Hyundai exhibit at Detroit Auto Show is place to be

** This post was sponsored by She Buys Cars & Hyundai **

There are a lot of dazzling and glitzy vehicles on display at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit for the 2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). If you are looking to expand your visit beyond just looking at the cars and trucks being showcased, you'll want to make sure to swing by Hyundai's exhibit which has some fun experiences to participate in.  Compete for prizes in a mock game show,  race a Hyundai concept car in a video game or check out the NFL themed activities taking place at the exhibit.  Current Hyundai vehicle owner can also take advantage of nice lounge where you can get off your feet and relax for awhile which is something to appreciate as you'll be doing a lot of walking if you want to see everything being displayed at the auto show.

The Hyundai Swag Competition will have auto show attendees participate in a mock game show taking place at the exhibit for a chance to win some great prizes.  You might want to peruse the HyundaiUSA website if you are interested in competing just in case they ask some trivia questions.  Registration for this contest is first come, first serve with it being limited to 26 contestants per day so you may want to make Hyundai the first stop of your Detroit Auto Show visit.

Test your racing skills as you drive the Hyundai N 2025 concept car during a game of Playstation's Gran Turismo 6.  Players don't use a video game controller to maneuver though, you actually climb into a game-pod that provides gas and brake pedals plus a steering wheel to simulate your racing around a track.  All ages are welcome to participate in the Hyundai Racing Challenge.  Can you achieve the best lap time and earn the #1 spot on the leader board?

Hyundai is an official sponsor of the NFL and they're showing off their ideal football tailgating mobile.  Look in the trunk and you'll find it full of blue miniature footballs.  Correctly guess the number of balls to win some prizes from the National Football League.  You can also play some Madden football while visiting the Hyundai exhibit.

 It is an auto show so of course Hyundai has cars on display for consumers to look over and knowledgeable staff on hand to answer any questions people may have.  One of the models Hyundai is highlighting during the NAIAS is its new IONIQ which is world's first vehicle platform to provide three different electrified powertrain options -- electric / hybrid / plug-in hybrid.  A car's powertrain is the mechanism that transmits the drive from the engine of a vehicle to its axle -- in other words what allows a vehicle to get up and go  .The electric option it completely fueled by battery power.  Hybrids still run on gasoline but utilize battery power to increase the vehicle's fuel efficiency.  A plug-in  hybrid allows the vehicle to be powered just by batteries or alternatively the driver can also utilize the hybrid option use gasoline as fuel as well.  Plus in addition to these three varieties of powertrains, Hyundai is also utilizing the IONIQ as the model for the autonomous vehicle it is developing (self-driving cars are the hot topic at this year's NAIAS).  The IONIQ is the  future of Hyundai and it is on display at NAIAS.

Also take a look at the popular Sonata while you are at the Hyundai exhibit which offers a plug-in hybrid  model as well.  These cars provide the fuel savings of a battery powered electric car with the peace of mind of being able to utilize gasoline when you need to flexibility to drive longer distances so not to be totally dependent on its plug-in charging.  Sonata Plug-in Hybrid's lithium-ion polymer battery pack has the largest capacity of any midsize hybrid sedan with a class-leading all-electric range of approximately 27 miles and an estimated range of 590 miles in its gas/battery hybrid mode.

In addition to visiting the Detroit Auto Show for more information about what Hyundai has to offer consumers, please visit SheBuysCars.com.  This informative website has a section filled with information, news, and reviews of Hyundai's products. SheBuysCars is a community of online automobile writers working collectively to provide information designed to empower women as owners and buyers of cars, help them become more thoughtful about their vehicles capabilities and functionality and to foster a closer relationship between auto manufacturers and female customers.  A Geek Daddy had the great experience of being able to attend the Press Preview Days of this year's  North American International Auto Show to help She Buys Cars share news and highlights from the event.  I'm appreciative that She Buys Cars believed A Geek Daddy's perspective would be a valuable contribution to their coverage of NAIAS 2017 and encourage you to check out their website and social media channels.

