After the New Delhi show, United States gets the spotlights back to itself once again. Now is the Windy City’s time to receive automakers from several countries, showing which will be the next steps of the North American car industry. As always, this article will give you brief introductions about the most important releases exposed there in alphabetic order, along with links to those which received their own full article previously. You can also click here to check a photo gallery of them at the blog’s Facebook page.
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Complete articles: M3, M4.
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Complete articles: ATS Coupé.
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Complete articles: City Express, Silverado HD.
Corvette Z06: The regular Corvette is always amazing, but the Z06 version manages to take it to another level. Expected to hit the streets in early 2015, the coupé uses a whole new 6.2L V8, whose performance figures were announced as “more than” 625 cv and 87.8 kgfm. It’ll be possible to choose between six-speed manual or a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Besides, there are 19” and 20” aluminum wheels (front and rear), removable carbon-fiber top and an optional aerodynamic package with some parts made of carbon fiber.
Silverado HD Bi-Fuel: Like their previous generation, both 2500 and 3500 sisters are now able to burn CNG, as the Bi-Fuel combo with gasoline which can be activated with the flip of a switch. The gas has its own tank, and both help the truck to travel up to 650 miles. The 6.2L V8 received some improvements for the new requirement and reaches 360 hp and 380 lb-ft, which fall to 301 hp and 333 lb-ft with CNG. However, the towing capacity is always 13,000 pounds. GM will offer a limited warranty of five years or 100,000 miles to all components.
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Complete articles: 200.
300C John Varvatos: Yep, there it is once again. The same black paint paired to dark-titanium badge, accents and wheels outside, and the same black seats in Poltrona Frau leather with gray stitching, titanium-chrome trim and instrument cluster inspired on Varvatos’ watches inside. 300C’s Detroit-inspired limited edition arrives only US$ 135 more expensive than last year, but now brings AWD as an optional (taking the wheels from 20” to 19”). It’s also possible to upgrade the 292-hp 3.6L V6 with the 363-hp 5.7L Hemi V8, always with automatic eight speeds.
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Journey Crossroad: If you thought Dodge’s wagon-like crossover was only hanging on until a new generation appeared, you’re just being proved wrong. Journey’s new trim level invests on a tougher look, created with gloss-black front grille, black 19” wheels and light surrounds and some accents in platinum chrome and others in black plastic and paired to eight colors. The interior uses black leather with Slate Gray stitching and dashboard accents in Liquid Graphite. Placed between SXT and Limited, it’ll have the 3.6L V6 with AWD and six-speed automatic as optional.
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Complete articles: F-150, Mustang.
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Complete articles: Sierra HD.
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Complete articles: Fit.
Fit (US-spec): After receiving its new generation in Japan, Honda’s MPV reaches North America in a special version, which will be produced in Mexico. There have been slight changes from the original Fit, such as design tweaks, but more important is what it brings under the hood: the new hybrid version uses a direct-injected 1.5L four-cylinder, good for 130 cv. It can use six-speed manual or CVT transmission, and is expected to have class-leading mileage. Honda also intends to achieve high grades on both IIHS and NHTSA tests.
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Complete articles: Genesis.
Veloster RE:FLEX: After the apparent success of last year’s RE:MIX series, the Korean coupe/hatchback now appears with a new name. While the previous one used dark colors, this edition went completely shiny: the white paint can be replaced by other four options, but they’re all combined to many small chrome accents and even the 18” wheels, probably to honor its name. Besides, there are leather seats, interior schemes in red or black and the Style item package as standard. However, it only uses the 138-hp 1.6L, with six-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
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Optima Hybrid 2014: For those who show any interest on this sedan, the Korean automaker has an interesting story to tell: it’s claimed to have become more efficient, and yet didn’t make the smallest change on its mileage numbers. The new ecologic Optima features new exclusive front grille and 16” or 17” wheels, supposed to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Aside from the LED front lighting, everything else wasn’t touched: the powertrain uses six-speed automatic transmission and reaches a maximum of 199 hp and 235 lb-ft and there are LX and EX trims.
Soul EV: Kia’s compact crossover receives its very first electric version with this closed front grille and white wheels. The liquid-cooled propeller is good for 109 hp and 210 lb-ft, and features regenerative braking and two driving modes. It gets power from a 96-cell, 27-kWh lithium-ion battery stored under the car’s floor and taking a little space from both legs and luggage. There will be three charging ports: two are standard 240-volt ones, which fully recharge it in five hours, while the other is able to use quick-charge stations.
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Complete articles: Navigator 2015.
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Complete articles: Rogue.
Versa Note SR: Along with the upscale SL, the Japanese minivan used the event to show its new “sporty” trim. There’s the very same four-cylinder 1.6L of 109 hp and 107 lb-ft with CVT transmission as optional, but paired to a few exclusive visual accessories: more aggressive bumpers, side and rear spoilers, darkened lights, dark 16” wheels with all-season tires and fog lights outside, while the cabin received central console in piano black, silver and chrome accents, faux-suede seats with orange stitching and a leather steering wheel.
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Complete articles: 911 Targa.
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Complete articles: Legacy, WRX.
WRX STI: How would you like a sporty version of a sporty version? The most powerful Impreza ever produced will hit the streets next April, including a Launch Edition of 1,000 units only in blue with golden BBS wheels. STI differentiates itself from the regular WRX for an exclusive aerodynamic kit, 18” wheels and, of course, the powertrain: there’s a turbocharged, four-cylinder 2.5L boxer engine, capable of 305 cv and 40.1 kgfm. It also brings AWD, six-speed manual transmission and a driver-operated differential.
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Complete articles: S60 Polestar, V60 Polestar.
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