2007 Chicago Auto Show Preview

Following Detroit’s NAIAS show, the next in line on this year’s automotive showcircuit is the Chicago Auto Show. Though the doors for the Windy City’s auto exposition will open in early February, here’s a sneak peek into what you can expect to see at this year’s event.

Scion, Toyota's hip, cool and urban division will be unveiling not one but two brand new production vehicles. The first is the new version of the xB, the brand's hallmark four-wheeled box. Chances are, it'll be the second-generation Toyota bB that debuted in Japan and other Asian markets. Meanwhile, Scion will also be debuting the replacement to the xA, which will be called the xD. No word yet on what it'll be like, but rumor has it that its styling was inspired by Toyota's Urban Cruiser concept.

Meanwhile, Toyota will be using the Chicago show to debut the nextgeneration of Highlander and Highlander Hybrid. The current model is an ideal family SUV as it’s easy to drive in the city and available with fuel-saving hybrid technology, plus three rows. Despite being in its last year of production it's still a popular vehicle, selling just under 130,000 units last year. Toyota seemingly hit the nail on the head when designing this family-oriented vehicle, so it'll be interesting to see how it evolves for 2008.

Ford is expected to show up with new versions of the Mercury Montego, the cousin to the Five Hundred that was reintroduced back in Detroit. Also new will be the updated Freestyle, which receives similar mechanical changes (i.e. the 3.5L V6 plus six-speed auto) and exterior alterations that bring it in line with the rest of the Ford range. It's a nice thought for Ford to debut these two cars here, as they are both built at the automaker's Chicago plant.

GM is bringing two important production cars that will be vital to the company's success in the years to come. Saturn will be showing the long-awaited Astra; a major seller in Europe under the Opel brand name, this hatchback should give not only GM but Saturn brand a major advantage in a market with increasingly demanding buyers. Pontiac will also be on hand with the new rear-wheel drive replacement to the Grand Prix midsize sedan. The Australian designed and built G8 will be a massive departure for the brand and a sign that GM is letting its performance brand produce a midsize family car that enthusiasts can get worked up about.

In the face of the all-new Tundra that debuted at last year's Chicago Show, Nissan is preparing to unveil a facelift of its half-ton pickup, the Titan. Nissan hasn't said what they'll be doing to keep their designed-for-America full-size light duty pickup from being completely swept aside by trucks like the award winning new Silverado, ever-popular F-150 and Toyota's spectacular new Tundra, however, if they don't want to be left in the proverbial dust, you can expect that they once again won't be taking the competition lightly.