Chicago Auto Show 2005 - Highlights

Toyota FJ Cruiser

FJ Cruiser is a production debut of a design based closely on the concept shown two years ago which in turn takes many cues from the classic Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser; in particular the down-road-graphic, three straight line wheel arches, separate 'capped' roof and rounded rear corners in plan.

Being based on the 4Runner platform with a 4.0 litre V6, the car is the size of a Jeep Grand Cherokee even if it has a retro character appeal akin to the Wrangler. This combined with high equipment levels and good functional design demonstrates that the FJ intends to compete directly with mainstream SUVs.

Design details of particular note are the short rear hinged side doors, door mirror indicator side repeaters, cross hatch form at the sides of the fenders and bulbous corner lights.

Honda Civic Si concept

The Civic Si Coupe is a show car preview of the sixth-generation performance orientated coupe variant of the forthcoming Civic range unique to North America, that will also include a sedan.

In silhouette the car is clearly very 'cab-forward' and features an impressively short front overhang for a front wheel drive car.

A simple, inoffensive yet dynamic and modern design theme and surfacing will appeal to a broad customer base, but it is the detailing that best demonstrates the integrity of the design; new corporate down-road-graphic with recessed grille, flanked by headlamps that kink up in their lower edge to meet the grille, subtle concave shoulder (not unlike the Nissan Micra / March) that blends smoothly into the A and C-pillars, central integrated exhaust pipe and a funky black hood. Lets hope the black hood and tailpipes make it to production.

Cadillac DTS

The DTS is essentially a heavily reworked DeVille that now has new exterior panels (except for the doors and roof) that cleverly align the car with Cadillac's new design direction.

A new interior, exceptional equipment levels and renewed attention to manufacturing detail distance the DTS from its predecessor, but overall this 5.3 meter long front wheel drive car is little new and a far cry from the similarly large Cadillac Sixteen show car.

Dodge Nitro concept

The Dodge Nitro is a concept preview of a production Dodge SUV that would compete with the Jeep Cherokee whose platform it shares.

The classic Dodge grille and bold design language give credence to Senior Vice President Chrysler Group Design, Trevor Creed's claim that it is “brimming with character; it evokes emotion through its rugged styling and dominant stance”.

The blacked-out C-pillar and shallow DLO combine with short front overhang and long rear overhang to give a distinctive and dynamic feel. Well integrated forms and details (witness the hood shut line running up the A-pillar, over the doors and down the C-pillar) and well resolved surfacing give the car an unexpected feeling of quality that is slightly let down by the relatively chintzy interior.

Dodge Ram Mega Cab

The Ram is Dodge's biggest pickup and the Mega Cab is now the biggest Ram, and, according to Dodge, it's the biggest pickup in the world. At nearly six and a half metres long and with a cabin nearly three metres long that even features reclining rear seats (despite having a two metre flat bed behind it), the Mega Cab claims are unlikely to be challenged.

The overt scale of the vehicle is congruent with Ram's 'bold, powerful and capable' theme, and this combined with the imposing grille “gives the Dodge Ram Mega Cab a tough and intimidating appearance” according to Rick Aneiros, Vice President, Truck Design. Purpose built for rednecks perhaps?

Buick Lucerne

The Lucerne is Buick's first V8 powered sedan in a decade, it's the third new design in a year and part of a new strategy to move the brand towards a younger customer base - customers who might more typically buy an import brand.

A high specification includes remote engine start, heated washer fluid container, industry first dual stage front airbag and 'magnetic ride control'(?!)

The design is reserved yet contemporary - something that couldn't be said of its slightly baroque Park Avenue predecessor - with tighter shut lines, strong stance, taught surfaces, and subtly but effectively revised 'waterfall' grille. But it is also a slightly derivative design with shades of Volkswagen and Acura products.

Mercury Milan

The Milan - so named to “connote visions of a modern, fashionable European city, fitting the car's design theme and young customers like a finely tailored suit," or so Mercury's PR machine attributes chief designer Darrell Behmer as saying. The reality looks as though Mercury had even less budget than Lincoln had for the Zephyr to make the nominal changes to the Ford Fusion in making the Milan.

Satin aluminium finished grille and bespoke lamps apart, the exterior is the same as its two Ford and Lincoln branded stable mates; handsome, quite European and contemporary, an irony when Lincoln claim; "the new Mercury customer wants something that stands apart from the cookie-cutter sedan crowd”, and that the Milan is a “dramatic departure from plain vanilla mid-size sedans” - this is one exceptionally cookie cutter, 'plain vanilla design' car design!

Hyundai Portico

The Portico is concept car designed and built by Hyundai's Advanced Design Team in South Korea and features classically fluid Korean form language - albeit in a more modern and simple way than we've seen before.

Inside Portico is unusual in featuring two rows of three seats to seat six people, unlike the many other concepts that are also crossovers between estate car and SUV and seat six in three rows. Like the production Honda FRV (Asian and European markets only) the seats can slide forwards and backwards individually to give more elbow room and make a very sociable and versatile cabin.

Kia Sedona

The new Sedona has been carefully conceived to compete in North America and now features many of the necessary features for this market; a third row of seats that folds flat into the floor, power sliding rear doors and tailgate, and a powerful V6 engine. But it will also be sold in Asian and European markets (as the Carnival) where these features will usefully boost its appeal.

Larger in all dimensions and more spacious than its predecessor, the Sedona design is very conservative, but well executed and with a few subtle but distinctive features; the tall headlamps, split horizontal grille and DLO kink into the C-pillar.

International MXT and ConceptXT

MXT is a concept vehicle preview of a series production truck that even by North American pickup standards is big. Some of the brand's large commercial lorry background can be seen in the detailing; curved glass front quarter-light, low mounted vertical (non-handed) door handles, broad upright pillars and roof mounted front lights.

Revealed at the Chicago show, the ConceptXT is similarly a concept vehicle preview of the RXT series production truck, in this case a true commercial lorry based pickup so gargantuan as to make the massive MXT seem slight. Its design has an unusual combination of commercial vehicle structure and design themes mixed with more automotive detailing - most evident around the down-road-graphic and rockers. 'Behemoth' is an apt description.


Chicago Auto Show website: www.chicagoautoshow.com