A trip to the 117th edition of the Chicago Auto Show is a great way to spend the day and see the latest cars, trucks and SUVs from top manufacturers, even if you're not currently in the market.

Did you know that 1901 was the first year for the Chicago Auto Show (this year’s is the 117th edition of the Chicago Auto Show)? You might have found Fiats at the show in 1901 with models of 8, 10 and 12 HP (horsepower). Mercedes and Lohner-Porsche were among the manufacturers producing cars that year.

You might see an Ajax Motor Vehicle, a Buffalo, Covert or New Era. Peugeot and Pierce-Arrow were among the vehicles with models to introduce that year. So were Stevens-Duryea, Stoewer and the Reading Steamer. About the only American manufacturer at the show then that might sound familiar today, though they stopped production in 2004, was Oldsmobile. 

There were no Fords, Chryslers or General Motors products then. Things have certainly changed.

This year, the 2025 Chicago Auto Show will have a wide array of vehicles. That includes electric, hybrid and concept cars. You’ll find crossover, convertible, luxury, sports cars, vans, pickups, sedans and coupes. 

Vehicles on display will range from Acura Integra to Volkswagen ID.7, with at least 108 models in between. You’ll see Alfa Romeos, Mustangs and Mavericks from Ford. Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota are among those companies with their headquarters in the Far East.

Concept cars will offer a taste of what you might see in the future. Sports cars will make your pulse race. Vans, minivans and SUVs will offer options for personal and family vehicles. In other words, there are cars, trucks and SUVs to fit almost any taste. 

Photos Courtesy of Chicago Auto Show.

For those of you who are in the market for a new vehicle, this is a place to see most of the new models in one place. You might say it’s a tire-kicking paradise. 

Then again, even if you’re not in the market for a new ride, you can still dream. And what better place to seed your dreams of automotive fantasy? 

And some of the manufacturers offer test drives on indoor test tracks, including the “Ford Built Wild” test drive of a new Bronco that “will tackle a 38-degree Bronco Mountain” using what Ford calls G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) technology.

The 2025 Chicago Auto Show is from Feb. 8-17 at McCormick Place in downtown Chicago. You can even use public transportation to get there, if you’d like to avoid the traffic and parking.

McCormick Place is located at 2301 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago, IL. Tickets are available online.