This year, the show includes an innovative interactive exhibit from the folks at Chrysler. Consumers are given the chance to experience the ride quality of the new Chrysler 300C, the road holding of the Dodge Neon SRT-4, and the off-road ability of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon on a custom-built test track that stretches for more than a 1/2 mile inside the 156,000 square foot Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep exhibit.
The Chicago Auto Show is also important for the automobile manufacturers because it gives them a chance to introduce U.S.-specific vehicles away from the glitz and hype of the Detroit Auto Show. This year's show features important introductions from General Motors, Mercury, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, and Toyota. In addition, there were also a number of significant concept reveals. Chicago also happens to be the home of Consumer Guide.® Editorial Director Mark Bilek, Car & Truck Test Editor Tom Appel, and Assistant Editor Jennifer Glowicki are reporting live from the show floor, giving savvy car shoppers the news and information they need to make the right buying decisions.
Toyota treated gathered media to a sneak peek at a future product that builds on Toyota's hard-earned tradition of rugged off-road ability. Dubbed FJ, this new SUV will appear in showrooms in March of 2006 as a 2007 model. According to Toyota, the FJ will slot into Toyota's crowded SUV lineup between the compact Rav4 and the midsize 4Runner. Sharing a 4.0-liter V6 engine and running gear with the 4Runner, the FJ is 11 inches shorter and will feature front-opening rear half doors similar to the Honda Element. Transmission choices will include a 6-speed manual and 5-speed automatic. FJ will be a true SUV with a body-on-frame chassis, solid rear axle, and optional locking rear differential. Side-curtain airbags, stability control and antilock brakes will be standard. Even Toyota admits the offbeat styling won't appeal to everyone, though it is intended to catch the eye of younger, energetic buyers. Toyota did not announce prices, but did say they intend to sell about 40,000 per year in the US, Canada, and Mexico. FJ will be built in Japan, and the vehicle shown in Chicago was what Toyota considered an "exterior prototype," meaning the interior was not yet finished and some exterior styling cues might not translate to the production model. When asked why this vehicle was not given a Scion brand, Toyota executives said that the FJ is intended to reach a broader market than just the urban youth crowd. Given Toyota's heritage in building off-road-ready vehicles, that makes sense to us.
2006 Cadillac DTS
General Motor's President of North American operations, Gary Cowger, touted the success record of the Cadillac DeVille at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show. According to Cowger, the DeVille has garnered 50% of large luxury-car sales over the past two decades and is consistently ranked at the top of its class in initial quality surveys. Following the lead taken by the sharply-styled Cadillac CTS and STS, the next generation DeVille will drop its once-proud nameplate in trade for the alpha designation DTS.
Slated to arrive in showrooms this fall, the 2006 DTS rides a significantly updated version of the existing DeVille front-wheel drive chassis and is equipped with Cadillac's Northstar 4.6-liter V8 engine. The engine will be offered in two horsepower levels: 275 and 290. Regardless of horsepower rating, the V8 mates to a 4-speed automatic. Sad, because most others in the segment offer 5-speed automatic transmissions, some even offer 6- and 7-speed automatics. DeVille and the new DTS have nearly identical dimensions, but the exterior has been redesigned with a new front grille, fascia, standard xenon headlights, a redesigned decklid and LED tail lamps. Also, 18-inch wheels are standard, replacing the 16-, or 17-inch wheels from last year.
DTS' interior is completely new and features available burl wood finish and a redesigned center navigation stack. Like its predecessor, the DTS is equipped with heated and cooled front seats, heated steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, remote start, and rain sensing wipers. Standard safety equipment will include stability control, On Star, side curtain airbags, and a new dual-stage front-passenger airbag that is designed to better protect both large and small occupants. DTS will be built in Detroit, Michigan at General Motors' Hamtramck assembly plant. Cadillac executives would not discuss price, but we expect the car to priced at just about $50,000.
