During the 2000 Chicago Auto Show, Mayor Richard M. Daley stated that nothing shaped 20th century America more than the automobile, and wondered what the automobile's role would be in the new 21st century. First Look for Charity raised more than $1 million for 12 Chicago area charitites, and a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban was the evening's grand prize. Hot topics were hybrids and fuel cells. Rendering on the show program cover is of the Pontiac Piranha concept vehicle. On the right, a near-vertical 25-foot high rock formation in the Jeep exhibit, included a 2000 Jeep Wrangler Sport scaling the monolith. The visual dramatization was created to demonstrated that the new Jeep had greater off-road capabilities than previous models.
Photographed from high above the show floor, workers can be seen uncrating and assembling various displays. In the center of the image, Chrysler minivans and a PT Cruiser wait to be positioned within the Chrysler exhibit. Strung across the top portion of this photo is a large banner, featuring the 2000 Chicago Auto Show logo.
Since the earliest auto shows, manufacturers have annually displayed vehicles with cutaway body panels that revealed interior components. At the 2000 show, a special Chrysler PT Cruiser continued that tradition when displayed without the entire driver's side, rear liftgate and roof.
A popular vehicle within the Chevrolet exhibit was the Dale Earnhardt #3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Monte Carlo. The car was painted bright red for the Daytona 500 race only, instead of his well-known basic black. Team Monte Carlo's mascot was the Warner Bros. Tasmanian Devil cartoon character, featured prominently on the car's hood.
In the center of this photo from 2000, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley turns to talk with auto show general manager Jerry Cizek about the Dodge Viper GTS/R concept car. The Mayor learned that the American-built super coupe was painted in eye-catching Enhanced Viper Red, and was powered by an aluminum 488 cubic inch (8 liter) V-10 engine.
A bright yellow Corvette hatchback and a red Camaro coupe were positioned at the front entranceway of the colorful Chevrolet exhibit before the opening of the 2000 Chicago Auto Show. Both of these North American-built high-performance automobiles were available with versions of the 5.7 liter V-8 engine and six-speed manual transmissions.
On display during the 2000 show, was a statue of NASCAR Winston Cup driver Bobby Labonte positioned along side of an Interstate Batteries 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix racer. As signified by the trophy in the hand of the life-size figurine, 1999 was the best year of Labonte's Winston Cup career to date. He finished second in points and scored five of Pontiac's nine wins.
Pontiac's new Aztec SUV crossover was not yet on sale at the dealers, but the public got to view the midsize four-door hatchback during the 2000 show. One Aztec was displayed with its body off the chassis, exposing the vehicle's interior and mechanical components. Power train consisted of a 3.4 iter V-6 coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission. Aztec offered General Motors' Versatrak all-wheel drive system and four-wheel disc brakes.
The Susan G. Komen Brest Cancer Foundation and Ford Credit teamed up to bring awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection through the 'Race for the Cure' events across America. Displayed during the 2000 Chicago Auto Show was a Ford Windstar decorated with official 'Race for the Cure' artwork.
On sale in April 2000, the 2001 BMW Z8 exotic sports car was a star attraction inside the German auto manufacturer's exhibit. With an aluminum body, the Z8 featured a 394 horsepower 5 liter V-8 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The BMW Z8 first appeared in the 1999 James Bond movie titled ""The World Is Not Enough." With a $128,000 window sticker, only 400 Z8 sports cars were imported to the United States during that model year. The design of the 2001 Z8 paid homage to the 1950s BMW 507 roadster.
One of the more attractive areas on the show floor was the Volvo exhibit. A spectacular geometric-shaped paneled roof seemed to float high above the cars. Positioned on a raised platform in the middle of the well-lit Volvo exhibit were two V70 wagons. Just to the right of the tall Volvo vertical sign are four more wagon models. The green car is a compact Volvo V40 four-door wagon. Several V70 wagons are to the right of the V40.
One of the exotic, limited-production automobiles at the 2000 show was the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante. A new 420 horsepower, 48-valve, all-alloy V-12 engine with 400 ft.-lbs. of torque could to the rear wheels, propel this supercar to a governed top speed of 171 miles per hour. Transmission choices were a six-speed manual and five-speed automatic. Handsome cockpit featured Connolly hide upholstered front bucket seats with adjustable cushions, backrests and headrests.
Honda's first sports car for the new millennium was the rear-wheel drive S2000. Up front was a 240 horsepower 2.0 liter inline all aluminum four-cylinder engine with an astonishing 8900 RPM red line. A six-speed manual was the only transmission available. The S2000 two-seater came with a power top, CD player, cruise control and keyless entry. There were no options offered other than the choice of red, white, silver or black exterior colors.
Two new Subaru vehicles on display at the 2000 Chicago Auto Show, included the 2001 Subaru Forester posed on the right, and the ST/X concept on the left side. The ST/X resembled a car with a pickup-truck cargo bed, and was a thinly disguised version of the upcoming Baja four-door sport utility pickup. Baja production began in the summer of 2002.
