Test Drive Green Cars Through an Indoor Forest at the Detroit Auto Show

Organizers of the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit were left scrambling recently to fill exhibition space in Cobo Hall. A number of auto manufacturers including Porsche, Nissan, Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Land Rover, and Ferrari have decided to skip the show. This meant that the usual two floor spread of exhibition space could not be condensed down to the upper level. So what to do with the 70,000 square foot basement?

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. came up with the idea of creating a test track where consumers could drive the newest ‘green’ vehicles. But rather than set up a few orange cones and hang some vinyl banners, the team wanted to create a more interesting driving experience for show visitors. So they set out to transform the basement into a forest.

It literally looks like you’re in a beautiful forest. It’s huge. Trees, waterfalls, brick pavers. This course winds its way through it. It’s a way to showcase of what (automakers) currently have to offer and what the future holds, said the show’s senior co-chair, Joe Serra.

The list of available vehicles is being finalized, but the selection of six to 12 vehicles includes a hydrogen-powered Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell vehicle and other hybrids.

Individual brands have staged test tracks at auto shows before. Jeep is probably the most well know for creating their off-road simulation tracks. But the Detroit test track will be the first open to a variety of manufacturers.

We’ve turned what potentially could have been a negative … into a positive, Serra said.

[via The Detroit News]