It Is Showtime Russian Chicago Magazine | FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2014 | issue # 95 russianchicagomag.com
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW 2014
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eady or not, the 2014 auto show season is well under way. Los Angeles and Detroit wrapped successful shows and Chicago is just around the corner. This year, the public days of the Chicago Auto Show are Feb. 8 – 17. Once again, the show will open on a Saturday and close on a Monday, taking advantage of the Presidents Day holiday.
Despite the deep chill that's affecting the Midwest, plans for the nation's largest auto show are heating up. First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent. This year marks the 106th edition of the Chicago Auto Show. The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) is the nation's oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organization that has produced the Chicago Auto Show since 1935. All Chicago Auto Show exhibits are held in the McCormick Place complex. Exhibitions this year include: multiple world and North American introductions; a complete range of domestic and imported passenger cars and trucks; sport utility vehicles; and experimental or concept cars. In total, nearly 1,000 different vehicles will be on display. Additionally, attendees will also have
the opportunity to see numerous accessories and auto-related exhibits, competition vehicles and project, antique and collector cars. The fact that McCormick Place South and North provide more than 1 million square feet of exhibit space, making Chicago the largest in size among all auto shows in North America, allows the industry plenty of room to stretch its legs. General Motors, for example, has almost 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, the largest display it offers at any show in North America. Nissan has added 10,000 square feet more exhibit space than last year, Subaru 7,000 more square feet, Porsche about 2,000 more square feet while Maserati, absent in 2013, has taken 4,000 square feet to spotlight its wares for 2014. If you think that the only thing to do at the Chicago Auto Show is look at cars, then you haven't been down to the show for quite some time. This year, the show floor will host three indoor test tracks to keep attendees thoroughly entertained. In addition, there are multiple outdoor test-drive opportunities. Plus there will be multiple daily events and appearances.