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Thursday, April 9, 2009

2009 Chicago Auto Show Top Ten

2010 Acura TSXimage

Acura’s TSX entry-level luxury car adds its first-ever V6 engine for 2009, making it more competitive with the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Lexus IS. The 3.5-liter V6 engine, which also powers the base Acura TL, will produce 280 horsepower. It will be mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift gate and steering-wheel shift paddles. Acura also promises firmer tuning for sportier handling and tires that are one inch larger in diameter. Look for the TSX V6 this summer.

Chevrolet Stingray Conceptimage

Corvette fans will love the Chevrolet Stingray concept. Chevrolet unveiled the sexy sports car as one of five vehicles that will appear in this summer’s “Transformers” sequel, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” The car, which will play Sideswipe, looks like it could be the C7 generation Corvette. It pays homage to the 1959 Stingray racer and the iconic 1963 Corvette Stingray split-window coupe. GM says the Stingray concept is not planned as a future vehicle; right now, it’s just a movie star.

2010 Dodge Ram HDimage

Dodge is redesigning its heavy-duty Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs for 2010, incorporating the refinement, styling and amenities from the 2009 redesign of its Ram 1500. Due out this fall, both the pickups and chassis cabs will trade a Quad Cab body style with rear access doors for a more spacious Crew Cab. Dodge says towing and hauling capability will be increased, and an integrated trailer brake controller will become optional.

2010 Ford Harley Davidson F-150image

Ford’s eighth-generation Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 pickup is all about style. Outside, it will feature a unique front fascia, a custom grille, 22-inch wheels with low-profile tires, and Tuxedo Black or metal flake Lava paint. Inside, it gets leather upholstery, engraved Harley-Davidson button snaps and map pockets with zippers from Harley jackets. The console will get a limited-edition serialization plate. The 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 goes on sale this August.

2010 Ford Taurus SHOimage

Super High Output is coming back to the Ford Taurus. Due out this summer, the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO will use Ford’s EcoBoost twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, promised to make 365 horsepower while delivering 25 mpg on the highway. All-wheel drive will be standard, and the 6-speed automatic transmission will have a rev-matching feature and steering-wheel shift paddles. Suspension tweaks and 19- and 20-inch tires will improve handling, but exterior changes will be minimal, making the SHO a true “sleeper.”

2010 Ford Transit Connectimage

Ford showed the production version of the 2010 Transit Connect, a small but spacious commercial van aimed at small businesses. Taken from Ford’s European product portfolio, the 2010 Transit Connect will use a 136-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 24 mpg on the highway. A battery-powered version is also due sometime in 2010. Inside, the Transit Connect will have 135 cubic feet of cargo space, a payload of 1,600 pounds and an available computer system called Ford Work Solutions.

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Specimage

Before it’s even released, Hyundai is expanding its 2010 Genesis coupe lineup. A mid model-year release, the Genesis coupe R-Spec is designed for enthusiasts who want a low starting price and a car that can be modified to their specifications. The Genesis coupe R-Spec will come with a 210-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. It will use the suspension and brake upgrades from the high-performance track model, but it will have much less equipment, to reduce price and weight

2010 Kia Forteimage

The Spectra has been Kia’s compact car since the beginning, but it’s soon to be replaced. The 2010 Kia Forte is a 4-door sedan that is slightly larger and more stylish than the Spectra. It will come with two engine choices, a 156-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder or a 173-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. A Fuel Economy Package for the base engine will help the Forte to achieve 36 mpg on the highway. The Forte sedan is due by this summer. Look for a hatchback body style to follow.

2009 Mazda MX-5 Miataimage

Mazda is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the MX-5 roadster with a freshened 2009 model. The new MX-5 has a new grille and headlights, a more aggressive lower fascia and prominent fog light bezels. The engine gets only one more horsepower, but it can rev higher with the manual transmission, and fuel economy is slightly improved. The interior is upgraded, mostly in areas the driver touches, and the suspension is tweaked to make the handling even better.

2010 Nissan Cube Krōmimage

Nissan has established an in-house organization called the Specialty Vehicles Group to develop special-edition versions of existing models. The first vehicle to get the treatment is the boxy 2009 Nissan Cube Krōm. Due in May, the Cube Krōm offers ready-made, prepackaged customization, with street custom-style exterior modifications and additional interior equipment and trim. Krōm versions of other vehicles will follow, and the Specialty Vehicles Group will develop performance-oriented Nismo models as well.

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