Within the Hyundai exhibit, three production and one concept vehicle are in view. A rear view of the Sonata four-door sedan is in the foreground, partially blocking the side view of a 2001 Santa Fe sport utility vehicle. In the center of the photo is a 3/4 front view of the HCD 5 Crosstour family sedan concept vehicle. On the far left is a rear view of a Tiburon two-door hatchback.
The stylish Daewoo exhibit featured a Leganza CDX 4-door sedan on a raised platform. Leganza was the largest sedan from Daewoo, about the size of a Nissan Altima. A peppy 131 horsepower 2.2 liter DOHC four-cylinder was connected to a four-speed automatic transmission. Renowned automobile designer Giorgetto Giugiaro was commissioned by Daewoo to create Leganza's exterior styling.
Two very different concept vehicles appeared at the 2000 Chicago Auto Show. A star attraction in the Cadillac exhibit was the LMP (LeMans Prototype) racing car. Powered by Cadillac's Northstar four liter V-8, the radically designed LMP was constructed by domestic race car builder Riley & Scott. Hyundai selected the 2000 Chicago Auto Show to introduce the HCD-V Crosstour concept, a stylish and sporty five-door alternative vehicle to a traditional SUV. Also billed as the HCD 5, the all-wheel drive Crosstour came powered by a 180 horsepower, 2.7 liter V-6 engine, linked to an automatic tranny. Spacious five-passenger interior offered SUV-like high seating position, and versatile cargo area.
General Motors surprised the motor world with the Chevrolet SSR (Super Sport Roadster) pickup truck concept vehicle during the 2000 event. Nostalgic styling and a two-piece retractable hardtop that stowed vertically between the seats and the rear storage bed were crowd pleasers. Based on the S-10 compact pickup, the SSR featured pontoon fenders, retro grille and large round headlights nspired by the 1947-53 Chevrolet trucks.
The Chevrolet Traverse concept vehicle made its world debut at the 2000 Chicago Auto Show, and represented a reinvention of the family sedan. Traverse took the most popular attributes of trucks-utility, all-wheel drive, command-view seating and good towing capacity-and added the best features of sedan driving, five-passenger comfort, V-6 power, agility and spirited styling.
Painted in frosted mocha pearlcoat, the handsome 300 Hemi C did indeed feature a 5.7-liter hemispherical head engine. The V-8 pumped-out 353 horsepower and 353 lb.-ft of torque to the rear wheels, and the prototype could hit a top speed of 160 miles per hour. Two-passenger cockpit was upholstered in monochromatic taupe leather and accented with California walnut trim. Complimenting the well-defined wheel arches were 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels wearing Goodyear tires.
Nicknamed "Passenger Priority Pick-up,' the Dodge MAXXcab concept vehicle, utilized cab-forward design to provide uncommon interior spaciousness. Making the loading and unloading easier, the MAXXcab incorporated an elevator tailgate. Under the shorten hood, sat a 4.7-liter V-8 engine, with 238 horsepower and 295 ft.-lbs. of torque.
Posed at a slight angle on a clear glass platform, the Dodge Viper GTS/R concept car was proudly displayed in the Dodge exhibit at the 2000 Chicago Auto Show. Technical highlights included an aluminum suspension, a six-speed manual gearbox and a 488 CID (8 litre) aluminum V-10. The monster engine delivered 500 horsepower and a whopping 500 ft.-lbs. of torque to the rear-wheel drive. Painted 'Enhanced Viper Red' the one-piece carbon fiber body GTS/R prototype was street-legal.
Terradyne, a 5-seat concept vehicle from GMC, took it’s name from “terra,” Latin for “of the earth,” and the Greek “dyne,” meaning “strength and power.” Terradyne was the first in a family of futuristic GMC concept trucks, with bold bodywork and many innovations aimed at the need of the recreational light trucker. The 6-foot cargo box was powered to extend to 8-feet when more cargo room was needed, and built into the cargo bed walls were storage boxes. Terradyne’s powerful Duramax 6.6-liter V-8 intercooled turbo-diesel was mated to an Allison 1000 Series 5-speed automatic transmission.
Credit for the creation of the spunky-looking Spocket concept vehicle goes to Honda R & D Americas, Inc., in Torrance, Calif. This two-tone prototype blended the best features from a convertible, pickup and sports car into one vehicle. At the touch of a button, the 4-seat Spocket changed into a 2-place cockpit, and the clamshell top retracted for open-air driving. Painted in striking bright red over gunmetal gray color, the Spocket featured tilt-up doors. Spocket was fitted with an advanced drivetrain that employed both a hybrid gasoline-electric engine powering the front wheels and two in-wheel electric motors for the rear wheels to provide full-time four-wheel drive.
Hyundai selected the 2000 Chicago Auto Show to introduce the HCD-V Crosstour concept, a stylish and sporty five-door alternative vehicle to a traditional SUV. Also billed as the HCD 5, the all-wheel drive Crosstour prototype was powered by a 180 horsepower, 2.7 liter V-6 engine, linked to an automatic tranny. A star attraction in the Cadillac exhibit was the LMP (LeMans Prototype) racing car. Powered by Cadillac's Northstar four liter V-8, the radically designed LMP was constructed by domestic race car builder Riley & Scott.
