New England International Auto Show Rolls into Boston January 15-19

A scene from the auto show last year. / Photo by Olga Khvan

This weekend, the New England International Auto Show will park it in the Seaport at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center with hundreds of cars for visitors to check out and even test drive.

The annual car show always takes place over Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, attracting both gearheads and casual drivers alike. Visitors can check out the latest models, salivate over exotic rides, carefully inspect the ones they might seriously purchase, and perhaps most fun—test drive select models.

The show floor will boast more than 600 cars from 36 leading manufacturers that total more than $20 million in value.

As usual, the Auto Show will include all sorts of activities. Here are some highlights:

Ride and Drives: This year, test drive new models from Kia, Ford, Toyota, and Scion.

Exotic Car Showcase: Expect head-turners from Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Maserati, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Lotus. The very slick-looking Lamborghini Huracán will definitely be there.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles: More than 100 rides on the show floor run on electricity, diesel, fuel cells, or hybrid tech.

See Them First: Audi will present their 2015 A6 and A7 models at the Auto Show. This will be their East Coast debuts.

Shoppers can also browse the “Automobile Aftermarket Accessories,” while teens can check out the “Toyota Distracted Driving Simulator” and take the “Don’t Text and Drive” pledge.

In addition to the People’s Choice Award, the Auto Show will also host a contest where attendees guess the make, model, and year of a crushed car. The winner gets a new car alarm and starter system. Those who vote for the People’s Choice Award will also have a chance to win a NASCAR driving experience.

The New England International Auto Show is hosted by Paragon Group, which also produces the National Golf Expo, the Boston Flower & Garden Show, and the Boston RV & Camping Expo, also at the BCEC January 17-19.

$15 (includes subscription to Automobile Magazine), Thursday-Monday, January 15-19, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston, bostonautoshow.com.