Two Busy Days on Tap at Chicago Auto Show Media Preview
1 February 2000
Just When You Thought You'd Seen It All ... There's More
CHICAGO -- It's not unlike great dining. You have a truly memorable meal
and push away from the table. Sated. Stuffed. Feeling as if you never want
another bite. And yet, by the very next night you're ready to have another
fine meal. Well, you've had a month to let the Automotive Bromo kick in
and now it's time to belly up for another round.
The smorgasbord of new products that's being served up by the industry
these days seems to be more of a movable feast. And the next stop is Chicago.
Dessert? Hardly. There's meat and potatoes ready for you to dive into
Feb. 9-10 during the Chicago Auto Show's media preview. And what better city
to stage the next round. Everyone knows that Chicago is a top flight place to
come to, even if there weren't an auto show. So is it a world-class city that
draws you to come or is it what's new in the industry? It doesn't matter.
Just come and be ready because there's plenty of both to be had.
Two days of pre-show events kick off with the Midwest Automotive Media
Association breakfast. NTSB's Chief Jim Hall and DaimlerChrysler's Susan
Cischke will take to the podium to talk about what every consumer wants more
information about: safety. DC's "Fit for a Kid" program is set to take on
new dimensions and availability for the consumer as Hall's "Year of Child
Safety" is poised to enter its second year. They'll be ready to take your
post-omelet questions about programs that will make national news.
First out of the box with new product will be Toyota, which has introduced
more new products in Chicago than any other North American venue. The 2001
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab will add to that number when it makes its debut in
the Grand Ballroom. This segment of the market is as hot as it gets. The new
four-door Tacoma will bow to take its place in the competition with the likes
of Ford's 2001 Explorer Sport Track.
Saab returns to Chicago to take the wraps off the 9/5 Special Edition
Wagon. While most wagons have only four wheels to work with, Saab's
announcement will show that some wagons come with six wheels -- or more. Let's
see. The last six-wheeled car we can remember was in Formula 1. Ken Tyrrell
visits Trollhattan? Naaaaaaa ... couldn't be. Stay tuned.
Next General Motors steps up the plate with its concept vehicle launches.
GM has a huge presence planned for the Windy City and the opening volley will
be two striking examples of future-think: The Chevrolet Traverse and Pontiac
Piranha.
The Piranha will give the media -- and the more than million patrons who
come through the turnstiles in Chicago -- a look at what most say will be the
next-generation Sunfire. The two-door boasts a blower-assisted four-cylinder
engine and styling in tune with Pontiac's "Excitement" heritage. While
industry insiders might see Aztek styling cues, the Poncho makes its own
statement big time.
The Chevrolet Traverse is being billed as a five-door sedan, but you
wouldn't have to be Fellini to figure out this movie. Will it be the new
Blazer? Or close to it? Traverse has four-wheel drive and a big Bow Tie V-6.
For technoids it features onboard Internet access and F1-style push button
electronic shift controls. This vehicle is going to cause crowds over ten
days in Chicago -- and beyond.
Get in. Be moved. Hear the news. See the car. Have lunch in the
bargain. Mazda's Nextourer is next up, bringing a North American introduction
to Chicago. First seen in Tokyo last Fall, this stunning concept is full of
future-think with styling that will capture the imagination.
The post-lunch schedule brings the unveiling of the 2001 Nissan Frontier.
This freshly designed pickup will be built in Tennessee and features a more
powerful engine for 2001. Early reviews of those who have had a sneak peek
say this is going to be a hit. The truck should be in dealerships by early
Summer.
The product parade has something very fast to lead it in Chicago. The
Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG will be the new "safety car" (kinda like a pace car
for all of us in the often roundy-round world of American motorsport) for
Formula 1. With the series returning to the States this year at Indy, we'll
get the first look at a car with major steroid injections. Watch quickly,
though, ok? It's the fastest MB on the market.
While Michael Andretti and Christian Fittipaldi's CART team is based in
Chicago, we don't think they'd mind being upstaged by Speed Racer's Mach 5.
Yup. That one that does more in a car than Ron Popeil ever dreamed of with a
slicer-dicer. The Children's Safety Network commissioned a running replica of
the World's Most Exotic Celluloid Car to promote their efforts. Will
SpeedRacer make an appearance with the car? Hey, Sparky -- he's a cartoon,
ok?
After evening events from DaimlerChrysler, GM and Infiniti/Nissan, get
some rest or take in some of the world's most incredible architecture with a
walk down Wacker Drive or up Michigan Avenue. We don't call it "The
Magnificent Mile" because it was a cute name.
Thursday kicks off with breakfast hosted by General Motors with its
production reveals. The Buick Rendezvous was a concept car just two years
ago. Now refined and scheduled for the showroom in 2001, the vehicle
amalgamates minivan and sport ute ... and doesn't disappoint.
Then pickups continue with the reveal of the Chevy S10 Crew Cab, a 4-door
version of the new pickup and its GMC brother, the Sonoma Crew Cab. Pickups
are commonly primary vehicles these days and the extras reflect everything on
the luxo-menu, including equipment for making business on the road easier.
The 2001 Kia Rio bows next, and we wish we knew more about it, but it's
rather hush-hush. Look for a sub-compact sedan powered by a 1.5 liter engine.
We're told it's very easy on the eye and expands Kia's line further.
Dodge's new midsize sedan takes center stage next with the unveiling of
the 2001 Stratus. Intrepid/Concorde styling has been so successful, it would
make sense that the newest from Dodge will incorporate some of those styling
cues. But, then again, it's Dodge. Different.
While most every manufacturer now uses concepts to see how the public will
react, Hyundai has chosen Chicago's giant audience of non-industry-influenced
public to see the HCD5 first. We're told this sport utility vehicle is
"waaaaay forward" in its design.
Executive availabilities are often more rare than new product. The giant
GM floor display will offer the opportunity to rub elbows with the General's
top brass as lunch is served casually.
The 2001 Ford Ranger is a freshening that will take the Blue Oval's pickup
into the next two years when it receives a full redesign.
Corporate news and marketing strategy for Subaru follows, with emphasis on
the future of a recently-revealed concept.
Illinois' second largest employer is Mitsubishi. They have news. They
have new vehicles coming on line. Where will they be built? Which ones will
they be? Following the huge success of the Illinois-built Galant -- well,
we'll let them tell you.
Not enough news for you? Well then stay home. We're gonna have a ball
with or without you. And you'll miss the stories.
