Chicago Auto Show
Chicago Auto Show, Automotive News, Latest car models
Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Geneva Motor Show, Etc., Humor
Field notes on the 2010 Chicago Auto Show - Click above for the series
Without doubt we have never come across a more comically true summary of the auto show experience. A nine-panel series on the experience of the Chicago Auto Show by the magnificently named Lunchbreath is so spot on that it's already giving us PTSD about the Geneva Motor Show, and Geneva hasn't even happened yet. From the camera phones to photo profiling to that guy in the Escalade, it's all in there. If you like the panels below, check out his Unsolicited Proposals to Detroit, and the Housewares Trade Show for something completely different.
Gallery: Lunchbreath's Field Notes on the 2010 Chicago Auto Show
[Source: Lunchbreath via Core77]
Core-Toons breaks down the 2010 Chicago Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Podcasts, Geneva Motor Show, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Lincoln, Mercury, Toyota
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!
It's Chris² as both Shunk and Paukert join Dan and for Episode #166 of the Autoblog Podcast this week. First up, as usual, is the Autoblog Garage, housing a Suzuki Grand Vitara and a Kia Soul this week. From there, we take a quick trip through the Chicago Auto Show's highlights. The 2011 Ford Edge, Toyota Avalon, Honda Odyssey concept, and Hyundai Azera all figure in the conversation.
We leave the stockyards for the land of fantastic chocolate and mull a few of the things we're likely to see at the Geneva Motor Show. Toyota's updated RAV-4 and the 5 by Peugeot garner mention before we return stateside to talk about Chrysler's refreshed LX cars and Fiat-based Caliber replacement. On the entertainment tip, Adam Carolla's Top Gear USA revelation catches our attention, and then we entertain ourselves by beating up on Mercury's choice of the Tracer name for its upcoming version of the Ford Focus.
Check out our listener's awesome photo gallery below, and direct fanmail to Podcast at Autoblog dot com, review the show in iTunes, fill out our survey, or even leave us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Until next week, hit up Joystiq and Engadget when podcast loneliness sets in. Thanks for listening!
Check out Matt's sweet Volkswagen GTI, which he was lucky enough to win from VW and then send pictures to us in triumph.
Gallery: Podcast listener Matt's GTI
Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #166 - Chicago recap/Geneva preview
Autoblog Podcast #166 - Chicago recap/Geneva preview originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Technology, Volvo
In-car entertainment turned it up another wireless notch at last week's Chicago Auto Show when Volvo showed off "the industry's first Internet connected Rear Seat Entertainment System with Windows XP, WiFi and a 500G hard drive."
Officially, it remains a test-bed study for the moment, but the idea is that you can do everything on a rear headrest touchscreen that you can do on your home computer. You can also plug your computer into the car and load the XC70's system with your own music and video to keep things quiet in the back row. While it's officially only in the 'conceptual phase,' we have it on very good authority that the system will be available in 2011 Volvo XC60 and XC70 models beginning this summer.
Follow the jump for Volvo's take on the RSEi-500 setup, and be sure to get ready for Geneva, where Volvo will reveal an XC90 with a crappy rolling chair, a cubicle and a water cooler.
[Source: Volvo]
Continue reading Volvo unveils touchscreen rear entertainment with 500GB and WiFi
Volvo unveils touchscreen rear entertainment with 500GB and WiFi originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Truck, Honda
A little confusion travels quickly. As long ago as last year and as recently as last week's Chicago Auto Show, the bed-happy gents at PickupTrucks.com were told that a new Honda Ridgeline would be arriving sometime in 2011. Now the guys have been told by Honda, "That's not the case." The proper information: "there will be no significant change to the Ridgeline through the 2011 model year."
That leaves the Honda pickup to soldier on through a 50-percent decline in sales and EPA numbers on the wrong side of frugality for at least another two years. And with a five-year-old design. Perhaps Honda wants to see how the truck market (and the auto market in general) does in the near term before it decides what the next Ridgeline should be. Or perhaps the company wants to get its core models in order, like those hybrids, before it makes another play at a small segment. We only have guesses - but there are certainly people out there who'd rather have a new Ridgeline.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
Scratch that: Next generation Honda Ridgeline not coming in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Police/Emergency
Chevrolet Caprice PPV - Click above for high-res image gallery
Late last year, General Motors announced that it would build a Zeta-based Police Car for North American duty. Though there was already a perfectly good Pontiac G8 available before GM decided to shutter the brand, this Zeta would be based on the longer version of that platform as used by the Holden Statesman and be known as the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice police patrol vehicle.
Well, what do you know. Chevy brought just such a vehicle to the Chicago Auto Show, and we managed to snap off a series of photos to share. According to the personnel manning the booth, the Caprice PPV is still in concept form, complete with a refurbished Toughbook panel from Panasonic attached to the center console.
