By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The upcoming Birmingham International Auto Show will include new features this year, including a “Made in Alabama” section, the head of the Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association told the Alabaster-Pelham Rotary Club on Oct. 25.

Auto Dealers Association Executive Director Jennifer Whisenant said this is her first year to organize the show, which will be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex from Nov. 8-11.

Among the new offerings at this year’s show will be a section showcasing Alabama’s automobile industry. Mercedes, Honda and Hyundai each have automobile manufacturing plants in Alabama, and Toyota manufactures engines here, Whisenant said.

“They will have samples of what actually comes off their lines here in Alabama,” Whisenant said. “That section will focus on the impact they have on our state’s economy.”

This year’s show will also include a “test drive” area, which will allow visitors to drive a 2013 Honda Accord around a section of downtown Birmingham. The event will also include James Spann’s storm watcher class, a kids’ zone and a Nov. 8 concert by Dustin Lynch, a country musician best known for his song “Cowboys and Angels.”

During the show, automobile companies will fill the north, south and east BJCC exhibition halls with more than 400 2013 model year vehicles of all kinds. Visitors will get a chance to examine and sit in nearly every new car available, Whisenant said.

“If you haven’t bought a new car lately, the technology in cars now will blow you away,” Whisenant said, noting many new cars include everything from Bluetooth connectivity to blind spot cameras.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for kids 6-11. Children younger than 6 are free.

For more information about the show, visit Carsbirmingham.com and click on the auto show tab.