2021 Chicago Auto Show Recap: Surreal Times On the Near South Side

The 2020 Chicago Auto Show was the last one before the world shut down due to COVID-19. The 2021 Chicago Auto Show was the first one to be held as the world reopens.

And boy, was it surreal. Not that I’m complaining — in-person auto shows beat the hell out of Zoom.

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2022 Jeep Compass Looks to Navigate Itself Into the Conversation

Quick, when’s the last time you gave a thought to the Jeep Compass?

Probably several years ago when the last generation was introduced, right?

Otherwise, if you’re thinking about Jeep, you’re probably thinking about the Gladiator, Wrangler, Cherokee, or Grand Cherokee.

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Ram BackCountry Edition Adds Factory Off-Road Goodies

Last week, we wrote up the G/T trim level that will be added to certain Ram models. That trim is focused on minor improvements to on-road performance.

So, naturally, Ram also has a new trim for specific models that is meant to make mild improvements to off-road driving.

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Chicago Auto Show Delayed Until 'Spring'

The 2021 Chicago Auto Show will be delayed until sometime in the spring of 2021 because of the COVID-19 epidemic that has forced the entire world to pretty much cancel everything. Of course, we didn’t need to tell you that because the pandemic has been the default reason or excuse (depending on the situation) for literally every decision that has taken place in 2020.

Originally scheduled to be held between February 13th and 21st, the event will now be held sometime in the spring. The Chicago Auto Show’s official website has been updated to represent the change but lacks any specifics that might help people actually plan a trip to the venue. It only reads “Spring 2021” before listing the address and ticket prices, requiring some clarification from organizers.

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  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X When I learned of the Kei trucks, particularly the Subaru Sambar, it was compelling, but too risky and costly in the end. My local Subaru dealer wouldn't support it.
  • MrIcky Having worked several catastrophes for insurance, the following "The bottom line is that if the insurance agency can find ways not to cover the car, they probably won’t." just isn't the way it works. The insurance company will have some drop off areas where cars will be brought. The adjuster will check for water height and draw a line at the high water point with a posca marker. If that line is generally over the electronics- bam, it's totaled, if you have comprehensive they look up your car on KBB and/or NADA by mileage and write a check. Most comprehensive vehicle policies look almost exactly the same-at least for "standard" carriers. If the water line isn't over the electronics, then it generally goes to a shop to get tested. You aren't going to get gamed for a car in a cat loss scenario because there just isn't time to f'with it. After a Houston flooding event I worked 16 hour days for 2 weeks under a big tent like you'd set up for a wedding and went over nearly 100 cars/day taking pictures and sorting them into total or check with mechanic "piles". Most people who had totaled vehicles had a check within 20 minutes of me looking at their car. Buildings on the other hand have all sorts of different terms (commercial or consumer) with regard to how the wind or water entered your building and whether coverage applies.
  • Theflyersfan Well, Milton just went from a tropical storm to 175mph in less than a day so this guy means business. Even if it weakens a little bit, it'll expand and pretty much all of Florida south of Jacksonville is going to feel something. Everyone who saw that disaster in the NC/VA/TN mountains before Helene's landfall is either from the future or a liar (and that includes the insurance companies) because heavy rain started well before the storm arrived and then the crazy thing just sat in that general area. My part of Kentucky - it didn't stop raining for almost five days. And now this nuclear bomb of a hurricane. I understand Florida has a high percentage of homeowners without insurance because they can no longer afford it. My parents have a home near Naples and they carry extra flood and wind coverage and that costs well over five digits per year. Home renovations about 8-9 years ago gave them the chance to make hurricane-proof changes like lashing the roof and hurricane windows. It survived the direct hit from Irma and the heavy punch from Ian so they worked. After this storm, I don't know how Florida will totally recover. Much like California and the earthquakes and firestorms, there might have to be a "Come to Jesus" talk with the perils of living in Florida. I'm already making plans to head down there post-storm if the roads or airport is open in the days following landfall to help cleanup and rebuild any part of the home that might need it. In the short term, if it hasn't happened already, gas prices are probably going to rocket upwards as the oil rigs in the Gulf shut down and prepare. And if this storm directly hits Tampa/St Pete, it's going to be game over in those cities for a while. And imagine if the storm at this power was aiming towards New Orleans or Miami.
  • Jalop1991 "...leaving Doherty and his passenger to be pulled from the wreck by passersby." Or not. I would get a HUGE laugh out of seeing a video of passersby with their phones whipped out, recording it and doing nothing else.
  • Jalop1991 Hey, as soon as the water drains Stellantis will have lots of empty dealer lots to stash their cars on.