The first day of the 2011 Minneapolis Auto Show is coming to a close… So what’s new and exciting? The SLS AMG at the Mercedes Benz booth has had a consistent crowd around it two or three people deep since I got here at 5:00 this afternoon.

Highlights from some of the other manufacturers include a wicked cool red Audi R8 roadster, they’ve also got a cool V12 A8L on display, as crazy a car as that actually is in terms of practicality, if you can swing it, why not?

It was the first time in my life that I’ve seen a Fiat automobile at an auto show in North America… There are several new Fiat 500s at the Chrysler booth, there is also a vintage cinquecento there, sort of a beater really, it looks like a local enthusiast’s car, it’s got a “Wheels of Italy” WOI sticker placed on the fender a la Ferrari scuderia shield.

The atmosphere is one of a recently rebounding auto industry. There seems to be a lot of optimism among dealer representatives and the show goers I’ve been talking to are looking forward to a new car purchase this year.

If you want to be able to see, feel and climb around in basically every car on the market, all in one place, the 2011 Minneapolis Auto Show is the place to do it.