chicago auto show Archives

Get in The Game With The Kia Trail’ster! #KiaTrailster

February 18, 2015 by Beeb 4 Comments

Kia Trailster – photo courtesy the Chicago Auto Show

Travel consideration provided.

Last week, Kia unveiled their Kia Trail’ster concept at the Chicago Auto Show. This vehicle gives us a peek at how the Kia Soul could evolve in the coming years, with a sporty, electric all-wheel-drive system to help you deal with a wide variety of terrain, from trailheads, to mud, to snow – definitely the kind of vehicle that would fit right in the Pacific Northwest! The Trail’ster is sleek and modern, packing SUV capability into a more compact vehicle. With its “Through-the-Road” hybrid system that doesn’t need a mechanical link between the engine and the motor, this is one futuristic car!

The Kia Trail’ster is all about getting in the game and being ready for any adventure. Since Chicago is home to the Chicago Bulls, a team which Kia proudly sponsors, they decided to celebrate the unveiling of the Trail’ster concept by going out to a Bulls game later that night, and taking a group of bloggers with them to help root on the team. We got on a bus headed to United Center and got ready to cheer on the Bulls!

We had amazing seats in a penthouse suite overlooking the game, complete with a chef whipping up custom pasta dishes and an amazing dessert table.

The Bulls were facing off against the Cleveland Cavaliers, so we settled in for an exciting game.

While we watched the game, the Chicago LuvaBulls stopped by to say hi!

Our night culminated with the Bulls winning – yeah!!!

Between the reveal of the futuristic Trail’ster and watching Chicago’s own Bulls earn another victory in their hometown, I couldn’t have asked for a more amazing and memorable day in the Windy City!

Are you a Bulls fan? Do you think you’d drive a Trail’ster to take in a basketball game?

Chicago Auto Show Displays The Fiat 500 Family #FuelCAS

February 10, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

The FIAT brand stands for discovery through passionate self-expression. It encourages people to be in charge of their lives, live confidently and celebrate the smallest of things with infectious excitement. That philosophy is embodied by the North American introduction of the iconic Fiat 500 or Cinquecento – a small car that lives big. Italian at heart and rooted in a rich heritage, the 500 is synonymous with modern, simple design blending form, function and a pride of ownership that is genuine. Reminiscent of the original Cinquecento, the Fiat 500 and Fiat 500c (Cabrio) build on the vehicle’s global popularity. Since its initial launch in 2007, more than 1 million Fiat 500 vehicles have been sold in more than 100 countries around the world.

The 500’s agile handling and crisp-shifting five-speed manual make it fun to drive. The non-turbo engine and manual returned 33 mpg overall, but require frequent downshifts to keep up on hills and with traffic. A 135-hp turbo engine improves the experience, but the ride is choppy and the cabin noisy. Head room up front is good, but the steering wheel is too far away for some. The rear seats are very tight and difficult to access. The convertible has a clever top. The high-performance Abarth is quick, grips well, and has a sporty exhaust note. The 500e electric version is enjoyable, too. Reliability of the 500 has dropped to well below average. The 500 scored a poor in the IIHS small-overlap crash test.

The model’s unquestionable popularity is the result of the Fiat 500’s great ability to deliver unmatched personalization options with advanced solutions in terms of quality, fuel economy and passenger comfort. In addition to success on the sales front, the Fiat 500 has earned more than 80 international awards, including being named the 2008 European Car of the Year, 2009 World Car Design of the Year and Best New Engine of 2010 (Fiat MultiAir Turbo). In the U.S., the 2012 Fiat 500 was named “Best Buy” in the subcompact category by Consumers Digest and was deemed a “Top Safety Pick” by the influential Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The FIAT brand portfolio in North America continues to expand with the arrival of the high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth, Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio and the Fiat 500 Turbo. In 2013, the FIAT brand launched the Fiat 500e, a full-electric version of the Fiat 500, and the Fiat 500L, a new five-passenger model that expands FIAT’s brand style and efficiency into the growing B-segment.

