It may not be quite as big as Detroit's North American International Auto Show, but the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, kicking off Thursday, promises to pack plenty of auto industry news, much of which will be consumer-focused.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - It may not be quite as big as Detroit's North American International Auto Show, but the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, kicking off Thursday, promises to pack plenty of auto industry news, much of which will be consumer-focused.
There will be about a dozen vehicle reveals, such as Ford Motor Co.'s Police Interceptor SUV and sedan and Kia Motors America's all-electric, all-wheel-drive, off-road concept vehicle.
Hyundai, Nissan, Ram, Toyota, Honda and Acura are also among brands expected to have new vehicles unveiled in Chicago this week, and General Motors could make a significant announcement at a pre-show breakfast Thursday morning, when Alan Batey, GM executive vice president and president of North America, is set to speak.
Here's some of what we're expecting:
Chevrolet
Chevrolet plans to debut a refreshed version of its Equinox crossover on Thursday. The new Equinox will be unveiled just a few weeks after General Motors announced the model's sales rose a respectable 34 percent year-over-year in the U.S. in January, selling 19,555 units.
Ford
Ford Motor Co. plans to unveil a new Police Interceptor Thursday. Ford currently produces a Police Interceptor sedan and sport utility. The company first introduced its police fleet in 1950. Its Crown Victoria-model police cars dominated U.S. and Canadian municipalities' police departments in the late 1990s. The Crown Vic was cancelled in 2012 in favor of the current models.
Kia
Kia plans to reveal an electric, all-wheel-drive concept vehicle called the Trail'Ster on Thrusday. The Korean automaker said the concept will be an off-roader geared toward city dwellers who seek the occasional urban escape. The vehicle, which features a retractable, canvas roof, was conceived at Kia's design studio in California.
Honda
Honda Motor Co. says a newly designed and re-engineered Pilot SUV will make its global debut Thursday. The eight-passenger SUV, which will be a third-generation Pilot, was designed, developed and built in the U.S.
The Pilot will be positioned above Honda's CR-V SUV and its recently launched HR-V subcompact SUV, which hits dealerships this spring. Honda first launched the Pilot in 2002. It's designed and developed at Honda sites in California and Ohio, and it's built at a plant in Lincoln, Ala.
Also in Chicago, the company said it will release details on a new Ridgeline truck, which the Japanese automaker said will cue its styling direction for this all-important segment in the U.S.
Acura
Honda's Acura luxury division plans to release a new, 2016 Acura RDX compact SUV on Thursday. The V6-powered 2016 Acura RDX will have new styling, along with new luxury and safety features.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi plans to introduce the Mitsubishi GC-PHEV to North America, and will make a major product announcement.
BMW, FCA, Mazda, Porsche and Volkswagen all have press conferences scheduled over the two press preview days of the show on Thursday and Friday.
"Exciting performance cars, limited-edition specialty models are important to help build brand awareness and drum up consumer enthusiasm, but vehicles like the Equinox, Pilot and RDX meet consumers on their level; they are cars the average consumer can afford and one day own," said John Webb, 2015 Chicago Auto Show chairman. "The Chicago Auto Show provides automakers the opportunity to shake hands with hundreds of thousands of their customers on an personal level. With 1 million square feet of exhibit space, no other show can offer the diversity of display that you'll find in Chicago."
The show, at McCormick Place, is open to the public Feb. 14-22.
David Muller is the automotive and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter