For the past 111 years, New York has played host to the country’s most well known International Auto Show. And 2012′s incredible event is back for another ten day extravaganza at the west side’s Jacob Javits Center for perhaps their most remarkable show yet. Even as a relative automobile novice, it’s hard not to get excited immediately upon entering the Center’s endless space. Quiet and empty during our Auto Show preview, in just a few short hours, the place will be booming by the tens of thousands, completely jam packed with car lovers from near and far, for a glimpse at what’s coming down the pike for driving enthusiasts. But before the ruckus, all is serene. The smell of new car pervades the air around the high ceilings and intricate car and truck displays. Careful workers are relentlessly buffing these pristine creations to a shine. And regardless if you are an automobile fanatic or an amateur who can appreciate one that’s especially luxurious, there’s something for everyone at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.

With 60 new vehicles on display at this year’s show alone and a whopping 1000 cars and trucks inside the center, far be it for an inexperienced onlooker to dictate the hits and misses around the massive space. There is just so much to admire; it’s no wonder that despite its 12 hour long weekday availability, the Show still lasts a full week and a half to accommodate everyone coming out.

The show is essentially divided into distinctive areas, all confined to different rooms- compact to mid-sized cars from Hyundai to Rolls Royce upon entering at Level 3, mostly trucks and utility vehicles a floor below on Level 1, GMC, Cadillac, and Chevrolet in the brand new for this year, North Hall, and much more in the concourses, Level 4, and Galleria areas like vendors, autograph signings, and ‘photos with a supercar.’ Immediately upon entering the main space, you take note of some of the more prominent and familiar makes, with Honda, Mazda, and Toyota standing out front.

Our favorite aspect of the Auto Show each year is always the array of concept cars on hand, and the 2012 Show does not disappoint in that regard. With so much of the emphasis on future fueling options geared toward electric powered cars, the Toyota NS4 concept car is led by HMI, which I’ve learned to be Human-Machine Interface, in that it is built around a multi-touch screen, with the look and feel of a smartphone. Moreover, the plug-in hybrid car has a sleek body design and is potentially geared for a 2015 global release. Sports car more of your thing? Look no further than Acura’s new NSX- built with lightweight materials and a V-6 engine, it utilizes Acura’s new Super Handling hybrid system allowing for precision driving, quick acceleration, and is relatively efficient on fuel. Other standout cars for the 2012 Show included the awesome looking 2013 Dodge Dart which simply looks fun to drive, the new Porsche Boxster with a longer, lighter body and the new BMW 3 Series, which has new improvements by way of safety and fuel-efficiency, while remaining perhaps the most affordable way to own a Beamer.

Any lover of cars certainly has their favorite makes or models. But if you’re like us, you’re just wide-eyed to be inside the Show. Walking around in awe, we gazed for minutes at the incredible Audi showroom floor, gasped at the Bentleys, and even perched ourselves near the Dodge Viper, nostalgic for the ‘that’s the first car I’m going to get when I grow up’ feeling we had in our youth. But that’s what the Auto Show is all about- making your dreams and fantasies a reality.

The 2012 New York International Auto Show officially opens Saturday morning, April 7th, but the remaining week of events is full of fun things to go out of your way for. The Lemay Museum Exhibit showcases antique cars of yesteryear, The Dub Show Tour shows off custom made cars, exotics, and ones owned by celebrities, and even an Inner Roadway for the Camp Jeep Off-Road Ride Along where you can get inside one of these incredible rides. You can also take part in meet and greets with the likes of former New York Giant Antonio Pierce (4/7, 2-3pm). There’s no shortage of interactive activities or displays to check out- from Infiniti to Jaguar, Aston Martin to Lamborghini, Volkswagen to Maybach, and everything in between. So what are you waiting for- call up some buddies and schedule a time to head over to the Auto Show now. It comes but once a year. For more information on everything you can expect at the 2012 New York International Auto Show, check out autoshowny.com. Believe us, our pictures above, can’t do this one justice!

- Jane Van Arsdale