© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
2022 Chicago Auto Show
One of the most important auto shows in America, the 115th Chicago Auto Show opened to the media this week, providing a hint that life might start returning to normal for the auto industry. Although this show is a bit smaller than others that preceded the pandemic, there is still some significant news from brands such as Ford, Kia, Ram, Toyota and Chevrolet. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from the 2022 Chicago Auto Show media preview. (Public days for the 2022 Chicago Auto Show run from February 12 through the 21st.)
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
2023 BMW iX M60
Last summer BMW took the wraps off a next-generation electric crossover: the iX Sports Activity Vehicle. Now the German automaker adds to its electric lineup with the introduction of a high-performance variant of the iX — the 2023 BMW iX M60. About the size of a BMW X6, the iX M features a kidney grille but with no openings into the engine bay since the vehicle has no internal-combustion engine to cool. Instead the grille integrates the vehicle’s camera technology, radar functions and other sensors behind a transparent surface. The LED headlights and taillights of the M60 are the slimmest ever used on a production BMW. The M60 has larger brakes than the standard iX, featuring blue-painted calipers adorned with the M logo.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
2023 BMW iX M60
Powering the 2023 BMW iX M60 are two electric motors — 255 horsepower up front, 483 at the rear — delivering a total of 532 horsepower and 749 lb-ft of torque. However, with available Sport Boost these numbers bump up to 610 horsepower and an eye-watering 811 lb-ft of torque. With maximum horsepower unleashed, the small crossover will sprint to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds on its way to a top speed limited to 155 mph. More than just a high-powered crossover, the iX M features an M-calibrated adaptive dual-axle air suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers for increased agility and performance. On a full charge of its 111.6 kWh battery, the 2023 BMW iX M60 can travel up to 280 miles between recharges. On a DC fast charger producing 250 kW, the iX can reach 80 percent charge in a mere 35 minutes. The 2023 BMW iX M60 will begin arriving in showrooms in June 2022. BMW set the base MSRP of the M60 at $105,100.
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2023 Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet brought back the Blazer a few years ago as a midsize crossover with sleek lines and the latest high-tech features. At the 2022 Chicago Auto Show, the Detroit-based brand introduced a refreshed Blazer for the 2023 model year. The updated Blazer features a revised front end with a new front fascia, LED headlamps, LED running lights and new taillights. Four new colors have also been added to the palette: Fountain Blue, Sterling Gray Metallic, Copper Bronze Metallic and Radiant Red Tintcoat. Chevrolet is offering the 2023 Blazer with new 18-, 20- and 21-inch wheels.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
2023 Chevrolet Blazer
Inside, the Blazer gets a new 10-inch display screen that will be standard equipment on all trim levels. Wireless charging is also available on LT trims and standard on RS and Premier. The base powertrain remains a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 228 horsepower, with the option of upgrading to a more potent 3.6-liter V6 that bumps power up to 308 horsepower. The Chevrolet Safety Assist package is standard on all Blazers, featuring automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, pedestrian braking and lane-keeping assist.
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2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition
Ford introduced the 2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show. A tribute to Alan Mann Racing’s 1966 Ford GT lightweight experimental prototypes, the new car was displayed alongside the 1966 Ford AM GT-1 prototype. The limited-edition Alan Mann Heritage Edition features Alan Mann Racing’s signature red and gold livery while adding modern details including exposed carbon fiber elements and Frozen White accents. Alan Mann Racing created two lightweight Ford GT prototypes, and while neither car won a major race, the use of lightweight materials helped Ford to win Le Mans in 1966 with the heavier and more powerful 7.0-liter V8 Ford GT.
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2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition
Starting with the Alan Mann red and gold livery, this special edition GT also adds dual stripes over the hood, Frozen White accent stripes and No. 16 on the doors — another tribute to the Ford AM GT-1 prototype. Exposed carbon fiber elements include 20-inch wheels with black lug nuts, front splitter, side sills, mirrors, engine louvers and rear diffuser. The Brembo brake calipers are black with red graphics. Inside, the center console and door sills are also carbon fiber, and the carbon fiber seats are wrapped in Ebony Alcantara with gold and red stitching. The instrument panel is Ebony leather and Alcantara, with the pillars and headliner also finished with Ebony Alcantara. The steering wheel is Ebony Alcantara with black stitching, and the shift paddles behind the steering wheel are Alan Mann red.
