Chicago's auto show is on - and TheCarConnection.com is reporting from the Windy City, through rain, sleet, snow and hail - maybe all four this evening, if predictions hold.
This year’s Chicago auto show may seem like a subdued affair at the moment. We’ve only been able to confirm a handful of world debuts, including the launch of Dodge’s Challenger musclecar. But with the vast expanses of space available at Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center — and the sizable fleet of journalists headed into town for the show — we expect there to be a few surprises alongside the Challenger, VW's Routan minivan, and others.
Take a look at the first round of Chicago debuts:
After announcing a base price of $37,995 recently, Dodge has confirmed that the Challenger SRT8 will hit the auto-show circuit next February 6 in Chicago. The first Challengers to roll out of Chrysler's Canadian factory will all be SRT8 models, with a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 pounding out an unnamed level of horsepower, and each of those first Challengers will get a special plaque to commemorate its status. Three colors will be offered — black, silver, and HEMI orange — all decorated with dual hood stripes. Dodge promises that the Challenger will have resonant styling, a racing-inspired interior, a world-class ride and handling set, benchmark braking, and a standout powertrain. Pricing for the rest of the Challenger lineup will be announced later. With gas-guzzler taxes included, the SRT8 Challenger will cost more than $40,000 when it goes on sale in the spring.
2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Preview by Marty
Padgett (1/23/2008)
A Chicago show debut, just in time for CAFE.

2009 Chevrolet Traverse
The Routan, Volkswagen confirms, is the minivan that VW will sell in the U.S. starting in the 2009 model year and will show at the Chicago auto show. VW says the name is a newly coined word indicating the bond between Volkswagen and America, a conflation of “route” and VW’s “-an” suffix, which indicates its people movers. The Routan may wear the VW badge, but at heart it’s a Chrysler minivan built by the American automaker at its Canadian minivan plant across the Detroit River. The Routan is part of VW’s new strategy to grow sales in the U.S. The company’s stretch goal? Some 800,000 sales a year by the year 2018.

2009 HUMMER H3T

2009 Suzuki Equator
2009 Suzuki Equator Preview
by Marty Padgett (1/30/2008)
ALSO COMING:
2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid Preview by
Marty Padgett (2/5/2008)
GM adds gas-electric power to another big truck.
2009 Ford Edge Sport Preview
by TCC Team (2/5/2008)
Crossover gets a sharper Edge.
2008 GMC Denali XT Hybrid Concept by
Marty Padgett (2/3/2008)
The return of the El Camino -- via Oz?
2009 Mitsubishi Galant Preview by
Marty Padgett (2/3/2008)
Mitsu gives a new nose, tail to the Galant.
2009 Hyundai Sonata
2009 Acura RL Preview by TCC Team (2/6/2008)
2010 Ford Transit Connect Preview by TCC Team (2/6/2008)
EVENTS
Wednesday, Feb. 6
8 a.m. Chicago Auto Show/MAMA Breakfast
9:15 a.m. General Motors
10 a.m. Acura
10:45 a.m. Chrysler LLC
11:30 a.m. Volkswagen
12:15 p.m. American Suzuki
1 p.m. Ford
1:45 p.m. General Motors
2:30 p.m. Hyundai
3:15 p.m. BMW
4 p.m. Bentley
4:30 p.m. MotorWeek Awards
Thursday, Feb. 7
8 a.m. Porsche
News Breakfast
9:15 a.m. Mitsubishi
10
a.m. Volvo
10:30 a.m. YES!
11:15 a.m. International
RELATED ARTICLES
2008 Detroit Auto Show Coverage by TCC Team
(1/14/2008)
Ford F-150, Hyundai Genesis and Corvette ZR1.
Email This Page