Plenty of buzz around this year's Chicago show with the all-new Dodge Challenger ready to make its debut with the limited-edition 6.1-liter V-8 HEMI leading the charge. They've come out with the vehicle in limited-edition clothing and so late into the 2008 season, we can't imagine what the markup will be like at dealerships. Did hear they're selling only between 5000 and 8000 vehicles in this run before the actual lesser-equipped models come out, possibly as 2009 models.
-- The new Ford F-150, introduced last month at Detroit, is still getting quite a bit of attention, this time from the hard-core four-wheel-drive crowd. We've heard from our sister publication, Four Wheeler, Ford plans to come out with a hard-core 4WD F-150, called the Raptor, that'll offer a lowered, long-travel suspension with Fox reservoir shocks, extra skidplating, an ultra-low gear in the transfer case, a unique wide body, a new V-8 powerplant, and possibly 35-inch tires. From the sounds of it, this could be the start of a revolution in the segment.
-- Chevrolet has introduced the Traverse to the masses and garnered a huge audience from TV, magazine, newspaper, and Internet scribes. The vehicle is based off the same platform as the GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, and Saturn Outlook, but the front end and overall shape of the vehicle are probably the best of the bunch: seven-passenger seating, 4500-pound towing capacity, six-speed manual, and the most powerful, high-tech V-6 GM has for the platform. Vehicle Line director Sue Wilson has her entire family--husband and four kids--show off the roominess and most attention-getting aspects of the crossover. All three of the girls--18, 16, and 12--have done an amazing job and seem destined for work in show biz. With all due respect, Dad should keep his coaching job. Must say the vehicle's front end looks dynamic and pure Chevy, very similar to that of the Malibu. And if I had to guess, I'd say there are Bob Lutz fingerprints all over the front end.
-- Gary Flint, Honda Engineering Tech Center king, while walking the show, stops to talk for a few. His first comment is about how interesting it's been to see the first real “reaction vehicles” to the Honda Ridgeline. Knowing that it always takes a big company a few years to incorporate good ideas that more than likely have come from a competitor, Gary comments that the Ridgeline's bed trunk has really pushed other makers to doing something interesting with their beds, be it extra storage (H3T, Dodge Ram, and Ford Explorer Sport Trac), hidden cubbyholes, or just more creative uses with the Mid-gates. I guess he's not too happy with Ridgeline sales of late, but he also notes the exchange rates when building outside the U.S. (Ridgeline is built in Canada) can't be helping much either. He doesn't answer, which I take as an answer.
-- Waiting for the Dodge Challenger reveal, I see that Dodge had the best vehicle displays to show off many of the new Ram technology in the revolutionary 2009 model. We get to look inside the NVG 246 transfer case, play with the unique five-link/coil rear suspension, test out the accuracy of the rearview camera by hooking up a mock trailer, and see a huge cutaway of the new Ram as if a powerful laser cut the truck in half like a cube of butter with a hot knife. Pretty cool.
-- Hummer doesn't have a separate press conference here, mainly because GM's had two other press conferences to highlight three important vehicles and apparently decided having a third would be overkill. What that means is the all-new 22-inch-longer-wheelbase H3T is sitting by its lonesome in the Hummer booth, seen for the first time by any journalist. It's quite large. We shot a video with Carl Zipfel (pronounced zip file), director of exterior design for Hummer, and learned they call the new vehicle Midsize Plus—it's bigger than a midsize pickup, but smaller than a full size. Could've fooled us. In the flesh, it looks just as large as any full-size pickup we've seen. In fact, its overall length is 210 inches. That's big.
-- At the back of any auto show venue are the smaller vehicle exhibits. This is one of the best of the entire exhibit hall. The International MaxxPro is a big U.S. Army troop carrier and monster capable mine protection vehicle: squared-off Rockwell axles, pintle hook, 15,000-pound winch, drop-down troop-carrier rear door, bead locks, finger-thick armored plating, and an 8.7-liter turbodiesel with 1200 lb-ft of torque. It's one of two of the greatest trucks of the show. Can you guess what the other one is?
-- Ford shows a few interesting things, one of which is actually a pretty cool software solution for big truck owners. The first revealed is the sexified Edge Sport. We haven't driven it yet, but it doesn't look like too much: Pirelli tires, 23-inch rims, new colors, light ground effects, and some subtle interior upgrades give this Edge a strange SEMA look. Not that we're judging here, but isn't this just a tight dress and high heels? She's still kind of heavy.
The new Transit Connect is small commercial vehicle able to handle many different jobs (they showed us a jazz band, catering service, and a home electronic outfitter) with many different types of interior configurations, at the same time being an efficient and fuel-saving common-sense choice. Not sure how it'll fly in the U.S. but if European success is any indication, this could be Fords next big hit.
Probably the most interesting thing Ford had to offer was the "Tool Link." The system works much like a separate laptop, controlled through the Super Duty's navigation screen and can tell you what tools are in your truck, as long as you've labeled them with the proper RFID (radio frequency identification) tags. All the information is available on the screen as well as Internet access and all other entertainment needs. We're told the system could cost as much as a cheaper laptop but could change the way we think separately about our office and our vehicle.
-- During the second and final GM press conference of the day, the other shoe has dropped. At the L.A. auto show, GM announced the Silverado CrewCab pickup truck would also get the highly sought 2-Mode Hybrid system. Now, it's announced the GMC Sierra will get the same system and will be available for commercial use in the GM Fleet & Commercial packages as well. The truck will be able to tow 6100 pounds and still offer a 40-percent improvement in fuel economy in heavy city driving in large part due to the engine shut-off feature and two huge electric motors.
For full 2008 Chicago Auto Show coverage click here!