Highlights of the 2017 Chicago Auto Show

There are so many great aspects of living in the Chicago, IL area: the food, the downtown attractions, and the beautiful forest preserves and landscapes. Out of all the benefits, however, the team at Aronson Advertising is most thankful for being in close proximity to the nation’s largest auto show. This year, some of our team members were lucky enough to have the chance to visit the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place before it opened to the public. Here, we’ve picked out a few of our favorite vehicles and experiences at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show.

2017 Ford Focus RS

This is an incredibly hyped sports hatchback, and for good reason. Displayed at the Chicago Auto Show in a vibrant blue, the 2017 Focus RS gets best-in-class 350 HP from a 2.3L EcoBoost engine. Because this is a performance-based model, the RS has the Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive system and four different driving modes to choose from. It’s hard to tear your eyes from the sleek exterior styling, but the RS is anything but superficial. We’re sad we weren’t able to test drive this undoubtedly fun-to-drive hatchback, but it was exciting to see up close and personal.

Chevrolet Lego Batmobile

Many automakers use the Chicago Auto Show as a way to introduce brand new production models and concept cars, but this one won’t be showing up at any dealerships. We have quite a few superhero and comic book enthusiasts here at Aronson Advertising, so of course they were excited to see the Lego Batmobile by Chevrolet. Built completely of out of Legos, the obviously undriveable but insanely cool Lego Batmobile was artfully designed and built by probably the most patient people in the world. Here are some quick facts about the Lego Batmobile:

  • 17 ft. long, 9 ft. wide, and 7 ft. high
  • Weighs a total of 1,695.5 lbs. with each tire weighing over 100 lbs.
  • A total of 344,187 Lego bricks and 17 different Lego colors were used to build it
  • Took a total of 222 hours to design and 1,833 hours to build

The Lego Batmobile is dubbed “The Speedwagon” and features a bat hood ornament and the Chevy logo near the grille. Chevy even set up a build-your-own-Batmobile station that’s sure to win over children and adults alike.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas

Volkswagen has made its foray into the full-size SUV segment with the 2018 VW Atlas. In person, the Atlas is striking and has a commanding presence. Under the hood, you can choose either the 2.0L turbo engine that gets 238 HP or the 3.6L V6 engine that makes 236 HP. The specific trim level that was displayed at the Chicago Auto Show was the Weekender Edition, which encourages off-road adventures. The VW Atlas Weekender comes with a pop-up roof, carrier bars, and a cargo divider in the trunk. Also included are the cargo cover, window and hood deflectors, a heavy-duty trunk liner, all-weather floor mats, and wheel locks and splashguards. Of course, you’ll have the option to equip the Atlas with many of the best technologies Volkswagen offers.

If you’re looking for a new family hauler, be sure to check out the 2018 VW Atlas at the Chicago Auto Show for an exclusive look into this full-sized SUV. You’ll have to wait to get behind the wheel, however, because the Atlas won’t see showrooms until this spring.

Attractions and Test Drives

What’s better than getting to see all of your most anticipated new vehicles in person? Getting to test-drive them, of course! Brands like Toyota, and Chrysler Fiat offer experiences to Chicago Auto Show guests to showcase many new and relevant features in some of the most popular models. Toyota, for example, lets you ride in a new Highlander or RAV4 as the driver takes you through a number of challenges to see how well systems like the backup camera and hill start assist can help you in every day driving. Chrysler Fiat also has courses set up for several of their brands to demonstrate features like the capability of a Jeep Wrangler and the payload capacity of a Ram 1500 Rebel. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, you’ll definitely want to hit up all of these showcases to get a fun and unique first look at some of the most anticipated models of the year.

If you would like to learn more about the traditional and digital marketing services at Aronson Advertising, we encourage you to give us a call at (847) 297-1700 or reach out online.

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