Best a’ Chicago Auto Show #CAS2020 Ford, Subaru, Honda, Hyundai, Chrysler Pacifica, Jaguar, Toyota, Nissan & Volkswagen

There were many introductions and discussions at the Chicago Auto Show this week including, MAMA, women, Ford, Subaru, Honda, Hyundai, Chrysler Pacifica, Jaguar, Toyota, Nissan and Volkswagen.

MAMA Winners

During Media Days, at the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) breakfast— the Kia Telluride was named the 2020 MAMA Family Vehicle of the Year and the Lincoln Aviator the 2020 MAMA Luxury Family Vehicle of the Year.

What Drives Her

In partnership with A Girls Guide to Cars and Women in Automotive, the fourth annual What Drives Her Luncheon occurred at Chicago Auto Show’s Social Media Preview on Friday, Feb. 7 at McCormick Place. Influential women were  invited to come together for a robust lineup of presentations and panel discussions surrounding the impact that females have on the automotive industry, with a special focus on hiring and recruiting female leadership. On the panel were
hat Drives Her Speakers include…

  • Amy Marentic, Director of Product Line Management, Ford Icons
  • Angela Zepeda, Chief Marketing Officer of Hyundai
  • Keitha Blackburn, Manager, Experiential Marketing, Porsche
  • Kelly Webb Roberts of Webb Auto Group
  • Roz Varon, Traffic and Transportation anchor, ABC 7 Chicago
  • Jessica Egerton, Director of Brand at Cooper Tire
  • Michelle Collins, Director of Marketing and Communications, Borg Warner
  • Jennifer Newman, Editor in Chief of Cars.com
  • Scotty Reiss, Founder of A Girls Guide to Cars
  • Tanya Gazdik, Senior Reporter, Automotive, MediaPost

Ford GT Carbonated

The Ford GT is improved for 2020 with increased horsepower and upgraded engine cooling.Titanium exhaust from Akrapovič is now standard for Ford GT; system brings performance exhaust expert’s signature craftsmanship with deeply resonant, unmistakable sound.Two new unique appearance options: Liquid Carbon features GT’s carbon fiber body fully exposed; restyled Gulf Racing heritage livery pays homage to Ford’s 1969 Le Mans win; plus, supercar’s carbon fiber wheels are now available for the first time with heritage livery

Telenav Infotainment for Cadillac Escalade

Telenav announced that it will be powering the connected navigation infotainment systems in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade that was unveiled earlier in the day.  Telenav will be providing the connected navigation software and services for the luxury SUV. Its cloud-based software is designed to take full advantage of the high-resolution displays and will provide augmented reality enabled navigation, destination street view, and customizable multi-screen map displays

Acura SH-AWD

Acura is showing its groundbreaking Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®) technology at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show which just surpassed cumulative North American sales of one million units. The activation will include social media engagements, displays and videos about the system. Acura’s industry-first SH-AWD® technology debuted 16 years ago based on extensive research into “direct yaw control” that led to the world’s first torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system.

Acura SH-AWD® Key Highlights

  • Acura SH-AWD® is not just about foul-weather traction. SH-AWD® uses dynamic torque vectoring to provide more accurate and predictable handling performance in all road conditions.
  • Up to 70% of engine torque can be sent to the rear wheels as needed, with up to 100% of that torque apportioned to either the left or right wheels. Further, today’s SH-AWD® can overdrive the outside rear wheels by up to 2.7 percent, creating additional rotational speed that helps “pull” the car through the turn with increased grip and cornering accuracy.
  • The 2020 Acura RDX features the 4th-generation SH-AWD®, the most sophisticated and capable SH-AWD® system yet, with faster response and a 40 percent increase in maximum torque capacity.
  • Acura also has an advanced electronic Sport Hybrid SH-AWD® system, as featured on the NSX supercar, RLX sedan and MDX three-row luxury SUV, using twin electric motors to provide instantaneous negative (braking) and positive torque independent of the gasoline engine.
  • Acura AWD sales are growing in Illinois: AWD sales in Illinois have grown 7%.
  • Vast majority of Acura sales in Illinois are AWD: AWD sales now represent nearly 80% (79.1%) of all Acura sales in Illinois — compared to national average mix of 55.7%.
  • Illinois is one of Acura’s top sales markets, including sales of AWD vehicles: Illinois is Acura’s #4 state for sales of AWD vehicles in the U.S.

