The 103rd annual Chicago Auto Show finished this year’s session on Sunday to a larger crowd than was seen in 2010. From mini-vans to concept cars to old favorites, this year’s auto show had it all. Below are some of the better performing and coolest looking cars from the show.
Lexus CT200h
This luxury hybrid is tuned by 5 axis. That is about all the information Lexus passed along at the show. With a visual examination, one could see a custom designed wide body kit with 19 inch wheels. This hatchback has a great sleek look that rivals that fits with the Subaru WRX style.
2011 Dodge Challenger
With the paint option of “Green with Envy” only available on the Challenger R/T Classic and SRT 392 models, Dodge President and CEO, Ralph Gilles said they are “paying tribute to some of the coolest paint colors from our past.” The SRT 392 model, starting at $45,700 is available for order now, while the R/T model, starting at $36,610 will be available for order at the end of March.
2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition
The special edition comes with former Mazda options, as features. Mazda only plans on producing 750 of the MX-5 model, with a price tag of $31,720. That includes HID headlamps, keyless ignition, Bluetooth capability and Sirius Satellite Radio in each car. That is great value for the quality and will likely sell out quickly.
2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Equipped with a 6.2-liter supercharged LSA V-8 engine, the 2012 Camaro pushes 550 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. With the ZL1 tag, Chevrolet was sure to make this car one of the most powerful on the market.
Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R Spec
Hyundai will make the V-8 5.0-liter exclusive to the R Spec model. Pushing out 429 hp and 376 lb-ft torque, Hyundai is looking to have one of the fastest sedans on the market. The R Spec will set prospective owners back $45-$50K when it is released in mid 2011.
2012 Shelby GT350 Mustang
Limited to only 350 units this year, Ford is hoping to make original 1965 Shelby owners yearn to own the newest model . Customers will have the option of either a 5.0-liter 430 hp automatic engine, or a supercharged 525 hp or 624 hp tunes manual version. The Shelby could get up to as much $90K with options, but for a collector, it’s money well spent.
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8
The 2012 Charger has received a slight makeover visually, and even more under the hood. Installed is fuel saving technology that takes the 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 and changes it to four cylinder mode that’s activated over a wider rpm range.
Hyundai Veloster Rally Car
Hyundai unveiled their newest rally car which pushes nearly 500 hp. To start the process, they stripped the car naked and added stitch welding to help improve its strength. The rally car has nearly 600 lb-ft of torque and only weights 2656 pounds. The car is made almost entirely out of carbon fiber and Kevlar composites to reduce weight. The less weight a rally car has, the better it will race.
2012 Buick Regal eAssist
While I have never personally been a fan of the Buick model, the 2012 edition is a nice addition to their line. The eAssist is a mild hybrid, which means it can’t move the car on its own. With this system, owners will see the difference at the gas pumps as it is projected that it should receive 26 city and 37 highway miles. By comparison, the 2011 model had a 18 city/30 highway split.
2012 Hyundai HCD-12 Curb
My favorite car of the 2011 Chicago Auto Show is the sleek looking crossover vehicle from Hyundai. The HCD-12 is supercharged with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that pushes an estimated 175 hp. The interior features a display with access to the internet and navigation system and even includes access to Pandora internet radio.
