Traditionally the Chicago Auto Show is known as the people’s show. Its target audience is generally consumers who come to the McCormick’s Place convention hall to kick the tires and check out the new wares that they might be buying within a few months. None of the big productions for a typical media event at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show are here. And, in many ways, we like it better.
Because the atmosphere is more about the cars than the hoopla around them, we get to see more of the cars all together in one place without having to fight the crowd. In the convention hall are concept cars like the Lexus LF-LC that you can actually get close to without having to trip over other photographers or video production crews in the way. Fun things to do (like a drive of a Ram truck through an obstacle course) are the best way to convey a vehicle’s capabilities to the media or the public.
For car enthusiasts, it is great to see a number of important announcements about sportier cars that we can actually afford. The limited 450 examples of Mazda’s MX-5 Miata Special Edition get an all-black retractable hardtop and gun-metal wheels treatment to complement the car’s Bilstein shocks and limited-slip differential suspension package. The Nissan Project 370Z is a crowd-sourced car where the fans can pick and vote on various performance parts to add on. And don’t forget the Ford Shelby GT500 convertible and Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible flexing their muscle on the show floor. Fiat introduces the 500 Stinger to pump up the car’s appearance and handling with special exterior graphics, better Brembo brakes and a more free-flow exhaust system. Concept cars like the Kia Track’ster and the Dodge Dart GTS sure add a bit more flair to their standard model siblings.
Who says the people’s auto show has to be boring?
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