Chicago Auto Show
Chicago Auto Show, Latest Automobiles News, Trucks Ranking, Worldwide Cars Review
Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Classics, Sedan
The true jewels of most auto shows are often hidden, requiring a bit more legwork to find. During our third pass of the Chicago Auto Show, we stumbled upon a display from the Classic Car Club of America. Tucked away in a corner behind low aluminum railing, we found a stunning full-size two-door hardtop: the 1954 Mercury XM 800 Concept.
When it was first introduced at the 1954 Detroit Auto Show, the XM 800 made quite an impact. Mechanically speaking, it was fitted with a 312 cubic inch engine rated at 270 horsepower. A Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels, was standard. Its design was noted for an expansive greenhouse offering passengers an almost 360-degree outside view. Benson Ford, running the Lincoln-Mercury Division at the time, pushed for the XM-800's basic design to be added to the Mercury lineup. The plan to move forward was only extinguished because the automaker switched gears to work on Edsel.
The fiberglass XM 800 traveled extensively in 1954 and 1955, making appearances at most major car shows and special exhibitions (including the Chicago Auto Show). It even had a featured role in Hollywood, appearing in the 20th Century Fox production Woman's World. In the late 1950s, the concept car was gifted to the University of Michigan's Automotive Engineering Lab to be used for training and design inspiration. Ten years later, the Mercury ended up in storage outside a barn on a farm in central Michigan. Thankfully, the deteriorating concept car caught the eye of an enthusiast who purchased it and began a 20-year frame off, nut-and-bolt restoration.
Today, the 1954 Mercury XM 800 is considered to be one of the most significant concept cars ever produced. It recently sold at the RM Auction for $429,000. Check out the press release for its interesting history and our gallery for some beautiful design.
Continue reading 1954 Mercury XM 800 Concept is retro-cool in execution, detail and design
1954 Mercury XM 800 Concept is retro-cool in execution, detail and design originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show
Media days at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show have come and gone, and the results of our efforts can be seen below. It's not the biggest show of the circuit, with 18 total vehicles covered, but there's still plenty of interesting machinery to be seen. A bit later, we'll share our picks for the top five debuts of Chicago. In the meantime, check out everything in all its glory in the table below.
1993 Ford SVT Cobra
2013 Toyota Land Cruiser
2012 Kia Optima SX L
2013 Shelby GT500 Conv
2013 Nissan NV200
2013 Mopar 300
Kia Track'ster Concept
2012 Ram Laramie Limited
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
2012 Mopar Compass
2013 VW Beetle TDI
2013 GMC Acadia
2013 Nissan 370Z
2013 Acura RDX
2013 Acura ILX
2013 Elantra Coupe
2012 Fiat 500 Stinger
2013 Mazda MX-5 SE
We Obsessively Covered the 2012 Chicago Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Performance, Hatchback, Hyundai
Hyundai debuted the 2013 Veloster Turbo at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, adding some more oomph and a more aggressive look to the funky three-door hatch. We felt that an additional 63 horsepower and 71 pound-feet of torque was just what the little Hyundai needed, and we were especially digging the available matte gray paint once the Veloster hits showrooms this summer.
Here at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show Hyundai is offering a completely different take on the Veloster Turbo with a special graphics package. The decals feature a gray and yellow stripe running the length of the car, yellow trim on the front spoiler, side skirts and rear fascia, as well as a checkered flag theme on the side and roof spoiler. It's definitely over the top, but still tastefully done.
So will this graphics package make it to production? Hyundai says 'no' for this particular look, although they are working other (likely more subtle) graphics that will be available to customers.
You can see the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo with the graphics package in detail in the gallery above.
Hyundai adds more spunk to Veloster Turbo with graphics package originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Etc., Crossover, GM, GMC, Saturn, Design/Style
General Motors unveiled the company's refreshed GMC Acadia at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show yesterday, and if you were paying attention, you may have noticed something curious about the vehicle. While the new Acadia looks considerably better than its predecessor, a few components of the design looked more than a little familiar. Upon closer observation, it appears that GM has simply repurposed elements of the now defunct Saturn Outlook crossover on the 2013 Acadia. Both vehicles seem to share the same wrap-around rear glass, back hatch, tail light openings and exaggerated, squared-off fender arches.