Subaru Partners with Animal Adoptions

Subaru of America, Inc. announced it will continue its mission to unite pets with  loving homes by hosting adoption events during the 2020 Chicago Auto Show. Attendees are invited to the Subaru exhibit inside the McCormick Place Convention Center to interact with shelter pets in their community and potentially adopt and take one home.

Subaru has partnered with three shelters from the Chicago area in order to facilitate the adoption pop-ups: Anderson Animal Shelter, Hopeful Tails Animal Rescue and Fetching Tails Foundation. Shelter partners will alternate their presence daily throughout the event.

All adopters are subject to standard guidelines and procedures. Prospective adopters should bring with them a photo ID.

This Chicago Auto Show adoption event is a part of the Subaru Loves Pets initiative, which is dedicated to helping improve the safety and well-being of animals in communities nationwide.

2020 Honda Civic Type R

Fresh from its world debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon last month, the 2020 Honda Civic Type R made its U.S. debut at the Chicago Auto Show today, appearing for the first time in public in its new Boost Blue exterior color scheme. The 2020 Civic Type R brings a number of changes and improvements to Type R’s winning formula, with revised styling, improved handling and braking, better engine cooling and the addition of standard Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive technologies.

Headlining the changes to the 2020 Civic Type R are numerous improvements to its world-beating driving dynamics. New two-piece brake rotors and brake pads are designed to reduce fade and improve high-speed braking efficiency, while suspension revisions for 2020 include updated dampers for improved ride comfort, stiffer rear bushings for better grip, and revisions to the front suspension and steering for even better steering feel. Additionally, the grille has been redesigned to allow better engine cooling under high demand.

Inside, the 2020 Civic Type R will feature additional refinement that includes a new Alcantara™-wrapped steering wheel, and a new shifter with a restyled knob and shorter shift throws. Every 2020 Civic Type R will be equipped with the Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, making the Honda Sensing® suite standard equipment on all Civic models and trims when the 2020 Type R it goes on sale.

Under the hood, the 2020 Civic Type R draws power from a race-bred 2.0-liter direct-injected and turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with VTEC™ valvetrain putting out a peak 306 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (both SAE net), with power to the front wheels delivered through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. As before, drivers can choose between three driving modes – Comfort, Sport and +R – that vary suspension firmness, steering and throttle response. New for 2020 is Active Sound Control, which modifies interior sound in concert with the chosen drive mode. The Type R’s selectable drive modes and sophisticated design make it both a thrilling companion on a mountain road or a racetrack and a remarkably civilized daily driver with a degree of flexibility unmatched in its competitive set, especially at the price.

Additional information about the 2020 Civic Type R, including pricing and all specifications, will be available later when it goes on sale later this winter.

2020 Kia Cadenza

The refreshed 2020 Kia Cadenza premium sedan made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show.  Brimming with new design elements, technology and available convenience features, the 2020 Cadenza remains true to its mission of offering luxurious interior surroundings combined with a quiet and composed ride. Significant interior enhancements for 2020 improve ergonomics and a number of newly standard Kia Drive Wise1 driver-assist technologies make time behind the wheel of the Cadenza more pleasant than ever.

When it goes on sale later this year, the 2020 Cadenza will be available in two trims: Technology and Limited, while last year’s Premium trim has been eliminated. Pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date.

Exterior Enhancements

  • Redesigned hood and grille with deeper vertical waterfall fascia
  • Standard multi-lens LED headlights with redesigned LED DRL lamps
  • New lower front fascia with integrated turn signals
  • Redesigned rear bumper and trunk lid
  • New LED combination rear taillights
  • Redesigned 18-inch (standard) and 19-inch wheels (available)

While the exterior design is the first thing many will notice, it’s on the inside that the 2020 Cadenza sees the most change. Interior design changes include:

  • Completely redesigned dash and instrument cluster with relocated audio controls above the climate switchgear
  • Standard 4.2-inch TFT color screen in the instrument panel
  • New 12.3-inch touchscreen with multi-device Bluetooth®2 connectivity is standard
  • New available multi-color ambient LED mood lighting (Limited only)
  • Two new nappa leather-trimmed seating colors: Saddle Brown and Gray, with Limited models offering quilted seat bolsters
  • Three additional USB charging ports (one in the front passenger area, two in the rear seat)
  • Enhanced 10-watt wireless fast-charging phone charger
  • New standard Smart Key based Engine Start

