Even before the media preview of the 2024 Lehigh Valley Auto Show revved up, hit recordings by New Wave pop band The Cars powered across Stabler Athletic and Convocation Center.

“Good Times Roll,” “Just What I Needed” and “My Best Friend’s Girl” from The Cars’ self-titled 1978 debut album with cover art of a woman (Natalya Medvedeva) behind the wheel of a car; “Let’s Go” from the 1979 album, “Candy-O,” with the image of a model by artist Alberto Vargas posed on the hood of a sports car; “Shake It Up,” from The Cars’ 1981 album of the same title, and “Magic” and “Drive” from the 1984 album, “Heartbeat City,” with cover art of a 1971 Plymouth Duster 340 and a Vargas painting of a female model. If that’s not enough, The Cars’ “Panorama” 1980 album cover is a checkered flag.

The 2024 Lehigh Valley Auto Show has you covered, even to The Cars’ tribute band, Best Friends Girl, performing at the 2024 VIP Gala, March 20, a separate ticketed event open to the public for the first time.

The Cars’ song titles lend themselves to a self-made promo for the auto show: “Let’s Go” and “Drive” to see a “Panorama” of new vehicles that may “Shake It Up” and take you to “Heartbeat City,” as you conclude it’s “Magic” and “Just What I Needed.” Don’t take “Your Best Friend’s Girl,” though. Save that for the Best Friends Girl cover band at the Gala when you “Let the Good Times Roll.”

The Cars’ song title trivia and word play aside, you will see plenty of cars at the 25th Lehigh Valley Auto Show, March 21-24, Goodman Campus, Lehigh University, presented by the Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association.

The theme for the auto show, to be held in three venues, Stabler, Rauch Fieldhouse and a big tent on the Lehigh campus in Saucon Valley, is “For the Love of Cars.”

“The magic flows throughout all three floors of the show,” said Dan Moyer, Executive Director of the Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association, at the show’s Feb. 20 press preview.

“We are going to have a dozen more manufacturers here than at any North American show,” Moyer told a reporter for Lehigh Valley Press at the press preview.

There will be 44 dealers and 70 brands at the Lehigh Valley Auto Show.

Cars on display in front of the south bleachers along the basketball court in Stabler at the preview were some of the many that will be at the show:

The redesigned 2024 Mercedes E-350 and 2024 Porsche Cayenne, 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback, 2024 GMC Denali, 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary, 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and 2024 2LT Corvette.

The full title of the 25th Lehigh Valley Auto Show is “Celebrating a Milestone in Automotive Excellence.”

“You’re going to see an amazing array,” said Keith Muir, 2024 Lehigh Valley Auto Show Chair, Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association, Vice President, Star Buick GMC.

“On average, $150,000 per year, the Gala has raised for the community,” Muir said.

Ana estimated 66,000 attended the 2023 Lehigh Valley Auto Show, said Muir, adding, “That was one of our big ones.”

The 2024 auto show harks backs to “the before times” of pre-Covid, that of 2019, when the Gala was last held. In addition to a concert by Best Friends Girl, there will be cuisine and beverages at the Gala.

Proceeds from the Gala benefit Bloom for Women, a nonprofit that supports women and children affected by sex trafficking in the Lehigh Valley.

“Pennsylvania is ninth in the nation for reporting sex trafficking calls to the national hotline,” Carol Andersen, CEO, Bloom for Women, told Lehigh Valley Press.

In addition to the Gala, the 2024 auto show has two other special events.

“Purses & Perfume,” 6-8 p.m. March 21, with registration and tickets for “A Reved-Up Raffle” are at the auto show box office on Stabler’s second floor. Golden balloons in each building at the show mark the location of high-end purses and perfumes.

“It started out as ‘Purses and Perfume,’ but it expanded to luxury accessories,” said Tiffany Sondergaard of ts Brand Elevation. Items include those from Lara Bly Designs, Macy’s, Bixler’s and Lonnie’s Closet.

“Ilene Wood is donating a purse that’s actually shaped like a car,” Sondergaard said. Ilene Rosenthal Hochberg Wood is a collector and historian at “Purseonality: A Stylish Handbag History.”

The third auto show event is “Friday Night Flights,” 6-8 p.m. March 22, a craft beer, distillery and wine-tasting. In attendance will be Miss Pennsylvania Moranda Moore and representatives from automobile clubs. Registration and tickets for “Friday Night Flights” are at the auto show box office on Stabler’s second floor.

The Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Dealers Association, founded in 1998, Association is comprised of 44 new car dealers with 77 franchises. The association promotes automotive excellence and community engagement through signature events such as the annual Lehigh Valley Auto Show.

Information and tickets: https://lehighvalleyautoshow.org