Being a long-wheelbase Zeta, the Caprice PPV has plenty of room for a divided cockpit with what appears to be a plexiglass barrier protecting the driver and front passenger from whatever or whomever happens to be confined to the rear. Other interesting tidbits include a number of storage locations, including one for weapons between the two front seats.
We're sure the cops will appreciate the E85-compatible 6.0-liter V8 and the 355 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque it puts out. Now if only GM could find a way to put just such a Caprice (or, would that be a proper Impala SS?) in every single Chevrolet dealership around the country, they may really be on to something.
Gallery: Chevrolet Caprice PPV at Chicago Auto Show
Chicago 2010: Chevrolet rolls out Caprice Police Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Spokesmodels of the Chicago Auto Show - Click above for high-res image gallery
This year's 2010 Chicago Auto Show is just about over, at least for us media types, and while a couple of significant vehicles were unveiled here, it's basically a repeat of Detroit - the industry has definitely scaled back. Although Chicago hasn't always been one of the pre-eminent events on the calendar, we usually get a lot out of our trip to the Windy City, and while that's generally new car debuts, there's plenty else to occupy our time here.
Thankfully one area where automakers seemingly didn't skimp again is booth professionals. Lots of models are positioned by the vehicles, quick with a smile or an answer to any question we had. As the auto show season marches along, the gals just seem to get prettier and friendlier at every event.
And as we pointed out in our booth babe post from Detroit, we're not being sexist, but rather consumers of a valuable service according to Sirens of Chrome, an entire book celebrating the culture of car models and their history on the auto show circuit. Check out the gallery below to keep the economy going.
Gallery: Women of the Windy City at Chicago Auto Show
Live photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
Chicago 2010: Women of the Windy City originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Motorsports
Racecars at Chicago Auto Show - Click above for high-res image gallery
It isn't so much "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday," here at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, maybe more like "Show on Sunday, sell on Monday." While many manufacturers have their newest production cars on display here at McCormick Place, a number of them also dragged out their racecars to remind the public of their motorsports heritage.
Racecars are always a popular attraction at auto shows, and the ones here in Chicago are exemplary. There are dragsters, funny cars, and pro stockers for the quarter-mile fans, NASCAR stock cars, amateur racers, open wheelers, and even Le Mans runners. Mazda, Audi, Ford, Kia, Toyota, Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Acura, Honda, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Mitsubishi and others are all here with stickered up and numbered racecars. You can see them all by clicking through to the gallery below.
Gallery: Race cars at Chicago Auto Show 2010
Live photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
Chicago 2010: Racecars zoom into McCormick Place originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Government/Legal, Work, Police/Emergency, Specialty
Work vehicles at Chicago Auto Show - Click above for high-res image gallery
According to one of Chicago's most famous poets, Carl Sandburg, it's the City of the Broad Shoulders. There has been some debate about exactly what he meant by that, but we'd like to think it has something to do with the spirit of selflessness in its citizens. When there is public need, Chicagoans respond. It's no surprise then that the Chicago Auto Show always features lots of first response vehicles, military rides and other service organization transportation.
With so few big debuts to keep us busy this year, we found ourselves admiring the plethora of cars, trucks and "others," painted in fire engine red, black and white, or camo. We've assembled a gallery to show you what Chicagoans typically only get to see when there's a crisis. There are cop cars, fire engines, snow plows, military vehicles, quads, motorcycles and a lot else to check out in the gallery below.
Gallery: Work Vehicles at Chicago Auto Show
Live photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
Chicago 2010: Even civil servants appreciate a nice ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Truck, Work, Chevrolet
Old and new Chevrolet Silverado HD chassis combined - Click above for high-res image gallery
No, Chevrolet's new Silverado HD will not be available as a hybrid. The hybrid we're talking about is this chassis on display at the Chicago Auto Show that is constructed of both the previous generation and the new 2011 Silverado HD. The combined chassis is split right down the middle and shows just how much the 2011 model has been improved from the previous model.
Starting with the front suspension, the 2011 Silverado HD receives beefier upper and lower control arms along with larger torsion bars and steering gear. The front axle can now handle up to 6,000 pounds of gross weight, which means that every HD model can bear the weight of a snow plow. Moving through the rest of the display, you can see the all new frame that utilizes 11 fully boxed assemblies that make sure of higher strength steel. The result is that the new chassis has five times more torsional strength than it did before and 92 percent better bending resistance.
At the rear, the Silverado HD benefits from a new, larger asymmetrical leaf spring design that offers improved handling and load capabilities. General Motors is quick to point out that the truck's maximum 6,335-pound payload and 20,000-pound towing capacity (using a fifth-wheel hitch) are both better than the Dodge Ram 3500 HD and the Ford F350 Super Duty.
