One privileged Audi fan got to experience the Chicago Auto Show in his own garage recently, according to QuattroWorld. After driving three hours to Chicago and being denied the chance to sit in the 2013 Audi RS5 at the show, Joshua Smith wrote a letter to the company complaining about the way he was treated. Lo and behold, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen responded, explaining that the pre-production RS5 was off-limits to show-goers because it had to make it through the full auto show season, but promising to arrange a private viewing of the car at Smith's home in Neenah, WI. Audi reps showed up soon after the close of the show, not only with the RS5 but also with S6, S7, and S8 in tow.
If you're thinking of employing the same squeaky-wheel tactic to get a flotilla of Audis parked in your driveway for the day, understand that Smith wasn't just another self-important grumbler. As he indicated in his letter to de Nysschen, he does own an S5, A6 and A3, and is active in both the Chicago Audi Club and the Badger Audi Club in Wisconsin. It probably didn't hurt that in his plea for better customer service this "true Audi enthusiast" happened to mention flirting with the enemy, writing "In the BMW booth at the show I spent over 30 minutes with a BMW representative who showed me the M3 and the all new M5, which was also closed to the majority of the public."
Smith shot video of the cars at his home, which you can see after the jump.
Continue reading Audi goes extra mile to make up for customer's bad auto show experience [w/video]
It used to be that we couldn't even find a picture of the U.S. Army's Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle (CERV), but times have changed.
At the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, the Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) displayed the CERV, which uses a diesel-hybrid "Q-Force" powertrain from Quantum that Quantum says, "saves taxpayer dollars and - most importantly - saves Soldiers' lives."
With a top speed of 80 miles per hour and a "run-silent" range of eight miles (we assume this means all-electric range), the CERV prototype can produce over 5,000 pound-feet of torque and go up hills with up to 60-percent grades. It does all this while using 25 percent less fuel, which is critical when you have to pay up to $400 a gallon to use the stuff in theater.
The Army says that today's soldier uses an average of 22 gallons of gasoline a day. In World War II, it was one gallon a day.
Continue reading U.S. Army's CERV puts a machine gun on a "green" military vehicle
Chicago Auto Show recap, Tesla Model X, BMW M6, Toyota Prius C
Episode #269 of the Autoblog Podcast is here with Chris, Dan, and Autoblog Green's Sebastian Blanco. Topics include a quick recap of the Chicago Auto Show, some chatter about the Tesla Model X and BMW M6, and we finish up with the Toyota Prius C. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #269:
Chicago Auto Show Recap
Tesla Model X
BMW M6
Toyota Prius C
In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Honda CR-V
2012 Dodge Durango Citadel
2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
2012 Buick Verano
Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Sebastian Blanco
Runtime: 01:08:32
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[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
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We'll admit it: We're totally smitten with the Kia Track'ster Concept that debuted at last week's Chicago Auto Show. And it's not just because we like the idea of a 250-horsepower, all-wheel-drive hot hatch from Korea, it's because this concept shows bits and pieces of what the next-generation Soul could look like, including a possible three-door configuration. Kia, however, has no immediate plans to send the Track'ster into production. In fact, specific elements like the turbocharged engine don't even exist - this is purely a design study, albeit a hot one.
The process of building the Track'ster started a little over nine months ago, and the folks at Motor Trend were able to watch the entire creation process. Ideas and sketches turned into clay models which were later photographed, detailed, and sent over to a company that specializes in building concept cars. As a special treat, we even get to meet the Kia Soul donor vehicle that gave its life for the birth of this concept car.
Follow the jump to watch the short documentary detailing the birth of the hot little Track'ster.
Continue reading How Kia built its show-stopping Track'ster concept
We record Episode #269 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. We're joined by Sebastian Blanco tonight, so now's your chance to pepper us with those Green-focused questions and topics. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #269
Chicago Auto Show Recap
Tesla Model X
BMW M6
Toyota Prius C
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
Yesterday, Car and Driver called out GM in a snarky blog post for repurposing parts from the discontinued Saturn Outlook to refresh the GMC Acadia. GM didn't confirm C/D's suspicions at the time, but after we called and asked politely, GMC PR did answer our request.
According to spokesman Joe LaMuraglia, the 2013 Acadia liftgate glass, spoiler, rear quarter panel and rear side glass are all sourced from the Outlook. The hatch is also the same as the Saturn, but that's always been the case, as the old Acadia used the same part.
Now before you rush to judgment here, we suggest you take a good hard look at the new Acadia and tell us you don't think it looks better than the old model. We've always thought the Saturn Outlook was the more attractive of the siblings, so we don't have any issues with GM's parts-sharing tactic, especially considering all these parts are in the rear of the vehicle rather than up front in the all-important "face."
