Chicago Auto Show: New cars will shake things up

Toyota's Texas-sized, Texas-built Tundra, two new cars from Hyundai, a sporty sedan from Honda and more.

February 10, 2006; Posted: 10:16 a.m. EST (1516 GMT)

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The Chicago Auto Show is usually not one of the bigger automotive events of the year, at least in terms of media attention. The fact that it comes fairly close on the heels of the Detroit Auto Show, the grand-daddy of them all, probably doesn't help. This year's show, however, included quite a few notable cars.

Lincoln unveiled a redesigned version of its Navigator SUV, sporting a new look that will, no doubt, spawn a lot of discussion. Not everyone will like the Navigator's edgier new front-end look. (Story: Redesigned Lincoln Navigator unveiled)

And, making a big move into the last stronghold of U.S. auto manufacturers, Toyota unveiled its new Tundra full-sized pick-up truck at the Chicago Auto Show today.

With the Tundra, Toyota seems to have gone straight after every rational reason an American pick-up buyer might have to avoid consider buying a Tundra.

It's bigger in every dimension and stronger. The redesigned Tundra has a bigger engine -- 5.7-liters -- and six-speed transmission. Toyota brags of its new truck's 10,000 pound towing capacity. Perhaps most importantly for cracking the die-hard truck market, the Tundra is built right in serious truck country in a factory in San Antonio, Tex.

Two from Hyundai

At January's Detroit Auto Show, Honda, Toyota and Nissan showed off new entry-level economy cars and General Motors unveiled a redesigned version of the Chevrolet Aveo, the market leader in that category. With all the choices in the small-and-cheap category, Hyundai is fighting back with the redesigned Accent unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show this week.

As always, Hyundai touts a long list of standard safety features including a total of six airbags and seatbelt pretensioners for front seat occupants.

The Accent is also going over the "sport tuner" market with available accessories such as "ground effects" kits, aluminum pedals and door sills and LED interior light kits.

Prices for the Accent will start at about $11,000.

After some back-and-forth on whether they were even going to try, Hyundai entered the minivan wars at this week's Chicago Auto Show press previews. To compete with Chrysler's famed stow-and-go seating, the Entourage marks the debut of the Hyundai Hideaway third row seat. In addition to the full line-up of airbags -- side and front -- the Entourage also gets standard electronic stability control, a system that has been shown to significantly reduce loss-of-control crashes.

Honda Civic Si Sedan concept

For now, it's only a concept vehicle but the real Civic Si Sedan will be coming later this year. Previously, the Si has been strictly a two-door affair. The Si Sedan concept "provides strong hints of the styling and performance for a production Civic Si Sedan."

It will have a 197-horsepower engine with an 8,000 rpm redline and a six-speed manual transmission.

New and improved already

Updated versions of two vehicles introduced within the past year were unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show.

The Lincoln MKX is an update of the Lincoln Zephyr sedan that went on sale this past autumn. It gets a new, more powerful V-6 engine and the more grid-like grill design that will be the new "face" of Lincoln sedans.

The seven-seat Subaru B9 Tribeca also gets a blacked-out grill and a few technological improvements. Versions with touch-screen navigation will get an automatic rear-view camera that will come on when the Tribeca is shifted into reverse. An reverse alert system will be optional on all Tribecas. It will sound as the vehicle backs towards an object.

A rollover sensor system has also been added that will detect an impending rollover and tighten the seatbelts and deploy side airbags.

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