It’s Saturday night. You’re sitting in your loft sipping Cristal watching the game on your plasma before heading downtown to light it up at your favourite club. As the hour approaches you grab your cell, slip on your Magli’s and proceed to the underground garage. Knowing that it’s imperative you arrive in a style that’s as expressive as your own, you now face the toughest decision of the night. Will you take the seductive Aston Martin V8 Vantage, the provocative Lamborghini Murcielago, or arrive in the more sophisticated Maybach 57 S? 

Overcome with frustration at the inability to decide, you reach into your jacket pocket and pull out a set of keys. Superb, the Murcielago! You fire up the car and pull out onto the driveway where you’re supermodel girlfriend - who’s dressed just as sexy as your car is waiting for you. She wanders over, leans down to the window, smiles and says, “Excuse me sir you’re not allowed to sit in that car, please get out before I call security!” Just then you snap back to reality and realize you’ve managed to seat yourself in one of the Lamborghini’s at the 2006 Canadian International AutoShow. (CIAS)

BeforeLastCall.com is gearing up for the commencement of the 2006 Canadian International AutoShow running from February 17 to 26 in downtown Toronto. Recognized as one of only two internationally sanctioned shows in North America, (Toronto & Detroit) the CIAS allows consumers a chance to ogle the curves of 1000 of the hottest cars, trucks, and concepts from Acura to Volkswagen.

Spanning over 850,000 square feet throughout the North & South Metro Toronto Convention Centre (NMTCC & SMTCC) and into the Roger’s Centre, (formerly SkyDome) this year’s show will play host to over 150 exhibitors and filter over 300,000 spectators through some of the most beautiful specimens to ever drive off the line.

An event of this magnitude unquestionably brings out droves of people on weekends. If you’re eager to get up close and personal with that Italian exotic and want to avoid wading through baby strollers and masses of people, we recommend you venture down one evening throughout the week and enjoy a more pleasurable and less congested outing.

Sport Compact Revolution

As aftermarket manufacturers continue to flourish with innovative products in the world of sport compact tuning, nothing exemplifies this better than Sport Compact Revolution occupying the 100 Level of the Rogers Centre. If you’ve ever walked through the annual Dark Knights extravaganza, you’ll know full well what to expect with dozens of personal compact tuner cars on display. Join host DJ Danny D from Z103.5 at the Castrol Centre Stage for martial arts presentations with Team Ryouko, and Extreme Action Sports Theatre. All in all, this promises to be a rather energetic variant from that of the more subdued other parts of the AutoShow.

NASCAR Pavilion

When visiting the AutoShow you better arrive expecting more than just a building full of cars. For all those out there sporting hats and jackets with the number 8 on them, you’re in luck as the NASCAR pavilion is back with its highly interactive display. Become immersed in the sweet smell of gasoline, burning rubber and the exhilaration of raw horsepower.

Leisure World

Yamaha is proud to present Leisure World. Whether you’re looking to hit the blacktop this summer in an 06’ YZF-R1, or spend your weekends skimming across the water on an 06’ FX High Output WaveRunner, be sure to hit up the 800 level of the SMCC. If you’re looking for sport bikes, personal watercraft or ATV’s Yamaha has all your play and work time needs covered!

Toyota 4X4 Track

Get behind the wheel of Toyota’s 2006 truck line up and put them through the paces on the outdoor 4X4 track. Although you won’t be crossing rivers, and pounding through deep mud, this specifically designed track gives you a good means to expel whatever energy you may have left after touring the show.

That Ride Is Flossin’

Just because most of us can’t afford the more exotic and luxurious vehicles of the industry, doesn’t mean we can’t crowd around and drool over them! Having international status brings premiere unveilings and a sneak peak into what manufactures have cooking for the 2006 & 2007 model year. We at Beforelastcall.com have our sights set on a dozen vehicles we’d like to see in our garage.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Bentley GT
BMW M5 & M6
Cadillac STS-V & XLR-V
Chrysler Firepower
Dodge Viper SRT 10
Ferrari F430 Spider
Jaguar XK
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
Mercedes Benz AMG (We’ll take any of them)
Maybach 57 S
Porsche Carrera GT
Secret Unannounced Premiers

So if you’re in the mood for a healthy dose of walking between Feb 17 – 26, take a trip on down to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Rogers Centre and meander among the animals on display. You’ll be able to lose yourself in daydreams of crusin’ up the 400 in your Turbo Porsche en route to Wasage Beach for the long weekend. Or, well, at least maybe you’ll be able to score a free poster of one.

When Do I Go

Daily from 10:30am to 10:00pm
Final Sunday from 10:30am to 6:00pm
Front the cake!

Admission Prices

Adults $20.00
Discounted Tickets (Mon - Thru w/coupon) $15.00
Children (7 to 12) $7.00
Children (6 & under) Free*
Family Pass $40.00**
Multi-day Pass: (Valid any 2 days) $30.00

* when accompanied with an adult
** 2 adults & 2 children 12 and under

Where You At?

Rogers Centre
1 Blue Jays Way
Toronto, ON, M5V 1J3

Metro Toronto Convention Centre
South Building
222 Bremner Blvd.
Toronto, ON, M5V 3L9

Metro Toronto Convention Centre
North Building
255 Front St. West
Toronto, ON, M5V 2W6

Some of the cars you will see at The Canadian International AutoShow