Photography by Brandy A. Schaffels, Kirill Ougarov, Mike Floyd
The Chicago Auto Show, now in its 99th year, bills itself as the largest auto show in North America, and as we all know, size does indeed matter. But while it may be the largest, the second whistle stop on the annual international auto show tour doesn't usually pack all that show floor space with a glut of spanking new world premieres.
That's not to say there isn't anything hot set to spin at the ginormous McCormick Place on Chi-town's famed Lake Shore Drive. The biggest blockbuster of a debut blowing into the Windy City this year is Pontiac's latest thunder from Down Under, the Pontiac G8. Based on the new Holden Commodore from General Motors' Australian subsidiary, the G8 is one mean looking machine which should help revive Pontiac's tarnished image as a performance division. GM is also bringing its new Saturn (Opel) Astra and two cool special edition Corvettes to the party.
Lots of reskinned trucks and SUVs will be rolling out to the floor, including a trio of updated Nissans, the freshened Toyota Highlander and a dolled-up Dodge Dakota. More refreshed faces will adorn Ford's Mercury Montego and the Freestyle. Also on the stand will be two Scions, the next xB and an all-new model, the xD, and knowing those wacky kids at Scion, they won't be mistaken for anything else.
We'll be rushing around McCormick Place's humongous halls to bring you all the latest and greatest as it happens.