For 2020, Drive Wise, Kia’s advanced suite of driver-assisted technology, sees a number of significant enhancements to the Cadenza. New standard features include:

  • New standard “Sensor Fusion” combines Forward Collision Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian/cyclist detection, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go and High Beam Assist3
  • Lane Following Assist follows visible lane markings or a preceding vehicle and provides steering inputs to maintain the vehicle’s position in the lane3
  • Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist – Rear with Lane Change Assist3
  • Highway Driving Assist uses federal highway speed limit information to automatically adjust vehicle speed to be within the posted speed limit3
  • Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control – Curve uses navigation data to lower the vehicle’s speed proactively before upcoming curves3
  • Safe Exit Assist alerts the driver or passenger opening their door to not exit the vehicle when approaching traffic is detected4

Powered by the same smooth 3.3-liter V6 from last year, the all-aluminum engine delivers 290 horsepower to the front wheels through an 8-speed electronically controlled Sportmatic transmission.  NVH improvements for 2020 include reinforced rear sub-frame cross members and resonator wheels (19-inch only) that help to reduce road noise entering the cabin. Redesigned shock valves reduce vibration and larger rear dampers improve rebound over rough surfaces.

Hyundai New Sonata Hybrid with Smartphone Key & Solar Roof

At the Chicago Auto Show, Hyundai introduced its new 2020 Sonata Hybrid, boasting 686 miles of driving range and an EPA estimated 52 mpg combined fuel economy rating on the Blue trim. This is the first time the Sonata Hybrid has been shown in North America. The 2020 Sonata Hybrid is also equipped with the world’s first Active Shift Control (ASC) technology and a Solar Roof System (SRS), which increase driving range. The new Sonata Hybrid goes on sale this spring and is built in Asan, Korea.

Overview
The 2020 Sonata Hybrid’s exclusive styling has a slippery 0.24 drag coefficient, thanks to a unique cross-hole grille with active air flaps, a rear spoiler and aerodynamic alloy wheels. Hyundai Motor’s Solar Roof System makes its debut on the Sonata Hybrid. This system recharges the hybrid battery while preventing unnecessary battery discharge when the car is off. SRS can increase the driving range by a couple of miles after 6 hours of charging. Engineers also applied Active Shift Control technology to control the electric motor, aligning it with the rotational speeds of the engine and transmission, reducing gear-shifting times by 30%. This synchronization not only improves the Sonata Hybrid’s acceleration and fuel economy but also improves the durability of the transmission by minimizing friction during shifts.

The Sonata Hybrid is equipped with a Smartstream G2.0 GDi HEV engine and a 6-speed hybrid automatic transmission. The engine’s power output is 150 horsepower and 139 lb.-ft. of torque. The car’s electric motor delivers power output of 39 kW (51 HP) and maximum torque of 151 lb.-ft. of torque. Combined system power output is 192 horsepower and EPA estimated fuel economy numbers are 50 city, 54 highway and 52 combined for the Blue trim.

Mechanical Specifications

2020 Sonata

Hybrid

2020 Camry

Hybrid

2020 Accord
Hybrid

Gasoline
Engine

Size

2.0L I4 GDI

2.5L I4 GDI

2.0L I4 GDI

HP/Torque (lb.-ft.)

150 / 139

176 / 163

143 / 129

Electric

Motor

kW (HP)

39 kW

(51 HP)

88 kW

(118 HP)

135 kW

(181 HP)

Voltage

270V

259V

N/A

Net Horsepower

192 HP

208 HP

212 HP

Fuel
Economy

(city/hwy./comb.)

EPA estimates

50/54/52 – Blue       

45/51/47 – SEL,
Limited

51/53/52 – LE        

44/47/46 – SE,
XLE

48/47/48 –
Hybrid

Solar Roof System
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid’s solar-panel roof directly charges the 12-volt and hybrid batteries and outputs 205 watts of electricity. This segment-first system has several benefits:

  • Mileage increases by about 2 miles per day
  • Helps prevent battery discharge from infotainment or HVAC systems when the car is off
  • Unique design cue

Active Shift Control Technology
ASC technology optimizes transmission efficiency by monitoring gear shifts 500 times per second and precisely adjusting the transmission rotation speed for faster shift times. ASC applies new control logic software to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU), which aligns the electric motor with the rotational speeds of the engine and transmission to reduce gear shifts by 30%. The technology also delivers smoother gear changes and quicker shift times.

