The biggest automobile showcase in North America took place in Chicago from February 13-21 for the 108th consecutive year.  With over a million people visiting each year (wikipedia.com) and more than 2.7 million square feet of car exhibits (chicagoautoshow.com) the Chicago Auto Show always is something special, and this year was no different.

The show’s massive scope and range of active exhibits drew people from all walks of life to see and experience the latest innovations in the world of motor vehicles.  Not only were hundreds of cars showcased, but tis year’s show focused on energy solutions as well.  Rounding out the experience, various simulations, contests, and food concessions could be found in every corner of the McCormick Center.

The exhibit was split into two areas, separated by a wide hallway where guests entered.  One side consisted of SUV vehicles, such as the new Chevy Suburban, Toyota Sequoia, and Lincoln MKX.  Pickup trucks, like the 2017 Chevy Silverado, 2017 Nissan Titan, and the 2017 Ford F150 were also on display.   I found it very interesting to explore these vehicles, especially the pickup trucks. The trucks’ seating arrangements were more spacious than a typical SUV, and enable the driver to see more of the surroundings.  Noticing these differences for the first time, I realized that a pickup truck driver has an advantage behind the wheel over an SUV driver.

The show also presented the latest approaches to energy conservation, with brands such as GM, Toyota, and Ford introducing energy-conserving, plug-in cars: the Bolt, RAV4 hybrid crossover, and CMAX energy-efficient hybrids.  Volvo also announced that it is working on a self-driving energy-saving car for the future (chicagotribune.com).

As interesting as I was in this first part of the show, in my opinion the second part was even better, as it showcased sports cars such as the 2017 Chevy Camaro and the 2017 Mustang GT.  New Jeep vehicles also were on display, such as the 2017 Jeep Wrangler and the 2017 Jeep Rubicon.  Visitors had the option to test ride a Jeep over and around various terrains, demonstrating the Jeeps’ versatility.  There was also a “race track” where guests could ride with an employee at top speed.  Both features had long waiting times, but looked like they would be a blast.

My Top 5 Favorite Cars at the Show:

5.) Chevy Silverado

4.)  Mustang GT

3.) Chevy Camaro

2.)  Jeep Wrangler

1.) Dodge Challenger Hellcat

Source:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-electric-vehicles-auto-show-ev-perspec-0218-jm-20160217-story.html