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TechNews | Tuesday, February 1 6th, 2016

Photos by Kevin Zheng

Chicago Auto Show changes gears for 2016

Austin Gonzalez
OPINION EDITOR

The Chicago Auto Show comes back
once again for another exciting year. Being the
largest automotive show in North America, all
the top manufacturers are here in Chicago to
show off their new advancements in technology
and aesthetics. The Auto Show is in town this
year from February 13 to the 21. Whether
you’re interested in something modest from
Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, GMC, and the like,
or want to get your blood pumping with Audi,

M' ‘erati, and the Super Car Gallery, the floor
is packed wall to wall with experiences. Tickets
are still only $12 for an all—day p s for adults
and $7 for children and seniors. To travel to
McCormick Place from HT just use the Green
Line’s newly completed Cermak—McCormick
Place station.

This year, the layout has changed
and there are some new sights to be seen. Even
for the experienced Auto Show goer, it will be
a breath of fresh air to see the floor again. The
super car showcase has many newer cars this
year as well. There is even a brand new test

track' T' y' ta has a test track inside and they’re
showing ofl their new Rav4. The coolest feature
is the four cameras all around the perimeter of
the car whose images are stitched together in
real time to give a top down augmented view
of the car.

Not all of the newness of the show
adds to the excitement. The Dodge Charger
racing simulator, which I proclaimed to be the
best of the show last year, has be upgraded to a
Viper. All of the dials and knobs still work and
the experience is very convincing, except for
the driving. Many of the simulators this year

feel much weaker with extremely heavy driver
at ists. The Ford simulator even automatic lly
brakes if you lift off the gas.

The funniest change comes from
Chrysler. They’ve placed their best and more
exciting offering front and center on a rotating
platform. Are you as excited for the new
Pacifica, their minivan to replace the Town
and Country, as they are? Maserati is showing
off their new designer packages. Change isn’t
always for the best, but on the whole, the show
promises to be exciting whether it’s your first,
or your third time.