2016 Chicago Auto Show Highlights By Steve and Thom, News, Photos and Video

MORE INFO:See all of the 2016 Chicago Auto Show Press Conference; News, Photos and Videos

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2016 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

By Steve Purdy and Thom Cannell
The Auto Channel
Michigan Bureau
Photos by Thom Cannell

The Chicago Auto Show claims to be the biggest in the country. They are accurate in terms of actual floor space (over a million square-feet) and number of attendees (somewhere north of a million.) While Detroit remains the granddaddy of all U.S. motor shows because of its international sanction, number of new vehicle reveals and worldwide attention, Chicago deserves its claim to fame.

Thom: Even before the show opened, two significant events occurred. One, a technology showcase. It is designed for Chicago TV to see and hear the cars and gather the nightly news. We were admitted on sufferance. While we could touch the new Lexus RS500 we could not enter for closer examination. While the display and interior are accurate, Lexus said no to legs and hips inside due to fragility of this prototype. We could, however, marvel at the deeply sculpted door panels, waterfall taillights, and massive “cow catcher” grille. Elsewhere in the gigantic space across for McCormick Place, Ford showed truly useful technology for those who tow trailers with their F150s. Using math, a decal, and a teensy dash-mounted steering wheel even novices can back a trailer in to a slot with professional ease. If you do it every day Trailer Assist won’t be an option on your checklist. Once a week or once a month? Run to order Trailer Assist for your truck.

The other pre-event was the global introduction of the new Nissan Armada. A body-on-frame full-sized SUV it rivals the largest. New is an improved Direct Injected engine, more second row space, an upgraded interior with more connectivity, and a totally revised body. Modern intervention technology is showcased: Navigation with traffic and weather on an 8” color display, backup collision warning, predictive forward collision warning, lane departure prevention and warning, blind spot intervention and warning, and more. Both 4WD and 2WD models are offered, the 4X4 a true off road capable machine with Low range and locking differentials. It seats eight, tows 8,500 pounds, is quieter, and echoes the globally known Nissan Patrol.

Steve: As auto journalists we love covering the Chicago show because it is so much more laid back. We get a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with colleagues from around the country and spend time with execs and products we don’t have enough time for in Detroit. While Chicago is usually even colder in February than Detroit is in January, we hardly notice.

The Midwest Auto Media Association and the Chicago Auto Dealers Association, who organize the Chicago Auto Show, kick off press days with a keynote speech and announcement of MAMA’s Family Vehicle of the Year Award. Mark LaNeve, Ford’s boss of marketing sales and service, talked about his company’s “Smart Mobility Plan” that concentrates on SUV and CUV vehicles where substantial profits are to be made but he also talked about how automakers have to think about changing demographics and how vehicles need to meet the needs of buyers who will keep their vehicle longer than ever before, requiring it to be more versatile.

Thom: Mark’s news was four new SUV/CUV nameplates in the near future. We’re betting on a Bronco, something for Lincoln to replace the long departed Aviator, something to compete with the Land Rover brand, and perhaps a Jeep Wrangler fighter, last a smaller-than-Escape CUV.

MAMA’s Family Vehicle of the Year (many of your Auto Channel writers voted on this award) is the much-lauded Volvo XC90, made by the now Chinese-owned company that continues to do much of its development, design and engineering in Sweden.

We love how Kia has been the first press conference (see Kia press conf coverage including video) of the day these past few years in Chicago because they always provide some high-energy, live music to be sure we are awake so early in the day. This year it was the high school-aged School of Rock band from Oak Park, IL who provided that service as Kia revealed their new Optima Hybrid and soon-to-be-available Optima Plug-in Hybrid. Those were just a prelude to the surprise introduction of their new compact hybrid utility vehicle called Niro.

Thom: Niro was designed from the ground up specifically for this purpose and not yet certified for the US, so will emerge somewhere else first. While the overall style and exterior design are a bit tepid it is still a significant vehicle to add to the already efficient Kia lineup and its expected to get around 50 mpg. That’s Prius territory.

It’s interesting that this vehicle, far more boxy and utilitarian than any of the various Prius models, was shown here, in the Midwest, long before US certification. Testing the waters?

Steve: The creative folks at Ram always find a way to put some drama in their introductions and they did it again here. (see RAM press conf coverage including video) . The reveal was all about bringing back a highly respected nameplate – Power Wagon – to enhance the range of work trucks, luxury trucks and enthusiast trucks for which they are well known. The Power Wagon nameplate came out of WWII when the Dodge-made ¾-ton military truck became a highly competent work truck after the war. This modern version has a higher stance, much more suspension travel, custom winch, Bilstein monotube shocks, a 6.4-liter Hemi and lots of special trim. It will be a package available on most Ram models.