Finally, the Silverado HD has been upgraded with 14-inch brake rotors both front and rear, a heavy-duty trailer hitch and a 36-gallon fuel tank that, when combined with the improved fuel economy, allows for 680 highway miles on a single tank. You can see the differences in detail in the high-res gallery below, or click here for even more details and photos of the 2011 Silverado HD.
Gallery: Old and new Silverado HD chassis combined
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Chicago 2010: Hybrid chassis shows differences between old and new Silverado HD originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Motorsports, Police/Emergency, Celebrities, Specialty
Volo Auto Museum collection at Chicago Auto Show - Click above for high-res image gallery
One of the most fun parts of the Chicago Auto Show every year is that Illinois is also host to the Volo Auto Museum. Volo is one of those museum/used car dealerships that always has some of the most entertaining and outrageous cars in its inventory. One of the things they are best known for is their collection of rolling Hollywood memorabilia, and at this year's show, they have rolled out about a dozen vehicles that show off their range of Tinseltown metal.
First up is the Mellow Yellow NASCAR racer that Tom Cruise piloted in Days of Thunder. They even have a monitor running movie clips featuring Cole Trickle beside the very seat he sat in for the filming - and no, it wasn't a booster seat. Next to that is Speed Racer's Mach 5, signed by Kustom Kar King George Barris. That sits alongside one of the General Lee Dodge Chargers from the Dukes of Hazzard movie and a really odd Buick Grand National. The GN is one of the cars that Vin Diesel drove in Fast and Furious 4. It is totally gutted inside and has a wild rear steering system that made us do a double-take.
Across from that is the villain car from The Great Race and the awesomely wacky Turtle Mobile from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Our favorite star car, though - and the one that looks most at home here in Chicago - is the Blues Mobile, driven by one Joliet Jake and one Elwood Blues, a.k.a. "The Blues Brothers." It even has the comically oversized loudspeaker still strapped to the roof. All-in, the Volo display is fun attraction here in Chicago and an example of why this show is always so popular with the public.
Gallery: Volo Museum Hollywood cars at Chicago Auto Show
Live photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
Chicago 2010: Volo shines the light on some famous movie cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Motorsports, Coupe, Kia, Racing
Kia Forte Koup Racecar - Click above for high-res image gallery
Kia has been making waves this past year or so with introductions like the Soul and the Forte Koup, and for 2010, they hope to be make an impact on the racetrack as well. Here at the Chicago Auto Show, Kia is displaying their new Forte Koup racecar that is competing in Grand-Am's Continental Sports Car Challenge series for 2010. The Korean manufacturer's first foray into motorsports will be managed by Georgia-based Kinetic Motorsports who will field a pair of cars in the Street Tuner (ST) class against cars like the Mazda3, BMW 330, and Volkswagen GTI.
The #10 car at the show was fresh off the truck from its debut at the Fresh From Florida 200 at Daytona Speedway last month, where it finished an underwhelming 31st in class. The #12 sister car fared a little better, ending the race in a respectable 19th place. You can watch both cars in action on SPEED Channel's tape-delayed broadcast of the race on February 13th at 7:00 pm EST. Until then, you can browse through our photos in the gallery below.
Gallery: Kia Forte Koup Racecar
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Chicago 2010: Kia shows off new Forte Koup racecar originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Toyota
2010 Toyota Prius - MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award winner for Best of the Year
By February of each year, we are always right in the middle of awards season, and no, we're not talking about the Golden Globes, Grammys or Oscars. We are, of course, referring to Car and Truck of the Year awards, Ten Best lists and the like. A brace of trophies had already been handed out at the Detroit Auto Show and here at the Chicago Auto Show, a few more champions were crowned. As you might imagine, Toyota is usually an oft-mentioned brand during this time of year, but we figured this year might be a little different.
Coming on the heels of several high profile recall announcements by Toyota, one might expect the once-bulletproof Japanese carmaker to at least get more careful consideration when handing out the hardware. Well, even if they have gone through closer scrutiny, that hasn't stopped multiple outlets from still rewarding them for their products. Television show MotorWeek just announced their Drivers' Choice Award winners, and the Toyota Prius is their choice for best Eco-Friendly vehicle. It also claimed the title of Best of the Year overall, making it their top pick of the 2010 models.
Other category winners are listed below and there's a long press release after the jump that includes a statement by MotorWeek host and producer John Davis. While it was probably difficult to change their minds so late in the game, the statement by Davis explaining their rationale in choosing the Prius seems to have been written some time before Toyota started making so many headlines: "If you can only buy one car for your family, the 2010 Prius is the one," said Davis. "The Prius is a no-compromise vehicle that offers impressive efficiency, cutting edge technology, smart packaging and truly iconic styling."
