With two years of new vehicles, the Portland International Auto Show drives into the Convention Center Feb. 24
After taking last year off because of the pandemic, the Portland International Auto Show is back for 2022, taking place from Thursday, Feb. 24, to Sunday, Feb. 27, at the Oregon Convention Center.
Auto dealers and vehicle repair shops are among the highest employers in the Portland area and offer relatively high wages. The show has traditionally been the largest display of new vehicles in the Pacific Northwest. Now, with two years of releases to experience, there is more to see than ever.
Special sections on the show are scheduled for Pamplin Media Group newspapers before it opens. The newspapers also will include discount coupons offering $3 off adult admissions until 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
The automobile industry is moving ahead rapidly, with entirely new products, concepts and technologies every year. Here are some highlights of this year’s show:
2021 and 2022 trucks and SUVs: Fresh off their awards as the North American SUV and Truck of the Year, Ford will present the 2022 Bronco off-road SUV and the innovative Maverick compact pickup truck. The base Maverick includes a hybrid engine that returns up to 42 MPG in city driving and starts at around $21,000.
New Car Giveaway: Everyone at the show has a chance to win a new 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid by entering the drawing at the Pamplin Media Group booth.
North American Car of the Year: The 2022 Honda Civic won this prestigious award. The super-successful four-door or hatchback compact has been completely redesigned and starts at just $21,900.
Electric Vehicles: Electrified vehicles are making news, and many will be at the auto show. Subaru will bring its all-new Solterra electric SUV, while Ford also will highlight the all-electric Mustang Mach-E GT, released in 2021, and the all-electric F-150 Lightning, which can power your house in an outage. Federal tax credits are available for most EVs and Oregon also offers rebates of up to $5,000, depending on household income.
Performance cars: Traditional muscle and sports cars also are continuing their resurgence with several of the newest models on display. They include both the hardtop and convertible versions of the latest Chevy Corvette, which is now a mid-engine sports car. Also appearing are completely redesigned versions of the mechanically similar Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86. Nissan has released the much-anticipated latest version of its legendary Z sports car, which features retro styling.
Motorcycle Pavilion: The Motorcycle Pavilion is on the main floor across from the Dragon Café and features everything on two wheels, to three, and even four wheels. Among the brands on display are Harley Davidson, Indian, Ducati, BMW, Kawasaki, Honda, Triumph, Yamaha, Suzuki and Polaris.
Technology to the forefront: Automotive technology is quickly spreading throughout the range of available vehicles. This year’s show features information about available technologies and the progress of recharging infrastructure for electrified vehicles. PGE, Pacific Power, Clark Public Utilities, the