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2024 Chevrolet Silverado Electric
Electric vehicles are becoming more mainstream in America, including the arrival of electric pickup trucks. Last year Ford announced its entry in the full-size pickup truck segment, and now Chevrolet has followed suit with the all-electric 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup. The Silverado EV is not simply an electric version of Chevy’s current half-ton pickup. Chevrolet engineers and designers developed this new model as a full-electric truck from the ground up. Built on GM’s advanced Ultium EV platform, the truck’s new architecture uses a 24-module Ultium battery pack integrated within the vehicle structure. All Silverado EVs will be 4-door crew cabs with exterior proportions more streamlined than the standard Silverado. A distinctive light bar and lighted bowtie up front add to the high-tech look of the truck, with slim running lights wrapping around the corners.
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2024 Chevrolet Silverado Electric
The Silverado EV will launch with a base-level WT as well as a top-line RST First Edition. With dual motors that make up the e4WD system, the RST has up to 664 horsepower and more than 780 lb-ft of torque for extreme capability and performance. The RST will be able to tow a maximum of 10,000 pounds, haul up to 1,300 pounds of cargo, or haul its way to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds. Chevrolet estimates the new Silverado EV will have a driving range of up to 400 miles between charges. When charging at a 350kw DC fast charging station, the big truck should gain about 100 miles of range in a mere 10 minutes. The Silverado EV can also provide external power via its PowerBase charging system, delivering a total of 10.2 kW of power to 10 outlets throughout the truck for work or recreational needs. The WT variant of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup will debut in spring 2023 at a base price of $39,900, followed by the RST First Edition in the fall of 2023 at $105,000.
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2022 Ford Bronco Everglades
Ford debuted the special edition Bronco Everglades at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show, a new version with more capability off-road and extra standard equipment to face challenging conditions. In addition to the standard Sasquatch Package, the 2022 Ford Bronco Everglades also adds a Ford-designed intake snorkel with a quick-swap reversible air vent and a Ford Performance heavy-duty modular bumper with an integrated WARN winch. Bronco Everglades is easily identified by unique graphics on the front fenders, unique squared front and rear fender arches and fender flares that are the same width as other models equipped with the Sasquatch Package. The 2022 Ford Bronco Everglades sports 17-inch alloy wheels also painted Carbonized Gray, wrapped in 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires. The look gets capped by a molded-in-color hardtop, rock rails and roof rails with crossbars.
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2022 Ford Bronco Everglades
The signature element of the 2022 Ford Bronco Everglades is the air intake snorkel that follows the passenger-side A-pillar to raise the engine air intake for better performance in difficult conditions. The design uses two easily changed plates so the inlet direction can be reversed depending on conditions. In addition, the vents for the front and rear axles, transfer case and transmission have been raised for improved water fording, making Bronco Everglades capable of traversing water up to 36.4 inches deep. Integrated into the Ford Performance modular bumper is a WARN ZEON 10-S winch that has a 10,000 pound capacity and a 100-foot synthetic line. Inside, the Bronco Everglades offers standard-equipment marine-grade vinyl seats and rubberized flooring, as well as Urban Green accents for the grab handles, air vents and seat stitching.
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2022 Ford Bronco Raptor
Chicago was the first auto show appearance for the recently debuted Ford Bronco Raptor, designed to be the most powerful production Bronco ever. Inspired by the Ultra4 Racing off-road series, the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor is engineered to excel at both high-speed desert running and low-speed rock crawling. The 2022 Ford Bronco already has an aggressive design, and the Raptor version goes one better featuring revised body panels and large fender flares to make it 9.8 inches wider than a base 4-door Bronco. The new Bronco Raptor draws power from a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 EcoBoost engine and receives a Raptor HOSS 4.0 race-ready suspension system, as well as 37-inch all-terrain tires as standard equipment.
