Dazzling car extravaganza captivates auto enthusiasts at Chicago Auto Show
- Source: Xinhua
- [16:49 February 14 2010]
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Bustling with car lovers, McCormick Place's 1.3 million square feet of exhibition space was jammed with enthusiasts test-driving, admiring, touching -- even smelling -- the nearly 1,000 new vehicles on display at the 102nd Chicago Auto Show on Friday.
Finally opening its doors after two days of media hype and public anticipation, America's largest and longest-running auto show began its 10-day run to an excited crowd craving a first look at the rich variety of new models, along with freshly "tweaked" versions of existing lines and a good number of hybrids.
The show featured multiple world and North American introductions, including a complete range of domestic and imported passenger cars, trucks, sport-utility vehicles, minivans, and experimental and concept cars.
As guests streamed into the exhibition hall, spectacular exhibits from the two global auto giants competed for attention: on the right, the grand display of the Ford vehicle family, while on the left, an impressive show by the troubled but confident Toyota.
On the Ford floor, the all-new 2011 Fiesta was obviously the center of attention. Its knockout look, metallic lime color, dialed-in handling and projected best-in-class 40 mpg rating generated a lot of buzz among visitors. Piles of US dollars displayed in a glass box clearly illustrated the cash to be saved by driving the fuel-efficient Fiesta. In addition, Ford debuted its updated Edge, which sports a new grille, refashioned lighting and modified bumpers.
Denise Macy, a manager at a technology company in Chicago, came to the auto show with her husband to celebrate their wedding anniversary. An ardent Ford fan, she raved about the exhibit. "It is beautiful! I love Ford and encourage everyone to buy an American car. I am leaning towards buying a hybrid car with better gas economy that is better overall for the environment."
On the other side, Toyota, still suffering from its recent, massive, global recall, presented a beautiful lineup of its stylish car models. Taking Toyota's center stage -- the 2011 Avalon -- was showcased on a round platform, and introduced to an enthusiastic crowd by a fashionable, model in a bright red dress.
Curt McAllister, Regional Manager at Midwest Corporate Communications of Toyota Motor Sales USA., Inc, told Xinhua, "We are trying to win back consumers' trust and reinforce our customers' loyalty by presenting our new car. It includes several innovative designs, many distinctive features and practical technologies."
When talking about the recent recall, McAllister said, "Since last Wednesday, our dealers have fixed 300,000 pedals already in the US, which is phenomenal. We have over 1,000 dealers in the US working day and night to help our customers fix the problem at no cost. We learn from our mistakes and move forward."
Among the new models introduced this year, the plug-in concept hybrid "The Ray" from Kia generated lots of excitement and attention. It is a product of the Kia Design Center America in Irvine, California. The Ray is intended to provide a glimpse at how the design would package hybrid technology, according to Kia.