While the vehicles are differentiated by badging, tail lamps and a rear valance, there's no denying the similarities toward the vehicle's rear. Up front, both share similar fenders, though adjustments have been made for the varying headlight designs.
That's good news if you just can't imagine life without the Saturn Outlook.
GM isn't the only automaker to pull something similar. Parts sharing is a smart way to keep costs as low as possible, and recouping the design and manufacturing costs the automaker poured into the Outlook is a smart way to keep GM's earnings headed in the right direction. For example, Chrysler famously reused Dodge Grand Caravan tail lights in the first-generation Dodge Durango. We just aren't accustomed to seeing this sort of recycling on such a grand scale or after so much time has elapsed.
GM appears to repurpose Saturn Outlook parts on new Acadia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Crossover, Acura, Honda, Luxury
The performance profile of the turbo four may have doomed it to being merely a footnote in Honda's illustrious history.
When the 2013 Acura RDX launches this spring, Honda will quietly close down a spur line of its Anna, OH, plant. Since 2006, it had been building the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine used in the first-generation RDX there. These engines were unique, the company's first to be fitted with a turbocharger from the factory. But the redesigned 2013 RDX will be available only with a V6, and with no other application for the turbo four, Honda's most impressive performance engine will die an ignoble death.The 2.3-liter turbo was a variation of the 2.4-liter four used in the Honda Accord and the Acura TSX. Rated at 240 horsepower, it was the 260 lb-ft of torque that made things special. Honda's traditional approach to engine design had favored high-revving, small displacement engines that made generous power thanks to variable valve timing technologies - but at the expense of torque output. So when Honda announced that it would be producing a turbocharged engine for the first time, it seemed to herald the next wave of Honda performance. Finally, some torque to match the howling VTEC power. But sadly, it was the performance profile of the turbo four that may have doomed it to being merely a footnote in Honda's illustrious history.
Continue reading Why did Honda kill its best performance engine?
Why did Honda kill its best performance engine? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford
Ford debuted the 2013 Shelby GT500 Convertible earlier today at the Chicago Auto Show, but it wasn't the only Mustang vying for our attention on the show floor. In fact, we had a hard time keeping our eyes off this Vibrant Red beauty.
The pony car in question? A 1993 SVT Cobra R, the pinnacle of the Fox Body Mustang. The standard SVT Cobra made its official debut at the Chicago Auto Show back in 1992, and its reappearance in the Windy City was a fitting reminder of the 20th anniversary of Ford's Special Vehicle Team.
So what makes the 1993 SVT Cobra R so special? For starters, just 107 were produced, making it one of the rarest Mustangs ever built by Ford. The 235-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 is the same powerplant as the one in the standard Cobra, but the R model had less weight to push around thanks to the removal of the rear seats, radio, air conditioning and all sound deadening material. Ford also fitted the Cobra R with adjustable Koni shocks, larger front and rear brakes, 17-inch wheels shod with Goodyear tires, an external engine oil cooler and power steering fluid cooler, aluminum radiator and more.
The particular Cobra R brought to the show by Ford is literally a time capsule from the early '90s and in incredible condition. Amazingly, the odometer reads just over 4,100 miles. You can check out the car in detail in the gallery above.
SVT celebrates 20 years with the Mustang that started it all originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Truck, Ram
The Chicago Auto Show was commonly known for years as a truck show, with automakers using the McCormick Place to show off their sport-utility vehicles and pickups. And while trends have indeed shifted in the automotive world (SUV is a dirty word these days), some companies still take time to debut a special truck or two here in the Windy City. Ram, Chrysler's pickup truck arm, has brought its new 2012 Laramie Limited to Chicago, offering full-size truck buyers a host of upscale standard amenities in a decidedly classy package.
