Slated to officially open to the general public on Saturday, April 4th, the Jacob Javits Center‘s most anticipated annual event returns this weekend with the 2015 New York International Auto Show. For nine full days, the ‘car show’ as it’s otherwise known welcomes every make and model and manufacturer to New York City for a grand spectacle that celebrates all things automobiles and then some. Crowds are expected to exceed more than one million people on hand over the course of this year’s show, assembling to check out out an estimated 1,000 different vehicles on display. And with tickets priced at just $16, the annual show is an unbeatable value given the sheer amount of time one can spend inside, hopping from one interactive display to the next.

The festivities began on Thursday night with the 2015 World Car Awards, an invite only presentation that emanated straight from the Auto Show with the world anxiously awaiting. The five principal awards were given out to the winners, with each car on display for some in-person gawking. The evening’s most prestigious, the 2015 World Car of the Year was awarded to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, though the BMW i8, which won for the 2015 World Green Car was for us, the most eye catching. Mercedes-Benz would also take home awards for World Luxury Car (S Coupe) and World Performance Car (AMG GT) as the evening wound down.

Though the World Car Awards have now passed, there’s still plenty to see at the 2015 Auto Show including some special vehicles on display for the very first time. Cars and trucks like compact crossovers the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V, the electric Chevrolet Volt and Buick‘s first convertible offered in the United States in a whopping 25 years, the Cascadia are just some of the new and notable cars on site. The debut that we’re most excited to feast our eyes upon though is the BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe. If that doesn’t necessarily roll off the tongue, the celebration of the legendary car makers 40th anniversary in North America indicates this specific automobile’s significance. On display next to the swanky new ride, will also be the 1970 BMW 2002ti ALPINA, a race car that became an iconic piece of European sports some four decades ago.

Though all of the usual suspects from Toyota to Nissan, Audi to Dodge, Fiat to Jeep and every brand in between will be fully showcased, it’s the concept cars that have us most excited. Like midsize trucks? Look no further than the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, equipped with a new grille and headlights with blacked out accents, shown in forest green and subtle orange hues. Supercar more your speed? Get set for the Aston Marin Vulcan, a track-only ride which is a forward thinking look at what’s to come from the iconic sports car manufacturer. You’ll be drooling at its potential and its 800-plus horses. Finally, Buick, continually poised for a big year, comes with the Avenir, a four seat automobile with an all new grille that is sure to indicate the brand’s new style equipped with red, blue and silver colors in the car-maker’s otherwise familiar shield.

Candidly, we’re just scratching the surface here with our preview. You can find a full schedule of events on the Auto Show’s website, including show hours, special events and attractions to visit. After April 12t though, the Show disappears for another full year. Don’t put off your plans any longer- and pay the Javits Center a visit over the next week and a half. You’ll be glad you did- even if you’ve got just a passing interest in brand new automobiles.

- Dave Gendelson