Having already explained that Chevrolet is to show off the 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible at Geneva next month, it’s nice to see that they made the official announcement yesterday to the press at the Chicago Auto Show. However, it would have been even better to have the unveil there rather than Europe in March.

The image you see above (thanks to Autoblog) is a rendering of what the droptop version of the 2014 Corvette Stingray might look like, although we can’t help but feel that it is a car for the older gentlemen, not unless Chevrolet make it more appealing to the younger driver.

We had mentioned before that the main reason for the unveil at Geneva is because Chevrolet needs to crack the European market because of how lucrative it would be for them. There’s no need to worry about the US because they already have such a huge following in North America.

The likes of Ford, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Toyota etc don’t even have to try to market a car in Europe because it just happens, but Chevrolet along with their Corvette brand has to work at it much harder.

Having said that, we have already started to see Chevrolet making moves to get in on the European market, and while the models that are already available are unable to compete with the likes of a Ford or Toyota, it’s certainly a good start.

While the first day of the 2013 Chicago Auto Show didn’t offer much in the way of excitement, there were a few surprises, which we’ll get to later today. We already knew that the 2014 Toyota Tundra pickup was going to be unveiled at the event, but up until now it was all speculation as to what we could expect.

We had several ideas of what Toyota would do with the new Tundra, but we were hoping for a radical change. Well you know the saying that you never get what you wish for, because the 2014 Toyota Tundra has only received minimal improvements to the interior and exterior. However, the Japanese auto manufacturer has made some significant changes beneath the skin.

The first thing that you will notice with this refreshed model is the new grille, which certainly has a greater presence than its predecessor. The tailgate and the bed have also seen a small redesign, although they are subtle, they are just enough to make a difference in the overall look.

As for the interior, owners will now get to enjoy some new seats along with a much-improved instrument panel, and the rest of the features we’re told are “evolutionary than revolutionary“.

We recently said that the likes of Toyota were starting to claw into the lucrative pickup truck market that is dominated by the likes of GM and Ford, but these minor changes are going to stall Toyota’s plans to change that fact.

While Nissan has more than two cars on show at today’s Chicago Auto Show, which opened its doors today for the press, there are only two that really matter to us, and they would be the 2014 GT-R Track Edition and Nissan 370Z. There are several changes to the former when compared to the road version, but there is a performance increase for both models.

The 2012 Nissan GT-R Track Edition has had a few modification in order to lose some weight, so gone are the rear seats and the front set have been replaced by a pair of lightweight bucket seats. However, there is a problem if you wish to drive this version on the road, because the Track Edition has been developed on the world famous Nürburgring. This means that while it will be great on the track, drive it on a road and you’ll have a bad back in no time because of the harsh ride.

While the engine stays pretty much the same, the other upgrades to the transmission, suspension, brakes and wheels all work together to make it a much better track car than its sibling.

The 2014 Nissan 370Z is never going to match the performance of the GT-R, but you still get a great headlining car for a fraction of the price. The new model sticks with the same 3.7-liter V6 engine, which produces 350 horsepower. However, the updated model relies on a number of enhancements to make it marginally quicker than its predecessor. Some of these improvements include brakes and suspension that has been sports tuned and sportier a 6-speed manual transmission.

There is currently no release details for either model, but you can get more info on the 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition and the 2014 Nissan 370Z thanks to Autoblog.

Today the press will be able to get an early preview of the 2013 Chicago Auto Show and there are going to be some great debuts there, such as two new Volkswagen Beetle’s. These are the Limited-Edition 2014 Beetle GSR and the R-Line Beetle Convertible. However, there are also two GTI models that are already available to purchase, but the German car manufacturer thought it was a great opportunity to show them off today.

If we had to pick our favorite we’d have to say the GSR model because it has taken inspiration from the classic 1970s’ Beetle, and because it’s so special, Volkswagen thought that they would make this a powerful version by giving it a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which produces 210 horsepower.

The 2014 Beetle GSR price is yet to be confirmed but we should know more before they hit the market in the fall. In-depth details can be found by heading over to Volkswagen’s press webpage.

While the new Convertible R-Line might not offer the same kind of performance as the GSR, there are still several updates that will make this an appealing model. First up there is the set of rather larger 19-inch rims and augment Bi-Xenon headlamps. There are no details on performance or pricing and availability just yet either.