The Ram Laramie Limited's exterior is attended to with the addition of big alloy wheels and chrome accents, while inside, there's a smattering of leather upholstery with contrast stitching, deep berber carpets, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, unique gauges, LED ambient lighting and navigation, among other amenities.
The Laramie Limited is available in 1500, 2500 HD and 3500 HD configurations, and will hit dealerships later this year.
Continue reading 2012 Ram Laramie Limited is one fancy truck
2012 Ram Laramie Limited is one fancy truck originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Crossover, Jeep, Design/Style, Off-Road
Mopar didn't leave Jeep out of the customized fun here at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Based on the Compass, the 2012 Mopar True North boasts a two-inch suspension lift from Rocky Road Suspensions and 16-inch matte black wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich All Terrain tires. Other exterior tidbits include a matte black grille surround and lower body cladding.
There aren't any changes to the standard Compass drivetrain that we know of, but the interior is fitted with a custom center console that features pitch and roll inclinometer gauges. Finishing it off is an audio system sourced from Kicker that Jeep says "transform [it] into a rolling high-end sound studio," which would appear to be completely unrelated to its intended purpose.
Continue reading 2012 Mopar Jeep Compass True North points... north?
2012 Mopar Jeep Compass True North points... north? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, SUV, Toyota
Look very, very closely. This is the 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser, which, though not immediately apparent, is different than the 2012 model. How, exactly? The updated SUV has new features like LED running lamps up front, a revised taillamp design and some new wheel options. Inside, there's a brand new hard drive-based navigation system complete with Toyota's fancy new Entune infotainment system.
Aside from that, there isn't much else in the way of newness for Toyota's stalwart off-roader. Under the hood is the automaker's 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, and a standard Multi-Terrain Select system keeps things in check for when the pavement turns to dirt... or sand... or mud.
Check out the full scope of Land Cruiser goodness in the press release after the jump, and click through our gallery of images live from the Chicago Auto Show to see all of those ever-so-slight design tweaks.
Continue reading 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser has been updated, apparently
2013 Toyota Land Cruiser has been updated, apparently originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Hatchback, Design/Style, Fiat
Now that Fiat is officially tied at the hip with Chrysler, it's no surprise to see the Pentastar's aftermarket division take to the diminutive 500 like a honeybee to clovers (sorry). Which explains the 2012 Fiat 500 Stinger, the first Mopar-fettled Fiat ever created.
The Stinger moniker seems to come from the machine's black and yellow paint scheme, which includes a somewhat homely set of bodyside decals and a checkerboard-patterned roof. Headlights, grille inserts, wheels and all other trim all get the black-out treatment.
Mopar-branded intake and cat-back exhaust kits are said to bump power from the 1.4-liter MultiAir engine, though the company isn't being specific when it comes to power figures. In any case, we pointed our camera lenses at the 500 Stinger, and you can see the results in our high-res gallery above.
Continue reading 2012 Fiat 500 Stinger escapes from the hive
2012 Fiat 500 Stinger escapes from the hive originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show
Detroit has the North American Car and Truck of the Year. Chicago? The Family Vehicle of the Year. And for 2012, the winner is the Volkswagen Passat.
While we must have missed last year's inaugural winner - it was the Hyundai Sonata, by the way - we did catch this year's award presentation. The Passat beat out two other finalists, the Ford Explorer and Mazda5, in the voting of 68 automotive journalists. Those car scribes all belong to the Midwest Automotive Media Association, or "MAMA," as the Chicago-based group is affectionately known.
Candidates for the FVOTY must be new or updated vehicles that have four doors, have base prices under $50,000, and "appear at one of MAMA's two annual rallies." Other models considered in the 2012 voting included the Chevrolet Volt, Dodge Durango, Dodge Journey, Ford Edge, Ford Focus, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Subaru Impreza, and Toyota Camry.
MAMA says Volkswagen Passat will knock you out originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Aftermarket, Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Chevrolet, Luxury
Our first face-to-face look at the murdered-out Mopar 300 occurred at the Chicago Auto Show today. Peel away the black hood and you will find the the company's familiar 5.7-liter V8 as standard equipment. Output remains at 363 horsepower, but a new final-drive ratio of 3.91:1 working in conjunction with its five-speed W5A580 automatic transmission should drop 0-60 times into the low five-second range.