Top
2006 Buick Lucerne
Buick's newest full-size sedan boasts the General Motors division's first available V8 in more than a decade. Buick's return to V8 power comes courtesy of Cadillac, which lends the Lucerne its 275-hpNorthstar engine. Lucerne also borrows its basic architecture from Cadillac, sharing its front-wheel-drive layout and 4-speed automatic transmission with the just-introduced DTS.
For less power-hungry shoppers, GM's familiar 3.8-liter V6 will serve as the standard Lucerne power plant, dishing up approximately 200-hp. With Lucerne, Buick continues to consolidate its model offerings. Just as the 2005 Lacrosse replaced both the Century and Regal in Buick showrooms, the Lucerne will take over for another pair of long-lived nameplates: LeSabre and Park Avenue. Buick designed Lucerne with visual cues from the maker's storied past, including the incorporation of a four-hole "ventiport" array in each of the Lucerne's front fenders. Standard equipment includes curtain side airbags, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, an antiskid system, and OnStar. Although pricing has not been announced, Buick suggests Lucerne prices should range slightly higher than the out-going LeSabre and Park Avenue. Expect stickers in the $30,000 to $45,000 range when Lucerne goes on sale this fall. Lucerne will be built alongside the DTS in Michigan.
2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab
Dodge just may have the final word on "bigger is better" in the pickup game. Engineers grafted 24 inches on to Dodge's existing Ram Quad Cab, calling it the "Mega Cab." Stretching more than 111 inches, the new Mega Cab is larger than any other in the industry and offers a full 145 cu. ft. of interior room. Almost all of the additional length has been added to the rear seating area. Leg room grows from 36.7 inches to 44 inches-according to Dodge, the most rear-seat room of any pickup. In addition, engineers found room for an additional 7.6 cu. ft. of covered cargo space behind the rear seats. (To put the size of the cab into perspective, consider that most midsize cars have a wheelbase of just 110 inches, offer about 34 inches of rear leg room, and have a 14 cu. ft. trunk.)
With all of this room devoted to the cab, something had to give, and that was the cargo bed, it shrinks from 8 ft. to 6 ft. The Mega cab goes on sale this fall in 1500HD, 2500 and 3500 trim with either the Hemi V8 or the Cummins turbo diesel engine. When properly equipped, the Mega Cab will have a maximum payload of 2400 lb. and a combined vehicle weight of over 23,000 lb. Other unique features include the largest curtain side airbags offered in any pickup and 60/40 rear seats that can be folded nearly flush with the floor, providing a flat cargo area. Dodge officials commented that the enlarged 6.1-liter might eventually make it into Dodge's heavy-duty trucks.
Top
2006 Mercury Milan
Due to hit dealerships this fall is the 2006 Milan, the latest in a line of new vehicles aimed at redefining the Mercury brand and attracting new customers. According to Mercury, Milan's bold exterior styling cues and luxurious interior materials are geared to buyers who traditionally would have never considered the brand. Two engines will be offered: a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder making 160 horsepower, or a 210-horsepower 3.0-liter V6. The 4-cylinder is mated to a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 5-speed automatic transmission, and the V6 comes standard with a 6-speed automatic. Milan's front-drive underpinnings can be traced to the Mazda 6, although wheelbase is bumped two inches to increase rear-seat leg room.
Inside, consumers have a choice between Mahogany or satin metallic trim, and leather seats with contrast stitching are available at extra cost. Two trim levels will be offered, Base and Premier. Mercury officials indicated that all-wheel-drive and hybrid models would be offered in a year or two. Mercury execs were tight-lipped about a price tag, but claimed it would be priced both competitively and affordably within the midsize car segment. The Milan is similar to the upcoming Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr models and will be built in Mexico.
2006 Mercury Mountaineer
Mercury also showcased the 2006 Mountaineer at the Chicago Auto Show. The Mountaineer shares chassis and engines with the Ford Explorer. Both were last redesigned in 2002 and the Mountaineer gets a mid-cycle freshening for '06. Exterior features include a redesigned front fascia that includes fog lights and satin aluminum bumper strips, available 18-inch aluminum wheels, and power-retractable running boards. Also new and optional on the Mountaineer is Ford's 292-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Standard is the previous Mountaineer engine, a 4.0-liter V6, paired with the 5-speed automatic.
