Chicago Auto Show this week!!!!

[JohnnyCougar]

I'm going today. I will post some puctures later, if I can find bandwidth!

[LTR]

1. I'm going Sunday

Definitely post your pics! Can't wait to see them.

Any advice on where to park cheap and catch a shuttle bus? Id prefer around downtown. Might see the sites a little, time permitting. Haven't been to Chi-town in a couple years.

If you need bandwidth, try http://www.photobucket.com .

[JohnnyCougar]

2. Park on MLK drive

I parked 2 blocks away on the street today for free. Of course, Sunday, it might be harder to do that, but...

I got my pics coming up!

[JohnnyCougar]

3. Pics here

I took about 100, obviously photobucket couldn't host them all.

Purple Lotus (not sure what make)


Slick looking Lexus with rear view cameras instead of mirrors!


A different Lexus with 3 exhausts


The same Lexus from the side


The beast of all beasts, the 580 HP Lamborghini Murcilego


Bently


My more realistic dream car, the Audi S4 Cabriolet


The Audi A8 with W12 engine...0-60 in 5 seconds for a large sedan! 450 HP!!!

[Blue-Jay]

5. Proles & I went on Saturday.

I was surprised that the Lotus pictured above was so (relatively) inexpensive. Something like 50K(?) if memory serves. I took a few pics, but haven't uploaded them yet. I loved the new Charger Daytona.

[JohnnyCougar]

6. That was awesome, as well...

I forgot to take pics of that. Post one so I can DL it!

[Blue_Tires]

7. the Lotus is called an Elise

[Blue_Tires]

4. great shots

i was at the NAIAS in Detroit last year (press pass), and it was simply an incredible atmosphere....which concept did you like the best?

[JohnnyCougar]

8. There weren't too many concepts there...

...especially with Audi. Obviously, I am an Audi enthusiast. I was hoping they were going to show the LeMans Quattro concept car. Rumor has it they are going to make it for production. They are taking the Lamborghini Gallarado V10 engine and adding 2 turbos and mating it to a Bugatti 6 speed DSG transmission and calling it the Audi RS9. Volkswagen owns all three companies now, and the RS9 is rumored to take the place of the Gallarado. The engine will create 610 Horespower, and it will be a mid-engined car with Quattro AWD and a 0-60 of around 3.5 seconds.

The best part yet is that it will still supposedly be under $150,000. Audi has made a concept. That was the one I wanted to see, but I actually thought Audi's display was rather lame. They did have teh 4 tiem LeMans winning RS8 race car there, though...

So out of the ones that were there, I liked the Lexus sports coupes the best. They look slick as hell w/o side view mirrors and cameras in their place.

[Blue_Tires]

10. no chance it comes in under $150K

unless Audi is planning on making a whole lot of them...If the car is truly a good performer, you'd be surprised at how much people would be willing to pay.

just for an example, I remember when the Ford GT40 concept was unveiled in 2002, and the early word if the car made it to production was pricing competitive with the Viper ($85-90K)...now the MSRP is $150K, and car brokers are getting almost double that amount.

[LTR]

9. Just got back from the show

Didn't get to see everything, since we got there kinda late. I liked the Chrysler/Dodge stuff, including the concepts, such as Chrysler's Viper variation (Firepower?). Even saw some interesting new stuff from Hyundai and Kia (yes, heard that right). And went on the Dodge Truck 'offroad' shock absorber test.

I couldn't get to the Lexus area before closing, which I regret, since I love their cars.

All in all, lots of cool stuff, and I'll put some of it up online in the next day or two.