ups are limited to the Downtown, Corktown and Midtown neighborhoods.

Find all the details on Uber Detroit blog


Enjoy!


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REVIEW: Detroit Auto Show has lots of FUN things to do that the whole family will LOVE #NAIAS

Besides the cool cars, there is lots of cool tech that kids and adults will love 

You don't have to be a car fan to love the North American International Auto Show...

Do you feel the Detroit Auto Show is only for car geeks?  So not true. The North American International Auto Show has a little something for everyone. Let me show you what my son and I found at the show on Thursday evening...

Do you love watching the singing competition show The Voice? Well when you come the NAIAS, you can sit in one of the now famous judge's chairs from the show. Make sure you get a photo of you pressing the button so that you can feel like a rock star.

In December, I was at a press conference that revealed one of the oldest surviving cars sold by Ford Motor Company - a Model A Rear Entry Tonneau. This 1903 car is one of the 1st three cars sold by Henry Ford and it is on display at the Auto Show this week before it helps kick off a yearlong celebration of the 150th birthday of Henry Ford.

Make sure to get a photo with this piece of Detroit history, but not too close. Since this car is worth close to $1 Million dollars, there is nice guard standing by to make sure you keep at a safe distance.

Make sure to stop by the Kia display where you can test your driving skills using their Optima Hybrid simulator. While you are driving, your family and friends can use two computer screens located behind your seat to throw obstacles into the road to see how you handle them while driving.   The simulator will also take your photo and the photo and your driving score can be emailed to you after you're done.

Click here if Kia Dancing Hamsters video is not shown

Also at the Kia display you can dance with the Kia Hamsters. My son loved it.  And Kia will email you the video of your dance routine so you can download it to your computer to keep as a souvenir of your visit.

My son and I had a blast at the Chevrolet photo booth.  We got to pick our props and then enter the booth where hundreds of photos were taken of us and then assembled into photo flip books within minutes.

You then flip through the book's photos and it looks like a movie.  This is one great keepsake that everyone will love.

Also make sure you go down to the lower level (escalator is by the BMW display) to drive in the electric vehicles. The cars are so quiet that you can hear a pin drop.

The North American International Auto Show ends this Sunday.  Come on down before you miss all the fun.


North American International Auto Show
Cobo Hall Center
1 Washington Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48226


Enjoy!


Like the photos in this post?  They were all taken with the Samsung Galaxy Note II loaned to me by Verizon Wireless.

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Original 1903 Ford Model A on display at this week's North American International Auto Show #NAIAS

See this 1903 Model A at the auto show this week...Photo credit: J Harper

See a piece of Ford and Metro Detroit history at this week's Detroit Auto Show...

On December 11, 2012, I was one of a few Ford employees who snagged a seat (and some great photos) at a press conference that revealed one of the oldest surviving cars sold by Ford Motor Company back in 1903 - a Model A Rear Entry Tonneau.

Photo credit: J. Harper

This Model A, which Bill Ford Jr. purchased at auction this year and restored, was one of the first three cars sold by Henry Ford and retailed for around $800, which was not a small piece of change back in that time period.  I thought it was very interesting that the car was originally sold to a dairy farmer - I guess milk was a very lucrative enterprise back in the day.

The color of this this Model A is just beautiful - Photo Credit: J. Harper

Another surprising thing about this car that stunned everyone when Bill Ford Jr. took off the draping is the color - which is a beautiful candy apple red. We are all aware of Henry Ford's motto that you can buy any type of car you wanted from him - as long as the color was black, black, or black. This car was made well before the now famous Ford mass production assembly line, hence the beautiful color.

Bill Ford Jr. shared during the press conference that this car was one of three that Henry Ford had to sell fast if he was to keep his company from going under.  We all know that Ford Motor Company not only did not go belly up, but survives to this day employing many people in Metro Detroit and around the world.

Everyone can see this car on display this week at the North American International Auto Show before it helps kick off a yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of Henry Ford's birth. Make sure you stop by and see it before the show ends on Sunday...

North American International Auto Show
Cobo Hall Center
1 Washington Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48226


Enjoy!


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