The San Francisco Chronicle 60th Annual International Auto Show, November 18-26 2017

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The San Francisco Chronicle 60th Annual International Auto Show Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, CA

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The 2018 Models are Here. The San Francisco Chronicle 60th Annual International Auto Show Photos and Stories.

The San Francisco Chronicle 60th Annual International Auto Show in the expanded and improved Moscone Convention Center is being readied for the opening this Saturday, Nov. 18 and runs through the Thanksgiving weekend concluding on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017.

The show is presented by Golden1 Credit Union and supported by the California New Car Dealers Association. It will feature the 2018 model cars, trucks, SUV's and crossover vehicles representing the work of 37 global manufacturers. The San Francisco Auto Show is the Bay Area’s largest and most prestigious auto exposition and is the only auto show held regionally that lures the dazzling high-tech manufacturer displays.

Francisco Auto Show opens Nov. 18 at Moscone Convention Center.

California is an important market for General Motors.

California has the most EVs on the road of any state and that is due in large part to the success of the Bolt, said said Chevrolet spokesman Shad Balch.

Bolt's major competitors include the BMW i3, Toyota's Prius and Nissan's Leaf. The 2018 Nissan Leaf has a redesigned exterior and a significantly longer range, from 80 to 150 miles, than the 2017 model, with a base price of $29,990. Nissan has made significant investments in the development of market-leading electric vehicles and public charging infrastructure to support EV driver,said Josh Clifton, senior manager, product and technology communications.

Norway announced in July its intention to phase out sales of all new diesel or gas-powered cars by 2025. France and the United Kingdom have announced bans on sales of new gas or diesel vehicles, starting in 2040.

Volvo, which is owned by Geely Holding Group, a Chinese multinational auto manufacturer, announced in July its hybrids, starting in 2020.intention to produce nothing but EVs and hybrids, starting in 2020.

Major manufacturers 2018 models will be displayed in the South Hall, sharing space with classic cars from the San Francisco Academy of Arts University collection and an exhibit by Pacific Gas and Electric. Ferrari and Aston Martin clubs will also be located in the South Hall. Also modified vehicles and the Academy of Art exhibit of beautiful classic cars.

Test Drives, one of the most popular features of the auto show, will be located on Howard St., at the front of both halls.

Bring the KIDS: For children of all ages there are a variety of interactive exhibits including simulators and an auto accessory booth area with toy cars, memorabilia and much more.

The Annual International Auto Show started out in 1958 as the Import Car Show and moved to Moscone Convention Center in 1982 and is now the premier auto show in northern California.

The The San Francisco Chronicle 60th Annual International Auto Show Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, CA is in the running to be a great hit with aggressive participation by visitors lining up to take a test drive with the cars from Chrysler and Jaguar.

Inside, the floor was filled with strong representation of car models from all over the world. A lot of door slamming and family's grouping around the models of their interest mirrored the activity going on around the test drives.

Over the last few years the available line of cars that we as consumers could choose from has dwindled as we lost MERCURY, SATURN, PONTIAC, MG, SAAB, and PLYMOUTH just to name a few of the more recent. But with all the new companies coming on line from the Pacific Rim countries has not left the field vacant. Just looking around, if I were at the point of needing to make a new car purchase and was using this fantastic platform before me, I think I would be slightly over whelm with choices.

Auto shows have always been about manufactures showing off the "new line" and creating excitement in the crowed so people will be motivated to spend money on their next new dream car. My disappointment as of late with the displays offered by the manufactures is around the lack of excitement within each companies space. None seem to be screaming "LOOK AT ME"! More inside each space, the mood seems to be more just "Here we are".

The other 2 things that I noticed as I photographed and walked around each car and as I slipped inside, was first. How wonderfully each car was finished and styled. All the hard edges and questionable feature gimmicks were gone. Just great finesse of design and styling was left.

However the second thought that came to me was; How much each car resembled the next. I really had to look to see which manufacture's booth I had moved into. Overall the vision which comes to me is the floor was covered with sedans, larger sedans (SUVs ?) and some trucks. Lexus and Acura did have, each, their sporty car in a bright red hue setting off their space. In all fairness to Mercedes Benz they did have a white SL 550 and an in-your-face green AMG GT R. There were also the Corvettes, Ferraris, Aston Martins, Lamborghinis and a very nice Pagani Huayra as well as some outstandingly sedate Rolls-Royces and Bentleys.

But on the crowded floor of the vehicles, which go to make up the morning commute, sameness, is what stuck in my mind.