Worst Automotive Press Release: Potato Head Edition

The headline of the press release we just received moments ago: "Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head To Visit Chicago Auto Show." Seriously. Full press release below. More »

Transformers 2: Bumblebee II Camaro Gets A Close-Up

Cleaning out our memory cards this morning, we realized we hadn't run anything on the rest of the Chevy Autobots unveiled in Chicago. Hooray for me, right? Without further ado, here's the Bumblebee "II" Camaro. More »

1930's Era Supercharged Ford Madness

Name: Cobbled Together Hot Rod
Type of Apocalypse: Hipsterpocalypse
Why: The hipster threat is a real and growing problem. It is not inconceivable the world's disaffected annoying teenagers in search of an identity will lead to a global apocalypse. This displayed Ford didn't come with any information, but lets just say the engine in this car generated puddles of drool. With a car like this, you embarrass the retro irony out of every hipster who feigns originality and fight the slide into navel-gazing self promotion. That's right, this car is powerful enough to reverse the apocalypse. The awesome McCulloch supercharger can save the world.
More »

Ford Transit Connect

Name: Ford Transit Connect
Type of Apocalypse: General Apocalypse/City Disintegration
Why: The 2010 Ford Transit Connect debuted at the Chicago Auto Show and brought with it hope to everyone looking for a compact, relatively cheap, fuel efficient vehicle to use in a retreat from the disintegration of society which is inevitable during the post-apocalyptic period. The large cabin volume, relatively good fuel economy at 20/24 MPG and small size make it the perfect choice for anyone interested in keeping a low profile when roving hoards of marauders are looking for glitzy loot. Paint it camouflage and nobody would even see parked in a remote forest.
More »

XBox Skateboarding Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Name: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited XBox Display
Type of Apocalypse: Skateboarders grind the world to an end
Why: Putting aside Ray's tussle with Chrysler for a moment, this Jeep Wrangle has been put together as a display which sickeningly panders to the x-treme kids showing up at the Chicago Auto Show. It wears a crown of fake skateboards and two Xbox stations mounted on the rear doors, which makes keeping those dang kids distracted from vital food and supply scavenging and recovery operations will be crucial to survival in virtually any apocalypse scenario. Just park this Jeep anywhere within sight of your target and you won't be bothered by hooligans attempting wicked ollies or gnarly kick-flips. That's how kids these days talk right?
More »

1936 Auburn Speedster

Name: 1936 Auburn Speedster
Type of Apocalypse: Unstoppable Life-Ending Global Catastrophe
Why: A meteor or comet related apocalypse is statistically inevitable, and considering the astronomic community spends some amount of time hunting for Earth threatening bodies means they'll probably eventually find one. In situations like this, we think it appropriate to make the most of the time left, enter this 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster, displayed in the back of the show floor. The utter conspicuous consumption may put you at risk from the deranged hoards, but it would be worth it to cruise in style on your way to the end.
More »

International Navistar MaxxPro

Name: Navistar MaxxPro
Type of Apocalypse: Military Industrial Apocalypse
Why: The Navistar MaxxPro is the US military's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP. Essentially it's an enormous armor plated truck with a blast force dissipating V-shaped floor, perfect for pretty much any form of apocalypse which doesn't involve scarce natural resources. The MaxxPro would make ruling on high like Lord Humongous a matter of principle, plus it's just incredibly badass. And if worse comes to worse, it can also transform into a Decepticon.
More »

Renntech Mercedes GLK Pikes Peak Rally Racer

Name: Renntech Mercedes GLK Pikes Peak Rally Racer
Type of Apocalypse: Water World- Like Flooding
Why: This one is admittedly kind of a stretch, but if global warming does its thing and we're stuck with oceanfront property in Pennsylvania, racing to mountaintops for a land grab is going to be important. Enter the RennTech Merceres GLK Pikes Peak Rally Racer, which is an admittedly ridiculous vehicle but one with a purpose. If you need to get to the top of a mountain to beat out your competition to the best spot overlooking the Tail of the Dragon, there isn't a better one at the Chicago Auto Show.
More »

Suzuki Makai Concept

Name: Suzuki Makai Concept
Type of Apocalypse: Rising Ocean Levels
Why: If Al Gore is right (and he always is) pretty soon we'll be up to our necks in globally warmed ocean water when the Greenland ice sheet and the South Pole melt into the sea. We may be forced to live on the mountaintops but that doesn't mean we won't need to get around, enter the Suzuki Makai Concept. The Chicago Auto Show isn't the first time it's been shown to the public, but it is the first time we've seen it. The car is a Suzuki SX4 sedan with the top lopped off, a water proof interior installed and the all important surf boards mounted to the top.
More »

Cheap Trick Chevy Avalanche

Name: Cheap Trick Chevrolet Avalanche
Type of Apocalypse: Rock & Roll really does destroy society
Why: The Cheap Trick modified Chevrolet Avalanche is the perfect vehicle for an end-times reminiscent of those depicted in the 1981 classic Heavy Metal. No other vehicle could so effortlessly traverse a futurescape ruled by the twin passions of boobs and rock and roll. Hell, it has billet guitar heads as rear view mirrors. Considering the meager bed is filled with speakers this won't be the greatest at toting around your stuff, but that's what apocalypse roadies and the remaining superfans are for. More »