While all of that might still apply, it's bad timing if nothing else to be handing out a top award to the Prius. In that spirit, Davis added an additional statement to clarify and defend the show's selection. In it he explained that while MotorWeek had two different Prius hybrids in their care for several months, nothing ever went wrong with them and that the show is confident that the problems will be satisfactorily addressed by Toyota.
MotorWeek was certainly not alone on that front however, as Toyota has recently been lauded by several other organizations as well. In Japan, for instance, Toyota was honored with a government energy efficiency award. Interestingly, the company chose to decline that award, though, saying that "the honor is not appropriate for a car hit by massive recalls," according to MSNBC.
Without further ado, here are the MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Award winners:
Best Small Car: Mazda3 Best Family Sedan: Ford Taurus
Best Luxury Sedan: Buick LaCrosse
Best Small Utility: Chevrolet Equinox Best Large Utility: Honda Pilot Best Pickup Truck: Ram 1500/2500/3500
Best Eco-Friendly: Toyota Prius Best Sport Sedan: BMW 3-Series Best Sport Coupe: Chevrolet Camaro Best Performance Car: Audi S4 Best Convertible: Nissan 370Z Roadster Best Dream Machine: Audi R8 5.2 FSI/Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Sources: Motorweek via EarthTimes, MSNBC]
Continue reading Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius MotorWeek Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award
Chicago 2010: Bad Timing Dept. - Prius MotorWeek Drivers' Choice winner; Toyota declines JDM award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Motorsports, Racing
As we speak, the IZOD IndyCar series is looking over a number of proposals for the next generation of open-wheel racecars. One of those, the design from Dallara, has already been shown. Today at the Chicago Auto Show, DeltaWing pulled the covers off its design proposal, and the machine looks completely different from anything we've yet seen circling the Brickyard.
At first glance, a couple of interesting features jump out, not the least of which are the giant vertical rear wing and super-skinny front track. The cars also seem much longer than current Indycars, though we'd need to see the two machines next to one another to come to any real conclusions on the matter.
In any case, DeltaWing has a pretty radical design on its hands. Plus, Chip Ganassi Racing's Ben Bowlby, who formerly led design at Lola, is behind the effort. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below and make the jump for an animated video of the DeltaWing buzzing around Mid-Ohio.
Gallery: DeltaWing Indycar proposal at Chicago Auto Show
Continue reading Chicago 2010: DeltaWing Indycar concept
Chicago 2010: DeltaWing Indycar concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury
2011 BMW Aplina B7 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Not only will BMW not make an M7, but they even stopped making the incredibly-close-to-an-M Alpina B7 a few years ago. That car could hold its head high against competitors like the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, Audi S8 and Bentley Flying Spur Speed, with extra horsepower, refined handling and unique looks setting it apart from standard 7 series fare. Sadly, that car was only produced from 2007-2008 and since '09 there's been nothing to fill the void.
Today in Chicago we saw a bright light on the horizon. Just in time to do battle with the upcoming Jaguar XJR, Porsche Panamera Turbo and the like, BMW unveiled the 2011 Alpina B7. Functional front and rear fascias and spoilers, 20-spoke, 21-inch Alpina wheels, hand-stitched "Lavalina" leather and Alpina badges and sills differentiate this from lesser 7s.
Underhood there's a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque - 100 hp and 66 lb-ft better than the 750i, with a 0-60 dash of 4.5 seconds. Available in short wheelbase for $122,875 or extended wheelbase at $126,775, it's a helluva car for helluva lot scratch. Press release after the jump and live gallery below.
Gallery: 2011 BMW Alpina B7
Live photos copyright (C)2010 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: BMW]
Continue reading Chicago 2010: BMW ends three year Alpina B7 drought for 2011
Chicago 2010: BMW ends three year Alpina B7 drought for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Coupe, Truck, Etc., Crossover, Chevrolet, Mazda
For the first time, the Internet Car and Truck of the year organization presented Mazda and Chevrolet with a number of well-earned awards at the Chicago Auto Show. Mazda won with its freshly updated 2010 Mazda3 in the car category, beating out such worthy candidates as the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Shelby GT500.
However, the big winner was Chevrolet, with the Equinox taking home prizes for two separate categories - Internet Truck of the Year and Consumer Internet Truck of the Year - while the Camaro snagged the Consumer Internet Car of the Year. Our particular favorite award, though, was for the Internet Automotive Journalist of the Year.
Why? Well, it was won by none other than our very own and highly esteemed Editor-in-Chief, John Neff. For those keeping track, Neff has won the award every single year that it's been presented. Nicely done, John.
[Source: Internet Car and Truck of the Year]
Chicago 2010: Internet Car and Truck of the Year awards handed out, Neff FTW originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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