Today was the final day of Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2013. By the numbers, it was one of the most successful auctions ever. Over 3,400 bidders participated in the 7-day event, buying $100 million worth of vehicles – $58 million of which happened on Saturday alone.
As the cars are delivered to their new owners and the booths and tents are packed up, I would like to reflect on 10 things I loved about Barrett-Jackson 2013.
We are at Barrett-Jackson 2013 right now, bringing you the most up-to-date videos of some of the best cars here as they cross the auction block.
Click the image of the 2014 Corvette above and check it out. Don’t forget to subscribe!
Although CES is a technology show, there were quite a few interesting cars on display. Here are some of the ones that caught my eye at the 2013 CES show.
The 2013 Viper GTS features an 18-speaker audio system by Harman/Kardon.
If the name Ken Block doesn’t sound familiar to you, you might want to get to a computer and search YouTube for the word “Gymkhana.” Mr. Block has popularized the sport of gymkhana, which is sort of like gymnastics for your car.
Think of Gymkhana (jim-kah-nuh) as a more advanced version of autocross. In traditional autocross, drivers hone their skills by trying to set the best time around a track while avoiding obstacles such as cones. With Gymkhana, the goal is the same, however the courses are much more challenging and require precise moves such as drifting, 180-degree and 360 degree spins, figure 8s, and all sorts of other automotive acrobatics.
At the 2013 CES show, I spotted a concept car that really pushes the technology envelope. It features energy-efficient lighting, is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, and has more screens than Best Buy. But perhaps the most surprising thing about this car is that it’s a Hyundai.
The Hyundai Genesis Blue2 is a concept car that is built around Hyundai’s MediaLink system, which brings smart capabilities like Bluetooth 3.0, Internet radio, and a full web browser to the driver’s seat.
It is 2013 and the world still does not have jetpacks, Star Trek Replicators, or time machines. But before you give up on your dreams of a high-tech future, listen to what Lexus has just come out with. Their Integrated Safety team was on hand at this year’s CES Show in Las Vegas to show off a self-driving car.
You may remember that I wrote about Google’s Self-Driving Prius as part of my SEMA 2012 coverage. This car works in much the same way as Google’s car: it relies on a multitude of sensors and instruments to safely navigate its way to your destination.
