New Trucks, Concepts Drive Car Shoppers to 2016 Chicago Auto Show Opening

By early afternoon of the opening of the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, tired crowds saddled with Ford and Hyundai tote bags thronged up the escalators and out parking lot doors. Thousands more filled their spots.

It appeared to be a shopping-driven turnout that reflected the record-breaking sales year the industry had in 2015.

Hard numbers aren’t released to the public by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, which has produced the show since 1935, but the First Look For Charity preview event Friday night was an auspicious start. The $250-ticket black-tie event raised $2,610,280 for Chicago charities, the most since 2008.

The 108th installment of the nation’s largest and longest-running auto show kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with auto show chairman Colin Wickstrom, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

The real stars of the show were spread out among the nearly 1,000 new vehicles on the 1 million square feet of space in the North and South halls of McCormick Place, where stunning concepts such as the Acura Precision and Genesis Vision G drew selfies, but pickups and crossovers drew serious consideration.

“What kind of guy doesn’t want a truck?” said Laura Vanderploeg, whose husband, Dustin, was considering the new Toyota Tacoma midsize truck to replace their aging 2003 Honda Pilot.

Their 8-month-old and 2-year-old kids seemed to agree, or at least not mind.

“It can be a family car,” Dustin said of the pickup, then added he had no intention to use it for work.

Yet another reason why trucks are the best-selling vehicle in America.

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