The 2010 Model Year San Diego International Auto Show (SDIAS) opens on Dec. 30, 2009 – perfect timing for San Diegans to get a head start on car buying decisions. This year’s show, as it does annually, provides one of the most exciting and entertaining destinations of the holiday season, and in an economical package. The show runs through Sun., Jan. 3, 2010.

Featuring more than 400 new-model vehicles under one roof, the SDIAS is among the best venues to review and compare the latest that global automakers have to offer. And the SDIAS provides all the tools for you to evaluate the vehicles and make informed decisions about your next purchase. From product specialists who are walking, talking Wikipedias of automotive information to Mark Maynard’s Car Shopping Checklist, picking the car of your dreams has never been easier.

But car shopping should not seem like work, so, while “the Cars are the Stars,” show organizers have once again created an environment that is a true family destination, with activities and exhibits suited to every age.

“We have built a reputation as one of the most economical entertainment destinations in San Diego,” said show director Kevin Leap. “This year will not disappoint, and in fact, we’ve added features that will make the show more exciting and entertaining than ever, all in a non-salling environment where you can view, touch and examine every kind of vehicle offering imaginable.”

Beyond the show floor, and in keeping with its mission of providing an enjoyable and meaningful experience for attendees, the show has arranged for a wide variety of activities.

In its third year, the ThinkBlue Eco-Center emphasizes the future of automotive technology through educational displays side-by side with fuel efficient, reduced emissions vehicles that can be purchased today. From global vehicle manufacturers like GM and Hyundai, to up-and-coming advanced tech companies like Tesla and Fisker, the ThinkBlue Eco-Center is a showcase of the possible becoming reality.

The best way to experience a new vehicle is by getting behind the wheel. This year, the SDIAS offers an unprecedented number of Ride & Drive opportunities, including the first-ever Ride & Drive event inside the convention center – Camp Jeep. Ford, General Motors, Kia, Toyota, and Chrysler’s Jeep® brand will hold Ride and Drive events during the show. Ford and Kia will be located in the front of the Convention Center, near entrance B and H respectively, Toyota’s “Start Something” event will be held in the parking lot behind the convention center, GM will be located along the rear drive behind the convention center, and Camp Jeep will be held inside in Hall A.

Dates and times for the Ride & Drives are:

• Ford – Thursday, Dec. 31 through Sunday, Jan. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Kia – Wednesday, Dec. 30 through Sun., Jan. 3 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Toyota – Friday, Jan 1 and Sat, Jan. 2 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• GM – Friday, Jan. 1 and Saturday, Jan.2 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 3 through 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Camp Jeep – Thursday, Dec. 31 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, Jan. 1 and 2 from10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 3 - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Staged at opposite ends of the convention center, the SDIAS brings the excitement of NASCAR and the cool of SEMA to San Diego. See NASCAR vehicles driven by legends such as Sterling Marlin and Bill Elliot, and on the other end of the center, see what ingenuity can do to shape a vehicle into the ultimate in cool.

Mazda Family Day activities will once again take center stage on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. And kids 12 and under get in to the San Diego International Auto Show free with a paid adult. This year, Mazda has teamed up with San Diego-based company “Paint My Ride Party,” and local charity “A Reason To Survive,” to host a Family Day event that will allow auto show attendees, for a suggested donation, the chance to unleash their inner artist by actually painting Mazda vehicles! All donations will go directly to “A Reason to Survive,” which is dedicated to healing, inspiring, and empowering children facing life challenges by providing innovative arts-based programs, education and opportunities.

Mazda Family Day will also welcome the world famous Jumpitz, an up and coming children’s entertainment group that inspires children to jump in and discover their world through engaging music, stories and dance. The Jumpitz will perform three shows on the Main Stage and will do meet & greets in between performances at the Jack FM booth in the Mazda exhibit.

See first hand how the automobile has evolved over the years at two brand new features. The Classics exhibit will contain restored, collector-worthy vehicles spanning 7 decades, from the start of the century to the muscle car era of the sixties. Also, the Model T Club of San Diego will display a variety of the vehicle that put America on wheels. The SDIAS would also not be complete without providing a glimpse at the vehicles that we all aspire to own – the Exotics – ranging from an Aston Martin Vantage to a Rolls-Royce.

The Scripps “What Kind of Classic Are You?” display will correlate health screenings people need to have when they turn a certain age. To demonstrate the various ages when San Diegans should consider health screenings, Scripps will have on display vehicles from the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s.

For the first time ever, the SDIAS will include a trailerable boat / personal watercraft and cycle exhibit, showcasing the lifestyle of the San Diego area and the toys that are an essential part of that lifestyle.

The 2010 Model-year San Diego International Auto Show is held at the San Diego Convention Center, located at 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101. The show runs from Wed., Dec. 30 – Sun., Jan. 3. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wed., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thurs., Fri. – Sat. from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sun. Admission is: Adults (13 and over): $10, Military (with ID): $7, Seniors (62 and over): $7, Children (7-12): $6, Children (1-6) free (when accompanied by an adult). Children 12 and under are free on Mazda Family Day, Sun. Jan. 3, when accompanied by a paid adult. For information on discount coupons or VIP e-tickets, visit the show Website at www.sdautoshow.com.

Presented by the 110-member NCDA, the San Diego International Auto Show is the highest-attended five day auto show in the United States, and the second highest-attended show in California. Located in the seventh largest market in the country, the show boasts access to one of the largest and increasingly influential Hispanic markets in the U.S., and is just 17 miles away from Mexico’s wealthiest city – Tijuana – and its population of nearly three million people. The show, which uses some 640,000 square feet of exhibit space on two floors at the waterfront San Diego Convention Center, will be presented Wed., Dec. 30, 2009 – Sun., Jan. 3, 2010.