Autoblog has all the details on the new 2013 Volkswagen GTI models, which is to have a limited run of just 3,000 units. However, we can tell you that prices range from $25,095-$29,695.

There are just two days to go until the press can get an early preview of what will be on show at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show and another two days the doors will be open to the public. Each year the layout of these events change so navigating can often be a bit of an issue, if you have a specific stand in mind. However, you’ll be pleased to know that the organizers have finally released a floor plan for this years show.

The 2013 Chicago Auto Show floor plan is embed for you below, which you can zoom in on or open in a larger window. You can also download a PDF version HERE so you can print one out and keep it on your person when you attend the show. We would have assumed that the show organizers would have developed an app for Android, iOS and Windows Phone, but for some reason they have not.

Each year there are a huge number of events and appearances at Chicago Auto Show, and 2013 is no different. These start on Friday, February 8 at 6:30 pm – 10 pm during the First Look For Charity, with 7 events and appearances set out for that day. The Public Opening Day will be on Saturday, February 9 at 10 am to 10pm and will consist of 26 things going on. For full details of what is going on each day then visit the official Chicago Auto Show website. Just to wet your appetite here are three concept cars that will be on show during the event.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $6 for children aged 7-12, as well as senior citizens aged 62 and above. We wonder if this years event can beat the 2012 Chicago Auto Show attendance record of 1,215,734?

There are just three days to go until the 2013 Media Preview of the Chicago Auto Show and we’re pretty sure that there will be a few surprises, although with Detroit already getting many exclusives we don’t expect many debuts. While we may already know about many of the vehicles that will be on show shortly, we thought we’d have a little recap on three concept cars that will be on show during the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.

These concept cars will never make it to production in their current forms because car manufacturers will need to make several changes in order to keep costs down, as well as making them practical for everyday use. Three vehicles that will be on show in a few days are the Ford Atlas Concept, Honda EV-STER Concept and finally the Lexus LF-LC concept.

The Ford Atlas Concept could very well be the F150 in a few years time and there are a number of key features to help increase fuel-efficiency, as we previously explained. Ford has listened to their customers about what they want from a pickup and they believe that if the concept does finally enter production then it should help compete in a market they were once leaders in.

The Honda EV-STER Concept is a two-seater sports car powered by an electric motor with a power output of 78 horsepower, good enough for a top speed of 100 mph and a range of 99 miles between charges, which is only practical for local driving, such as the school run or the commute to work.

The final concept and the one that appeals to us is the Lexus LF-LC, although we’ve already had a taste of this vehicle at last years show. This hybrid vehicle is said to produce more than 500 horsepower and will not only give great performance but fantastic fuel-efficiency to match, unlike the LFA with it’s small fuel tank.

Which of the three concepts are you looking forward to most, or will you have your eye on another vehicle at Chicago?

There’s not long to go until you can get to see what the Chicago Auto Show has different when compared to Detroit a couple of weeks ago, and one such vehicle that you might want to make your way to see is the 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T Redline. The reason we say this is because mistakes have been learned from last years model and we are to get a much needed power boost thanks to the HEMI V-8 engine.

Looking over the 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T Redline specs it’s clear to see that there is not a great deal of change from Challenger Rallye Redline from last year, but it’s clear that this version is all about the power from the engine, which is said to produce 375 horsepower. However, to handle that kind of power the chassis has had to be performance tuned.

Having 410 lb-ft torque and just uprating the chassis was never going to be enough so including an improved manual transmission (6-speed) or a choice of Automatic was a necessary step. What’s the use of having all that extra power if you are unable to transfer it to the road, which is why there are those Goodyear Eagle F1 tires mounted to some mean looking 20-inch Black Chrome wheels, which sits on the round nice and low to give it a far more aggressive appearance.

We hope to offer an in-depth 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T Redline review once these have been tried and tested on the streets, which will be in April by the way. The price of the new model is to cost from $31,990.

2013 is well underway and the Detroit Auto Show is now firmly behind us and Chicago ready to open their doors in a few days time, and we have already teased you with news of a debut by Toyota. However, we haven’t told you about the Mopar 13 Dart, which carries on a tradition of launching new custom made cars for the Chicago Auto Show.

