Crowds waited in a long line to be chauffeured around a track one-eighth of a mile long on the lower level of Cobo Center, surrounded by 100 maples, pines and birches, waterfalls, and brilliant red and white tulips.
The Carson family of Leonard were among those waiting their turn at the EcoXperience, sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.
"We're in the market for a new car, but we just haven't decided which one we want yet," said David Carson, 40, who attended the show with his wife, Kelly, 38, and their three children. "But I wanted to ride in one of these cars because I'm most interested in the technology."
Kelly Carson was equally impressed. "I'm fascinated and just wanted to see a hybrid car up close," she said.
It was the second public day of the auto show. And despite the frigid temperatures, crowds were ready to hit the showroom floor shortly after the doors opened at 9 a.m.
Show producers are hoping for large crowds. Last year, the auto show attracted more than 700,000 attendees and over 6,000 media members from 63 countries, according to the auto show's Web site.
"We had nearly 75,000 people brave the roads and the weather (Saturday), and we expect the attendance to continue to go up," said spokeswoman Shand Spencer of John Bailey and Associates, the public relations firm representing the show. But she acknowledged the numbers may be down.
"It has been a very tough year, and these are tough times for everybody," she said. And the visitors were happy just to take pictures of their dream car or slip behind the wheel.
Keisuke Shibata could not get enough of the vehicles described as the "pinnacle of passion."
He's only 16, and doesn't yet have his driver's license, but he and his dad, Minoru Shibata, took plenty of pictures of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss with red bucket seats.
"I like how it doesn't have a windshield and how the doors open," said Keisuke, who traveled from Indiana with his dad just to take pictures. It is their sixth year visiting the show.
College students and those in grades 9-12 will have an opportunity to explore automotive career paths and learn about trends in the auto industry beginning at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Cobo Arena while attending the NAIAS Automotive Education Day.
Students will be invited to visit the exhibits on the show floor and to speak with human resource representatives about career information.
The show continues through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults; $6 for those 65 and older; and $6 for children 7-12. Children 6 and under are admitted for free when accompanied by their parents or guardian.
