2007 Houston Auto Show opens tomorrow

Though Houstonist doesn't really know much about cars, we get excited every winter when the Houston Auto Show opens — we'd much rather climb around the new-model cards at Reliant Center than pretend we're going to buy one so we can test drive it at the dealership.

This year's auto show features some well-hyped, but ultimately boring, firsts, including the unveiling of the 2007 Ford Expedition (which is even bigger than last year's!). The Expedition leads a fleet of new SUVs, including the '07 Chevy Suburban and Tahoe and the all-new Chrysler Aspen (an SUV based in construction on the Durango and in name on a rather unfortunate roadster).

Getting a lot of attention this year are "crossover" vehicles, updated versions of the station wagon that reportedly offer better mileage and handling than SUVs but still have more room than a car (without the jump seats in the back, we assume). Ford has one, and so does Lincoln. Volkswagen, on the other hand, is sticking with a more traditional wagon version of its updated Passat.

Among the other Texas debuts at the Houston Auto Show: the sporty looking Saturn Sky, the Volkswagen Eos convertible, the $200,000 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and the cartoonish Toyota FJ Cruiser, an SUV that looks back to early Land Cruisers.

The auto show opens at Reliant Center tomorrow. It may not be the most exciting year for new cars, but it's still fun to sit in 'em and kick the tires. And who knows — you just might be there when the mob of angry Ford employees shows up!

2007 Houston Auto Show
Saturday through Feb. 5 at Reliant Center
$10 admission ($1 coupons available at Luby's and participating car dealerships)