The Mountaineer's interior sports a more contemporary instrument panel and center stack, curved contour door armrests, and three second-row seat configuration options: a 60/40 fold-flat bench seat, a 60/40 split bench with reclining seats and third-row access, or bucket seats with a center console. Power-folding third-row seats are also an option. Dual-depth adaptive air bags top the list of new safety features on the mid-size SUV. Also included are curtain airbags that remain deployed in rollover situations and stability control. Look for the Mountaineer in dealerships this fall.
Mercury also mentioned that the Mariner would be offered in hybrid form later this year. The Mariner is similar to the Ford Escape. Like the Escape Hybrid, the Mariner Hybrid's powertrain will mate a 4-cylinder engine to an electric motor to increase fuel economy and reduce emissions.
Top
Hyundai Portico concept
Portico is Hyundai's idea of the future of family transportation. This concept was designed in South Korea and offers 6-passenger seating in two innovative rows. The middle seat of each row can slide fore and aft to create staggered seating, granting more shoulder and hip room for middle passengers. Doors that open "suicide" style are intended to provide easier access and eliminate the bulky B-pillar found on most conventional passenger cars.
Other unique interior features include panoramic glass panels in the roof that can darken to block out the sun or provide more privacy, a rear-seat DVD-based entertainment system, and a navigation system. Hyundai claims that the Portico is not a sedan, not a wagon, and not an SUV. Rather it is intended to offer the ride of a sedan, the cargo capacity of a wagon, and the utility of an SUV. Portico was designed to accept two engines, either the new V6 220-hp V6 found in the 2006 Hyundai Sonata or a hybrid-electric powertrain with two electric motors-one driving the front wheels and another driving the rear. Hyundai claims they have no production plans for Portico, and we believe them based on conversations concerning upcoming product launches. Next January there will be an all-new 7-passenger Santa Fe. Following the Santa Fe in late 2006, Hyundai will begin selling a minivan, the company's first ever.
Also at the press conference, Hyundai announced that the manufacturer would extend the corrosion protection on its new vehicles from 5 years/100,000 miles to 7 years/unlimited miles.
2006 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG
Mercedes-Benz flagship S-Class sedan line gets its own flagship for 2006. Enhanced by AMG, Mercedes' in-house performance group, the S65 takes its place as king of the S-Class hill, with more power, performance, and a higher price than its stable mates. The S65's heart is a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 rated at lofty 604 hp and a locomotive-like 738 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes' claim of 4.2 sec. 0-60 mph would place the S65 among the fastest sedans ever built. As with every AMG engine, each S65 V12 is hand built by a single technician over the course of a full day. Taming the S65's prodigious power are high-performance brakes visible through S65-exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels.
Outside, the S65 is only subtly different from lesser S-Class models. A deeper chin spoiler, extended side-sill flairs, and a clear-lens fog lamps are among the few cues that hint at the S65's hidden potential. Inside, the S65 differs little from other S-Class variants. Leather upholstery with real-wood trim is standard, along with pneumatic door- and trunk-closing assists. Although a formal pricing announcement is still pending, Mercedes suggested a starting price of just under $180,000 when the S65 goes on sale in 2006.
Also announced by Mercedes was an engine upgrade for V6 E-Class models. As a running change during 2005, E320s become E350s, reflecting a move to a 3.5-liter 268-hp V6, in place of a 3.2-liter 221-hp unit.
Top
Kia Sedona
Kia sold more than 270,000 vehicles in 2004, ranking them as the 6th largest import car company. Most people don't know it, but the company's bestseller isn't a car at all, it's a minivan. Introduced in 2002, the Sedona plied its trade as the value-leader in the class. Kia hopes that will change with the introduction of an all-new model in late 2005. The '06 Sedona will be 8 inches longer, 4-inches wider, and have a wheelbase of 118.9 inches, placing it size-wise between the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. The new van will also be 400 lb lighter. One engine will be offered: a 240-hp 3.8-liter V8.