“The development of the world’s first ASC technology is a remarkable innovation that incorporates precise motor control to an automatic transmission,” said KyoungJoon Chang, Vice President and Head of Powertrain Control System Group of Hyundai Motor Group. “It will not only save fuel but also provide a more fun driving experience for our customers.”

Independently Developed Control Logic Software Applied to the Electric Motor
Conventional hybrid vehicles do not have torque converters to improve fuel economy because torque converters lose energy while transferring power to the drive wheels. Although fuel efficient, such a system also requires longer shift times to ensure smoother gear changes.

ASC technology allows the hybrid’s electric motor to also take control of gear shifts by applying new software logic to the Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) to mitigate issues with slower shift time. The HCU monitors the rotational speed of transmission with a sensor installed inside the electric motor at 500 times per second to synchronize the rotational speed with that of the gasoline engine.

The synchronization reduces shift time by 30% from 500 ms to 350 ms. This improves not only the hybrid vehicles’ acceleration performance and fuel economy but also the durability of the transmission, by minimizing friction during gear shifts.

Aerodynamics
The Sonata Hybrid slips through air with 0.24 drag coefficient. The low drag coefficient is accomplished by managing airflow over and under the body. Up front, the Sonata Hybrid has active air flaps behind the grille, which close when less engine cooling is needed. A redesigned rear spoiler further improves airflow. To reduce drag under the body Hyundai engineers added several elements:

  • Bumper lip
  • Front- and rear-wheel deflectors
  • Undercovers in the front and back of the engine bay
  • Center floor undercover
  • Rear undercover

Digital Key
Continuing to promote the latest advances in technology, the new Sonata Hybrid offers an optional smartphone-based Hyundai Digital Key. Digital Key uses a dedicated mobile app, Near Field Communication (NFC), and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to allow a new Sonata to be unlocked, started and driven without a physical key, via a smartphone. Sonata’s Digital Key also allows secure sharing of virtual keys with family and friends.

Sonata owners can tailor the different vehicle functions available to each shared virtual key, and can make the key available for only a defined amount of time. The vehicle owner can preset the duration of vehicle use or limit the use to only certain features when loaning the vehicle, and can also revoke keys remotely. For additional convenience, such as using a valet service or visiting a Hyundai dealer, Hyundai Digital Key also works with an NFC card, which will be provided with each vehicle. Each Sonata still comes with traditional keys. Hyundai Digital Key is compatible only with phones using the Android operating system.

Hyundai Digital Key utilizes NFC technology, which exhibits a high level of security. The NFC wireless data communication takes place only when the device and the reader are placed several centimeters apart.

Optimized Hybrid Battery Placement
By optimizing the placement of the high-voltage hybrid battery, Hyundai engineers were able to increase trunk capacity by 2.5 cubic feet, compared with the 2019 Sonata Hybrid. This placement also helps create best-in-class front headroom and legroom.

2020

Sonata
Hybrid

2020

Camry
Hybrid

2020

Accord
Hybrid

Headroom (F/R) in.

40.0/37.8

37.5/38.0

37.5/37.2

Legroom (F/R) in.

46.1/34.8

42.1/38.0

42.3/40.4

Shoulder Room (F/R) in.

57.9/56.1

57.7/55.7

58.3/56.5

Hip Room (F/R) in.

54.6/54.4

55.4/54.7

55.3/55.0

Convenience Technology
The 2020 Sonata Hybrid features a number of advanced comfort and convenience features including an electric parking brake, Hands-free Smart Trunk, Qi high-speed wireless smartphone charging pad with cooling fan, standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto®, Text-to-Speech via Bluetooth®, heated and ventilated front seats and split-folding rear seats.

The top-of-the-line audio and navigation display is a wide, high-definition, customizable, 10.25-inch touchscreen monitor with split screens and natural language, and cloud-based speech recognition powered by Blue Link, while the cluster supervision display is a full 12.3 inches. The navigation system includes a bird’s-eye view in navigation maps, and drivers get HD Radio traffic flow and incident data without ever paying for a subscription. Dual Bluetooth support is also available, so two devices can be paired at the same time—one for phone calls and one for streaming audio. The navigation system also comes with three years of Blue Link Multimedia/Map updates. Hyundai’s eight-inch display audio user interface, equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, is standard on the 2020 Sonata Hybrid. An optional Bose® audio system also delivers an exceptional experience to customers.

