2019 Indianapolis Auto Show: 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and 4 Other Things You Can’t Miss

New year, new cars: The calendar-straddling Indianapolis Auto Show will be the first major auto show to see 2020. Starting Dec. 26 and running through Jan. 1, showgoers can get up close and personal with cars, trucks, SUVs and luxury vans from more than 20 domestic and international automakers. Among the most notable all-new models on display will be the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, 2020 electric Mini Cooper SE and 2020 Hyundai Venue.

Related: How to Car Shop at an Auto Show

It makes sense all this excitement is happening in the city that hosts the Indy 500. Billed as the country’s second-longest-running auto show, the Indy exhibit will take place at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave., in downtown Indianapolis. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 26-30, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 31 through Jan. 1.

General admission is $7 at the door, or $6 online for visitors age 13 or older. Admission is free for children age 12 or younger and all active duty military, police and fire personnel with I.D. Visit the show’s website for more info and to purchase tickets.

Car shopping at the Crossroads of America — or just looking to get out of the cold between the holidays? Here are the top five things you can’t miss at the 2019 Indianapolis Auto Show:

1. 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

After its debut at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, the all-new 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport mid-size SUV will be one of the hottest cars at the Indy auto show this year.  With a swept-back, coupelike design, the five-seat Cross Sport looks a little bit sleeker than its seven-seat Atlas progenitor. Two powertrains are available: a 276-horsepower V-6 or a 235-hp turbocharged and direct-injected TSI four-cylinder engine. Both are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive is also available.

More available options include wireless phone charging, heated rear seats and steering wheel, ventilated front seats and a 12-speaker Fender audio system. The Cross Sport also boasts standard safety and driver assistance tech, including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go feature, traffic jam assist and dynamic road sign display are available on upper trims.

The Cross Sport will be Volkswagen’s second mid-size SUV, after the Atlas, as the automaker moves toward doubling up in popular classes. In the future, Volkswagen plans to include a second compact SUV that will slot below the Tiguan in its lineup.

Pricing information for the Cross Sport will be available in spring 2020, but Indy auto show visitors can otherwise get familiar with it starting the day after Christmas.

Read more about the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport here.

2. 2020 Mini Cooper SE Electric Vehicle

The Indianapolis Auto Show will be one of the first chances to get a good look at the all-new, all-electric Mini Cooper SE. The 2020 Mini Cooper SE electric vehicle offers a host of standard features: electric parking brake, heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors and washer jets and dual-zone climate control. The 6.5-inch multimedia display has native navigation and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. The hardtop, two-door electric Mini can get up to 110 miles on a full charge. Its 32.6-kilowatt-hour battery, which sits in the floor, can charge up to 80% in 36 minutes using a DC fast-charging station. Under the hood of this coupe is a 181-hp electric motor that puts out 199 pounds-feet of torque.

The 2020 electric Mini Cooper SE will hit dealerships in March 2020, with prices starting at $30,750, including an $850 destination charge.

Read more about the 2020 Mini Cooper SE EV here.

3. 2020 Hyundai Venue

Hyundai will have several cars from its 2020 lineup on the show floor in Indy, including the all-new Palisade SUV and the redesigned Sonata sedan. The also-all-new 2020 Hyundai Venue — marketed as a small city SUV — debuted at the 2019 New York International Auto Show back in the spring. It falls below Hyundai’s subcompact Kona in size, so it’s quite small. That said, the standard 8-inch audio display touchscreen system and a 60/40-split, folding backseat manage to fit inside. Lane keep assist, driver attention warning and forward collision avoidance assist are standard in the Hyundai SmartSense safety suite. Powering the Venue is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder mated to a six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue is on sale now, and pricing starts at $18,345, including a destination charge of $1,095.

Read more about the 2020 Hyundai Venue here.

More From Cars.com:

• More Auto Show News From Cars.com
• Shopping for a New Car? Start Here
• Find a 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Near You
• Find a 2020 Hyundai Palisade Near You
• Find a 2020 Hyundai Sonata Near You

4. Blood Drive

The Indy auto show is also offering a different kind of “drive” this year. The Versiti Blood Center of Indiana’s“bloodmobile” will be accepting blood donations every day of the auto show from noon to 3:30 p.m. Donations take an hour, and prospective donors must be age 16 or older. As an incentive, donors will receive a $10 e-gift card. To schedule a donation time or for more information, visit the Versiti website.

5. Puppy Love

Another way to give back at the Indy auto show is through the Subaru Loves Pets booth. Showgoers will have the opportunity to adopt and take home a new pet. If you’re not looking to add a furry friend to your household, you can also make a personalized tag for your own pet or make a donation to Indy Humane or Animal Care Services.

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