Focus on defense, dependability shifts at auto show

There were hot cars, hot trucks and Toyota executives hot under the collar Wednesday at a Chicago Auto Show preview.

It was a switch from the 2009 auto show when the buzz was all about the financial woes of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler while Toyota seemed a model of stability.

In contrast this year, General Motors officials talked about repaying government loans that kept them from disaster. Meanwhile, instead of taking questions about the new Sienna and Avalon models, Toyota representatives faced inquiries about the company's latest recall woes.

"Nothing is more important to us than restoring the confidence and trust of our customers," Toyota Group Vice President Bob Carter said. "Nothing is more important than the safety and reliability of our product."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is scrutinizing Toyota for problems with a number of its vehicles and the manufacturer has recalled about 8 million cars and trucks. Issues include floor mats entangling with accelerators, accelerator pedals sticking when depressed and most recently braking glitches involving software on some Prius model years. Congress is also threatening to hold hearings on what went wrong.

Asked about new reports of steering problems with Corollas, Carter could only say the company was looking into it.

He did say that engineers had identified the problem with sticking accelerator pedals. "The solution is very effective, and very simple. It can be completed at your Toyota dealer in 30 minutes," he explained. So far, more than 220,000 vehicles have had their accelerator pedals reinforced.

"We understand this will not happen overnight and many of our customers are very concerned and rightfully so. Some customer are deeply upset and that's understandable. We deeply regret the concern these events have caused."

Honda executives also handled questions about recalls of 2001 and 2002 models for faulty air bag inflaters.

"Recalls are not new in our industry, Honda's had them before - they're not uncommon," American Honda Motor Co. Assistant Vice President Kurt Antonius said.

"We certainly don't like them but the important thing is we're taking care of the issue for our customers, we want the safest vehicles possible."

The show opens to the public Friday and runs through Feb. 21 at McCormick Place. Tickets are $11 for adults, $7 for kids and seniors, and free for children under 7, with discount coupons at new-car dealers and Shell gas stations.

With the economy still teetering on the brink of recovery, the focus this year seemed to be on tradition and dependability.

Chevrolet introduced the 75th anniversary version of its popular Suburban model and Honda offered up a redesigned Odyssey minivan.

The lack of flash didn't surprise observer John Morgan of Naperville. The president of Motozuma.com, a Web site that uses social networking to help young would-be car owners save up to purchase their first vehicle, noted that "it doesn't seem like anyone's going really crazy." But Morgan, who was also at the Detroit and Los Angeles auto shows to promote his Web site, noted that "the whole year's been like that - a little calm."

Still, there were plenty of funky concept cars and newbies such as the DeltaWing IndyCar, a cross between a race car and fighter jet, the GMC Granite - an urban utility vehicle with "suicide doors" that open like French doors, and the Kia Ray, a 2013-something sporty coupe that runs on a lithium battery.

For those with upscale tastes, Lexus is taking orders for its LFA "exotic hand-built super car." Featuring a V-10 engine and a top speed of 202 mph, the LFA starts at a modest $375,000. Only 500 will be made.

Every maker seemed to be offering some type of "green" vehicle, from Ford's Transit Connect Taxi hybrid to Chevrolet's Volt, an electric vehicle.

Costs are estimated around $40,000 for the Volt, although officials wouldn't go into price specifics.

"You can go up to 40 miles on the power that's in the battery - that's with no gas and no emissions," Chevrolet Volt marketing manager John Hughes said. "Once the battery is depleted, a small engine generator will kick in to power the vehicle for up to 300 miles. If you can't plug it in or don't have an opportunity to plug it in, it's not a problem.

General Motors North America President Mark Reuss opened the preview day with a speech, pledging that his auto company was doing more than getting its head above water after a painful 2008 and 2009. "You bet we can turn this company around," Reuss said. "It's hard to admit we've given our customers reason to doubt our quality was good enough. But good enough doesn't cut it any more."

The company was poised to pay back federal loans that saved it from financial collapse in June and the eagerly awaited Volt is ready to debut in a few months, Reuss said.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was a good history lesson for the auto industry, Reuss said, in how the city reinvented itself.

""No one in the auto industry wanted the economic inferno," he said. "Now it's a chance to rebuild."

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<li><a href="/pdf/autoshow2010.pdf">2010 Chicago Auto Show </a></li>

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<p class="factboxheadblack">Start your engines</p>

<p class="News">Here's what you need to know about the Chicago Auto Show.</p>

<p class="News">• The event runs Friday through Feb. 21. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Feb. 20 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 21.</p>

<p class="News">• It's located at McCormick Place, Lake Shore Drive at 23rd Street.</p>

<p class="News">• Tickets are $11 for adults, $7 for children ages 7 to 12, kids age 6 and under are free with a paying parent, and $7 for people age 62 and older.</p>

<p class="News">• For information, visit the Web site ChicagoAutoShow.com.</p>

<p class="News">• Tickets can be purchased at McCormick Place or at ChicagoAutoShow.com</p>

<p class="News">• Feb. 17 through Feb. 19 is the auto show's food drive. People bringing three cans of food will be admitted for $7.</p>

<p class="News">• The show is run by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association.</p>