Mitsubishi Racing Lancer

Name: Mitsubishi Racing Lancer
Type of Apocalypse: Collapse Of Society
Why: Sadly, Mitsubishi has canceled its global rally program, but that didn't stop the Racing Lancer from showing up in Chicago. Of all the cars here, its probably the most capable of high speed extra-highway transit. With a diesel engine and massive capabilities this one is probably the best to keep you alive in a world of marauding enclaves of organized outlaws, they have no chance keeping pace with this monster.
More »

The Jeep Kid Zone

Name: Jeep Kid Zone
Type of Apocalypse: Chryslerpocalypse
Why: This one is largely irrelevant and extremely esoteric, but these little PowerWheels Jeeps stationed in the "Jeep Kid Zone" are the perfect way to save you from the Chryslerpocalypse. You probably haven't read it anywhere, but a large majority of auto writers aren't exactly confident Cerberus will be able to get Chrysler to any point where it will survive in the long run. Why not run away from the end of Chrysler's days in an all-electric, super green, low carbon footprinted PowerWheels Jeep. Hey, at least they're viable products as opposed to something like the Jeep EV.
More »

New Scope Ford F-650 XUV

Name: New Scope Ford F-650 XUV
Type of Apocalypse: Zombies
Why: The New Scope Truck Ford F-650 Super Duty is very, very ridiculous. Between the zombie-smashing diamond plate front bumper, te six swingin' doors, and the giant diesel tanks running down the side, it's got apocalypse machine written all over it. Though it isn't bulletproof like the the Navistar MaxxPro it will get better fuel economy, guaranteed, so this monster is pretty great for that segment of the end-times buyer who needs a lot of size for his crew of marauding badasses but doesn't want to hijack fuel trains every other day, maybe just once a week.
More »

Chevrolet Sting-Ray Concept

Name: Chevrolet Sting-Ray Concept
Type of Apocalypse: Robot Apocalypse
Why: The Chevrolet Stingray concept debuted here at the Chicago Auto Show, and aside from being a seriously badass Corvette concept car its Transformers alter-ego Sideswipe would be great in something like a robot apocalypse. Of course such a threat could come internally or extra-terrestrially so it pays to be safe with a giant transforming robot car friendly to your cause. Even if it's just a regular old end-of-days, you've at least got a sweet ride in which to drive off into the nuclear sunrise.
More »

Hyundai Shows Off 460 HP Prototype Supercharged Tau V8

The Chicago Auto Show featured the Hyundai Genesis Coupe pricing and the debut of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec, but it's this 480 HP prototype supercharged Tau V8 that has our gears turning. More »

2009 Mazda Miata MX-5: 20 Years Of Beer And Sushi

We just came back from the Mazda Miata MX-5 20th birthday party here at the Chicago Auto Show where they trotted out past concepts, race cars, and most importantly, beer and sushi. More »

Modified Suzuki Equators Debut In Chicago Deja Vu

We seem to remember modified Suzuki Equators debuting at the Chicago Auto Show last year, but that can't be so, because a trio of customized trucks dropped this year. It's like, deja vu or something. More »

2010 Kia Forte: Live In Chicago

This morning, we brought you news of Kia's newest entry in the compact market. This afternoon, Kia revealed its all-new 2010 Kia Forte econobox warrior. More »

Hyundai Genesis Coupe Price To Start At $22,000

The Hyundai Genesis Coupe base model 2.0 turbo with a manual starts at just $22,000 the company just announced here at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show. The 300 HP V6 model starts at just $25,000. More »

2010 Kia Forte Is The New Spectra

The 2010 Kia Forte, a replacement for the dull Spectra, is one the first salvos in Kia's battle to enhance its image. Perhaps the 173 HP, six-speed manual-equipped SX will find its target. More »

Travis Pastrana WRX STI Celebrates Subaru Championship

Because nothing says "Winner" quite like yellow paint and a loud stereo, Subaru has collaborated with Vermont SportsCar to build a custom STI to commemorate Travis Pastrana's Rally America Championship. More »

Scion tC Release Series 5.0 Blacks Out

You're the man, Scion tc Release Series 5.0! You totally should've seen how much you drank last night. Do you remember anything after passing out? More »

Transformers 2 "Bumblebee" Camaro Heading To Chicago Auto Show

Jalopnik readers have already seen it, but Chevy and Paramount have handily coordinated with New York Comic Con, announcing they'll be officially unveiling Bumblebee from Transformers 2 next week at the Chicago Auto Show. More »

You're Too Poor To Afford A Bentley Brooklands

Ah yes, the Bentley Brooklands. If you have to ask how much it costs, then you can't afford it. This leather-lined locomotive of an automobile is the essence of what a proper Bentley should be. It's exclusive: only 550 will be built. It's monstrously powerful: the 6.75L twin-turbo V8 makes 550bhp and an absurd 775lb-ft of torque. And since it's based on the old Bentley architecture and not a whored-out Volkswagen platform, it's hand-crafted and handsome too. But don't think that because it's a sleek 2-door that it's not practical, because even your rear-seat passengers have their own doorhandles. In almost every way, this limited-production coupe is the epitome of old-money cool. Pull up to the yacht club in this, and you'll make that Maserati Quattroporte Collezione Cento look downright silly.