Residents have been flocking to the Milwaukee Auto Show at Wisconsin State Fair Park Expo Center to see some of the newest models and trends for 25 different brands.
The auto show opened May 14 and runs through Sunday May 17.
Prices range from $30,000 or less to well over $100,000. Visitors can test drive cars or ride in a racing simulation that moves with the driver.
Here are some interesting sights and trends from the auto show:
Gas costs, mileage top of mind for companies, customers
“A lot of times when gas prices go up, a lot of people just assume that fuel economy hasn’t moved up since the last time they paid attention,” said Brian Moody, automotive expert and analyst. “The truth is you can find some gasoline only cars that can get 38 miles per gallon, 39 miles per gallon on the highway… things have improved over the past few years.”
Moody pointed to the Hyundai Sonata hybrid as an example of a model that has a combined fuel economy of 51 miles per gallon .
“That’s going to save someone some money if they were already going to buy a new car,” Moody said.
Changing landscape of electric vehicles
Gas prices don’t mean much to those with electric vehicles. But those looking to get an EV might be put off by the price tag.
However Moody said there are cars like the Chevrolet Volt, which costs around $30,000.
“If you were to get that kind of car, you would use no gas at all,” Moody said.
Under the Biden administration, customers could use tax incentives to buy an electric car, but that has since expired leading to companies ending their EV programs and to prices going up.
But Moody said it might be better for future EV customers in the long run.
“Now [automakers] have to compete on an even playing field, and what we’re seeing is manufacturers lowering prices because they now have to. They can’t count on our money to do that,” Moody said adding there’s a market for used electric cars as many are coming off of leases.
“When it comes to the price, features and it has to work for you.”
Live vinyl wrapping display
The Autolab in Delafield has been around only since 2022, but it has gotten the attention of athletes from the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers who have come to have their cars get a unique look.
Cody Alarcon, co-owns the The Auto Lab with brother Austin, said the company does full vehicle customization with vinyl wrap color change, window tinting, ceramic coatings and whatever else the customer requests.
At the auto show they wrapped an Audi R8 in the style of Buzz Lightyear.
“We’re doing a full custom wrap with decals and using our creativity and showing people a little bit of the process,” Alarcon said. “The cool thing about vinyl wraps is it grabs your eye. That’s kind of why people are gathered over here.”
Showing off at the Milwaukee Motorfest
The auto show also allowed local car enthusiasts to bring in their own vehicles to have them judged during the Milwaukee Motorfest.
Danny Strong from Wind Point brought in his 1956 Chevrolet that he said is valued at more than $100,000.
“I’ve had this car for 25 years. It sat in my garage for about 20 years before I started to work on it,” Strong said, adding nothing worked on the car when he got it. “The car’s been totally redone.”
Strong’s display was among the most unique of the cars on display, harkening back to the time when the car was new. It even included a “Liam’s frozen custard” meant to represent Leon’s Frozen Custard in Milwaukee.
“I have the outdoor theater speakers, the window trays from A&W, the Leon’s custard … that adds to the car when you’re displaying it,” Strong said adding he put Bible verses on the car. “God’s in the restoration business like guys restoring cars. … I use what I have to spread the word, the gospel.”
Technicians of Tomorrow
On May 15 visitors could watch a live competition of area high schools who brought students to work on a Toyota Tacoma through the Technicians of Tomorrow program.
The main purpose is to teach the students how to work on more technologically advanced cars.
“It’s a growing need across the country,” Moody said “[Automakers] need things like this to get people interested in doing the job of being a service technician because it’s not like a guy in a garage with his car up on jacks anymore.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Auto Show highlights new models, EVs, gas efficiency
Reporting by Ricardo Torres, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
