While we here at Houseful Of Nicholes lamented the slow, methodical disappearance of the traditional American car; coupe, and sedan alike, we would be lying if we didn’t also have a building excitement for where the vehicle market is headed. And this year’s 2022 Chicago Auto Show will only help that excitement build!
2022 Chicago Auto Show
I fell in love with cars when my parents took us to CAS for the first time in the early ’90s. I was the kid going to every booth and grabbing their catalogs. Taking them back home to read them like a kid going through a new comic series. I loved it! I loved the innovation and the designs. I loved the concept cars; vehicles that would never come out but were fascinating to behold.
The 2022 Chicago Auto Show has me in anticipation like I was as a kid all over again. What would have been concept cars a few years ago are front and center for many manufacturers. It seems like everyone has a toe dipped in the EV pool and the results have been jaw-dropping. Prior to this year, most automakers had a few hybrid models and that’s it. There was a handful that had a dedicated EV, shout out to the Nissan Leaf. More than likely it was a simple hatchback/small crossover that was designed for utility with a modest yet acceptable range. No longer!
Kia, Hyundai, BMW, Nissan, Toyota, Ford, GMC, Chevrolet, Subaru, and Ram each have at least one dedicated EV model. This year however things feel different. Ford surprised us with the Mustang Mach E last year and has introduced the Ford Mustang Mach E4X. It was an interesting design choice with absolutely impressive specs. This year they knocked everyone’s wigs back with the Ford F-150 Lightning! Judging by the reviews and the spec sheet, I’m most excited to see it. We’ve heard rumors of the all-electric Hummer last year, and GMC has it on display at this year’s show. Kia has the EV6 built on the new E-GMP platform, and on display is the Concept EV9. Chevrolet announced an all-electric Silverado built on their new Ultium platform. The Nissan Ariya is also on display. There are even more models from each automaker with multiple levels of electrification. Most have aggressive goals regarding their carbon footprints and by 2030, most manufacturers plan to have at least 75-80% of their fleet electrified.
If you’re a fan of test rides at the show, you’re in luck! There are tracks on tracks on tracks at this year’s show. Toyota has a track. Jeep has a track. Ford has a track. Ram has a track. Kia and BMW are sharing a track. Kia even has a virtual drive with the Telluride. Go crazy and get track wasted!
The 2022 Chicago Auto Show is open to the public from February 12th – 21st. The show is open from 10 am to 10 pm each day except for the final day (President’s day) when it closes at 8 pm. Please visit The Chicago Auto Show for more information, tickets, and the latest updates.
