Electric vehicles, hybrid cars and puppies at the 2023 Chicago Auto Show
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The more you walk through the showrooms at the Chicago Auto Show, the more you'll see electric and hybrid vehicles taking center stage.
"We're seeing in 2023 a lot of new electric vehicles arriving and that's not necessarily new but they're arriving in segments that people want to buy vehicles in, cross-overs, SUVs, pick-up trucks, said Aaron Bragman, Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief.
RELATED | Sneak peek inside Concept & Technology Garage at 2023 Chicago Auto Show
The Ford Maverick EV was named Cars.com's pick-up of the year for its fuel economy, size efficiency and overall value.
The base sticker price for the EV? Approximately $24,000.
The Corvette E-Ray is another standout EV being displayed at the Chicago Auto Show.
RELATED | ABC 7 Chicago to present 'The 2023 Chicago Auto Show'
"This is the first ever electrified Corvette so it's gonna deliver unquestionable performance," said Sabin Blake, the director of General Motors North America Business Communications. "We've got a 160 HP motor in the front, matted with that legendary V8 small block in the back."
All that power gets the E-Ray from zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds.
The Bronco Raptor is the first thing you'll see at the Ford exhibit. It's Ford's fastest and most capable off-road vehicle, making it perfect for Chicago potholes.
If you visit Ford, take a ride on Bronco Mountain. This is the third year Ford will feature the 25-foot mountain. The 38-degree decline makes it great for testing out new vehicles.
RELATED | Check out nearly 1,000 vehicles on display at Chicago Auto Show
Another trend at this year's show is third-row seating. The Volkswagen Atlas SUV fills the needs of larger families by having plenty of seating. It features a redesigned interior.
The Toyota Highlander three-row SUV can seat seven or eight passengers and has a new, more fuel efficient V6 engine.
You may need that extra space if you've got four-legged passengers in your family. At the Subaru booth, visitors can meet adoptable puppies from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. every day of the show.
Classic, historic cars on display at Chicago Auto Show
Of course the Auto Show features some of the greatest modern cars and futuristic concept cars. But, it's important to pay tribute to some of the cars that paved the way for the vehicles.
That's what Chicago's Klairmont Kollections Auto Museum is hoping to do during the auto show, and it's a trip back in time you're going to be able to see for yourself.
New or old, every car has a story.
"Somebody owned that car. Somebody has a history behind that car. Someone might have been brought home from the hospital in that car," said Ana Mercado, with Klairmont Kollections.
Those stories are being told by a handful of classic and historic cars from the Klairmont Kollections Auto Museum at this year's auto show.
"We go through the development: the first car that had breaks on all four wheels, the first vehicles that were four wheel drive," said Keith Buckley, with Klairmont Kollections.
From the bubbled 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II to the mean 1969 Dodge Dart Swinger 340 Concept Car, you'll get a sense of nostalgia in a sea of modern luxury.
"Things are never made how they used to be made," Buckley said. "Things in the past were made with a lot of care, a lot of craftsmanship. A lot of these things are almost like a piece of art."
You can also see a 1944 Willys Overland AgriJeep. There were only 20 ever made, and this happens to be number six.
New safety features to see at Chicago Auto Show
Many of the cars you'll see at the show come equipped with some very impressive, high tech and new features to keep you and your family safe on the road.
We caught up with some manufacturers to find out what they are doing to protect your precious cargo.
The start of the 116th Chicago Auto Show is less than a day away and consumers looking to get their next ride are going to be considering one critical aspect: safety.
"We know that when you get in your car, obviously you want comfort, you want convenience, you want the dependability and reliability," said Michael Alexander of Toyota. "But I think everyone says safety is their number one thing."
Toyota offers a standard safety package on many vehicles.
"We give you extra cameras," Alexander said. "We give you parking sonar in the front and the back. We give you radar as well when you're driving the vehicles."
Lexus has the Top Safety Pick Plus ES350 that has many features in its safety suite.
"That includes a variety of features such as the dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beams and a breaking assist system," said Amanda Price of Lexus.
Ram is another brand with new safety features. According to a Ram spokesperson, the company's massive trucks are becoming increasingly popular.
"We have a brand new digital rear view camera, which helps with visibility out the back," said Ryan Nagode of Ram. "We have our extended mirrors to provide safety from that standpoint because driving a pickup truck can be intimidating for some people."
For our complete guide to the 2023 Chicago Auto Show, visit abc7chicago.com/autoshow.