Considering that GM is likely to still be producing service parts for the thousands of Outlooks on the road, this is actually a really good move. Needless spending to refresh the Acadia when this suitable alternative already exists is the kind of smart decision that we hope GM continues to make.
Expect the next Soul to look something like the Track'ster, with Kia deploying more than one variant.
Kia's Track'ster Concept is one of the big hits of the Chicago Auto Show, one of the rare concepts that just screams, "Build me!" But after a thorough interrogation of Kia's PR team and an interview with design chief Peter Schreyer, we realize that's just wishful thinking. We do, however, expect the next Soul to look something like the Track'ster, with Kia deploying more than one variant when the second generation appears in a few years.
"If the Soul were to evolve into a family, it would be nice," Schreyer told us.
Kia spokesman Scott McKee repeatedly said the Track'ster was just a concept and not intended to be production feasible, all the while issuing the standard auto company disclaimer, "Every concept car we do is about gathering information from consumers and media."
One of the big pieces of information Kia is likely looking for is whether performance cars from Kia would play with the notoriously cliquish enthusiast community. Even more importantly, however, Kia will be gauging interest in additional body styles for the Soul. Schreyer said he thinks the Soul would be "more substantial" if it were also offered in a two-door version, or in a more performance-oriented flavor. All-wheel drive is a feature Schreyer also specifically mentioned as being on his wish list.
Continue reading Kia Track'ster unlikely for production, but hints at next-generation Soul "family"
The Chicago Auto Show may be the smallest of the North American auto shows we cover (yet largest by square footage, ironically), but year after year, more and more automakers choose to show off some new metal under the lights of McCormick Place. This year saw a total of 18 major reveals (click here to see our full rundown), and while that pales in comparison to last month's Detroit show, there's still a lot of new metal to talk about here in Chicago.
So, of the 18 cars that took the stage in the Windy City, which ones were our favorite? More importantly, which one was the favorite? Follow the jump to see our top five picks for the best 2012 Chicago Auto Show debuts.
Continue reading Editors' Choice: Top Five 2012 Chicago Auto Show Debuts
Last we checked, there were fewer than 90 Lexus LFA models in the United States. So imagine our surprise to find not one, not two, but four of the automaker's carbon-fiber exotics parked under the lights in the Lexus booth at the Chicago Auto Show.
Normally, when four of the same models occupy the same stage it's hardly news. However, this quartet of Lexii represents nearly five percent of all LFA models on our shore. Five percent. To put that in perspective, if five percent of Toyota Camry models sold last year were parked in the Toyota booth there would be about 15,000 sedans crammed onto the carpet.
Unexpected appearances aside, the 40-cylinder assembly (with a retail value of more than $1.5 million) gave us the perfect opportunity to see the LFA in red, black and yellow - with an assortment of factory wheels and finishes. And before you make a crack about the LFA not selling, understand these are all customer cars. In fact, one even has an EZPass still in its window. Check out our extensive gallery and let us know which is your next... um, lottery car.
The true jewels of most auto shows are often hidden, requiring a bit more legwork to find. During our third pass of the Chicago Auto Show, we stumbled upon a display from the Classic Car Club of America. Tucked away in a corner behind low aluminum railing, we found a stunning full-size two-door hardtop: the 1954 Mercury XM 800 Concept.
When it was first introduced at the 1954 Detroit Auto Show, the XM 800 made quite an impact. Mechanically speaking, it was fitted with a 312 cubic inch engine rated at 270 horsepower. A Ford-O-Matic automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels, was standard. Its design was noted for an expansive greenhouse offering passengers an almost 360-degree outside view. Benson Ford, running the Lincoln-Mercury Division at the time, pushed for the XM-800's basic design to be added to the Mercury lineup. The plan to move forward was only extinguished because the automaker switched gears to work on Edsel.
The fiberglass XM 800 traveled extensively in 1954 and 1955, making appearances at most major car shows and special exhibitions (including the Chicago Auto Show). It even had a featured role in Hollywood, appearing in the 20th Century Fox production Woman's World. In the late 1950s, the concept car was gifted to the University of Michigan's Automotive Engineering Lab to be used for training and design inspiration. Ten years later, the Mercury ended up in storage outside a barn on a farm in central Michigan. Thankfully, the deteriorating concept car caught the eye of an enthusiast who purchased it and began a 20-year frame off, nut-and-bolt restoration.
Today, the 1954 Mercury XM 800 is considered to be one of the most significant concept cars ever produced. It recently sold at the RM Auction for $429,000. Check out the press release for its interesting history and our gallery for some beautiful design.
Continue reading 1954 Mercury XM 800 Concept is retro-cool in execution, detail and design
