Hyundai Veloster Rally Car to Land at 2011 Chicago Auto Show

Add caption

Hyundai is certainly not wasting any time with its plans for the Veloster. Less than a month after the world premiere of the sporty three-door model at the Detroit Motor Show, and the South Korean firm released a teaser photo of a rally-prepped version, complete with Red Bull livery that will break cover at next week's 2011 Chicago Auto Show. Being a teaser, we don't get any additional information whatsoever with Hyundai pointing us towards its press event in Chicago on February 9 for more details.

We'll remind you that in the beginning of March, South Korea's largest automaker will also reveal the European specification Veloster at the Geneva Motor Show. It remains to be seen if we'll also see the rang4-topping version with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine kicking out 208-ponies that we first told you about in our scoop story here.

Source: Hyundai via Jalopnik

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible to get its First Public Outing at the Chicago Auto Show

The new 200 Convertible will make its motorshow premiere at the upcoming 2011 Chicago Auto Show, which runs for the public from February 11 to 20, Chrysler confirmed today. Essentially a re-packaged, re-designed and partially re-engineered version of the drop-top Sebring, the 200 Convertible will soon go on sale in the States with a starting price of $27,195, and a choice of two powerplants, a 173HP 2.4-liter four-pot and a new 283HP 3.6-liter V6, both matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.

“The coming out of the stylish new 200 Convertible at the Chicago Auto Show completes the brand transformation in conjunction with the largest consumer auto show in the country,” said Olivier Francois, CEO — Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The 200 Convertible is the fourth new vehicle introduced in the last three months coming on the heels of the debuts of the new 2011 Chrysler 200 sedan and 2011 Town & Country minivan in Los Angeles and the introduction of the all-new flagship Chrysler 300 in Detroit. Starting in Chicago, the entire Chrysler product lineup is new for 2011.”

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Chicago Preshow: Lexus CT 200h Concept Tune by Five Axis

Lexus will be showing off a wilder CT 200h prepared by parent company Toyota's tuning partner Five-Axis at the upcoming 2011 Chicago Auto Show, which runs for the public from February 11 to 20. The highly-modified Five Axis Project CT will be dressed in a custom made wide body kit with hybrid's bad-boy appearance further enhanced by the JDSU “Dark Passage” paint, the lowered ride height (thanks to a TEIN Flex coilover suspension system), and custom 19-inch FIVE:AD forged alloy wheels.

No word on any powertrain improvements, but the CT 200h concept study will get a bespoke interior treatment and a Stoptech High Performance Big Brake Kit on the front.

The Five Axis Project CT will be joined by numerous Lexus models including vehicles from last year’s SEMA Show such as a customized LS600h L by VIP Auto Salon and a revamped RX 450h courtesy of tuner Paul Tolson, EST Styling, plus the full range of production models like the 2012 LFA sports car.

Acura to Unveil 2012 TL Sedan at Chicago Auto Show in February

*Current 2011MY Acura Shown in Pictures

The next Chicago Auto Show, to be held for the public from February 11 to 20, will host the debut of the updated for the updated Acura TL. Honda's luxury division simply stated that the TL will be "newly refined" for the 2012 model year, without releasing any more details. The current, fourth generation TL was released onto the market in late 2008 and is offered with a 280HP 3.5-liter V6 and front wheel drive, or with a 305HP 3.7-liter V6 and the firm's all-wheel drive system. We'll post any updates on Acura's mid-size sedan as soon as they become available.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

2011 Hyundai Azera Facelift with More Powerful V6 Engines

Hyundai rolled out a mildly restyled version of the Azera sedan at the Chicago Auto Show this week. We first got a taste of the changes made on the 2011 Azera back in December '09 when Hyundai launched the sedan's South Korean domestic market twin, the Grandeur, in its facelifted form.

The biggest changes to Hyundai's competitor to vehicles such as the Lexus ES350, Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, Buick LaCrosse and Ford Taurus (or at least those are the cars that Hyundai claims that the Azera rivals) are well hidden under the hood.

Both the 3.3-liter and 3.8-liter V6 engines of the 2011 Azera have been enhanced with the use of Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (DCVVT) that improves engine breathing on the intake and exhaust camshafts for better fuel economy and lower emissions.

The previous versions of the V6 engines only had CVVT on the intake camshaft. Furthermore, both engines benefit from the adoption of a new six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control

The 3.3-liter V6 unit now produces an estimated 250 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 233 lbs.-ft. at 4,500 rpm of torque, up from 234 hp and 226 lb-ft in the 2010 model. With this engine, the 2011 Azera returns an estimated 20 mpg city / 29 mpg highway (2010MY: 18mpg and 26mpg respectively).

The larger 3.8-liter V6 churns out 272 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 lbs.-ft. of torque at 4,500 rpm, while returning 18 mpg city / 28 mpg highway. The 2010 Azera's 263HP 3.8-liter V6 returned 17mpg city and 26mpg highway.

As with the KDM Grandeur, the cosmetic tweaks on the 2011 Azera are minimal. The most noticeable exterior updates concern the reshaped front bumper, new headlamps with LED surround accent lighting, new chrome grille and round foglights.

The redesigned LED taillights and restyled bumper with integrated chrome tailpipes and a matching decklid at the back along with the revised exterior mirrors and the new designs for the alloy wheels complete the list of exterior updates.

Inside, changes are limited to a new brushed metalgrain finish applied to the gear shift indicator area, cup holder cover, ashtray cover and center console cover.

The refreshed Azera will go on sale across the nation in Spring 2010.