From mild to wild, new models wow at Chicago Auto Show
Chicago may be distinctly chilly this time of year, but at the Chicago Auto Show, which runs through Feb. 20 at the spacious McCormick Place, the latest cars, trucks and SUVs are hot topics. Here’s a look at some of the more notable reveals.
All hail the King Cab
Nissan took the wraps off the King Cab versions of its 2017 Titan and Titan XD pickups. Due at dealerships in a matter of weeks, King Cabs have 6.5-ft. long beds, about a foot longer than the typical crew cab. The King Cab Titans can carry up to six (with a front split-bench seat) and retains the rear-hinged “suicide” doors that open wide for easy entrance and exit.
The Titan King Cab will be offered in 4x4 and 4x2 and three trims: S, SV and PRO-4X. Each has a 390-horsepower version of Nissan’s ubiquitous 5.6-liter Endurance V8 paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Depending on configuration and suitably equipped, the extended-cab Titan can tow up to 9,420 pounds and carry up to 1,640 pounds.
The larger 2017 Titan XD King Cab also comes in 4x4 or 4x2 drive and the same three grades. While the standard engine is the 390-horsepower 5.6-liter V8 e with seven-speed automatic, Titan XD buyers needing more can opt for a turbocharged Cummins 5.0-liter V8 diesel that’s rated at 310 horsepower and 555 lb.-ft. of torque. The diesel is paired with an Aisin heavy-duty six-speed automatic transmission. The diesel King Cab’s max tow rating is 12,510 pounds.
The new Titan King Cab also offers “rear seat delete” option, which does away with the rear seat, rear heater duct and rear roof-mounted assist grips and adds a flat rear load floor and rear wall finisher with tie-down hooks.
Legacy goes to finishing school
Subaru’s Legacy, already lauded for its legacy of reliability, safety and value, gets a slew of improvements for 2018 that add up to big news when talking about a midsize all-wheel-drive sedan that will likely start at around $23,000.
The sedan’s refresh starts off with sportier looks but Subaru said the 2018 Legacy is also quieter, thanks to new acoustic front side glass, reshaped outside mirrors, thicker material in the rear wheel wells and a quieter chain for the continuously variable transmission (CVT) used on the four-cylinder engines.
Comfort and handling are also upgraded with retuned shock absorbers that help smooth out the bumps and reduce roll in turns. Subaru’s engineers tweaked the electric power steering for better response. The cabin is more refined with better materials. An 8-inch display and added multimedia features are available.
The 2018 Legacy returns as either a 2.5i with 175-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, or as the Legacy 3.6R with a 256-hp 3.6-liter boxer six. There’s no choice in gearboxes: Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT with manual mode and paddle shifters is the only game in town. Subaru said its updated sedan will also have smoother and sharper power delivery, thanks to reprogramming of the car’s engine control unit. Subaru’s signature symmetrical all-wheel drive and torque vectoring is standard across the board.
Durango gets fast and loud
Big ones, small ones. Short ones, tall ones. How to make your newest SUV stand out when it seems there are 2.4 utility vehicles per adult American? Dodge’s answer: one of the oldest strategies in automotive world: an engine swap.
For the 2018 model year, Dodge is dropping a 6.4-liter V8s into its new Durango SRT. It’s the basic engine used in Ram’s Power Wagon and hairier versions of Dodge’s Challenger and Charger.
The Durango SRT’s 392 cu. in. Hemi will crank out 475 horses and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. The heavy-duty eightspeed automatic transmission used in the Durango R/T will be retained, but specifically calibrated for the SRT.
Dodge said the all-wheel-drive Durango SRT will hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds. To handle the curves, the suspension gets beef- ier springs and sway bars. The seven drive modes the owners can select take advantage of Bilstein active damping that can adjust immediately and automatically to driving conditions.
The Durango SRT’s wheelhouse features a hand-wrapped dashboard with contrasting stitching, a performance-style flatbottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters. Captain chairs are used for the front and second rows. In case the 2.75-inch dual exhaust isn’t music enough, a 506-watt Beats Audio system is standard. While the Durango SRT’s exterior gets buffed and puffed, the not-so-subtle giveaway is the hood’s central air scoop flanked by heat-extracting slots. Essentially a three-row muscle car, the Durango SRT will reach dealers in the fourth quarter. Dodge wasn’t ready to talk pricing, but consider that the Hemi-powered Durango R/T’s sticker starts at $45,290.
Hyundai’s hot hatchback
The Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Mazda3 will face renewed Korean competition when Hyundai’s lower and wider 2018 Elantra GT hits showrooms this summer.
Sporting European styling and an aggressive stance, the hatchback form factor provides a cabin so roomy that Hyundai thinks the EPA may classify the Elantra GT as a large car. No matter the label, there’s almost 25 cu. ft. of storage behind the rear seats. The bones are stouter too, with high-strength steel making up 53 percent of the 2018 Elantra GT’s stiffer, stronger structure.
Under the hood, buyers have two routes to go: a direct-injection 2.0-liter four will come in at about 162 horsepower and is paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The Sport version shares the 201-horse 1.6-liter turbo four used in the current Elantra Sport. Shifting is either via the six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Standard features on the Elantra GT include an audio system with 8-inch display, Apple CarPlay, Android auto and 17-inch alloy wheels. Adaptive cruise control with stop/start, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, attention assist, high-beam assist, and blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert will be available.