CATA Bulletin a biweekly newsletter official Web site of CATA dealers Volume 102, No. 3 January 31, 2005 Chicago 2005: Another landmark auto show Landmarks can be defined a num- evening before the Chicago Auto Show ber of ways. They can be an object that opens to the public, is the auto show’s marks boundaries or a locality. They benevolent black-tie event. It is among can be a structure that’s used as a point Chicago ’s biggest single-day charity of orientation in relation to other struc- fund raisers. tures. They can be an event or devel- ‘First Look’ is an anticipated event opment that marks a turning point or a among socialites and car buffs alike. stage. And they can also be a structure The black-tie affair allows participants of unusual historic and aesthetic inter- to stroll the show floor amid opulence est. the Chrysler Group’s display, which not present during the public portion The 2005 Chicago Auto Show, Feb. recalled the first Chicago Auto Show of the Chicago Auto Show. 11-20 at McCormick Place , meets all in 1901, when an indoor test track was Abundant hors d’oeuvres, cham- those criteria. built to familiarize the public with what pagne, wine and soft drinks await those Since its inception in 1901, the Chi- then was a new mode of transportation. getting the first look at the more than cago Auto Show has continually Culling the ‘everything old is new 1,000 new vehicles—some on display stepped up to the plate to bring new again’ axiom, Chrysler, Dodge and for the first time anywhere—at the vehicles, new displays and new attrac- Jeep will construct a half-mile, indoor Chicago Auto Show. tions to its audience. The 97th edition test track on which showgoers will be As has become customary, one pa- of this great tradition appears to have able to actually experience the prod- tron could win big, too. A loaded 2005 all the right ingredients in place. ucts in action. Chevrolet Corvette convertible valued “We’ve never had such a pre-show Jeep will have a challenging off-road at more than $57,000 is the event’s door buzz as we have this year,” said 2005 course, while the ride and handling of prize. Chicago Auto Show Chairman Casey Chrysler cars and Dodge trucks will use Tickets are $200 each and can be Wickstrom. other areas of the track. purchased at www.chicago- “There’s a great deal of anticipation The public will have two halls to ex- autoshow.com or 630-424-1636. about the new cars, trucks, SUVs, plore this year: McCormick Place The Age of Personalization: project cars and the show-stopper con- North and South. SEMA cepts that will fill more of McCormick “Families may want to plan to stay In a time when people like to indi- Place than the public has ever seen. a bit longer at the show this year,” said vidualize everything in their lives, the “This year’s expansion to a whop- Wickstrom. “We have always been the ability to personalize their vehicles is ping 1.2 million square feet—42 per- largest auto show in North America, but a phenomenon that is growing dramati- cent larger than last year—at Chicago’s the expansion to the second hall makes cally. spacious lakeside exhibit center will the Chicago Auto Show the world’s In some circles the process of cus- give to people a show they won’t soon third largest auto show, behind only tomizing vehicles with special wheels, forget.” Frankfurt and Paris.” tires, bodywork, audio and other acces- One notable addition to the ex- First Look for Charity sories is called “tuning.” The people panded displays will be found in the First Look for Charity, held the SEE AUTO SHOW, PAGE 2 2 CATA Bulletin January 31, 2005 Auto Show the rage, the other end of the spectrum is being addressed by this line of vehicles that have gained huge popularity in CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Europe. who know more about vehicle specialization best are the Chicago ‘s International truck will grab a sizeable chunk members of the Specialty Equipment Market Association. of McCormick Place floor to show its products, including a The SEMA show, each November in Las Vegas, draws huge world introduction of a new consumer-friendly vehicle that numbers of wholesalers and retailers looking for what the will be a sibling to the CXT Concept the company intro- “next big thing” is in the field, but the show is closed to the duced three months ago. It’ll be a surprise you won’t want public. to miss. Recognizing that the mild-to-wild equipment that is avail- Dub Magazine will roll out its incredible stable of able for the public to “tune” their cars and trucks has grown Chrysler Tuner Vehicles for Chicago, as well. The Dub cars to a $29 billion annual business, the Chicago Auto Show