Welcome to an all new take on Roadshow's AutoComplete, where we're going to take a deeper dive on some of the bigger news in the automotive world.
This week we're talking about the Chicago Auto Show.
For a long time now the Detroit Auto Show was the first big auto show of the year, but with its move from January to June for 2020, Chicago now takes spot.
The interesting thing is that Chicago isn't necessarily huge from a manufacturer debut standpoint, but it's still a major show for consumer traffic.
Still, the sheets came off more than a few new models and special trim editions and of course road show was there to check them out.
So today on autocomplete, we're gonna take a look at the highs and the lows of that 2020 Chicago Auto Show.
While there wasn't a lot in terms of outright new vehicles at the show, we saw plenty of worthwhile model updates.
To vehicles like the Honda Civic type R and the Jaguar F type.
The Mercedes Metris got a camper package, and Hyundai's new Sonata saw its hybrid variant break cover for the US.
Speaking of that one nice not a hybrid, we learned that not only does it have a solar freaking roof that can generate up to 800 miles of range per year, provided you live somewhere that gets plenty of sun, but that it's hybrid electric powertrain will deliver a staggering 54 miles per gallon on the highway.
That is seriously impressive.
The Mercedes metris weekender takes the classic camper van formula established by Volkswagen so many decades ago and revised it for the US market.
See, the folks from Mercedes have been making sweet camper vans for a while, but despite being called The California, we didn't actually get it in America.
The weekender changes that with seating for five and sleeping space for four adults And finally, continuing the van theme, Chrysler debuted the latest and greatest version of its specific minivan.
The biggest change is the addition of optional all wheel drive, something that should have Toyota with its aging Siena quaking in its crocs.
Also on deck is a somewhat polarizing new nose, but we're betting that Roadshow's favorite hot ride minivan Will still be a pretty good time behind the wheel because you don't have to look at it.
Of course not everything could be sunshine and roses, we've got to acknowledge some of the low point that's show or the very least mis steps that blew into the windy city this year.
To start, let's talk about Toyota and it's decision to release more of it's low effort night shade edition trucks.
Now, there's nothing wrong with the trucks themselves and aesthetically they're not terrible.
We just kinda take issue with Toyota wasting time and money by trying to make Knight shade a thing instead of just quietly offering the dark chrome etc.
As a normal option package.
Remember when Toyota used to be famous for the quality and ingenuity of its engineering?
Yeah, we expect better.
Speaking [UNKNOWN] special editions, Fiat Chrysler, once again decided to turn the lights Back on in the room where they keep their 1000 monkeys with 1000 vinyl cutters to start cranking out new half baked special editions and sticker packages.
This time the victim is a jeep.
I mean, sorry, this time I mean the recipient of all that hard work There is a Jeep, specifically the Wrangler and Gladiator high altitude vision with their big ridiculous 20 inch wheels.
These are the first 20 fitted to a Wrangler or a gladiator by the factory and the package also includes blacked out trailer rated budging.
We're not gonna read too far into that one.
But hey, at least the Mojave edition that debuted as well was pretty cool, right?
And finally, we get to maybe the biggest snoozer of the entire show, the 2020 Nissan Frontier.
This generation of Frontier Is largely the same as the one that was last majorly facelifted in 2009.
Sure, Nissan gave it a new motor and a new transmission and listen, we know times are tough for Nissan right now, but come on guys, you can do better and we want you to do better.
We're all rooting for awesome Nissan of decades past to make a comeback.
So there you go.
That's a snapshot of Chicago for 2020.
And it has this looking forward already to the wild concepts and bourgeois barges of the new Motor Show, which is coming up in just a few weeks.
Of course roadshow and our comrades from car fection will be there to capture the entire thing for your entertainment and education as well as posterity, of course.
So that's it for this episode of roadshows autocomplete I've been Kyle Hyatt, you've been exceedingly patient.
And I'd ask you to not only hit the subscribe and notification buttons if you like what we're doing, but maybe chime in in the comments section and let us know what you want us to cover next, thanks.
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