Utah’s largest exotic car show is free this weekend in SLC

This week Need 2 Drive Utah, together with The Gateway and Automotive Addiction, will host its fourth annual spring show, and this one is poised to be the best yet. You won’t want to miss the Exotics at The Gateway event where some of the rarest hypercars in the world will be on display. Take this awesome opportunity to see a Koenigsegg (a Utah first!), a Pagani, dozens of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, McLarens, Porsches and other special cars in the same place. The best part? It’s free to attend. 

Photo: Motorhead Design Studio

Event details 

Ismael Utrilla of Need 2 Drive Utah, Automotive Addiction, The Gateway and the show’s sponsors, including KSL Cars, have worked hard to put on a show you’ll never forget. Here are some things you should know: 

• The show will be Saturday, April 8, at The Gateway from 6-9 p.m. 

• It’s free and family-friendly. This is the stuff of childhood dreams so be sure to bring your kids! 

• There will be fun, free activities like a 360-degree camera booth provided by KSL Cars. 

• If you bring your car but are not part of the show, please be respectful. No burnouts, loud revving or other dangerous behavior will be allowed.

• Bathrooms are limited, so make sure you take care of business before the show. 

• All proceeds from Need 2 Drive and 118 Racing merch will be donated to Utah Foster Care. 

If you haven’t been to The Gateway in a while, you’re in for a treat — literally. There are plenty of fine dining or family-friendly options to grab some grub in between car-gawking sessions. Satisfy those hunger pangs at HallPass, Dave & Buster’s, Mr. Shabu, Tucanos, Costa Vida and more. Find a Lamborghini for sale

You especially won’t want to miss the official after-party at Flanker Kitchen & Sporting Club. This will be from 6 p.m. to close and will be open to the public for ages 21 and over. Fittingly, DJ Bentley will provide the sounds for the night. 

Photo: Ismael Utrilla

The growth of Utah’s supercar scene

Four years ago, Need 2 Drive held its first exotic car show, a spontaneous meet-up in the City Creek parking lot. The gathering drew a huge crowd and was an undeniable hit among onlookers. That led to an even larger show at Top Golf in 2021, and then The Gateway show in 2022 — each year bigger and better than the last. This show promises to follow suit as Utah’s supercar scene continues to expand. 

Just in the last two years, supercar group Need 2 Drive has more than doubled its membership, with more than 200 exotic cars listed. It may not be Miami or Los Angeles, but Salt Lake City can certainly hold its own when it comes to cool cars. 

“People don’t realize it, but Utah’s supercar scene is one of the best in the country,” said Ismael Utrilla, in a previous interview with KSL Cars. 

Even just a few years ago it was rare to see a Lamborghini, McLaren or other supercars on the road. Now, these special cars are a regular sighting in town, at shows or carving down canyon roads. Need 2 Drive has always been about just that, the need to drive and not just park these cars as garage queens. 

Photo: Tanner Seymour

Giving back and inspiring the next generation

While Need 2 Drive Utah will always be about the love of driving exotic cars, Ismael and his group members are eager to give back and inspire up-and-coming enthusiasts, especially youth. Find a Ferrari today

“One of our goals is to make sure that not only is the present enjoyable but that future generations are inspired to dream big and keep the community going,” he said in a previous interview with KSL Cars. “We want kids to dream. But they can’t dream if they can’t see the cars. That’s why Need 2 Drive exists.”

Need 2 Drive is also focused on helping local charities. This year, all proceeds from Need 2 Drive and 118 Racing merch sold at the show will be donated to Utah Foster Care. Last Christmas, one exotic car owner rallied Utah enthusiasts in donating over $200,000 to Utah Foster Care — and this show aims to have a similar, if not more generous, outcome.

Exotics at The Gateway has a number of sponsors, including title sponsor KSL Cars. It’s also brought to you by Automotive Addiction, Porsche Salt Lake City, Tint Citi, CarGuyz Motors, 118 Racing, Ferrari Salt Lake City, Coatic-Lab and Utah Foster Care.

Photo: Tanner Seymour

Stay tuned

Follow @KSLCarsOfficial on Instagram and Facebook for more information leading up to the event and for highlights of the show. Details can also be found on the Exotics at The Gateway Facebook event page. You can also follow @Need2DriveUtah on Instagram and Ismael's personal account, @PorscheDriver801, to be sure you won’t miss a beat of the action. 

Do you or someone you know have an awesome car story? We want to feature it! Send us a message at cars@ksl.com.

The makes and models mentioned in this article are not placed in any particular order, nor intended to be viewed as a ranked list. KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com.