There are to be just 500 Mopar ’13 Dart vehicles and looking at those all-important specs it’s great to see the team behind the car has included wireless smartphone charging. Don’t think for one moment that this new car is all about the looks because there are number of advancements made from previous models that will make this a worthy sports car for 2013.

The first thing that will strike you is the black gloss paint job and those massive 18-inch wheels, which do stand out on such a small car. The engine powering the Mopar ’13 Dart is a 1.4-liter turbocharged unit, the same used in the Fiat 500 Abarth. Manual transmission gives you much more control, but you need the help from the performance suspension and tires to help keep the small car on the grey stuff.

The Mopar ’13 Dart also has that sporty feel with a blue leather drivers seat and black for the passengers. However, to make the interior feel a little more special is wireless smartphone charging technology from Chrysler, which means there are no unsightly wires showing when you need to charge your cell phone. More photos of the Mopar ’13 Dart can be seen here.

Depending on budget and taste the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible has to be the best of the three because with the top down you will be able to hear those 650 horses of pure power, which is almost 100 horsepower more than the Camaro ZL1. All that power comes from the 5.8-liter V8 engine and has a supercharger thrown in for good measure, which ensures a smooth pickup in power when compared to a turbo.

Most convertibles add a little extra weight for more strength to the frame becasue it does not have a roof to make the car stiffer, thankfully there is a huge set of Brembo brakes and Bilstein shocks to handle the extra power from that engine all of which is channeled through an improved 6-speed manual transmission.

Next up we have the 2013 Chevrolet 427 Corvette 60th Anniversary Package, which we have to say looks awesome on its own but lacks the aggressive feel when parked next to the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible. The 427 doesn’t have as much power as its rival but there’s still 505 hp on call for when you need it, all of which comes from a huge 7.0-liter V-8 LS7 engine but it’s those extra features that make this model very special.

The rear spoiler has been changed for this special edition, there is also gray brake calipers, limited edition wheel center caps and a diamond white leather for the interior. To us it doesn’t matter if the 2013 Chevrolet 427 Corvette 60th Anniversary Package has less power because it all becomes irrelevant once you reach a certain speed and your ears struggle to cope with the wind from not having a roof.

For those who would rather have a more practical drop top then maybe the 2012 Mazda Miata Special Edition is more for you, it’s not only much tamer but the price is more realistic as well. There is to be just 450 of these vehicles with a smaller 2.0-liter 167hp engine but what this lacks in power more than makes up for in handling and fun factor, which are two of the most important features of a car like this. Some of the main features are Bilstein shocks, sports suspension, LSD and a choice of two superb paint finishes. For more details on all three cars view the videos that we have embedded for you below.

For details on all 26 convertibles from the 2012 Chicago Auto show then visit their official website.

Looking at today’s schedule below we can see there is a lot to get through in 11 hours but it’s easy to see that there’s something for every taste, so if you like SUVs, muscle cars or listening to the awesome entertainment systems that will be in upcoming vehicles then today’s Chicago Auto Show has you covered.

We know you have different tastes when it comes to what is on offer at these shows but if we could pick just four events going on today at the auto show then we would have to pick:

The Annual Jeep Track where you get see how a Dodge/Jeep handles on an off-road circuit, which is where these vehicles were meant to be. A pro driver will put either the Jeep Wrangler or Dodge Ram through its paces, which we have to say will leave you wanting more and there’s nothing like having an SUV with a load of mud on it because that’s the way they are meant to be.

For those who care more for the environment then maybe you should head over to the Chevrolet Volt Ride & Drive Experience display, which is where you will get to learn more about the technology along with the benefits involved when owning one of these amazing vehicles. However, we do have to warn you the technology is still young and will be a few more years before vehicles like these will become more cost effective. If you are still interested then you may as well head over to the Nissan Leaf Ride & Drive display as well.

There are a number of drivers who would rather see cars that perform at their limits, so the Subaru Test Drive display in the South Hall could be perfect for you. We’ve seen them powering round racetracks and dirt roads so here’s your chance to see them up close and personal.

If you will be attending the show and would like to be kept up-to-date with what’s going on then just text ‘At the Show’ to 37483, where you will also be in with a chance to get meal deals and win some prizes by taking part in contests.