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With the Chicago Auto Show in full swing, it is time to get over to McCormick Place and check out the hottest cars
BusinessToday reports

The Chicago Auto Show, now in its 99th year, bills itself as the largest auto show in North America. The 2007 Chicago Auto Show was held from February 9-18 at the recently renovated McCormick Place in downtown Chicago. McCormick Place's 1.3mn sq.ft of exhibit space enabled the car manufacturers to present very comprehensive displays of their model lines. Chrysler even had an indoor test track where you could take a drive, and Jeep's now-famous indoor test track featured a slippery winter hill climb this year.

Some 20 vehicles had been unveiled at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, traditionally the site of introductions for production cars, not concepts. Nevertheless, quite a few of the most important concept cars first seen at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show and 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show were also on the floor.

Here is a guide to some of the most significant vehicles of the 2007 Chicago Auto Show:

Chevrolet Camaro convertible
Auto shows make you dream, and it seems everyone is dreaming about the Chevrolet Camaro. Fresh from its debut at the Detroit Auto Show, the Camaro convertible is a glimpse of the American character, a reflection of the way they see themselves – fresh, muscular and confident.

Jaguar C-XF
The C-XF is a remarkably beautiful concept that offers a strong suggestion at the forthcoming S-Type replacement, the XF, and the XJ luxury sedan. The C-XF concept car indicates the beginning of a new era for Jaguar. A stunning, four-door sports saloon was designed by the same teams that produced the award-winning Jaguar XK sports GT range. While the C-XF features a completely contemporary design scheme, it does manage to pay homage to the rich tradition of its predecessors.

Dodge Dakota
Behind the face-lift of the front end, you will find a stouter, 290-hp version of the Dodge 4.7-litre V8. Full-size pickups from Chevrolet and Toyota may have grabbed the headlines, but fuel-economy concerns and declining income for those working in the housing industry are making midsize trucks like the Dodge Dakota a lot more appealing.

Ford Interceptor
There is still some romance in the blue oval of Ford, and you will find it in this striking concept car, a combination of a rear-wheel-drive chassis derived from the Mustang, a 400-hp V8 from Ford Racing that runs on E85 fuel, and striking, even brutish, styling inspired by Ford trucks.

Jeep Trailhawk
Sport-utilities have morphed into all kinds of vehicles over the last decade: family haulers, luxury cars and extreme-sport vehicles. Now the SUV has also become a sports car, and the Jeep Trailhawk concept follows the lead of the Range Rover Sport in creating a road identity for a company with a trail-oriented reputation.

Maserati Quattroporte Automatica
Every car show needs an example of gorgeous extravagance, and the sensuous, Pininfarina-designed sedan from Maserati is it. This new model features a conventional six-speed automatic transmission, making the Quattroporte as effortless to drive as it looks in repose.

Pontiac G8
The 2008 Pontiac G8 promises to revive the fortunes of Pontiac with a new rear-wheel-drive platform that will also soon go under the 2009 Chevy Camaro production car and a forthcoming Chevy Impala sedan. The Pontiac G8 should be a fine sedan with its 3.6-litre V6, but we're looking forward to the version with a 6.0-litre V8, which might turn this car into a four-door Pontiac GTO.

Saturn Astra
Saturn is remaking its product line in the image of a European car company, so it'll be very interesting to see what kind of reception this recalibrated Opel Astra will find among buyers. Saturn's sensible personality still has enormous appeal to many, and we are hopeful that the Astra will help the car company fulfil its promise at last.

Scion xB and xD
Sleeker bodywork, improved suspension and more power update the enormously influential entry-level vehicles from Scion. Now these cars should be as interesting to drive as they look, although it'll be interesting if they'll grab as much attention on the street.

Toyota FT-HS
Toyota might project an image of imperturbable mainstream success, but it still dreams of street-fighter credibility. This conc-ept car combines an extremely radical design theme, a high-performance 400-hp hybrid engine, and the personality of the Supra GT.

Toyota Highlander
The Camry-based Highlander was among the first successful car-based crossover SUVs. Now the Highlander has been stretched to offer more living space, while a 270-hp V6 does business with reasonable fuel economy.