The Chicago Auto Show (CAS) has ended, and I had the privilege to go see the cars, trucks, and new auto technologies that were shown off. This year’s auto show had quite a few companies, from Hyundai, Ford, Toyota, to even a rebranded Dodge and electric manufacturer VinFast. It was quite a big stock, but lacked a few key manufacturers, which surprised my photographer and me. There was also quite a generic lineup of many vehicles with seemingly no new changes to many cars other than the price, of course.
I got the chance to ride two vehicles during my visit, testing out both a traditional gas-powered Jeep Wrangler and an electric car from German manufacturer Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW). First off, the auto show had four tracks set up indoors and one test-driving track outdoors. We tried the indoor electric test track, which showed off the capabilities of our BMW I4 sedan, reaching speeds of up to 45 miles per hour in a short stretch within just a second and a half. The model can allegedly reach 60 in just over three seconds. The track consisted of a short stretch that allowed vehicles to show off their electric power and acceleration. Our BMW I4 kept us glued to our seats during both rounds of the launch test. The second aspect of this track was the tight corner testing, which showed the stability and high-speed corner capabilities of each electric vehicle. Our BMW I4, of course, handled these corners flawlessly.
The second track we tried was the Jeep track, which had several obstacles lined up for the Wrangler and Gladiator models. Everything from suspension tests to camber tests and even a steep, high-altitude climbing test, which each vehicle handled flawlessly as well. The test track was filled to the brim, but it managed to stay moving the whole time we were in line with the time-to-ride being about 30 minutes in line. We did not get to try the other available tracks; however, they looked quite fun and well worth the time if you had it.
As for the rest of the show, manufacturers typically use this event to show off their upcoming models, concepts, and historical models. While there were a few concepts, it was really nothing new. The same can be said about the upcoming models, which are currently still in the middle of their current generation of production, something that changes every few years. The older cars and club cars being shown, however, were magnificent. For those of you who know me a bit more personally, you can already imagine how much time I spent looking at the lowriders.
All in all, while the auto show was fun and a great way to kill time, I do wish there were more available. I had been told for years how amazing the CAS was. However, this was underwhelming and smaller compared to the Los Angeles Auto Show, which I attended regularly before coming to college. Either way, though, I had fun and it was worth the $20 ticket in my opinion, especially if you participated in the special attractions.