CHICAGO _ The 2017 Chicago Auto Show marks the 109th installment of the nation's largest and longest running consumer auto show. Over 1,000 new vehicles, including 40 debut vehicles, will be on display across 1 million square feet at the McCormick Place exposition center.
Indoor Tracks: Ride along with professional drivers on five indoor tracks, up from three last year, during the show.
Camp Jeep: Test the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, Renegade Trailhawk, Cherokee Trailhawk and Wrangler Rubicon across the 20,000-square-foot exhibit over fake hills, rocks, mud banks and other off-road elements.
FCA City Drive: Attendees will take to the track with professional drivers in nine Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat models including the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Dodge Charger Daytona and the Fiat 500X.
Toyota's RAV4 & Highlander Experience: If it's anything like 2016's Beach to Blizzard drive, expect Toyota's crossovers to take you from fake mountain to beach and over a real teeter-totter.
The Ram Truck Territory: New this year. Six stations have been set up over 30,000 square feet designed to highlight Ram Truck capability, with an active level station, construction culverts, torque pull, towing demonstration, mountain climb and high-wedge turns in Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks.
Mercedes-Benz's Iron Schockl: Also new this year. Named for a mountain in Austria, the course challenges the $120,000 G-Class SUV to undertake a 45-degree incline, followed by a teetering 45-degree descent.
Outdoor drives: As of press time, Ford, Kia, Mazda and Subaru are offering outdoor test drives of certain 2017 models. Sign up for drives at the automakers' display areas; the staging areas are usually in the lower level. Visit the events tab for more info (www.chicagoautoshow.com/news/events) during the show.