Displayed as a concept vehicle at the 2000 Chicago show, the Infiniti XVL prototype was a glimpse of the 2003 G35 4-door sedan. The XVL was created for drivers who favored front mid-ship potent V-6 performance, rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel independent suspension, automatic transmission and 4-wheel ABS braking system. The XVL Concept was built on a new-generation platform, with a wheelbase a couple of inches longer than the Infiniti I30; yet overall length was about two inches shorter. The styling featured short overhangs, Infiniti-style grille with large Xenon headlights, stepped-up deck and smooth rear finisher.
Based on the Cherokee Limited, the Total Exposure' concept Jeep featured a cutaway roof with sliding canopy, rear entrance folding stairway and a stand-up photographic platform. Other special touches on the Total Exposure included roof rack wind deflectors, tubular guardrails and Pole-mounted, height-adjustable observation seats.
The Jeep Varsity concept came with four-wheel-drive, a 300 horsepower, 3.5 liter V-6, and automatic transmission. Inside the four-passenger hatchback cabin, supple leather upholstery was combined with aluminum-accented instruments, and black rubber inlays.
Appearing at the 2000 show was the Mazda Nextourer concept that predicted the "next-generation touring sedan," featuring style, luxury appointments and high-tech features, combined with the versatility and functionality of a sport-utility vehicle. Power was supplied by a 3.0-liter DOHC V-6 engine with Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT), mated to a Toroidal Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The Toroidal CVT delivered 20 percent better fuel economy compared with a conventional automatic transmission. Similar to the paddle shifters used on Formula One racecars), the Nextourer wing shift selectors allowed the driver to make quick fingertip shifts without removing his or her hands from the steering wheel. An Active Height Control system owered the vehicle when stopped for ease of entry and exit, raised nearly 4-inches at low speeds, then lowered it by 2-inches at highway speeds for improved handling and fuel economy.
Mercedes-Benz displayed an example of the CLK 55 AMG F1 Safety Cars that was used during Formula One races. The Safety Car was brought into action to lead the Formula One racing cars whenever the field was 'frozen' for a short period due to rain or accident
Created at Mistubishi’s Cypress, California design studio, the SSS concept reflected the company’s “Geo-Mechanical” styling philosophy. This was the third in a series with the bold design, and was created to combine the driving pleasure and passenger comforts of a sport sedan with the packaging versatility of an SUV. Mitsubishi was developing a whole new vehicle category - the "enhanced utility sedan" in a shape like nothing else on the road. Powered by Mitsubishi's 3.5 liter SOHC V-6, mounted transversely, the SSS was built on a front-wheel-drive platform with four-wheel independent suspension for sophisticated ride and handling. Functional touches of the SSS include parallelogram-hinged doors that minimized the space needed to open side doors, high intensity discharge (HID) front lighting, LED lighting system in the rear, and a dual front bumper system (one low and a second one higher) that decreased the possibility of nosedive under a larger SUV in a rear-end collision.
Mitsubishi SUW Advance concept vehicle was displayed at the 2000 Chicago Auto Show. Characterized by a soft-shape silhouette, wîth the cabin tapering at the rear and truncated overhangs wîth the wheels placed at the corners the exterior styling projected a reassuring look of stability.
The cabin featured a people-friendly design, the instrumentation being shaped for maximum ease of use with displays located for maximum visibility and legibility. The five-passenger prototype came powered by a compact and economical hybrid system that combined a high-efficiency GDI engine, small-capacity motor-generator unit and lithium-ion batteries, mated to a CVT (continuously variable transmission). The driver could instruct the Voice Command System to operate various vehicular functions and provide navigation information.
Oldsmobile's Profile concept was a 5-passenger multi-purpose vehicle that had the handling capabilities of a sport sedan and versatility of a truck. Along with conventional opening front doors, Profile featured sliding rear ones for easier entry and exiting. Unique rear seats were designed to slide back and forth, plus recline. The Profile prototype was powered by a supercharged 250 horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 connected to a 4-speed automatic gearbox coupled with all-wheel drive and traction control.
Like its namesake, the Pontiac Piranha was “a small package with a big bite.” Though it looked like a sleek coupe, it came with back doors that opened rearward to access the interior and possible 58.2-cubic feet of storage space. A roof rack system popped up when needed, and a removable tub in the cargo area served as a cooler. The front-wheel drive Piranha came armed with a 203 horsepower, supercharged 2.2-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine, mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.
The CV1 — so named because it was Saturn’s first concept vehicle — was an all-wheel-drive, multi-functional vehicle with a space efficient 5- plus 2-seating configuration and unique bi-fold doors. A 2.2-liter dual overhead camshaft inline 4-cylinder engine supplied power, and the engine had the ability to utilize an advanced continuously variable transmission (CVT).
In the middle of the Volkswagen exhibit, on a raised turntable, is the Advanced Activity Concept (AAC). AAC was a design study vehicle, which combined the luxury and comfort of a sedan with the versatility of a pickup truck. The AAC featured full-time 4-wheel drive and a V-10 diesel engine that produced 313 horsepower.