New models show off in Chicago

Gerry malloy

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Coming almost immediately after Detroit, Chicago's annual auto show tends to play second fiddle to the Motown extravaganza, especially in terms of media attention.

But it is a very big deal for the Chicago-area public – attendance typically exceeds Detroit's by more than 50 per cent – and it is always the venue for some important vehicle premieres, more in terms of production cars and trucks than concepts.

This year's 100th edition of the show (it began in 1901 but missed a few years during the World Wars) is no exception. The media got a preview of what's new in Chicago earlier this week, in advance of yesterday's public opening.

Production-vehicle premieres from Chevrolet, Dodge and Volkswagen got the most attention, but there were other significant debuts as well.

We'll outline the highlights here, and follow up with more in-depth coverage of individual models when most will appear in Toronto at the Canadian International AutoShow next week.

CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

Chevrolet chose Chicago to introduce its all-new, mid-size (plus) 2009 Traverse crossover – the bow-tie brand sibling to the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.

While all four share the corporation's Lambda architecture and most of their mechanicals, the Traverse achieves a look of its own that clearly identifies it as a Chevrolet. It looks a lot like a grown-up Equinox.

Production will begin in the third quarter of this year, at the former Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tenn.

DODGE CHALLENGER

Dodge's much-hyped debut of the production Challenger SRT-8 confirmed it to be a near-exact duplicate of the concept car. The modern muscle car will sport a 6.1 L Hemi V8 engine rated at 425 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.

Available in only three colours – orange, silver, and black – with carbon fibre-look hood stripes, every SRT-8 will feature a numbered dash plaque. It will be built locally, at Chrysler's Brampton assembly plant, and will arrive in dealerships this spring.

VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN

Volkswagen's Routan minivan has a Canadian connection as well, as it will be built in Chrysler's Windsor minivan plant. It will go on sale this fall as a 2009 model.

While the box-like form of its body-donor is unmistakable, its VW-look nose and distinctive tail-lamp treatment differentiate it from the Chrysler/Dodge vans on which it is based. Unfortunately, it looks nothing like the Microvan concept the company teased us with back in 2001.

The Routan also shares powertrains with its Chrysler counterparts. But its interior differs in detail and it will not offer their trademark Stow 'N Go and Swivel 'N Go seating configurations.

Other production model debuts of note include:

SUZUKI EQUATOR: a rebadged and restyled variant of the Nissan Frontier, built for Suzuki at Nissan's Smyrna, Tennessee plant.

HUMMER H3T: a pickup truck variant of the "littlest" Hummer, with an available V8 engine.

FORD TRANSIT CONNECT: The Blue Oval's ubiquitous small cargo van from Europe, which could transform the bottom-end of the commercial van market in the way the Dodge Sprinter did the top end.

YES ROADSTER 3.2A: A limited-production Lotus Elise fighter from Germany, that is said to be coming to North America.

OTHER MODELS: Facelifted and upgraded or special-edition versions of several 2009 models also make their U.S. debut. They include the Acura RL, Audi A4 Special Edition, Ford Edge Sport, Lexus RX Pebble Beach, Hyundai Elantra Touring (which had its North American premiere in Montreal), Hyundai Sonata and Mitsubishi Galant.

Concept cars appearing for the first time include the BMW 1-Series Tii (which could and should go into production), GMC Denali XT Concept (based on an El Camino-like car-truck from Holden), and the Toyota 1/X (a super-lightweight hybrid design study).

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