The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2004 World Congress, runs March 8 through 11 at Cobo Center in Detroit. The annual exhibition features the largest technical program in history, with more than 1,500 papers scheduled. Attendees will get up close and personal with the current Winston Cup champion car owner, the legendary designer of the Ford Cobra, and other performance-car icons during the event's mini-conference "High-Performance Cars -- A Passion for Performance."

The 2004 exhibition features over 1,000 automotive-industry suppliers and manufacturers including the return of Dana Corp., the Toledo-based component supplier and Michigan-based Panasonic Automotive Systems. The Dana Technical Innovation Forum features a 200-seat theater located on the exhibit floor where select, high-interest sessions will be hosted including some papers in the High-Performance program. Also on the show floor will be Panasonic's display of six vehicles outfitted with its latest DVD and surround-sound systems.

Eight Technology Pavilions, each its own technology trading center, offer attendees convenient shop-by-technology opportunities. They will focus on Emerging Technology, NVH, Performance Engineering, Manufacturing, Powertrain/Emission/Environment, Interiors/Materials, an expanded Electronics/Telematics pavilion, and Safety.

An extensive selection of SAE's professional-development seminars will again be held in conjunction with the World Congress led by technology educators. Seminars focus on Advanced Propulsion/Powertrain, Lightweight Materials, Advanced Electronics, Environment and Emissions, Safety/Training, and General Engineering and Management.