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Dealers Look to Keep Buzz Going at Annual Auto Show

Orange County auto dealers saw some momentum with the “Cash for Clunkers” program and are hoping their annual Orange County Auto Show this week can keep the buzz going.

The show, which runs Thursday to Sunday at the Anaheim Convention Center, has concept cars, exotic and classic cars, new models and mixed martial arts fights for entertainment.

The Costa Mesa-based Orange County Automobile Dealers Association puts on the show with the Southland Motor Car Dealers Association in Long Beach. Harrisburg, Pa.-based Motor Trend Auto Shows LLC produces the show.

Local dealers are e-mailing customers free tickets to the show. The price to get in is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for students.

The show is set to have more “ride and drives,” where visitors can test drive cars such as a Ford Fiesta, which isn’t on sale yet. The Fiesta is Ford Motor Co.’s rival to Toyota Motor Corp.’s Yaris and Honda Motor Co.’s Fit. It’s due in showrooms in early 2010.

The Cadillac Converj, a luxury electric vehicle from the General Motors Corp. brand, is set to be among the concept cars at the show. There also will be a Corvette Stingray from the movie “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”

The Lincoln C, a smaller luxury vehicle, and the Nuvis, a luxury car from South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co., are scheduled to be on hand, too.

Automakers pay attention to consumer reaction to concepts at auto shows, said John Sackrison, executive director for the OC dealers association.

Manufacturers may take a formal survey at the auto show or just observe people’s reactions, he said. They can use the input to turn a concept into an auto that actually gets made.

This year’s show has scaled down about 25%, in line with the market, Sackrison said. Many of the automakers have slashed a number of brands and cut back on their marketing budgets.

“For the show goer, it’s going to be a little easier to travel,” he said.

Instead of seeing five of a particular model, they might see two, according to Sackrison.

Newport Beach-based TPG Enterprises LLC’s RPM Lounge will be showing some exotic vehicles, including a $1.2 million Bugatti Veyron. The new Ferrari California will be on display as well as a bunch of classic Chevy Camaros.

Scott Settlemire, a General Motors auto show manager who had a hand in designing the classic Camaro, is set to chat with fans on Saturday. Settlemire worked on the new Chevy Camaro, reminiscent of the 1970s model.

OC band Tijuana Dogs is slated to play Friday night. Professional poker player Matt Vengrin plans to give poker tips on Saturday.

Some of the hybrid and “green” cars on display at the show include BMW AG’s Mini E, an electric Mini Cooper, and the Chevy Volt, an electric car that’s powered by gas and a battery. The price isn’t set yet, but it costs about $40,000 to make.

The Volt can run on a full battery for up to 40 miles. After 40 miles, the gas engine kicks in and starts creating electricity. Since 75% of commuters drive less than 40 miles a day, Chevy touts the Volt’s gas mileage as about 230 miles per gallon.

The auto is expected to hit dealer floors next year.

New auto technology also will be featured, such as the 2010 Prius with the solar paneled roof that charges the batteries and a technology that helps drivers see their blind spots.

Auto dealers plan the show throughout the year and already are working on 2010. Matt Gunderson, owner of Audi and Infiniti of Mission Viejo, chairs the auto show committee.

Other committee members include Paul Lunsford, general manager for South Coast Toyota in Costa Mesa, Tim Mullahey of Mullahey Chevrolet Inc. in Fullerton and John Patterson of Tustin Mazda and Huntington Beach Mazda.

Ever Boutique

OC native Jason Bleick recently opened his third Ever boutique—this one is the first in the county at Fashion Island near Macy’s.

The 1,000-square-foot-store store sells upscale men’s and women’s clothing, sunglasses, shoes and other accessories.

Bleick was vice president of design for Huntington Beach-based Quiksilver Inc. before founding Los Angeles-based Ever LLC in 2003.

Ever began as a wholesaler and then Bleick opened his first store in Montecito about two years ago and another in Los Angeles a year ago.

Bleick is a hands-on designer. His inspiration is world travel.

“All the garments are made to be packed up in a suitcase,” he said.

Each garment hang tag has a pouch with ear plugs for quiet plane travel. Inside Ever’s boardshort pockets is a travel slide from some place in the world that Bleick has been.

Sometimes Bleick holds design meetings at his home—a teepee at a horse ranch in Malibu, where there is no electricity.

“It’s a great experience in making me think differently,” he said.

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