On Saturday on the Chicago Auto Present, the Kneeland household took turns hopping into the cargo space of a black 2025 Buick Encore GX.
“My first automobile was a Buick,” stated Rusty Kneeland, 35, of Lake within the Hills, who has attended the occasion often along with her husband, Andrew. “Oh my God, they’ve come such a good distance!”
Their 5-year-old daughter additionally loved trying out the luxurious crossover utility car that retails for about $28,000.
“I really assume it’s a superb occasion for teenagers,” Rusty Kneeland stated. “You wouldn’t assume that till you have got a child. We didn’t understand it. That is one thing she seems ahead to yearly, simply leaping in all of them and pretending to drive them.”
Now in its 117th 12 months, the present, working by way of Feb. 17, is anticipated to attract almost 300,000 individuals of all ages to McCormick Place.
The occasion options a whole bunch of the latest autos, from electrical and economic system to idea vehicles and convertibles. However there’s loads to do moreover kicking tires. Points of interest embody indoor and out of doors check tracks, the favored “Camp Jeep” experience, a Household Zone of kid-friendly actions and even “Wheel of Fortune” auditions, which can proceed Sunday from 9 a.m. to midday.
“It’s a staple,” Chicago Auto Present Basic Supervisor Jennifer Morand stated of the occasion. “There’s simply a number of interactive enjoyable for households. But additionally the innovation, and simply seeing the newest autos and know-how, as a result of it’s always evolving. So I believe that’s what retains individuals coming again. Even should you’re not out there for a brand new automobile, you’re simply all the time seeking to see what that subsequent buy may very well be down the highway.”
The rising recognition of electrical autos couldn’t be ignored. This 12 months, the occasion expanded its Chicago Drives Electrical testing space to 2 tracks, that includes almost 25 fashions from 12 manufacturers.
The 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona emerged as a fan-favorite. Amongst these standing within the lengthy line to check out the automobile was 65-year-old Fred Arias, of Texas, a self-proclaimed “automobile particular person.”
“From the outdated V8 engines all the best way as much as the brand new know-how, I’m simply enthusiastic about every little thing,” stated Arias, who attended the occasion together with his 30-year-old son, Mike. “It’s wonderful what they do now: the horsepower, the speeds, all of the facilities within the vehicles.”
The Dodge Charger Daytona was simply certainly one of a number of vehicles manufactured by Stellantis, which made its return this 12 months after pulling out of a number of automobile exhibits in 2024 in a cost-cutting transfer.
“It was an enormous void for us,” Morand stated. “Their enterprise was struggling, they usually had been attempting to determine easy methods to re-imagine their manufacturers. They’ve a extremely nice model story to inform now that they’re climbing again out of it. However the truth that they’re again at an auto present does present that these exhibits do work.”
The Owens household of Chicago admired one other electrical car from Stellantis: the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S.
“I like sleek-looking, distinctive vehicles,” stated Shareka Owens, 50, who attended the occasion along with her husband, Andre, and their 18-year-old daughter, Klarissa. “I don’t need a automobile that appears like all people else’s.”
To that finish, Owens challenged Klarissa, who talked about that her dream automobile was the gas-powered, grey 2025 Kia K5 sedan.
“Give me some vibrancy,” Owens stated. “I like distinctive colours. Grey, white, black and purple is common.”
Stellantis additionally introduced again its “Camp Jeep” impediment course, together with a 28-foot “mountain” with a 45-degree method.
“It’s humorous, when the doorways open, you see individuals working again to get in line for Camp Jeep,” Morand stated.
Different sights embody “Overlanding Chicago,” which promotes out of doors actions. The realm options specialty autos and equipment for off-roading, or driving on unpaved surfaces.
The brand new Household Zone permits kids to make bracelets, play video games and even check drive Energy Wheels and mini-Teslas.
However, all further enjoyable apart, greater than 90% of attendees are there to buy, stated Morand, who additionally acknowledged uncertainty in regards to the market amid President Donald Trump’s plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on auto imports from different nations.
“I do know it’s a worry,” Morand stated. “It looks like it’s slightly little bit of a shifting goal proper now by way of the negotiations which can be occurring. I hope it wouldn’t deter any person from making a purchase order proper now. You need to take into account it varies primarily based on make and mannequin and the place the components are sourced from. It’s nonetheless actually early.”
These issues apart, there was nonetheless loads of pleasure amongst customers on the present.
“I didn’t assume it’d be like this,” Mike Arias stated. “I’ve solely heard about it. I didn’t know they’d all of the Jeep tracks and this quantity of vehicles. I didn’t know you get to sit down in them and mess around with them. So, it’s fairly cool.”