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2022 Ford Bronco Raptor
The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor is easily distinguished from other Bronco trim levels thanks to a bold grille with FORD lettering, a raised hood, specific LED headlights with amber DRLs, three amber lights at the top of the grille, revised fenders, wide flares, 37-inch tires and Raptor graphics. A heavy-duty modular steel front bumper from Ford Performance includes tow hooks, removable end caps, integrated removable Rigid LED fog lights and Rigid off-road lights. Ford Performance worked with FOX to upgrade suspension with FOX 3.1 internal bypass semi-active dampers and designed unique front and rear control arms to improve wheel travel. The standard Bronco Raptor interior features Black Onyx marine-grade vinyl seats, rubberized flooring and Ford Performance Code Orange accents.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
2023 Kia Sportage PHEV
Kia introduced an all-new Sportage last year, and at this year’s Chicago Auto Show the Korean brand took the wraps off the latest iteration of this fifth-generation Sportage — the 2023 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid. Kia will offer the Sportage PHEV as an X-Line or X-Line Prestige, and both variants will be exclusively all-wheel drive. The styling of the X-Line is in keeping with its non-electrified siblings, featuring unique front and rear bumpers with a satin chrome surround and satin chrome side trim. Side mirrors, the roof rack and window trim are finished in gloss black, and the roof rack has raised rails. The Sportage X-Line also receives exclusive 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels.
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2023 Kia Sportage PHEV
A 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 177 horsepower powers the Sportage PHEV, teamed with a 66.9 kW (90 horsepower) electric motor for an estimated total output of 261 horsepower. Many hybrids on the market use a continuously variable transmission, but not the Sportage. Kia equips the PHEV with a 6-speed automatic — a great idea in our opinion. The 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV has a 13.8-kWh lithium-polymer battery providing enough energy to enable an electric-only range of an estimated 32 miles. When plugged into a Level 2 charger, the Sportage PHEV can be fully recharged in about two hours.
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Nissan Frontier Project 72X
A new take on one of Nissan’s most popular trucks — the Datsun 720 introduced in the fall of 1979 — the Project 72X Frontier rides on the 2022 Frontier Crew Cab S 4 x 4. The Datsun 720 was a barebones, affordable truck designed for fun and ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, and Nissan designers set out to replicate the spirit of that truck in concept form.
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Nissan Frontier Project 72X
The 2022 Frontier Crew Cab S is painted gray and features white, gray and black graphics. The truck gets accentuated by custom steel wheels that are actually the stock spare wheel for Frontier, painted white and fitted with Hankook Dynapro AT2 265/70R17 all-terrain tires normally fitted to the Frontier PRO-4X. The suspension system of the Project 72X employs a Calmini 2.5-inch lift kit with adjustable upper suspension arms. In addition to the custom graphics, the Project 72X adds a Nissan Accessories Sport Bar behind the cab with a custom sport bar lettering plate, Frontier tailgate lettering and a Nissan Accessories black exhaust tip.
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Nissan Frontier Project Hardbody
This Frontier concept pays homage to the Nissan Hardbody — the first truck designed completely by Nissan Design America and the inspiration for the more aggressive design of the new 2022 Frontier. Starting with the 2022 Frontier Crew Cab SV 4 x 4 painted in red, Project Hardbody features a custom-painted front fascia, Nissan Aftersales mirror caps and door handles — all painted gloss black. Other features include a Nissan Accessories black hood graphic, a Frontier PRO-4X front skidplate, Frontier PRO-4X overfenders and custom 4 x 4 door graphics.
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Nissan Frontier Project Hardbody
Project Hardbody features a Calmini 3-inch lift kit with adjustable upper suspension arms and NDA-created custom 17 x 8 inch classic Hardbody block-style wheels fitted with BFGoodrich All-Terrain TA K02 285/70R17 tires. Project Hardbody also gets fitted with Nissan Accessories off-road step rails with the bolt-on steps removed, a Nissan Accessories sport bar, Rigid E-series 10-inch lights, a custom light bar mount, Nissan Utili-track system lower rails, a custom spare tire mount, custom tailgate graphics, a Nissan Aftersales gloss black rear bumper and a black exhaust tip.
