Auto Show Boasts Function Along With The Flash

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Most people go to the Twin Cities Auto Show to see all the flash, but there are some cars with real function on the floor this year.

Families can check out vehicles with lots of space and safety features, but when you're ready for your midlife crisis you can also indulge yourself in a little glitz and glamor.

The color is called "torch red," but even beyond the paint job, the Corvette Stingray Coupe is already hot. What was once considered a mid-life crisis car just got a makeover.

"This car is selling as soon as it comes off the trucks in dealerships," James Bell, Head of Consumer Affairs for General Motors, said. "Everybody wants it to succeed, but it's always been missing a little something. It was fast and it looked good, but maybe the interior wasn't so nice. Now it's beautiful on the inside. ... Four of the cylinders turn off when you're just cruising down the highway, you get great fuel efficiency."

Another vehicle with upgraded fuel economy is surprising: the Yukon.

"It has the same motor as the Corvette Stingray, so when you're just cruising down the road, four of the cylinders turn off. But when you need the power, it's still there," Bell said.

It's also more aerodynamic. The SUV is now getting a little less than 30 miles per gallon on the highway. It's a big item for Minnesotans who tow boats or campers. There is still a lot of room with a classier-looking dashboard and sleek features.

The function of the Yukon and the flash of the Corvette both cost in the mid-$50,000 range. So the question for some might be: Which one is more you?

The Twin Cities Auto Show runs through Sunday at the Minneapolis Convention Center. On Thursday, Jamie Yuccas will show you some of the new technology in trucks.