Mama Chicago Automobile Trade Association’s Car Show & How You Can Watch Live #FuelCAS

February 6, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I’m here in Chicago learning about all new cars and technology coming out this year and wanted to make sure you all knew you can follow along live. We just found out the car that won the family MAMA award was the Chevrolet Impala.

You can watch the press conferences LIVE: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/chicago-auto-show-2011 so you don’t miss anything else! But I’ll keep posting summaries while I am here and afterwards as well. Here is a summary of what today looks like:

This year marks the 106th edition of the Chicago Auto Show. Prior to opening to the public on Saturday, Feb. 8, the show boasts a two-day Media Preview on Thursday, Feb. 6 and Friday, Feb. 7.

The Media Preview opens with the Midwest Automotive Media Association breakfast. Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. will deliver the keynote address.

Following the MAMA breakfast will be a full day of manufacturer news conferences, announcing the reveal of more than a dozen new cars and trucks. Introductions are expected from Kia, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, Chevrolet, Volvo, Volkswagen, BMW and Lingenfelter Performance Engineering. Also included on the schedule are news conferences from Toyota Motorsports, Maserati, Connected World and Motorweek.

Splitting the day will be the Economic Club of Chicago Luncheon. Joe Hinrichs, executive vice president of The Americas for Ford Motor Co. will address the than 700 Economic Club of Chicago members, guests and journalists.

To watch complete coverage of the 2014 Chicago Auto Show Media Preview press conferences, please visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/chicago-auto-show-2011. The manufacturer press conferences will also be streamed live on Yahoo Autos at http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/watch-live-reveals-chicago-auto-show-230711872.html.

The 2013 Chicago Auto Show’s Women’s Day #SMP13 2/12

January 23, 2013 by Momstart 2 Comments

Having the opportunity to test drive so many cars lately has my interested in cars peeked. I mean, I’ve always enjoyed car shows. There is just something fun about a shiny car and how the body of cars varies so much from car to car and year to year. I received an invitation to the The 2013 Chicago Auto Show, unfortunately I won’t be able to attend but I’m sending Kas from Southern Bells Ways to Save in my place and she’s going to be covering the event for us at the press preview day.

The Chicago Auto Show realizes that women make purchasing decisions for the family, even big shopping decisions like car purchases, so they have a Women’s Day. Historically, Women’s Day has been filled with professional female guest speakers, manicure stations, delectable desserts and more. The Chicago Auto Show will again hold its annual Women’s Day event this year on Tuesday, February 12. Admission to the show is offered at a half-price discount – at just $6 a ticket – for all female attendees. The 2013 Chicago Auto Show’s Women’s Day is set to be a spectacular event that no lady will want to miss.

“It also serves as one of the best ways to accomplish a comparison shopping expedition for their new vehicle,” says 2012 auto show
Chairman Steve Foley Jr. “Instead of spending a day in the cold of going from dealership to dealership, shoppers can take a leisurely stroll around the show floor and get excellent advice and information from every manufacturer’s display and product specialists. And don’t be surprised if the specialist from “Brand A” doesn’t know everything about “Brand B” if they’re competing in the same segment. Everyone is very well schooled in helping potential customers make informed decisions. We’ve said for years that the best customer for any product is one who is well-informed. What better place to gather information than at the show?”

I really wish I was going, my husband and I could really use a new car. Sharing one car is doable, but driving us both crazy too. There are so many different brands, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Acura, Lexus, Volvo, Jaguar, Ford, Dodge, Jeep, Subaru, Honda, GMC, Buick, Audi and many more. You might want to make plans to attend on Women’s Day to save money and learn about all your options for your next car. Take advantage of the show’s website, www.ChicagoAutoShow.com, where, you can plan your adventure. You’ll find everything from getting to the show, where to park, show floor maps and listings of celebrity appearances to the show’s history section, buyers’ links and extensive photography. It’s a great place to start.