The following post was sponsored by the GM BuyPower Card from Capital One®. All opinions are my own and not directed by Capital One. To learn more about the GM BuyPower Card, click here.

Have you ever been to an auto show? Whether it is one of the larger ones that occur annually in New York, Detroit, Los Angeles, or a smaller one like the upcoming one here in San Diego–you’ve got to check one out. Why? To get a taste of your automotive future.

I recently attended the Los Angeles Auto Show. It was my second time seeing the show. I’ve also been fortunate to be able to attend the other shows I mentioned in the past as well. They’re all worth attending if you can, whether or not you’re shopping for a new vehicle. There’s something to see for everyone, even if you’re an enthusiast or a hardcore car guy or gal.

My four biggest reasons for taking the time to spend a day at one at one of these events are:

1. Concept vehicles
2. Automotive trends
3. New vehicle reveals
4. Being hands-on

Let me dig into each one of these a little bit more in-depth.

Concept Vehicles

While new vehicle announcements definitely get their fair share of media coverage at these events, so do the concepts. What are concept vehicles? They are the result of years of effort from a manufacturer to come up with a one-of-a-kind vehicle to showcase what they can create. Every now and then a manufacturer will give its designers and engineers a blank check to come up with something beautiful and innovative. It’s their chance to be as creative as they can be and to push the envelope of what’s possible. While these crazy expensive vehicles typically never make it to production, many of their design innovations and technological advancements do… eventually. They’re amazing to look at, photograph, and get a glimpse into what we may be seeing in new vehicles a few years down the road.

Automotive Trends

What you see at these big car shows is a direct representation of market trends. In other words, what the general population is buying these days. Right now, that means you are going to see a ton of crossovers, trucks, and SUVs. Traditional passenger cars are going to be a bit scarce, unless they’re muscle cars or sports cars like the new Corvette C8 I just saw at the L.A. show! With that said, sometimes manufacturers will use these auto shows as a platform to reveal something completely new and different and take a chance at being the first to market with a new trend setter.

New Vehicle Reveals

Maybe this should have been my first reason for attending a big car show, but I had to warm you up to it! While concept vehicles and automotive trends are a big part of car shows, the biggest spectacle people expect to see are those new vehicles covered with a big silky sheet. Hundreds of photographers wait patiently for that specific date and time for a manufacturer’s rep (or President!) to slide it off and unveil their latest accomplishment. Social media and online forums go crazy with their opinions, and before you know it, you can park one in your garage. This year, for example, GM brought back another historic name by revealing the all new 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, a new SUV that fits nicely in their line alongside the Trax and Equinox. This gives buyers more options when shopping the brand and is the direct result of the latest tech and automotive trends.

Being Hands-On

If you’ve never been to a car show, here’s a tip: bring the entire family! This isn’t just an opportunity for you to see all the latest vehicles, but you can also get hands on with most of them as well. No, you can’t drive them around—but you can get close up with them, hop inside them, and see what they feel like. Check your head and leg room. How are those blind spots treating you? What does that strange new material on the door look like… feel like? Plus, there are a ton of manufacturer reps there to answer all your questions. This isn’t like a dealership, either. No pressure… they just want you to be informed and let you and your family climb in and try their latest vehicles on for size.

Did one of GM’s latest vehicles catch your attention at a car show this past year? Maybe it’s a new model with the latest tech and safety features that would be a perfect fit for you and your family. That’s why I love the GM BuyPower Card. As a GM BuyPower Card cardholder, you can accumulate Earnings toward the purchase or lease of a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle. Cardmembers earn 5% back on the first $5,000 of purchases each year, then 2% unlimited beyond that. Plus, there are no limits on Earning, and your Earnings don’t expire for the life of the account. As an added bonus to cardmembers, Capital One and GM recently announced awesome new redemption options for the GM BuyPower Card that will help you plus up and take care of the vehicle you already have (while you’re earning towards your new one)! Cardmembers can now redeem their Earnings for statement credits of up to $250 per calendar year for qualifying purchases on vehicle care and GM extras. Qualifying purchases on vehicle care and GM extras include customer paid Certified Service, parts and accessories purchased at an authorized GM dealership, as well as eligible GM subscription services, including most purchased OnStar and Connected Services plans and SiriusXM subscriptions.

Now get out there and go to those auto shows, check out the GM BuyPower Card, and start Earning towards your next new ride!

Earnings Disclosures:

*Capital One, N.A. is the issuer of the BuyPower Card. General Motors is responsible for the operation and administration of the Earnings Program.

**BuyPower Card Earnings may not be used with fleet vehicle incentive programs or with some other offers and discounted sale programs, such as the GM Employee Discount Program, GM Company-Owned Vehicle Discount and GM Supplier Discount Program. Other exclusions may apply.

Alt Redemption Disclosures:

***Redeem your Earnings for statement credits of up to $250 per calendar year, January 1 through December 31, for qualifying purchases on vehicle care and GM extras. Qualifying purchases on vehicle care and GM extras include customer-paid Certified Service, parts and accessories purchased at an authorized U.S. GM dealership, as well as eligible GM subscription services, including most purchased OnStar and Connected Services plans and SiriusXM subscriptions. Does not include data plans. To redeem, log in to your BuyPower Card Earnings Account and select the Redeem page. Redemptions must be made within 90 days from the date your qualifying purchase was made. Please allow up to 3 business days after purchase for this transaction to appear on your BuyPower Card Account. Your statement credits are usually applied to your balance within 2 to 3 business days after redemption. All redemptions are final. Available on an open BuyPower Card Account in good standing. Combine with most other offers. Other exclusions may apply.