2014 Edmonton Motor Show Highlights

We came. We saw. We conquered the driving simulator.

Strathcom was at the 2014 Edmonton Motor Show’s Precious Metal Gala, and aside from getting bloated on amazing food and exciting our senses with scintillating entertainment, we saw some pretty amazing cars.

Here are some of our highlights:

Driving Simulator

Ford’s driving simulator for the Atlas Concept truck was back up and running this year. Here’s Strathcom’s David Lord shortly after his record-setting ride around the virtual track, unknowing that his time would soon be bested.

Performers

No expense was spared on the evening’s entertainment. Except, perhaps, for safety mats. Thankfully they weren’t needed.

The Food

All you can eat, all you can drink, and all the cars you can look at for $125!

There was more than just cars to make you drool. The Edmonton Motor Show had delectable bites of food dotted throughout the car displays. As you walked through the rows of the Expo Centre, you were greeted by friendly chefs offering up many different delectable treats from hot dog sliders, hamburger sliders, mac and cheese, to foods for higher-end tastes such as paella or fresh oysters.

There was something to please all palates. Some of our favourites were the bacon-wrapped filet mignon on a stick, the martini salad bar, and the oily ratatouille.

It wasn’t only food that pleased our taste buds, but also signature cocktails available along with traditional beer, wine, and highballs. The Edmonton Motor Show offered up a smoked olive dirty martini to sip on if you were feeling like Roger Sterling in Mad Men; a bacon smokehouse Caesar, which seems to be the perfect Canadian drink; and finally some sort of smoky scallop cocktail which looked more filling than thirst-quenching.

The Cars of the Edmonton Auto Show

No Reserve Auction

This Ford classic will be up for grabs in the upcoming auction. On closer inspection: pure engine porn.

2015 Nissan GTR Black Edition

It’s not just a GTR. It’s a badass black GTR. Dark, menacing, and bolstered by a 545-hp twin-turbo V6. I think I’m in love.

Camaro Z28

It’s time for some American muscle. Exactly 500 horsepower of muscle, to be precise. Chevy’s track star, the 2014 Camaro Z28, looks like it’s going to turn into a Transformer at any second. Autobots unite!

Viper SRT10

I never thought there would be a day I would call the Dodge Viper “subtle,” or “sophisticated,” but this 600 hp beast pulls it off. Still, it looks like a WWE wrestler in a white tux. Flex too much, and the fabric just might rip.

Mustang GT500 Convertible

They say the GT500 has the most powerful production V8 engine on Earth. With 662 hp and 631 lb-ft of torque, I believe it. This one can keep up with the big boys.

Infiniti Red Bull RB9

It has 830 horsepower packed into a 2.4-litre V8 engine, and a 0-100 km/hr time of two seconds. Infiniti and Red Bull’s partnership in Formula One Racing has created an F1 racer that really does have wings: So far it’s collected 13 race wins, 11 pole positions, and 11 top-three finishes.

Top Tuner Scion FR-S

Three Canadian teams competed in the 2012-2013 Scion FR-S Toyota’s Tuner Challenge, and team Top Tuner’s Scion FR-S came out on top. This car’s upgrades have included everything from a high performance supercharger to nitrous oxide.

Subaru BRZ

This was my favourite car at the show. It’s the cool blue cousin to the hot red FRS. While the Subaru BRZ it might not be the most powerful or flashy car of the show, the Subaru BRZ is the perfect driver’s car. And after massaging it with a few performance upgrades, it has more than enough power for a fun weekend at the track.

ZXX Ferrari Enzo

Could this be the same Ferrari Enzo—rebuilt—that the owner of ZR auto crashed into the ocean during a Newfoundland rally? Given there are so few Enzo’s out in the world, we think it could be likely. Check out this video of the original Ferrari Enzo crash and decide for yourself:

ZR Auto Lamborghini Murcielago

There’s blue. And then there’s this chrome blue Murcielago. It has a paint job unlike any other, and the dark gala showroom doesn’t do it justice.

Lowered Infiniti

How low can you go? This lowered Infiniti from the Go Auto booth tests that theory, with no attention paid to the city’s current pothole situation. The lucky winner of this car will need their luck to last if they don’t want to bottom out.

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG

One look at the CLA 45, and this is your first thought: This only has four cylinders? Somehow, Mercedes manages to massage 360 hp out of its MG 2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. Still, you’d still think it had a V8 (or at least a V6).

RAM 1500 Eco Diesel

With great fuel economy and towing capacity comes great price. The most disappointing part about the new RAM1500 Eco Diesel is that I’ll probably never be able to afford it. The diesel engine is only available on the higher trim levels.

That means most tradesmen looking for a bargain pickup won’t be able to benefit from this exciting new engine, unless they feel like opting for leather seats and other accessories. And who wants to get their leather seats all covered in mud?

2015 Hyundai Genesis

This was one of Duncan Cochrane’s favourite cars at the show. While we won’t say it’s an old man’s car (it’s an old man’s car), the all-new Genesis sedan could actually be pretty hot if you go for the 5.0L V8 engine with 420 hp. That’s enough to give some Mustangs a run for their money.

Fooling Around

Of course, we couldn’t just take photos. We were all over these 100,000-plus-dollar cars, and we managed to set off at least one car alarm.