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Chicago Auto Show: The really big reveals from shows past

The 2024 Chicago Auto Show may seem like a shell of its former self, but it still holds the title of the largest consumer auto show in the United States. It didn't get that reputation simply by being efficiently produced or convenient for locals desperate for something to do in February — it earned it over decades of breaking automotive news and powerhouse reveals, eventually earning an informal designation as America's truck show.  2024 may be a down year for Chicago, but let's not forget all of the great things that have come out of it, historically. Here's a look at some of our staff favorites. Bet you didn't know about a few of these cars that were first revealed in the Windy City.    2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8  I didn't just pick this one as a former Challenger owner, but instead to illustrate just how many cool Chicago debuts we take for granted. Chrysler often chose its home turf to debut new cars, so the few times its unveilings happened elsewhere tend to stick in our minds. The first Challenger SRT-8 was kind of garbage, if we're being honest. I mean, who buys a race-bred, V8-powered muscle car without a limited-slip differential? But the SRT-8 formula evolved over time into something truly special, and what we saw in Chicago was essentially the early version of the Scat Pack, which was ultimately very successful for Dodge. And who would have thought we'd be here, 15 years later, still talking about that debut? And still loving these big Mopars, flaws and all. — Associate Editor Byron Hurd SHO time in Chicago IÂ’ll always have a certain fondness for the return of the Taurus SHO at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. Chicago has always leaned truck and van heavy for press reveals, but every now and then, as this list illustrates, something spicy would appear. The return of the SHO as a high-powered successor to the original that ran from 1989-1999 gave enthusiasts hope for FordÂ’s performance business, especially for sedans. With a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 packing 365 hp, all-wheel drive and five-spoke wheels, the SHO was a nice upgrade from the lower-rung Taurus models. It was a bit more sedate than the original SHOÂ’s Yamaha-sourced V6 that teamed with a five-speed manual transmission, but still a worthy response to the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and later the Chevy SS. The SHO — Super High Output — begat things like the Fusion ST and gave Ford solid four-door performance for the rest of the decade.

2023 Acura Integra gets a CVT standard, according to leaked trim chart

The 2023 Acura Integra continues to disappoint — is what fans of the original are likely to say upon hearing that the standard transmission for the upcoming sport sedan is a CVT. Acura made a big deal out of the fact that the revived Integra would have a manual transmission prior to its reveal. However, if a newly leaked spec chart is to be believed, most trim levels will only get a continuously variable transmission. Previously some believed that Acura would offer their 10-speed automatic in the Integra, but specs posted to the Integra Talk forum, indicate that is not the case. They show three levels of trim: base, A-Spec, and A-Spec with Tech Package. All come with the CVT, except the A-Spec Tech, which can be optioned with a six-speed manual transmission. It's not unusual anymore for carmakers to offer manual on only the highest-spec trims. Mazda, for example, does the same by offering its manual a single grade, the Premium package for the Mazda 3 hatchback. Whereas the manual was once the cheapest and most fuel-efficient option, these days the thinking is that only true enthusiasts, ones who would be willing to pay more to option out their car to the gills, would care about whether they row their own or not. In addition, the leak appears to list the Integra's color palette for both interior and exterior. Curiously, the Type R-inspired yellow of the concept doesn't appear to be on the menu. Instead, we get red, blue, white, silver, gray, and black. The A-Spec does get one exclusive hue, Apex Blue Pearl, to set it apart. Interiors get a choice of black, orchid or red, but not all of them can be paired with all exterior paints. We don't think that the manual's appearance on only the top trim is a problem per se. We don't know what the Integra's Tech Package will include, but on cars like the TLX or RDX it includes features like a premium audio system, navigation, and driver assist safety alerts. These aren't necessarily items a true enthusiast driver who prefers a purer driving experience would want. Still, we're glad Acura's offering a stick in an environment downright hostile to sedans, compacts, and manuals. We do think, though, that the Integra A-Spec (without the Tech Package) might have been the sweet spot for the manual. But no one asked us.

2020 Acura TLX PMC Edition will be hand-built alongside the NSX

At next week's 2019 New York International Auto Show, Acura will reveal a pair of new models, the 2020 TLX PMC Edition and MDX PMC Edition Prototype. The duo will be limited-run models that get final assembly at Honda's Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio, along the same production line as the Acura NSX. The TLX PMC Edition goes on sale this summer with a starting price of around $50,000. Production will be limited to just 360 models hand-assembled over a six-month period. The production version of the MDX PMC Edition will be built sometime after the TLX PMC run is complete. Think of the TLX PMC as an A-Spec performance model with features available with the Advance Package like a surround-view camera, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel and power folding mirrors. Currently, the two packages are mutually exclusive. There are no performance upgrades beyond what the A-Spec already offers. Power from the 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 is sent to all-four wheels through a nine-speed automatic. The TLX PMC uses Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) to manage the power at each wheel. It also gets the A-Spec's stiffer dampers and quicker steering ratio. 2020 Acura TLX PMC Edition View 11 Photos The exterior design, too, is based on the TLX A-Spec, with a restyled front bumper, dark chrome trim, larger exhaust tips and a black spoiler. Likewise, the interior is based on the A-Spec trim, with heated and ventilated front sport seats, leather and Alcantara seating, a black leather steering wheel, a black headliner, a red instrument cluster and red accent lighting. Black 19-inch 10-spoke wheels and Valencia Red Pearl paint are exclusive to the TLX PMC. The paint uses mica, metal flake and super-high transparency nano pigments to give it a richer color and was previously only available on the NSX. The roof panel, door handles, grille and lower bumper are also gloss black. What makes the TLX PMC Edition (as well as the future MDX PMC) truly special is the hand assembly. Basically, the body-in-white (a basic unfinished unibody) will move from the main assembly plant in Marysville to the nearby Performance Manufacturing Center. There, workers will install the drivetrain, suspension, wiring harnesses and electronics. The car then goes to the paint booth before the interior is installed.