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Nissan Frontier Project Adventure
The final concept created for the 2022 Chicago Autos Show, the Frontier Project Adventure is Nissan Design America’s take on the popular overlanding trend. The concept is based on the 2022 Frontier Crew Cab PRO-4X and features a custom wrap depicting a map of the United States, as well as a custom carbon fiber snorkel designed by Nissan Design America. Project Adventure rides on a Calmini 5-inch lift kit with adjustable upper suspension arms and Frontier PRO-4X wheels fitted with 34-inch BFGoodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM3 285/75R17 tires.
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Nissan Frontier Project Adventure
The Frontier Project Adventure also adds a Yakima LoadWarrior roof cargo basket, a Yakima Overhaul System bed rack and an iKamper Skycamp 2.0 rooftop tent. The build is complete with RotoTraX traction recovery boards with RotoPaX containers and mounts, Nissan Accessories Tailgate Audio by Kicker, black Frontier tailgate lettering, Nissan Accessories off-road step rails and a black exhaust outlet.
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2022 Ram 1500 ‘Built to Serve’ Firefighter Truck
Ram Trucks kicked off its next phase of “Built to Serve” trucks at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show, honoring the three main first responder services: firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service providers. The first truck in this series honors the firefighting community. “After honoring each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces with our initial ‘Built to Serve’ models, we felt it would be equally important to also extend our gratitude to all first responders who serve or have served our communities,” said Mike Koval Jr., Ram Brand Chief Executive Officer at Stellantis.
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2022 Ram 1500 ‘Built to Serve’ Firefighter Truck
The firefighter-inspired Ram 1500 “Built to Serve” will be offered in low-volume color options: Redline or Diamond Black. These trucks receive a combined American flag and “Built to Serve” decal on each of the rear quarter panels. Further differentiating these special Ram trucks are the black grille and surround, black bumpers and 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels with a unique Technical Gray finish. Inside, each of the BTS trucks feature special trim — the firefighter edition gets orange accent stitching as well as “Built to Serve” embroidered Velcro panels on each front seat. All BTS trucks come outfitted with the 4×4 Off Road Group that includes all-terrain tires, skidplates, tow hooks and an electronic locking rear axle.
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2023 Toyota Sequoia
The largest SUV in the Toyota lineup, the aptly-named Sequoia is completely new for the 2023 model year. The Sequoia’s body-on-frame architecture is shared with the new Tundra as well as the all-new Land Cruiser, and is designed to provide improved handling as well as more comfort and capability. Three rows of seats are available with multiple configurations that can maximize passenger occupancy or cargo carrying. Sequoia is available in five trim levels starting with the SR5 and topping out with the fully-loaded new Capstone edition. Toyota will also offer the Sequoia with the TRD Off-Road package which enhances off-road capability with a locking rear differential, TRD-tuned springs and a Multi-Terrain monitor.
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2023 Toyota Sequoia
Powering this big SUV is Toyota’s new i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain utilizing a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine teamed with a motor generator to produce 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. Available with 2WD or 4WD, Sequoia’s power gets sent to the road via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Toyota hasn’t released fuel economy numbers, but the company expects a large improvement over the outgoing V8-powered Sequoia. The V6 hybrid delivers a 9,000-pound towing capacity — almost 22 percent greater capacity than the previous generation. The new Sequoia will start arriving in showrooms this summer.
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2023 Toyota Tundra Capstone
Toyota introduced an all-new Tundra for the 2022 model year with improved performance and fresh styling. Built on a new chassis designed to improve capability and ride comfort, the new Tundra is available with two new powertrains. At the 2022 Chicago Auto Show, Toyota showed the latest and most luxurious version of the Tundra, the all-new Capstone.
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2023 Toyota Tundra Capstone
The Capstone stands out with a distinctive grille, chrome trim accents and the largest wheels ever offered on a Tundra — 22-inch chrome rims. Inside, seats get trimmed in semi-aniline leather in a black-and-white two-tone configuration, as well as a 14-inch multimedia display and panoramic sunroof. The Tundra Capstone comes with a hybrid i-FORCE MAX twin-turbo V6 that delivers 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, allowing Tundra Capstone to tow up to 10,340 pounds. Look for the Tundra Capstone to begin arriving in showrooms this spring.
