Twin Cities 2025: My Only Stop On The Circuit

Recently, I was reminded that “it’s not a Twin Cities Auto Show (Media Preview) without Randy Stern.” The folks behind the show ensured me that I cannot miss this year’s edition, post-surgery or not. 

Since 2005, I found myself at the Minneapolis Convention Center checking our local auto show. It was a way to connect with our local market to see what’s out there amongst the latest and greatest vehicles. Several years later, I became a member of the working media covering the show. It has always been at the Minneapolis Convention Center in March – without fail. 

The COVID-19 Pandemic changed that temporarily to a May outdoor show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. However, a return back to the Minneapolis Convention Center brought a sense of normality these past couple of years.

This year, it’s an April show. Held before the New York International Auto Show. With the media preview on a Friday. And, a few open dates in the middle of week. It simply came down to availability at the Minneapolis Convention Center for scheduling the show on their calendar. 

Nonetheless, my being there could be seen as a make-up for missing the Chicago Auto Show this year. Therefore, this year’s Twin Cities Auto Show was the only auto show I will attend and cover. 

The format was practically the same as last year. Only two of the main halls, the ballroom, and two smaller halls were open to the auto show. That’s practically enough, to be honest. You had Mitsubishi represented, which is a rare sight on the auto show circuit. Mazda also appeared, even though they have been hit-and-miss lately. 

Electric Avenue was in the back of the main hall. The display focused on the growing number of EVs available in our market. Cadillac came out with their four EVs, including the new Escalade IQ, Vistiq, and Optiq models. You also found a Polestar 3 on that area, as well. 

In the ballroom was Luxury Lane, which had a nice representation of the more attainable brands. A single Bentley Flying Spur was on the floor surrounded by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, JLR, Genesis, Acura, Volvo, Lexus, Lincoln, and Cadillac. There was another Escalade IQ in the ballroom, along with the Volvo EX30 and EX90. 

Camp Jeep was the main attraction as it is every year they install it inside the convention center. You also have opportunities to do a street drive of several Stellantis and Volkswagen models, as well. I saw they ran a Ram 1500, an Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce, and a few others. 

Of note is the Cars Against Crime Foundation display. They are also a huge attraction full of vehicles from television shows of the past. They came from one fo thre garage condo owners at the Chanhassen AutoPlex, who always displayed some of his hero vehicles opver the years during Cars and Caves.

One room had a few of the inventory available at Unique Classic Cars in Mankato. I have been meaning to check them out what they have down there, since I see posts on social media of some of their inventory. In particular, vehicles from the Malaise Era. What they have on display was absolutely nice!

Back in the main hall, our friends at Driveify set up four vehicles from their Twin Cities fleet in an area known as Adrenaline Avenue. Jacob Stevenson and his team has gone from strength to strength over the past few years, becoming to “go-to” exotic car rental source for this market. It was great to see them posted up at the auto show. 

The time I spent there was focused on client work and checking out vehicles that I have not seen up close. That yielded plenty of photos for both purposes. 

On the vehicles that I wanted to check out further, let’s just day that the new Dodge Charger is indeed a hawt car in the two-door-plus-hatchback design. The current models were the EV ones, of course. The Charger’s interior blew my mind with its clean and model design. That pistol-grip shifter was indeed something I applaud. I suppose I’ll wait until the four-door models and the internal combustion engines to arrive to really get an idea if this was the right move for Stellantis.

Also, I explored some General Motors vehicles that we do not work with – an wished we did. GM is on the come up again and their EV lineup is helping to drive their momentum. It is not the EV lineup that I was interested in. Rather, the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain -two new compact SUVs set to compete in this all important segment. I was impressed with what I experienced. The new shift-by-wire column gear lever certainly threw me off. 

Have you checked out the 2025 Nissan Murano? You should. They sharpened up the design and gave it some the Ariya’s sauce inside. Yet, the transmission is now actuated by soft-touch buttons on the console. Not sure about that design decision, however. 

Looks like I found something to measure a vehicle with – gear levers. It shows that you can count on the Twin Cities Auto Show to deliver on something new to ponder automotive-wise. 

I’m certain there were plenty of vehicles I missed. Some in anticipation of their arrival for duty sometime this year, such as the EX30 and new Ford Expedition. A few others were simply not on the floor. 

Granted, my expectations for the Twin Cities Auto Show were not that high. I knew that some brands were not represented, and those who were had vehicles I wanted to see up close. Yet, it’s an auto show nonetheless. It was making up for lost time and non-attendance elsewhere. Still, I heeded the call to come, work, and explore the latest and greatest inside the Minneapolis Convention Center. 

All photos by Randy Stern