2004 Chicago Auto Show

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What better way to avoid the chill of a Midwestern winter than checking out the year's newest cars and trucks in the warm confines of Chicago's McCormick Place. Such is the allure of the annual Chicago Auto Show, an event billed as the largest annual auto show in the country. It may not have all the glitz and glamour of Detroit's extravaganza, but with more space and plenty of new model unveilings of its own, Chicago remains a crowd pleaser.

The rush of new products from General Motors continued in Chicago as Buick, Chevrolet and Pontiac all had new models ready to make their world debuts. Chevrolet and Pontiac revealed new versions of their aging minivans while Buick introduced the all-new LaCrosse sedan that will effectively replace the current Regal and Century four-doors. Ford introduced a new sedan of its own from its Mercury brand. Called the Montego, it's an upscale version of the Ford Five Hundred sedan unveiled in Detroit just a few weeks ago. Last but not least, Chrysler revealed a revamped Dakota pickup.

On the import side, Hyundai released an all-new compact sport-utility dubbed the Tucson. With sharp looks and a nimble size, the Tucson appears as though it will be a fitting compliment to the slightly larger Santa Fe SUV that's been such a big seller for the Korean manufacturer. Nissan continued its barrage of new products with another new pickup and a refreshed Altima that should keep it competitive in the always tough family sedan segment. Other notable intros included a special-edition Mini, new variants of Volvo's S40 and V50 and two new models in Bentley's Arnage portfolio.