Chicago Auto Show auto news

Exclusive: Why did Honda kill its best performance engine?

The performance profile of the turbo four may have doomed it to being merely a footnote in Honda's illustrious history.

The 2.3-liter turbo was a variation of the 2.4-liter four used in the Honda Accord and the Acura TSX. Rated at 240 horsepower, it was the 260 lb-ft of torque that made things special. Honda's traditional approach to engine design had favored high-revving, small displacement engines that made generous power thanks to variable valve timing technologies - but at the expense of torque output. So when Honda announced that it would be producing a turbocharged engine for the first time, it seemed to herald the next wave of Honda performance. Finally, some torque to match the howling VTEC power. But sadly, it was the performance profile of the turbo four that may have doomed it to being merely a footnote in Honda's illustrious history.

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GM appears to repurpose Saturn Outlook parts on new Acadia

General Motors unveiled the company's refreshed GMC Acadia at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show yesterday, and if you were paying attention, you may have noticed something curious about the vehicle. While the new Acadia looks considerably better than its predecessor, a few components of the design looked more than a little familiar. Upon closer observation, it appears that GM has simply repurposed elements of the now defunct Saturn Outlook crossover on the 2013 Acadia. Both vehicles seem to share the same wrap-around rear glass, back hatch, tail light openings and exaggerated, squared-off fender arches.

While the vehicles are differentiated by badging, tail lamps and a rear valance, there's no denying the similarities toward the vehicle's rear. Up front, both share similar fenders, though adjustments have been made for the varying headlight designs.

That's good news if you just can't imagine life without the Saturn Outlook.

GM isn't the only automaker to pull something similar. Parts sharing is a smart way to keep costs as low as possible, and recouping the design and manufacturing costs the automaker poured into the Outlook is a smart way to keep GM's earnings headed in the right direction. For example, Chrysler famously reused Dodge Grand Caravan tail lights in the first-generation Dodge Durango. We just aren't accustomed to seeing this sort of recycling on such a grand scale or after so much time has elapsed.

Chicago: 2012 Ram Laramie Limited is one fancy truck

The Chicago Auto Show was commonly known for years as a truck show, with automakers using the McCormick Place to show off their sport-utility vehicles and pickups. And while trends have indeed shifted in the automotive world (SUV is a dirty word these days), some companies still take time to debut a special truck or two here in the Windy City. Ram, Chrysler's pickup truck arm, has brought its new 2012 Laramie Limited to Chicago, offering full-size truck buyers a host of upscale standard amenities in a decidedly classy package.

The Ram Laramie Limited's exterior is attended to with the addition of big alloy wheels and chrome accents, while inside, there's a smattering of leather upholstery with contrast stitching, deep berber carpets, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, unique gauges, LED ambient lighting and navigation, among other amenities.

The Laramie Limited is available in 1500, 2500 HD and 3500 HD configurations, and will hit dealerships later this year.

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Chicago: SVT celebrates 20 years with the Mustang that started it all

Ford debuted the 2013 Shelby GT500 Convertible earlier today at the Chicago Auto Show, but it wasn't the only Mustang vying for our attention on the show floor. In fact, we had a hard time keeping our eyes off this Vibrant Red beauty.

The pony car in question? A 1993 SVT Cobra R, the pinnacle of the Fox Body Mustang. The standard SVT Cobra made its official debut at the Chicago Auto Show back in 1992, and its reappearance in the Windy City was a fitting reminder of the 20th anniversary of Ford's Special Vehicle Team.

So what makes the 1993 SVT Cobra R so special? For starters, just 107 were produced, making it one of the rarest Mustangs ever built by Ford. The 235-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 is the same powerplant as the one in the standard Cobra, but the R model had less weight to push around thanks to the removal of the rear seats, radio, air conditioning and all sound deadening material. Ford also fitted the Cobra R with adjustable Koni shocks, larger front and rear brakes, 17-inch wheels shod with Goodyear tires, an external engine oil cooler and power steering fluid cooler, aluminum radiator and more.

The particular Cobra R brought to the show by Ford is literally a time capsule from the early '90s and in incredible condition. Amazingly, the odometer reads just over 4,100 miles. You can check out the car in detail in the gallery above.

Official: MAMA says Volkswagen Passat will knock you out

Detroit has the North American Car and Truck of the Year. Chicago? The Family Vehicle of the Year. And for 2012, the winner is the Volkswagen Passat.

