News Bites: Chicago Auto Show Edition

The Chicago auto show is upon is, which means... well, some facelifts, some new models, but not huge news like Detroit or Geneva.  Still, new stuff!   Inside: Two new Acuras, perhaps the world's most powerful 4-seat production convertible, minor facelifts for a Datsun, a big ol' GMC, and a sweet new Kia they need to make pronto.  Oh, and some bad news on Fisker.

Acura officially debuted two new production cars - the ILX (pictured above) and the new RDX.  The ILX takes over for both the Canadian-market CSX sedan (Civic based), and will replace the US-market TSX sedan (Euro Accord-based) as Acura's entry-level model.  Why don't they call it the Integra?  Dunno.  Power comes from three sources.  The base model has a 2.0L I4 with 150bhp and 140lb-ft, linked to a 5-speed auto that will return 24/32 for mileage.  There's a 1.5L IMA Hybrid from the Civic, with a CVT and EPA numbers of 35/38.  Finally, the top offering is a 2.4L I4 with 201bhp and 170lb-ft, with a 6-speed manual transmission.  The interior (right) looks pretty nice, too.

The RDX is also all-new, based on the new Honda CR-V.  The RDX ditches the unique 2.3L direct-injection turbocharged I4 engine in favor of a more traditional 3.5L V6 - the benefit being more power (now 273bhp) and better fuel economy.  It also gets a new 6-speed automatic transmission, and will be offered in FWD (20 city/ 28 highway) and AWD (19/27.)

Ford may want you think they're concerned about hybrids, and electric cars, and electronic integration and all that crap, but really... Really, they just want to create tire smoke.  Lots of it.  Here's the 2013 Shelby GT500 Convertible, which will allow you to douse your hair in rubber dust at the touch of the gas pedal.  Like the 2013 GT500 coupe, it sports a larger 5.8L 32v V8 with new Eaton TVS blower, good for a frankly astonishing 650 horsepower.  It also gets the carbon fiber driveshaft(!), 6-piston Brembos up front, and a twin disc clutch.  Sadly, it's limited to 155 miles an hour - the coupe will do 200.  Quick: is there another 4-seat production convertible in the world that has more power?  I can't think of one.

Meet the new 370Z, pretty much the same as the old 370Z.  You can't really call this an update, because it's not substantially updated - more like a facelift for Nissan's basic sports car.  There are vertical LED running lights in the front bumper, a red reflector in the rear bumper, and new designs for 18" (base) and 19" (sport) alloys.  The fuel gauge gets dark trim (?) and there are two new exterior colors.  Power continues to come from the VQ37HR 3.7L V6; 332bhp in regular models and 350 in the Nismo model.  Nissan, when are we getting a boosted version?  Thanks.

GMC is refreshing the Acadia and Acadia Denali crossovers for 2013, with a fall rollout.  The front end is redone with a more upright grille and funky headlights to make it look more like the Terrain, and the back has new tail lights and wrap-around glass.  The interior has been improved with more soft-touch surfaces, French-stitched (what does that mean?) leather and ambient lighting, and there's a new center airbag that pops up between the driver and front passenger now.  Expect similar changes to roll out on platform mates Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave.  Wasn't Cadillac supposed to get a version of this too?

In the "Build that and I might buy it" category, we have the latest concept from Kia, the Track'ster.  Ditch the stupid name and we've got some potential here.  It's a sloped-roof 3-door concept version of the charming Soul, and isn't this thing cool looking?  It doesn't actually share any body panels with the Soul, but you can tell they're related.  The white and red two-tone paint job is interesting, and the chunky LED driving lights inset in the lower front bumper look the business.  The back is neat too - blacked out glass surround with LED "boomerang" tail lights, exhausts integrated into the bumper, air ducts, etc.

More interesting is the drivetrain.  The Track'ster uses the Hyundai/Kia 2.0L GDI Turbo motor (like the one I drove in an Optima and loved) tuned to 250bhp.  More interestingly, it's linked to a 6-speed manual with an electronic AWD setup - so this could be a proper Korean hot hatch here!  Other mechanic bits of interest include 14" 6-piston Brembos front and 13.6" 4-piston Brembos rear, the chunky wheel arches with hugely staggered tires (245/40/19 front and 285/35/19 rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2's!) and the two-seat layout inside.  The Track'ster rides on an inch longer wheelbase than the Soul, and is actually 5" wider - but I'd guess most of that's in those fender flares.  The interior is nice too; leather and suede buckets, central gauge cluster, and bins behind the seats for tools, a fire extenguisher, a spare wheel.  I want one of these.  Kia, build it.  It would be like the Juke done right.

Karma bites Fisker in the ass.  Couldn't resist the pun.  News came out recently that startup EV maker Fisker has laid off 66 people (26 in a plant in Delaware, 40 in their headquarters in California) because they missed the sales target imposed on them by the US Department of Energy, who gave them a $509 million loan.  Failing to meet those goals, Fisker had their federal funds frozen, so they have to cut back on expenses I suppose.  The Karma's a cool looking car, but delays in it's production lead to the missed sales goal.  Hopefully this resolves soon.

Finally, one last bit of news.  For 2013, Buick is making two powertrain changes to the Regal.  First is that their eAssist "mild hybrid" setup will be standard, meaning the regular 2.4L will be dropped - much like the larger LaCrosse, which has the 2.4 eAssist standard with a V6 as a no-cost option.  This will bump highway fuel economy up to a respectable 36mpg, with slightly better performance than the regular 2.4.  The other news is that for 2013, the high-performance LNF-powered Regal GS will be available with a 6-speed automatic in addition to the 6-speed manual.  Buick says the automatic does not impact the GS's performance, posting an identical 6.7 second 0-60 time.  I'll still take the clutch pedal, thanks.  Where does this leave the mid-level 220-horsepower Turbo model?  Don't know.