After revealing the ILX Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January, Acura has quickly followed it up with the production version at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Carrying the same ILX name, the new sedan will be offered with a choice of two different engines, as well as a Hybrid version for those with a particular love for the environment.
The Acura ILX addresses the young buyers that are looking for their first luxury vehicle. Acura has promised the ILX will be a cheaper alternative to models like the Buick Verano and the Audi A3.
"First-time luxury buyers tend to place a high value on exterior styling, affordability and environmental issues, and that’s what we have created with the new Acura ILX," said Jon Ikeda, head of the Acura Design Studio. "The strategy behind this new model is to position ILX as the first opportunity for many young buyers to enter the luxury market."
UPDATE 05/13/2013: Acura has announced prices and some minor upgrades for the 2014 ILX. See more after the jump.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013-2014 Acura ILX.
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Just when we thought the 2014 Nissan GT-R couldn’t get any better, Nissan proved us wrong. The company announced the launch of the new GT-R Track Edition today at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, which will join the 2014 GT-R lineup.
While the new Track Edition delivers the same output level as the standard GT-R, the updates made to the suspension, the addition of new fuel injectors and an oil pan baffle make it far better than the standard version.
In order to distinguish it from the standard version, the new Track Edition includes an array of modifications to the interior and exterior on top of the suspension improvements.
Deliveries for the new GT-R Track Edition will begin in May 2013. It will be limited to only 150 units.
So, is the new Track Edition worth whatever price hike that Nissan will place on it?
UPDATE 5/1/2013: Nissan has just revealed the pricing details on the 2014 GT-R Track Edition. See more after the jump.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition and find out.
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Earlier this year ,Nissan announced the 370Z Nismo Euro-Spec, and today at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, the company announced the U.S. version of the same model. The 2014 model continues with the same V-6 engine, but it adds distinctive new exterior and interior accents, plus refined suspension.
When compared to a standard 370Z, the Nismo version is 6.2 inches longer and adds a more aggressive look. Exterior features include an extended front nose design and a fully integrated chin spoiler, while the interior gains sports seats, steering wheel with Alcantara wrap and much more.
For the 2014 model year, most changes are limited to the addition of a new dark gray on numerous parts of the body, plus a new Solid Red replacing the previous Magma Red.
The 2014 Nissan 370Z Nismo will go on sale this summer.
UPDATE 4/30/2013: Nissan has released 17 new images of the upcoming 2014 370Z Nismo, including a few of the previously unseen interior. You can see the images in the gallery.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Nissan 370Z Nismo.
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Ram has never been an automaker that prided itself on being the fanciest looking in the garage. As its name suggests, the automaker has preferred function over form since its split from Dodge.
And as such, its parent company, Chrysler, has used the 2013 Chicago Auto Show to introduce the newest Ram, the 2014 ProMaster.
With some help from Italian tag-team partner Fiat, Chrysler has come up with a full-sized cargo van that just about boasts of every class-leading category in the market. Or at least that’s what Chrysler claims.
Whether there’s validity to that really depends on what you’re looking for in a cargo van. Fortunately, we found enough things about the ProMaster that we actually like. So much so that we’re not going to brush aside Chrysler’s incessant promotion of it. Maybe they do make a point. Or maybe they’re just drumming up the hype machine.
Either way, the 2014 ProMaster is here and by the looks of things, it’s here to stay.
Find out more about the 2014 Ram ProMaster after the jump
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When we thought we had seen it all, Chevy unveiled a rather strange Camaro Coupe at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show in order to promote DreamWorks’ new "Turbo" movie, which is set to arrive on July 19, 2013.
Since "Turbo" will be an animated movie, the new Camaro Turbo has been designed accordingly. It gets lower rockers and fender flares, a front splitter and rear diffuser and a GT concept rear wing spoiler. The concept is painted black with a vinyl chrome wrap, but there are numerous multicolor LED light insertions on the front and rear for an intriguing halo effect. The concept sits on a set of huge wheels, sized 24-inches by 10-inches up front and 24-inches by 15-inches on the rear.
Under the hood, the V-8 engine has been tricked to deliver a monstrous 700 horsepower, thanks to the addition of a supercharger system and a new exhaust system with five-inch-diameter pipes.
Hit the jump to watch the "Turbo" trailer.
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Clean diesel models are just starting to make their ways into the North American market, and to everyone’s surprise, they do quite well. For example, in the first quarter of 2012, sales numbers were up 35 percent when compared to the same period of 2011 and things continue to improve.