Chrysler debuts Pacifica Play Zone at Detroit Auto Show

As a leader in family-friendly transportation with the minivans it produces, Chrysler didn't want to see parents leaving children behind when it came to a trip to the auto show.  Understanding that a visit to these adult focused events could be a bit boring for little ones, the automobile manufacturer created a special kid-friendly area for families to enjoy at the Detroit's North American International Auto Show.  The inaugural Pacifica Play Zone ties into Chrysler debuting its sixth generation minivan, named the Pacifica, at the show.  Located on an upper level overlooking the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) booth allows visitors to engage in activities, games and immersive experiences that highlight the features of the new Pacifica minivan. A Geek Daddy was invited to a tour of the Pacifica Play Zone with Bruce Velisek, head of brand marketing for Chrysler products, on its opening day.

There are a variety of games people can participate in for a chance to win prizes.  The "Stow 'n Go Showdown" was one of the most popular. Players race against a clock trying to stow all the seats in a mock up of the interior of a Pacifica.  If participants can complete the challenge before the clock reaches zero they receive a complimentary pair of sunglasses.

After making your way pass the "Stow 'n Go Showdown", visitors pass through the side door of a Pacifica into the uconnect theater which demonstrates the minivan's enhanced entertainment system and lets kids play video games.

Chrysler has partnered with the Michigan Science Center to provide some educational activities within the Pacifica Play Zone too.  This area lets children participate in hands-on experiments like designing their own wind turbines and electronic building blocks/circuits using littleBits as they connect motors, wheels, lights and switches.  Did you know that you can generate electricity from a potato?  Learn some fun science facts while experimenting in this section of the Pacifica Play Zone.

Sit back in the seats on a green screen backed set in a unique 360-degree photo opp that shoots you to the moon in a Pacifica.  You'll witness yourself miraculously enveloped by a minivan within a video that Chrysler will email to you.  Have some fun with this memento of your trip to the auto show by acting out some funny poses for your video.

A video posted by @geekdad248 on Jan 16, 2016 at 9:47pm PST

Chrysler is proud of the commercial grade vacuum they've included as a brand new minivan feature for their 2017 Pacifica and are highlighting that feature with their RIDGID Stow 'N Vac game.  Compete against three other players to be the first to vacuum up all the balls in your section of the game table to win a prize.

The room next to that allows visitors to experience the surround sound available for a Pacifica and try out some of the vehicles front console amenities.

Some other nice aspects include an area that features a larger-than-life interactive experience across multiple 65-inch touch screens, a design center which allows adults and children to color and stylize their own image of the new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica plus share their creation via social media, and a Recharge Lounge where parents can take advantage of comfortable seating and power up their mobile devices while their children explore the Pacifica Play Zone.

The whole area is decorated with artwork by local Detroit graffiti artist Shades who I had a chance to hang with a bit.  This endeavor took him five days to paint and a whole lot of spray cans.  Shades has gone from doing underground graffiti on the streets to making his art with an urban street flare a lucrative and legal career.  He is now commissioned by major corporations and other patrons to create graffiti projects around the world and has two pieces archived at the Detroit Institute of Arts.  This artist with a lot of Motor City street cred has played a big role in graffiti becoming recognized internationally as a legitimate art form.

Chrysler also treated visitors on the opening day of the Pacifica Play Zone with special performances by The BeatBuds.  This uptempo musical duo Jonathan Jonah and Matthew Shapiro (aka Jonny Jingles and Matty Maracas) have a focus on performing for families with young children.  There were quite a few children laughing and smiling as they sang, danced, and played along with The BeatBuds.

A Geek Daddy had a nice tour of this new kid friendly addition to the Detroit Auto Show.  This year's show is open to the public from January 16 - 24, 2016. For more information, visit NAIAS.com.

Don't live close enough to visit this year's show? Well you're not necessarily out of luck as Bruce also told us that elements of the #PacificaPlayZone will also be incorporated into FCA's displays at this year's Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York auto shows.  So if you live near one of those city's this may definitely be the year to take a family outing to the auto show.

Thank you to Bruce Velisek and FCA for their hospitality and the invite to join them at Detroit's North American International Auto Show.