Chevy Camaro platform underpins new GM vehicle in Chicago

General Motors has big plans for the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. At the exposition opening this week, GM will unveil a pair of new vehicles, although details on what form they'll take remain scarce.
The news comes from reports quoting GM's North American president Mark Reuss. All he's revealed at this point is that one of the two cars will be based on the Chevrolet Camaro's platform. That tells us it will be a front-engine/rear-drive vehicle, but little else. So, commence speculation: Camaro Z28? Chevy Zeta-platform sedan? (Which we think should be called Chevelle, because hey, if Dodge can call its sedan Charger...)

As for the second car slated for the Windy City salon, your guess is as good as ours. So we'll just have to sit tight and see what the General has got in store for us.



[Source: The Detroit News] 

Chicago 2011: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist live in the Windy City

We received the first details about Buick's new Regal eAssist earlier today, but we've just returned from seeing the car in person before the Chicago Auto Show officially kicks off tomorrow. Visually, the more fuel-efficient Regal looks no different than the standard car, save the addition of eco-friendly 17-inch alloy wheels and low-rolling-resistance tires.

What's most important about this car is what's under the hood – a 15-kilowatt electric motor that offers 15 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque for initial acceleration thrust, matched with Buick's 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four. Combine that with regenerative braking and a start/stop system for the engine, and the end result is a Regal that's capable of achieving 26 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg highway.

Buick's new eAssist system first debuted on the larger LaCrosse sedan, where it will serve as the base powertrain for 2012 model year vehicles. With the Regal, however, the eAssist model will slot just above the base 2.4-liter car and below the Regal Turbo, which uses the automaker's 220-horsepower 2.0-liter Ecotec inline-four. Pricing will be announced closer to the eAssist's official launch later this year.

Toyota debuts modestly refreshed 2011 Matrix in Chicago

Toyota will not be having a formal press conference at this week's Chicago Auto Show, but the automaker will still have something fresh on its stand. The 2011 Matrix hatchback has officially bowed, with a slightly retouched exterior (new wheels, different paint choices, etc.), a touched-up interior with a new steering wheel and seat fabrics, and a new standard brake-override system called Smart Stop.

The 2011 Matrix is only available in two trim levels – base and S – and is powered by either a 132-horsepower 1.8-liter or 158-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Transmission choices include a four- or five-speed automatic, as well as a five-speed manual, and all-wheel drive is available on the Matrix S when paired with the 2.4-liter powerplant.

New sport packages are available for both Matrix trims, with the S Sport Package incorporating things like 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear underbody spoilers, a roof-mounted rear spoiler and, of course, 'S' badging. Pricing has not been released for the 2011 Matrix as of this writing, but we expect the starting MSRP to be just under $17,000. Follow the jump for the official details.


[Source: Toyota]

2012 Acura TL to debut at Chicago Auto Show

Acura has announced that it will debut the newly refreshed 2012 TL at the Chicago Auto Show next month. Details are slim as of this writing, but the automaker says that the 2012 model "further enhances its position in the segment with aggressive, yet refined styling and performance."

In its current form, the TL has been praised for its high-quality and tech-friendly interior, not to mention the relatively impressive driving dynamics of the SH-AWD 6MT model. However, the biggest deal-breaker for the current TL has been its styling, which has garnered a whole slew of negative praise – especially the angular front fascia. We'll have the full details on the 2012 TL closer to its official debut on February 9, so stay tuned.

[Source: Acura] 

2012 Acura TL facelift announced for Chicago debut

Acura has announced plans to unveil the 2012 TL facelift at the Chicago Auto Show.

While no specifics have been released, they hinted the car will feature "refined styling and performance." This likely means we can expect a less polarizing appearance thanks to modified bumpers, a revised grille, and restyled lighting units.

Under the hood, power is expected to be provided by a 3.7-liter V6 engine with 300 hp (224 kW / 304 PS) and 271 lb-ft (367 Nm) of torque. It will be paired to a new Sequential SportShift six-speed automatic transmission, which should enable the car to be slightly faster and more fuel efficient. As before, front-wheel drive will be standard and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) will be optional.
Source: Acura