From all diesel units sold in the USA last year, a total of 44 percent where the Jetta TDI, a pretty astounding result, considering this is about half of a market that offers about 25 clean diesel models, which experts say will double by 2017.
The first step into this direction was made at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show where Chevy unveiled the new Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel - not a big surprise considering Cruze is Chevrolet’s hottest-selling sedan.
The model will be put on sale at a starting price at $25,695, which is about $2,500 more than the Jetta TDI priced at $23,055.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel.
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Scion tC has been the annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Racecar ever since 2005, but things have changed for the 2013 model year. Toyota has decided to switch from the usual tC to the newer and more capable FR-S. The model has been specially designed to celebrate the 37th anniversary of one of America’s most entertaining motorsports events.
The standard Scion FR-S delivers a total of 200 horsepower, which isn’t too shabby. In the race version, however, the 2.0-liter boxer engine has been tricked to deliver a total of 210 horsepower. Along with the 10 extra horsepower, this race-ready FR-S has been equipped with numerous other enhancements from Toyota Racing Development (TRD): stainless-steel exhaust, coil-over shocks and springs, big-brake kit with Hawk Performance brake pads, performance air intake and a set of 18-inch wheels.
In order to deliver the maximum performance while on the race track, TRD also installed a Centerforce single-disc racing clutch, front MacPherson struts and rear double wishbone suspension. The extra ponies shouldn’t do too much in terms of enhancing its performance, but the updated clutch should drop a tenth of a second off of its base 0-to-60 time, and the new braking and suspension components should help it in the twist.
Toyota didn’t offer any specifics on what’s inside the cockpit, but the images tell us all we really need to know. We can see that the front seats remain from the base model, but the rear seat backs are gone, a roll cage was installed and a set of red Simpson racing harnesses keep the driver and passenger save.
The second-generation Toyota Tundra was unveiled back in 2007, but the first major update has just been unveiled at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show. You shouldn’t expect any big changes though, because all the updates were limited just to the exterior and the interior. For the 2014 model year, Toyota is also adding a new "1794 Edition" - a tribute to the ranch, founded in the year 1794, on which the Tundra plant is located in San Antonio.
The most obvious choices include the addition of a new, taller squared-off grille, a revised front bumper design, squarer fenders and wheel wells, and an all-new bed design. It gets new sheet metal on the sides, a revised tailgate and an integrated spoiler in the deck. On the interior, updates are limited to new seats and a new-look instrument panel.
Everything else remains pretty much unchanged, meaning customers will still have to choose between three different engines.
What we would have really like would have seen are some improvements in the towing department, but maybe it will work on that later on.
Hit the jump to read more about the Toyota Tundra.
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Alongside the 2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 "Core", Chrysler also brought a “Core” version for the 300 SRT8 to the 2013 Chicago Auto Show. Just like the Challenger model, the new 300 SRT8 Core version is also considerably cheaper than the standard 300 SRT8: $43,995 vs. $47,995.
Just like with the Challenger SRT8 "Core" version, the new 300 SRT8 Core has also been inspired by models like Charger SRT8 Super Bee and SRT Viper. The new 300 "Core" Edition receives special badges on the front fender, a set of upgraded wheels and on the inside, seating surfaces with the same "Ballistic" cloth inserts from the SRT Viper.
The $4k difference in the car’s price is given by the lack of all those fancy features you may have been used too, as the new Core editions were specially designed "with the back-to-basics performance driving enthusiast in mind."
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Core.
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Dodge is expanding its lineup by offering a series of new "Core" models that have been inspired by models like Charger SRT8 Super Bee and SRT Viper. The first model announced is the new Challenger SRT8 "Core" priced at $38,995 - significantly lower than the SRT8 392 models, which are priced at $45,125.
This huge difference on price is given by the fact that the new Core edition has been "designed and built with the back-to-basics performance driving enthusiast in mind," meaning that it eliminates all those fancy features you have been used to in an attempt to keep the price as low as possible.
The new Challenger SRT8 "Core" Edition adds a standard premium "Ballistic" cloth interior from the new SRT Viper, SRT-tuned sport suspensions and distinctive exterior accents, like a black grille and black SRT rear spoiler, plus two new exterior colors: Orange Pearl Coat and Plum Crazy Pearl Coat.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 "Core".
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