While we must have missed last year's inaugural winner - it was the Hyundai Sonata, by the way - we did catch this year's award presentation. The Passat beat out two other finalists, the Ford Explorer and Mazda5, in the voting of 68 automotive journalists. Those car scribes all belong to the Midwest Automotive Media Association, or "MAMA," as the Chicago-based group is affectionately known.

Candidates for the FVOTY must be new or updated vehicles that have four doors, have base prices under $50,000, and "appear at one of MAMA's two annual rallies." Other models considered in the 2012 voting included the Chevrolet Volt, Dodge Durango, Dodge Journey, Ford Edge, Ford Focus, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Subaru Impreza, and Toyota Camry.

Chicago: 2012 Fiat 500 Stinger escapes from the hive

Now that Fiat is officially tied at the hip with Chrysler, it's no surprise to see the Pentastar's aftermarket division take to the diminutive 500 like a honeybee to clovers (sorry). Which explains the 2012 Fiat 500 Stinger, the first Mopar-fettled Fiat ever created.

The Stinger moniker seems to come from the machine's black and yellow paint scheme, which includes a somewhat homely set of bodyside decals and a checkerboard-patterned roof. Headlights, grille inserts, wheels and all other trim all get the black-out treatment.

Mopar-branded intake and cat-back exhaust kits are said to bump power from the 1.4-liter MultiAir engine, though the company isn't being specific when it comes to power figures. In any case, we pointed our camera lenses at the 500 Stinger, and you can see the results in our high-res gallery above.

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Chicago: 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser has been updated, apparently

Look very, very closely. This is the 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser, which, though not immediately apparent, is different than the 2012 model. How, exactly? The updated SUV has new features like LED running lamps up front, a revised taillamp design and some new wheel options. Inside, there's a brand new hard drive-based navigation system complete with Toyota's fancy new Entune infotainment system.

Aside from that, there isn't much else in the way of newness for Toyota's stalwart off-roader. Under the hood is the automaker's 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque, and a standard Multi-Terrain Select system keeps things in check for when the pavement turns to dirt... or sand... or mud.

Check out the full scope of Land Cruiser goodness in the press release after the jump, and click through our gallery of images live from the Chicago Auto Show to see all of those ever-so-slight design tweaks.

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Chicago: 2012 Mopar Jeep Compass True North points... north?

Mopar didn't leave Jeep out of the customized fun here at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Based on the Compass, the 2012 Mopar True North boasts a two-inch suspension lift from Rocky Road Suspensions and 16-inch matte black wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich All Terrain tires. Other exterior tidbits include a matte black grille surround and lower body cladding.

There aren't any changes to the standard Compass drivetrain that we know of, but the interior is fitted with a custom center console that features pitch and roll inclinometer gauges. Finishing it off is an audio system sourced from Kicker that Jeep says "transform [it] into a rolling high-end sound studio," which would appear to be completely unrelated to its intended purpose.

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Chicago: 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible is your toupee's worst nightmare

Slather on an extra glob of Gorilla Glue adhesive, as the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible is going to seriously strain hairpieces. Like its GT500 Coupe sibling, introduced late last year at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the drop-top is fitted with a supercharged 5.8-liter V8 making an astounding 650 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque, which makes it the most powerful eight-cylinder production engine in the universe.

Ford says the new model, equipped with the optional Performance Package that includes Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers, is capable of running Sebring International Raceway about 3.5 seconds quicker per lap compared to the 2011 and 2012 models (both down 100 horsepower against the 2013 model). Curb weight should be a couple hundred pounds heavier than its closed-roof cousin courtesy of additional bracing on the power-operated convertible soft top.

The Shelby GT500, built at AutoAlliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, will blast into showrooms this summer. Our best guess for pricing says the 2013 model will start just under $65,000.

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Chicago: 2013 Mazda MX-5 Special Edition shows off its new black hat and shoes

The Chicago Auto Show and the Mazda MX-5 Miata have quite a history. After all, the very first Miata debuted at the 1989 Chicago show, and since then, Mazda has routinely used the Windy City expo to showcase some sort of new roadster hotness.

For 2012, we've been introduced to the MX-5 Special Edition (clever name, we know), which dons a new black power retractable hard top and gunmetal wheels, among other small updates.

Underneath the skin, Mazda has fitted its standard suspension upgrade kit, which includes Bilstein shocks, while inside you'll find black accents and heated black leather seats, along with a full kit of tech options. Pricing starts at $31,225, and only 450 will be sold in the United States. Get it while it's hot.

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