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2006 North American International Auto Show Closing Weekend Includes Fun Family Activities


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DETROIT, Jan. 19, 2006 -- The 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) continues its blockbuster line-up of family fun activities during the last weekend of the NAIAS.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051006/DETH015LOGO )

"With more than 60 new production and concept vehicles along with extraordinary exhibits and attractions, there is plenty to see and do at the NAIAS 2006," said Robert Thibodeau Jr., co-chairman for the NAIAS 2006. "The auto show is a great opportunity for people of all ages to visit the city of Detroit and celebrate the creativity and ingenuity of the automotive industry."

The following is a list of exciting things to check out before the conclusion of NAIAS 2006 on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.:

Michigan Hall:

* Come listen to the beats the DJ at Scion Studio will be spinning on Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday starting at 2 p.m.

Cobo Arena:

* Meet a Sesame Street Live character at Cobo Arena on Saturday from 2-3 p.m. While you are there, enter to win four tickets to Sesame Street Live Elmo's Coloring Book at the Fox Theatre (Feb. 9-26).

* Meet SpongeBob SquarePants at Cobo Arena on Saturday and Sunday from noon-5 p.m.

* Donate your blood to a great cause at the American Red Cross Blood Drive at Cobo Arena on Saturday from 3-9 p.m.

Allstate:

* Free bumper car rides are available at this exhibit! A maximum of 10 people can ride at a time, in five bumper cars. Every time someone rides, Allstate donates to the Boys & Girls Club of America.

* Bumper car "E-Shots" digitally imposed backdrop from NASCAR to make it look like the person is actually racing NASCAR drivers. People can then go and retrieve their pictures from the Internet.

* Visitors also can enter a raffle to win tickets to the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard NASCAR race. The tickets include two-night accommodations.

  Dodge:
  *  Hemi engine shifting simulator.
  *  Interactive Dodge simulator.

  Ford:
  *  Xbox 360 game console available for the public.

  Hyundai:

* "Hope on Wheels," a program that helps fund pediatric cancer research. The exhibit features a Santa Fe with replicas of kids' handprints. There will be a canvas available for kids to leave their painted handprints.

* "Hyundai Loves Kids" focused on kids safety, will provide kids with a lanyard tag that parents can write their cell phone numbers on incase the child gets lost.

* Enter to win a new Hyundai Sonata or Hyundai Thermos bag given away each hour.

Jeep:

* Get your game on at the Xbox gaming station featuring the "Tony Hawk" game.

  Scion:
  *  Backpack and jersey giveaways for signing the mailing list.
  *  Free CDs, iPod cases and key chains are being given away.

  Subaru:

* Exhibit features "The Real Driving Simulator" PlayStation 2, which is an interactive driving simulator that lets you feel each turn and bump on the course. Large panoramic views show the course, while you sit back in the driver's seat of your choice of racecar.

Mini:

* Exhibit features a DJ spinning hot beats to keep the party and show excitement going;

* A racecar game where participants sit in an actual racecar that moves around as the screen does;

* An interactive Ping-Pong game; and

* Visitors can take a picture in a Mini and e-mail it to friends directly from the show.

Volkswagen:

* A GTI Powerslider simulation that moves back and forth as you play the game.

* A relaxing hangout full of beanbags and headsets for listening to music.

* Computers are available to the public with access to the NAIAS and Volkswagen Web sites and music.

NAIAS Food Court:

* Comcast has returned this year with an interactive display, which will include their HDTV, Digital Video Recorder, Video ONDemand and Comcast High Speed Internet service.

* AAA Motorsports is displaying for the first time in Cobo Arena. They will be marketing their insurance services.

* The US Army Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion will have the climbing wall, a Hummer H2, and for the first time, a Stryker unit, which is a large tank-like vehicle currently used in Iraq to transport US troops.

* Travel Michigan has partnered with the Motor Cities National Heritage Area to promote Auto-related attractions in the Detroit Metropolitan area and throughout Michigan. They will have flyers and magazines available for guests.

* Michigan International Speedway will have NASCAR driving simulators in their display, and will have tickets to their racing series available for guests to purchase.

The 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) will close its doors on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. There is no admittance one hour prior to show closing.

eTickets are available for convenient online purchase at http://www.naias.com/ to help alleviate delays at on-site tickets booths. Orders for eTickets provide a voucher to be redeemed for show tickets at the eTicket window, located at the Oakland Hall entrance of Cobo Center. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.com/ , or by calling (248) 645-6666. In addition, NAIAS attendees can purchase show tickets using the new ticket kiosks located in the Cobo Center concourse near the Detroit and Oakland Hall entrances. Ticket kiosks accept most major credit and debit cards.

To assist show attendees with finding convenient parking, the NAIAS 2006 has partnered with Click and Park, an online parking system that allows visitors to purchase spaces 24 hours in advance of arrival. ClickandPark.com provides access to select Miller Parking, Sterling Group and Park-Rite lots up to 24 hours before each show day and offers personalized directions and routes to each lot.

Click and Park is an online parking system that allows show attendees the convenience of purchasing a parking space in select lots near the NAIAS up to 24 hours prior to attending. Parking spaces can be purchased through http://www.clickandpark.com/ . The Web site provides access to select Miller Parking, Sterling Group and Park-Rite lots up to 24 hours before each show day and offers personalized directions and various routes to each lot.

  To purchase a space through Click and Park follow these simple steps:
  1.  Go to http://www.naias.com/
  2.  Click on "Directions and Travel" and select pre-purchase parking

3. Select date you plan to attend the NAIAS and click "view event parking"

  4.  Select lot from various parking areas
  5.  Enter credit card number and personal information
  6.  Receive ePermit, parking permit and customized directions via email
  7.  Print ePermit and bring with you for selected lot access

Each Click and Park location will also offer a convenient shuttle service to and from Cobo Center. Shuttle details can be found on http://www.naias.com/ . If a customer is unable to go online or print their permit, they should contact Click and Park Customer Service directly at 866-330-PARK during business hours of Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET.

  NAIAS 2006 Official Dates
  Public Days are Saturday, Jan. 14, through Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006.

  The North American International Auto Show
  Rod Alberts - Executive Director

Entering its 18th year as an international event, the North American International Auto Show is among the most prestigious auto shows in the world, and is one of the largest media events in North America. The NAIAS is the only auto show in the United States to earn an annual distinguished sanction of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, the Paris- based alliance of automotive trade associations and manufacturers from around the world. The NAIAS Web site can be accessed at http://www.naias.com/ . Don't Miss It for the World!