SmartSense Safety Technologies
Sonata features Hyundai’s latest SmartSense advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). A series of sensors and systems, often restricted to luxury cars, combine to potentially warn the driver and may take action in the event of a safety incident. Meanwhile, other ADAS systems can help the driver perform certain tasks using the car’s 3 radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors and 5 cameras. These features include:

  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (standard)
  • Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (standard)
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (standard)
  • Lane Keeping Assist (standard)
  • Advanced Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go (standard)
  • Highway Driving Assist (optional)

Safety Features

2020
Sonata
Hybrid

 2020
Camry
Hybrid

 2020
Accord
Hybrid

STANDARD SAFETY

Total Standard Airbags

9

10

6

Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)

Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Start Capability

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with
Pedestrian Detection

Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

High Beam Assist

Blind Spot Collision Avoidance-Assist (BCA)

O

O

Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance-Assist
(RCTA)

O

NA

Highway Driving Assist
Highway Driving Assist (HDA) is a driving convenience system that assists drivers in maintaining the vehicle in the center of the lane, at an appropriate speed, while keeping a set distance from the car in front.

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
The 2020 Sonata Hybrid is fitted with standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian detection, an advanced active safety feature that helps alert drivers to certain emergency situations, and may brake autonomously, if necessary. Using front radar and front camera sensors, FCA operates in three stages. Initially warning the driver visually and acoustically, it helps assess the nature of potential collision danger and may apply increasing amounts of braking force to avoid a collision or minimize damage when a collision is unavoidable.

Lane Following Assist
Lane Following Assist (LFA) may automatically adjust steering to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane of travel. LFA can help keep the vehicle centered on both highways and city streets.

Blind-Spot View Monitor and Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW)
The Blind-Spot View Monitor with the Sonata’s outside mirror-mounted cameras offers the driver an enhanced field of vision. The BCW system helps scan for vehicles entering the driver’s blind spot. If the driver activates a turn signal, an image of the view from the corresponding wing mirror appears in the 12.3-inch cluster display. If a vehicle is detected in the blind spot, audible and visual alerts are provided.

Surround-View Monitor
The new Sonata uses four cameras to provide the driver with an enhanced, bird’s-eye view of the car’s exterior, giving the driver confidence when maneuvering into or out of spaces.

Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist
Reverse Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist helps detect pedestrians and obstacles with a rearview camera and ultrasonic sensors. The system can provide warnings and apply emergency braking to assist in avoidance of a collision.

Touch Sensor Outside Door Handles
Touch Sensor Outside Door Handles on the Sonata Hybrid increase ease of use and further refine the design. To lock the door, the driver need only touch the sensor on the outside of the door handle. Pulling on the handle activates a larger sensor on the inside of the handle to open the door.

Remote Start
Remote Start has been a part of the Hyundai Blue Link system for years. It works by using a cellular data connection to warm up or cool down a Sonata when it is out of sight of the owner. To make that system even better, Hyundai engineers added Remote Start to the 2020 Sonata Hybrid’s key fob on models equipped with Proximity Key and Push Button Start. This allows a remote start to be performed when the car is within the owner’s line of sight.

Blue Link
The connected car team at Hyundai continues to improve Blue Link’s services, and the 2020 Sonata Hybrid received many system enhancements. As with most Hyundai models, Blue Link is complimentary on the 2020 Sonata Hybrid for three years and includes Remote Start with Climate Control, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Stolen Vehicle Recovery and Destination Search by Voice. These 2020 improvements include:

  • Remote Profile Management—stores select vehicle settings to the Blue Link cloud and enables the user to update them remotely and push them back to the vehicle
  • Remote Start Enhancements:
    • Remote seat heat/vent (full support on/off for each individual heated/cooled seat; ability to adjust level)
    • Profile selection (preloads individual driver setting for seating position and side mirrors)
  • Vehicle Status Notifications—if the vehicle is left with doors unlocked or windows open, customers will receive a notification
  • POI Send to Car now with Waypoints (ability to add up to three waypoints, to be delivered to the vehicle together and which will automatically set order of destinations)
  • Maintenance Alert Enhancement—maintenance interval tracking is now visible in the multimedia system, with ability to reset

Quiet Cabin
Several new improvements isolate passengers from unwanted noises:

  • Double-junction soundproof glass has been added to the windshield and the front doors
  • Improved carpet
  • D3 sound absorption materials on the luggage side trim, wheel guard and package tray
  • D3 sound absorption materials on the door trim and trunk board bottom
  • Reinforcements to the front/rear wheel members/////