2010 Chicago Auto Show

The 2010 Chicago Auto Show began today, and will continue until February 21. Held at the luxurious McCormick Place, there will be more than 1.3 million square feet of display space for the concept models and production cars to be viewed. More than 1 million visitors are expected to attend the exhibition over the next week.

The event has been held since 1901, and is regarded as one of the best auto shows to attend in the world by automotive enthusiasts. Chrysler will have an indoor test track set up for visitors to ride along with professional drivers in a pre-selected group of cars. Jeep also has a track in place, an off-road dirt course that will highlight the capabilities of their rugged line of vehicles.

Below you will find a list of the vehicles expected to receive the most attention.

• 2010 Audi R8 Convertible

The new R8 convertible features a 5.2-liter V-10 powerhouse, one of two engine options for the car – the other is a 4.2-liter V-8. At 525 horsepower, this car is sure to turn heads and leave onlookers in the dust.

• 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Furious Fuchsia

Don’t let this classic "pink panther" paint hue fool you. The SRT8 is equipped with plenty of muscle. It’s 5.7-liter Hemi V8 will keep pace with the black striped muscle cars on the road any time. Look for this car in dealerships beginning in March.

• 2010 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

The 40th anniversary edition of the 370Z, Nissan will honor this sports car by offering only manual transmission, red brake calipers and a laundry list of upgrades that will make this car a must have for die-hard automotive enthusiasts and collectors alike.

• 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty

The all-new 6.6-liter Duramax diesel engine will have a towing capacity of more than 20,000 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch and a payload capability of more than 6,300 pounds. There is an abundance of new features on this vehicle that will set it a grade above the competition.

• 2011 Ford Edge

Features the all-new MyFord Touch advanced console interface, a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. With an estimated 27 miles per gallon on the highway, the Edge is not only powerful, but practical as well.

• 2011 Ford Shelby GT500

Ford's SVT performance unit has produced an extraordinary vehicle for 2011. The supercharged 5.4-liter V8 is now 102 pounds lighter and offers 550 horsepower with 510 pound-feet of torque. Fasten your seat belt…it's an amazing ride.

• 2011 Lexus LFA

The LFA’s 4.8-liter V10 delivers 552 horsepower at 8,000 RMP’s. With a top speed of more than 200 mph, the Lexus LFA is one of the fastest street-legal vehicles on the road. With a price tag of $534,000, future owners would expect nothing less.

• 2011 Toyota Avalon

Amid a devastating vehicle recall debacle, Toyota decided to unveil the all new Toyota Avalon at the CAS. It has failed to excite anyone at the show, and has been criticized for not offering anything innovative from the traditional Toyota sedan design.

• Honda Odyssey Concept

Expect to see this streamlined minivan rolling into dealerships by the fall of this year. The more aerodynamic design, featuring a "lightning bolt" belt line, will increase fuel economy to 19/28 mpg city/highway.

• Kia Ray Concept

The newest concept car from Kia is a plug-in hybrid, four-door coupe with a solar panel affixed to the glass roof-top. It is inspired by airplane designs and has certainly garnered a good deal of fanfare from visitors at the auto show.

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Opening Night: February 11, 2010

More than 7,000 people arrived at McCormick Place on Thursday to raise more than $2 million for 18 local charities. The black-tie event was wildly extravagant, which was the only way it could have been at the largest auto show in the country.

Car makers had stations set up for the guests where they had their latest cars on display and ebullient hosts kept the crowd entertained. The main attraction of the evening was a raffle that offered a brand-new 2010 Chevy Equinox as the prize.

Local auto dealers sponsored the event so that all of the funds raised went directly to the charities. This was an amazingly entertaining night, and a great way to kick off the 2010 Chicago Auto Show.

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For ticket information and more details, you can visit the official website of the Chicago Auto Show.