It's a car shopper's dream: all of Detroit's latest models, along with those from automakers around the world, parked in one location.
The 11th International Auto Show opens today at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.
The show was shifted to its Baltimore County location from the usual downtown site this year because of construction to expand the Baltimore Convention Center.
The show, which runs through Feb. 12, will feature more than 300 cars and light-duty trucks from about 35 manufacturers, from Hyundai and Geo to Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar.
"There's something for everybody at this year's show," said spokeswoman Melanie Panos Ortel.
This was evident at the Pontiac exhibit.
For the young at heart, there's a black, six-speed Firebird Formula with a powerful 5.7-liter V-8 engine under the hood.
It looks fast sitting on the carpet. The speedometer goes up to 150, leaving one to wonder if that's enough. It carries a racy price tag of $22,378.
A dozen paces away, there's the more subdued aqua, four-door, Sunfire SE sedan with its 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine. Price: $12,859.
It gets 24 miles to the gallon in city traffic.
There's a big emphasis at this year's show on trucks and sport utility vehicles, which have become the fastest-growing segment the U.S. auto market in recent years.
Chevrolet proudly displays its Blazer on a rotating platform, drawing attention to its designation as Motor Trend magazine's truck of the year.
Honda has the industry's latest entry into the minivan market, with its front-wheel-drive Odyssey. Chrysler Corp., which introduced the minivan 10 years ago, has its redesigned models on display.
If show-goers have trouble picking a favorite, they'll get a little help from John Davis, host of the locally produced "MotorWeek" television show.
Mr. Davis is scheduled to reveal the show's 1995 Drivers' Choice Awards at 1:30 this afternoon at the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration booth.
The awards include: best luxury car, best small car, best domestic sedan, best import sedan, best convertible and the "dream machine" -- the car you would buy if price was no object.
And for better or worse, the MVA will have a booth where motorists can request free computer printouts of their driving records.
The show is scattered among three large exhibit halls, but there are long, lighted tents that serve as makeshift hallways to protect show-goers from the cold.
Light rail stops at the Fairgrounds, and parking is free.
The show's hours are noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 7 p.m. Sundays, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays.