Toyota will make a grand entrance at the Chicago auto show. The all-new Grand Highlander, a three-row vehicle that bolsters Toyota's award-winning SUV lineup and paves the way for the ultimate road tripper, will be unveiled on February 8th. The introduction of the Highlander in 2001 ushered in a new chapter in SUV evolution that would lead to the creation of the entire segment. With more than 20 years of sales success, Toyota will do it again with the Grand Highlander. It will be the perfect addition to the lineup. There will be 44 vehicles in Toyota's exhibit. The show cars range from production vehicles to NASCAR properties. A trio of all-new, production vehicles are sure to get a lot of attention in the Chicago area. A fresh new sporty exterior design and fifth generation hybrid engine make the 2023 Prius the most fuel efficient ever. The latest Toyota Safety Sense system is one of the new features that has been added to the Prius. Twenty-two years after it was launched, this legacy nameplate continues to highlight Toyota's approach to carbon neutrality. The first-ever TOYOTA'S GAZOO Racing sports car is the GR corolla. The car was inspired by Toyota's sports car line and was developed under the supervision of master driver Akio Toyoda. The G16E-GTS engine that powers the GR Corolla is a three cylinder, lightweight, compact, powerful engine that produces 300hp and comes in three grades: Core, Circuit Edition, and the limited, track focused, MORIZO Edition. The Toyota Crown is designed to stand out and give drivers a car that makes them feel good. Toyota Crown is available in three grades, all with standard all-wheel drive. The all-new performance hybrid with a 2.4-liter engine and a direct shift 6-speed automatic transmission is the only one of its kind in the world. THS IV is a highly efficient hybrid system that can achieve a manufacturer's estimate of 38 miles per gallon. Crown's "lift-up" design features large wheels for striking style and easy entrance and exit, and a ride height that gives drivers great road visibility. It has a flowing silhouette and sculpted body lines that make it stand out from the crowd. During the auto show, Toyota will host a fully interactive Toyota Sports Festival with a variety of events and activities for participants to show off their skills. The Toyota Sports Festival concept was born from Toyota's mission to create meaningful experiences that inspire consumers in the Olympic and Paralympic movement and support athletes at every level. A sport court for wheelchair basketball, a skate park for skateboarding, a 40-yard dash area and photos opportunities around USA Swimming and USA Speedskating are just some of the things that will be on display at the booth. There is a ride and drive course next to Toyota. The demonstration area will feature passenger-only access to Toyota's hybridized vehicles. Cars.com, a long time partner of the Chicago Auto Show, has become a premier sponsor of the show with a branding presence, map sponsorship, and a digital package. Chicago Auto Show premier partners get additional exposure to show attendees through a benefits package. The Cars.com Best of Vehicle finalist can be seen at the show. Cars.com experts pick the best vehicles in six categories: luxury, electric, family, pickup truck, SUV and the best overall vehicle. Nominees and winners for each category will be announced on Feb. 7. Powering Chicago, the labor-management partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors' Association of Chicago and Cook County (ECA), will return as premier sponsor of the 2023 Chicago Auto Show. The Powering Chicago EV Learning Center is a one-stop shop where attendees can learn about the switch from gas to electric vehicles. Industry experts from the electrical, energy, and transportation sectors will join Powering Chicago to educate businesses and consumers on critical topics such as EV charging infrastructure installation and the different types of EV chargers available. The sixth annual What Drives Her networking event and awards program will be held during the media preview of the Chicago auto show. This year's event will focus on how women are leading the charge in the EV revolution. The awards program will recognize females and advocates. The vice chairwomen of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association said that it has been wonderful to see how the event has grown over the last six years. A Girls Guide to Cars founder and what drives her co-founder said that the variety of people nominated was amazing. The effort to bring new and diverse people into the auto industry is a shared value and there are a lot of great people leading our industry. There will be a panel discussion on the topic of women behind the EV revolution moderated by Julie Scott of Cars.com. Chris Feuell, Chrysler brand CEO, Kathy Gilbert, CDK Global senior director, minority dealer and women retail, and Linda White, BMW director of government and external affairs are some of the speakers. The awards were reintroduced to recognize outstanding females and advocates in the industry. Individuals in the industry have submitted nominations. Female automotive journalists make up the jury. The categories that the finalist have been selected for are as follows: She may be notable for her empowerment of others, her break down of barriers that allows others to follow, and her pursuit of non-traditional roles. Finalists:
Natasha Adams, mechanic, YouTube and Instagram influencer
Shauna Sichi, General Motors West Communications
Crystal Windham, executive director, global industrial design, General Motors
The Chicago Auto Show is coming this week. Here’s a round-up of what will be on display and activities for all. Automakers include Volkswagen, Ford, Honda, Nissan, GM, Dodge, Kia, Jeep and Toyota. Electrification with electric tracks is big theme.Automakers & Electrification
Toyota Grand Highlander & More
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What Drives Her? Women in Power
Sylvia Lopez- Navarro, national manager, brand experience, corporate events and shows, is one of the nominees.
Employed as a fulltime or parttime North American journalist, content creator or media with a focus on the automotive industry, demonstrate general excellence of craft, create work that illuminates the role of women in the automotive industry or, through voice and narrative, create more automotive accessible is the best in
Finalists: Emme Hall, freelance Elana Scherr, Car and Driver
Kristin Shaw, freelance
Elizabeth Blackstock, Jalopnik, is one of the nominees.
The new award for what drives her this year is the automotive Ally Award, which recognizes an individual who offers continuous support, coaching, advocacy, education and understanding, helping to create opportunities for others as they build their careers in automotive. The impact that this person has on the industry, for both individuals and organizations, is reflected in the award.
Finalists: Emily Miller, founder, Rebelle Rally Jennifer Newman, editor-in-chief, Cars.com
Wendy Orthman, executive director, marketing, Genesis
Other nominees include Elgie Bright, chair, automotive marketing and management, Northwood University; Dean Case, communications consultant, Motivo Engineering; and Julie Conlin, senior content and communications specialist, Continental Tire.
A person who is employed by a Chicago-area dealership shows a high level of commitment and drive to any task at hand.
Finalists: Gabrielle Abinion, general manager, Fox Valley Volkswagen Soledad Romero, store manager, Romeoville Toyota
Carly Weck, finance manager, Elgin Kia
Other nominees include Linda Jacobs, dealer principal, Bill Jacobs Motorsport; Tina Pade, controller, Arlington Toyota; and Danielle West, HR director/operations manager, Fox Valley Volkswagen Buick-GMC.
The awards will be presented in the lobby of the Grand Concourse on the morning of February 10. You need to pre-register for What Drives Her on February 10.
Runners Up
The Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) and the producers of the Chicago Auto Show have once again collaborated to host Miles Per Hour, an indoor run that leads participants through a 2.4 mile loop during the Chicago Auto Show on February 12. The premise of the run is that participants will cover as much distance as possible in one hour. Runners will gather in the South Hall for awards and refreshments after the race.
Hundreds of people participated in the inaugural Miles Per Hour run at the Chicago auto show. This year, organizers hope to increase participation and interest.