Thom: We think of Jeep being the standard for off road competence. Yes, surely, but the Power Wagon delivers as much ability along with the capacity of a truck. Jeeps are fun, Power Wagons work as hard and haul a lot more out into the boondocks. The renewed wagon is based on the 2500 4x4 platform with 2” of lift, 14.3” of ground clearance, revised 3-link front and 5-link rear suspension. Then there’s the electronic sway bar disconnect for full articulation (needed to climb rocks and stumps) and limited slip differentials. There will be models with leather and lux, and a tradesman model with neither.

Steve: News at Hyundai was mostly about the modest refresh of the popular Santa Fe crossovers. (see Hyundai press conf coverage including video) They’ve added Android Auto and USB outlet in the third row seat and, like most of their competitors they’ve introduced a new version of their app and infotainment system. Hyundai’s is called Bluelink. Along with that are dynamic bending headlamps, five new wheels including 19” alloys, soft touch interior surfaces and matt wood grain, and Infinity’s Clari-Fi audio system with Quantum Logic surround. It, too, has a new 8” touch screen system.

Thom: Hyundai is capacity constrained on a global basis; also news was redistribution of this product to that manufacturing facility. That’s big news for business publications and stockholders.

Steve: I’m having trouble keeping up with the new model designations at Infiniti. Q, QX . . . what does it all mean? We got a first-hand look at the sexy new Q30 compact crossover, the brand’s first global vehicle in this category. (see Infiniti press conf coverage including video) It is powered by a 2-liter turbo making just over 200 horsepower and it’s as sexy as a long-legged woman in a short skirt. We also learned that all Infiniti models will be available in all-wheel drive.

Thom: Not exactly new is that the Q50 sedan (introduced in Detroit) has three power options, from an in-line four cylinder produced in cooperation with Mercedes, to a 400 horsepower V6 with lots of snarky technology like an optical sensor to monitor the speed of its turbocharger turbines and twin water-cooled charge air coolers. In between is a twin turbo V6 that delivers 300 horses—enough for most hearty drivers–with water cooled charge air cooler. Infiniti says it’s challenging BMW with their dynamic digital suspension and direct adaptive steering.

Steve: Toyota added one more level of off-road competence to an already capable Tacoma TRD. (see Toyota press conf coverage including video) This one is called TRD Pro and includes more ground clearance and suspension travel as well special wheels and tires. Much of the extra stuff on this truck was developed though experience of the TRD Racing programs like the Baja 1000 and NASCAR.

Thom: There are several TRD vehicles, Tacoma, Tundra, FourRunner. They were displayed together and, while not the same face, were familial enough to be distinctive. The new front end on all three is massive, sleek, distinctive, and very, very cool.

Steve: Another unique element of the Chicago show is the presence of commercial vehicles – heavy-duty trucks, big utility vans, chassis-cabs.(see Mercedes-Benz press conf coverage including video) Mercedes-Benz Commercial Division took advantage of the show to present the Sprinter Extreme Concept, a big, dually Sprinter 3500 chassis-cab with a three-way dump bed that had a chunky Tonka Truck look and graphic mud applique. Along side was the newest production Sprinter work van with a huge 319 cubic-foot cargo capacity and other big numbers. The not-so-big number was the $32,500 price. That’s a lot of truck for the money.

Thom: That concept, with its huge pickup bed, hauls like a Heavy Duty pickup, a 6,400-pound payload. The Worker, as the new lighter duty truck is named, has a 2.4-liter diesel, 144” wheelbase, and can tow 5,000 pounds or fill its 320 cubic feet of cargo space. Three packages are available, Convenience, Utility, and Overtime. At $4999 we assume the not-shown Overtime is pretty tricked out.

Thom: Chevrolet displayed an updated Trax micro-CUV and that update comes only 13 months after US introduction. It’s surely more stylish and better proportioned.

The Chicago Auto Show with over a million square-feet of exhibit space has room for accessory makers like Rand McNally. The company we mostly know for maps, we found out, has been the major purveyor of GPS navigation systems for the trucking industry. Here in Chicago they were demonstrating “OverDryve” a tablet-based navigation, entertainment and app system costing around $400 that uses your car only for power. This system will be a boon for people with older cars that do not have these systems built in or folks who just don’t want to spend the money on expensive OEM systems. The demonstration unit was fitted in a Factory 5 Cobra. That’s what caught my eye in the first place.

We wrapped up the day with Motor Week’s John Davis presenting their Driver’s Choice Awards. While they determine their best in a variety of categories they also do a best-of-the-best determination. The winner is . . . you may have guessed it . . . the Volvo XC90. This is the first time that honor has gone to an SUV or CUV and the umpteenth time the XC90 has achieved such an accolade.

See all of the 2016 Chicago Auto Show Press Conference; News, Photos and Video's, good-bye from Chicago, we all can't wait for the 2017 show!