Chicago Motor Show

Toyota debuts modestly refreshed 2011 Matrix in Chicago Auto Show

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.
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Lexus CT200h Tuned By 5 Axis in 2011 Chicago Auto Show

Lexus has been attempting to build excitement in its brand lately by reaching out to a younger, more performance-oriented market. The latest efforts have also revolved around its line of hybrid luxury vehicles. We all know if there is one thing that’s gets the kids; it’s luxury cars and hybrids.

The star of Lexus’s Chicago 2011 tuner section is a CT200h hybrid tuned by 5 Axis, a car modifier known for building extensively modified show cars. The small hatchback wears a custom designed widebody kit, 19-inch wheels and a custom interior. The cars adjustable coilover suspension is by Japanese Manufacturer Tein, which not only improves handling but also allows for the lower stance.
No actual information was available at the Lexus booth during the show. When asked, the lead spokesmodel suggested the best source of technical information on the car would be a Google search. Apparently Lexus is sticking firmly to its new corporate motto of “The Hard Way.”

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First Look: 2012 Acura TL in 2011 Chicago Auto Show

Acura’s much-maligned TL has been reinvigorated. With fresh styling and a new six-speed automatic transmission, the refreshed 2012 Acura TL may no longer be the odds-on favorite to make fun of from a design perspective.

The mid-size Acura four-door debuts at the Chicago Auto Show and goes on sale later this year. The five-speed automatic transmission on the TL is gone; for 2012, all automatic-transmission TLs get a six-speed. In front-wheel-drive form, fuel economy is expected to improve from 18/26 mpg city/highway to 20/29 mpg, a noticeable boost.

Acura’s 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 and 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 remain, but the automaker says that optimized gear ratios will make the cars slightly quicker. The new six-speed automatic will also allow double-kickdowns, for example, from fifth to third gear. The six-speed manual transmission is still an option for those who start with the 3.7-liter V-6 and Acura’s “super-handling” all-wheel drive.
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First Look: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 in 2011 Chicago Auto Show

The all-new Charger will once again receive a slight makeover later this fall, although this time it’ll get musclecar mascara from Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team. Not only is the new 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 more powerful than the last go-fast rendition, but according to preliminary test data, it’s more efficient, too.

The new SRT8 Charger’s improved efficiency is achieved in part by the addition of Chrysler’s adaptive valve exhaust system and Fuel Saver technology. The latter switches the all-new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 into a four-cylinder mode that’s activated over a wider rpm range, thus minimizing consumption. By exactly how much has yet to be announced, but for a reference point, the last Challenger SRT8 powered by the 6.1-liter V-8 was rated 13/19 mpg city/highway. An active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft on the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 optimize low-end grunt for even more speed when you want it.

Each of the SRT8′s 465 horses and 465 pound-feet of torque are routed to sticky 20-inch rear rubber through the brand’s well worn W5A580 AutoStick five-speed automatic. Yes, we know, it’s no pistol-grip six-speed manual (say, from the Challenger SRT8 392), or even a six-speed slushbox, but SRT has included a first-ever paddle shifting function to make the aging tranny more entertaining.
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Chicago 2011: 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

Dodge has dropped the Street and Racing Technology motherlode on the eve of the Chicago Auto Show and first out of the gate is the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 – what Eminem should’ve rolled in during the Super Bowl.

As with anything birthed from Chrysler’s in-house tuning division, the Charger SRT8 is all about the engine, so the transformation begins with the new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 putting out 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque – a boost of some 80 lb-ft over the old 6.1-liter mill. That torquey wave comes on at 2,900 rpm and Dodge claims that with the fitment of its Fuel Saver tech, allowing the engine to run on four cylinders when its not under load, fuel economy will improve, although Dodge isn’t saying how much.

Chrysler’s W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission backs up the HEMI, and you can select your own gears by either slapping the AutoStick or thumbing the steering wheel-mounted paddle-shifters.

All that adds up to an estimated top speed of 175 mph, a 0-60 mph time in the high fours and a quarter-mile run deep into the 12s.
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