Other upgrades include firmer suspension tuning (42 percent stiffer front and 23 percent stiffer rear spring rates compared to the Chrysler 300 models with touring-tuned suspension), stickier rubber (245/45R20 Goodyear Eagle F1 three-season tires) and high-performance brake pads in the dual-piston front and single-piston rear calipers.
You won't be able to miss the Mopar Chrysler 300 (except at night) thanks to its Gloss Black paint, Gloss Black 20-inch wheels and numerous other blacked-out appointments both inside and out. The many "Mopar" badges on the fenders and deck lid only serve to reinforce its evilness.
Being the third turn-key Mopar product after the '10 Mopar Challenger and '11 Mopar Charger, the '12 Mopar 300 will be available for purchase this summer for $49,700 (including destination charges), though production is limited to just 500 units.
Continue reading 2012 Mopar 300 dialed M for Murdered Out
2012 Mopar 300 dialed M for Murdered Out originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Work, Nissan
Nissan is expanding the company's commercial offerings with its new NV200 Compact Cargo Van. On display at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, the NV200 is positioned just below Nissan's mammoth NV Cargo, and should offer buyers a more efficient work vehicle with plenty of interior room.
The NV200 is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a CVT gearbox. Despite its pint-sized powertrain, the van should be able to haul around 1,500 pounds, and its low floor will likely make for easy loading and unloading.
At 186.2 inches long, the NV200 is a full 54.2 inches shorter than its bigger brother while offering 123 cubic feet of cargo area, though Nissan says the NV200 can still accommodate a standard 40x48-inch pallet.
The company hasn't released any pricing details, beyond saying the NV200 will be competitive with other commercial vehicles in this segment. That probably means the 2013 NV200 will land somewhere in the neighborhood of $22,035, which is the MSRP of the Ford Transit Connect.
Continue reading 2013 Nissan NV200 goes after Transit Connect's lunch money
2013 Nissan NV200 goes after Transit Connect's lunch money originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Sedan, Kia, Luxury
While Chrysler got the most attention for its Super Bowl ad starring Clint Eastwood, many found Kia's spot starring Mr. Sandman, Adriana Lima and Motley Crue to be the most entertaining. The car featured in the ad was the new Optima SX Limited, which made its debut today at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.
The SX Limited is the new range-topping trim for the Optima, slotting neatly above the SX. What it adds to the already loaded SX are LED daytime running lights, chrome accenting on the rear spoiler and lower door sills, red painted front brake calipers, a unique set of chrome 18-inch wheels, high-dollar Napa leather, wood interior trim and three exterior colors options: Ebony Black, Snow White Pearl or Titanium Metallic.
While no pricing for the SX Limited was given, we obviously expect it to start somewhere north of the SX trim's $26,500 base price. Production begins later this month at Kia's assembly plant in West Point, Georgia.
Continue reading 2012 Kia Optima SX Limited is literally a dream come true
2012 Kia Optima SX Limited is literally a dream come true originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Chicago Auto Show, Convertible, Mazda
The Chicago Auto Show and the Mazda MX-5 Miata have quite a history. After all, the very first Miata debuted at the 1989 Chicago show, and since then, Mazda has routinely used the Windy City expo to showcase some sort of new roadster hotness.
For 2012, we've been introduced to the MX-5 Special Edition (clever name, we know), which dons a new black power retractable hard top and gunmetal wheels, among other small updates.
Underneath the skin, Mazda has fitted its standard suspension upgrade kit, which includes Bilstein shocks, while inside you'll find black accents and heated black leather seats, along with a full kit of tech options. Pricing starts at $31,225, and only 450 will be sold in the United States. Get it while it's hot.
Continue reading 2013 Mazda MX-5 Special Edition shows off its new black hat and shoes
2013 Mazda MX-5 Special Edition shows off its new black hat and shoes originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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