Standard features will include a 5-speed automatic transmission, side curtain airbags, antilock brakes, a tire pressure monitor and active head restraints. Available features will include stability control, power sliding doors, a power rear hatch, power windows in the side doors, an automatic tri-zone climate control system, leather interior, a sunroof, a DVD entertainment system, power pedals, and a rear park assist system.
Two models will be offered, LX and uplevel EX. Unlike the current model, the new Sedona's rear seats will fold flat into the floor. Unique to the Sedona and a first in the minivan class are standard 6-lug wheels. According to Kia, the 6-lug wheels make a styling statement and are more secure than traditional 5-lug wheels. The new Sedona will be built in South Korea and share engine and chassis with an upcoming, yet unnamed Hyundai minivan. After the Sedona is introduced, Kia will offer a short-wheelbase version. It is not clear if the SWB version will offer two or three rows of seats. With the 2006 update, the Sedona instantly becomes class competitive in terms of features, equipment. It will be interesting to see if Kia can hold the line on Sedona prices and keep the minivan affordable with its laundry-list of standard equipment.
Dodge Nitro Concept
Although Dodge's newest concept, Nitro, is labeled as just that-a concept, industry experts say the mid-size SUV is 90% complete and well on the road toward becoming a production model. Based on the Jeep Liberty platform, Nitro features bold exterior and interior styling and an aggressive-looking stance, which Dodge hopes will bring more buyers their way as they enter the crowded mid-size SUV class with the group's first segment offering.
The full-time four-wheel drive Nitro rides on 20-inch aluminum wheels, which match its brushed aluminum side vents and dual exhaust pipes, and satin-brushed aluminum roof rack. A 3.7-liter V6 engine, making 210-horsepower, and a 4-speed automatic transmission propel the Nitro from 0-60 in 9.6-seconds. Black leather seats and red cloth inserts highlight a colorful interior design punctuated by a satin silver console. The console houses the DVD navigation screen and matches the satin silver door handles, gauges, speakers, and shifter knob. A unique sliding vinyl trunk floor makes for easy rear cargo loading, with storage bins and a first-aid kit flanking the load area.
No word yet when Dodge will roll out the production-ready Nitro. Quietly introduced alongside Nitro at the Chicago Auto Show this year was a new addition to Dodge's performance club, the Charger Daytona R/T. Paying tribute to the Charger's return to the Daytona International Speedway after a 27-year hiatus, the production model features distinguishing R/T badging, 18-inch polished wheels, dual exhaust tips, "Daytona"-embroidered seats, a black honeycomb grille, chin spoiler, and rear decklid spoiler. Available limited-production models will be offered in the heritage paint colors "Go Man Go" orange metallic or the metallic yellow "Top Banana." In the R/T, Dodge ups the Charger's Hemi power by 10, bringing the R/T's total power to 350-horsepower. Production will begin this spring in Ontario, Canada on all three Charger models: SE, SXT, and R/T.
Top
Honda Civic Si Concept
Honda teased crowds at the Chicago Auto Show by giving a sneak peek of the upcoming Civic with the Civic Si concept. Honda has never previewed a new Civic or Accord at any auto show. The Civic Si Concept that was shown in Chicago is a non-running prototype, but sports styling that will be very similar to the production Civic coupe. The new Civic will hit showrooms this fall in coupe and sedan form. Gone is the hatchback.
The Civic was first introduced 20 years ago and this it is the 8th generation available for sale in the U.S. Honda promises that the new coupe and sedan will have VTEC 4-cylinder engines that have more power and are more efficient than the existing engines. Standard safety features will include antilock brakes, stability control, and curtain airbags. Honda officials said the new Si would be introduced at next year's SEMA show. It will ride on 18-inch wheels and have a 200-horsepower 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Other Si exclusives include a limited-slip differential and Brembo-brand b
New Car Quote
Acura
