Chicago 2014: Five new cars on a bull run

Toyota FT-1. Photo by Kyle Matthew Uy

Held every February, about a month after the Detroit show, the Chicago Auto Show was first produced in 1901. It has been staged more times than any other auto show in North America. With over a million visitors, it continues to be the longest running and biggest auto show in the US. Its 106th edition this year could be marked by another bull run as the US automotive industry continues to show growth in sales and profitability.

BMW Rides High on Hybrids

BMW i8 hybrid sports car. Photo by Kyle Matthew Uy

One of the crowd favorites was the BMW i8 hybrid as the German luxury automaker partners with the US Olympic bobsled team in time for the Winter Games happening on the same weekend at Sochi. Packing about 362 horsepower, the gas and electric hybrid motors can propel the i8 from zero to 60mph in 4.4 seconds. With an estimated fuel consumption of 94 mpg, industry observers are beginning to say that this may give Tesla a run for its money.  The i8 was displayed side by side with the smaller i3 model. Another crowd drawer in the BMW pavilion was the M4 Coupe which is slated for a mid-2014 release. With a high performance M-Powered 6-cylinder engine, the M4 has about 431 horsepower under its diminutive hood.

An Italian Masterpiece

Maserati Ghibli powers into BMW 5 Series territory with available Ferrari-produced engine. Photo by Kyle Matthew Uy

Aside from its now viral Super Bowl commercial, Maserati presented this new and relatively affordable Ghibli to the show’s visitors for an up-close-and-personal look at the 3.0-liter twin turbo 345 horsepower V6 sedan as Maserati gives new meaning to the phrase executive express.  Its Ghibli S Q4 variant features an intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD) platform with an output of 404 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque with a top speed is 280 kph while its base model has a top speed of 264 kph.

Letting the Fast times Roll

Rolls-Royce Wraith coupe. Photo by Kyle Matthew Uy

The sleek fastback silhouette of the new Rolls Royce Wraith probably sounds a bit out of character for the usual stately nature of the brand. So is its 6.6-liter V12 engine and an output of 624 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque, making this Rolls rocket from zero to 96 kph in 4.6 seconds, despite its hefty body mass and weight. With a top speed of 155 mph, this is considered to be the most powerful Roll Royce to date. As in any Rolls Royce, one can still expect a well-cocooned interior and well-appointed interiors and comfortable ride that allow its owners to cruise in style and power on the tap.

Subaru’s new Legacy

Subaru launches all-new Legacy at Chicago Auto Show. Photo by Kyle Matthew Uy

The much anticipated debut of the Subaru Legacy gave this midsize sedan something American mortals can happily afford. Its topline boxer engine package sports a 256 horsepower offering with four types of trim levels with the usual all-wheel-drive (AWD) platform. Considering Chicago just had its fair share of the Polar Vortex Artic winds, the AWD platform can be a real useful feature on the windy city’s icy roads.

Toyota Moves Forward to the Future

Although the Toyota FT-1 debuted in Detroit, talks about this concept vehicle being the next Supra have not died down and visitors to the Chicago Auto Show could only fan the flames of speculation and excitement. Originally designed for the popular Gran Turismo video game, Toyota has only the future in mind for this supercar. Dubbed as “Future Toyota 1”, the production model is said to most likely use a 2.5 liter turbo V6 hybrid engine that can pack about 400 horses. People at Calty Design Research started the “Future Toyota 1″ or FT-1 project in 2012 and two year later the future became much more brighter. There are also talks that Toyota 86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada is working on an entry level sports car to position below the 86.

The 2014 Chicago Auto Show was open to the public last February 8^thand will run until February 17^th at the McCormick Place Complex. For more information visit www.chicagoautoshow.com