have proven to be crowd-pleasers with their edgy-urban styl- teamed up with SEMA to bring special “project vehicles” ing and avant garde’ presence. and displays to the Windy City ’s show. Chicago is a Landmark Show “We looked at shows across America and came to the The size, the magnitude and the newest attractions in the conclusion that Chicago offered us the best opportunity to automotive world will again make Chicago the nation’s most spread the word about our business,” said Carl Sheffer, vice influential consumer auto show. president of manufacturer relations for the California-based “Our show is where people come to see a truly spectacu- association. “I think our display there will open a lot of lar event,” said show Chairman Wickstrom. “Over the past eyes as to how widespread this has become.” century, the Chicago Auto Show has proven to be a terrific New Displays and Manufacturers day of family fun. In addition to the SEMA project cars, Chicago show pa- “We constantly hear our show patrons tell stories of how, trons will see some brands they might not have seen any- when they were kids, they came to the show with their par- where before. The economical Smart brand of cars, built ents. Those are lasting memories for many—and now they by Mercedes-Benz, will make its first appearance in Chi- want to continue that tradition with their children. Whether cago this year. In a time when horsepower seems to be all you’re a car junkie or just love the spectacle of magnificent displays, McCormick Place is where you’re going to want to be Feb. 11-20. “We’re a landmark, from our building to the displays Congratulations! inside it and to the tradition we share with millions of people. Kevin Mize (District B, Chicago), president of It’s a continuing challenge for us to make this show great O’Hare Honda in Des Plaines, and Greg Bosak for Chicagoans, and I think this year we won’t let them (District D, South Chicago/Northwest Indiana/Eastern down.” Iowa), president of Bosak Honda in Highland, Ind., The Chicago Auto Show is open to the public Feb. 11-20 have been elected to the National Dealer Council of at McCormick Place, 23rd Street at Lake Shore Drive . American Honda Motor Co. Hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. except Feb. 20, Six district delegates represent all of Honda’s when the doors will close at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Midwest dealers on the national council. Mize is the door or online at DriveChicago.com/ chairman of the Midwest Zone, and Bosak is the Zone Chairman Alternate. The CATA Bulletin is published by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association 18W200 Butterfield Road Bulletin on hiatus Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-4810 630-495-CATA [2282] phone 630-495-2260 fax This biweekly The CATA Bulletin is published and mailed every other Friday newsletter takes a one- except during the Chicago Auto Show, when it is not published. edition break in Listings of items for sale are subject to the approval of the deference to the 2005 CATA. Candidates for employment must submit a full résumé to the Editor. Chicago Auto Show. Review past editions or search by topic at www.cata.info/ Watch for the next Jerry H. Cizek III President, Publisher issue dated Feb. 28. Erik K. Higgins Editor, Director of Dealer Affairs January 31, 2005 CATA Bulletin 3 More fans of manual transmissions shift gears to automatics The stick shift, an automotive main- eight-year span beginning in 1996, the pastimes of today’s drivers—is much stay since the invention of the popularity of automatic transmissions easier without having to shift gears. “horseless carriage,” slowly is going among heavy trucks rose from 5 per- Shifting is not missed the way of the tailfin and carburetor. cent to 18 percent, reports show. Ted Marshall drives 30,000 miles a Thanks to technological advances Motoring purists lament the change, year for work, so he made sure his ’04 and drivers looking for an easier way claiming car and motorist are only con- Pontiac GTO had an automatic trans- to navigate congested roadways, the nected when the driver is shifting gears. mission. And he doesn’t miss the sporty old standard manual transmission But for some, the fun of operating feeling associated with shifting. doesn’t come standard much anymore. slick new automatic transmissions— Reversing a decades-old industry “One more generation and you’ll some of which enable drivers to shift marketing equation, Pontiac designated probably have people who have abso- without a clutch—now rival the old automatic transmission as standard lutely no idea what a three-pedal car standard gearbox.