2007 Chicago Auto Show: Photos, Video, Etc (lots of stuff)

[YSSMAN]

Whats up guys? I just got back home from Chicago, and after spending four hours roaming the halls of McCormick Center (not to mention the roughly six-hours of driving), I'm back. I'm not going to go through every single little detail, but I'll comment as the photos roll by. There are sixty of them, so be prepared that this will be a rather large post... Ready? Okay!

I decided to kick things off with what I deemed to be the best car of the show, the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT. I simply cannot get enough of this car. I stood there gawking at it for about 10 minutes, and still couldn't get enough. I want to buy one, NOW!

The new Saturn Astra was very impressive. Overall my thoughts are rather positive, as I love the size and overall look of the car. I'm a bit split on the interior, but given that you couldn't go up and touch it, I'll reserve judgment until later.

The new Camaro gets better every time I see it. This one was no exception, as I love the look of the drop-top. BTW: That interior is spot-on for the classic Camaro, big thumbs up on this car...

Old Lancer to promote the new one? Okay, I'll accept it...

I thought this Challenger "Concept" was pretty cool. It shows how close the car is to production, and how likely it will be that we can see it competing in the NHRA.

...In case you didn't know what a "real" Challenger looks like...

I love the Plumb-Crazy color, it looked great on the Charger R/T Daytona...

At the show you get to go for rides in the new DCX vehicles. In this display, you get to test the Jeep's hill-climb and descent capabilities, not to mention how well it can "forge" a river, and other suspension articulation activities.

I'm in love with the C30, there isn't any question about it. After seeing it in person, sitting inside of it, I feel the need to go and check one out on the street... That is, if they let me drive one...

I don't think pictures do the Interceptor much justice. I didn't think it was going to look all that stunning based on photos I had seen, but seeing it in person makes you want Ford to do a bit more with the car. I loved it, every single inch of it.

My favorite Mustang (besides the Bullitt) was there...

Everything about the new Ford Super Duty is big. Size, performance, and price. This one? $61,000 sticker price. Thats one expensive truck!

Like the Interceptor, the MKR looks a lot better in person than it does in photos. I have not seen so much attention to detail in a concept car in quite some time.

You got to make your own commercials at the Toyota booth, promoting Toyota products of course...

Toyota in NASCAR? Ha ha ha. Lets all enjoy watching them fall flat on their face tonight in the shootout, next Thursday in the Twin 125s, and Sunday in the 500...

...Its smaller in person...

The Scion booth was really cool. There were shades that would drop over the different cars while music videos would play on them, and the shades would alternate every few minutes. Really cool display, by far the best at the show.

Meh. At least the blue was a cool color...

Silver is not a good color for the new CTS... I liked the red prototype model...

Yay! My Volkswagen is here!

Similar to the Jeep Test display, you could do the same with the Dodge trucks as well.

Chrysler/Dodge had an SRT display too, heres a video:



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So, all-in-all, very cool show this year...

 

[TYP-27R]

hahaha......our aussies cars sure are showing their quality in the states these days...does that make us better musclecar makers???

 

[McLaren]

Eww, that's the new CTS? That front looks awful!

BTW, Plum Crazy is the color for the 2007 Daytonas. Next year, it's green.

 

[Dougboy]

Nice pics yssman.

That black/grey viper looks awesome

 

[V1P3R]

Love the Viper as always.

Amazing some actual decent cars from GM.

 

[YSSMAN]

hahaha......our aussies cars sure are showing their quality in the states these days...does that make us better musclecar makers???

Not necessarily, more that you've been doing it for a while and it would seem as though we had forgotten in America. Hey, we're looking for all the help we can get, and as far as I'm concerned, as long as it is a GM product, I'm happy.

Eww, that's the new CTS? That front looks awful!

When I saw it in person, it really doesn't look all that bad. I think the problem more than anything is the color, as the silver just doesn't look good at all. The origional red prototype from NAIAS was a lot better looking as it let the chrome grille stand out, and made it look less like a toaster painted in one solid color.

I want to see one in black, and then one in gold, and then I'm sure we can pin down how good or bad the car looks.

 

[McLaren]

Maybe so, but the front design just coming all the way down makes it look ugly.

The back seems to have gone a bit uglier than the current CTS as well.

 

[skip0110]

BMW making an ugly car is okay.

I don't think GM/Caddy can afford to.

I mean the STS is a real nice looking car. The XLR is pretty good looking too, not a standout design, but not ugly by any means. I thought they had found the sweet spot for "art and science" but, alas, no.

 

[YSSMAN]

...My guess is the color issue, and I could be wrong, but I really didn't think it was that bad overall. And to be honest, the interior was quite nice, and I loved the back of the car. But the grille just doesn't look good on a silver car...

 

[1X83Z]

The new CTS will look good when you see it on the roads. It's easy to make digs about the car when you see it for the very first time on the show stands. Truly ugly cars still get insulted when they come out - and that's very rare. Saab manages to do it every couple of years though.

 

[Tornado]

Saab manages to do it every couple of years though.

Everytime they restyle the 9-5?

Toyota in NASCAR? Ha ha ha. Lets all enjoy watching them fall flat on their face tonight in the shootout, next Thursday in the Twin 125s, and Sunday in the 500...

Just like they did in the Craftsman Truck Series, right?

That looks awesome. I know it is just the light, but the silver and yellow looks cool.

Lord. After GM's styling renaissance recently, it's amazing that these three are so ugly. They even cleaned up the Cadillac CTS from the red prototype, and it still looks like crap from the front.
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