2013 Chicago Auto Show Winners and Losers

The Chicago Auto Show is traditionally big on floor space and short on new product debuts, and the 2013 edition is no different with just a handful of all-new production and concept cars making their premieres. Editors Mike Hanley, Aaron Bragman, David Thomas and Joe Bruzek crisscrossed the expansive show floor in search of the hits and misses.

2014 Toyota Tundra

Mike Hanley: Winner
It would have been nice to see some frame or powertrain improvements, but the styling changes nicely update the truck. The taller hood makes for a bold front end, and the stamped badge on the tailgate is something you'd typically see on a concept truck. On the show floor, the changes work. Whether it stands a chance in the real world with updated domestic competitors is another thing.

Aaron Bragman: Loser
Lots of us thought that the new 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra updates were tepid, but this makes GM's changes look revolutionary. Two elements one can point to — the new grille and the new interior, and neither one looks good. The new headlights and body-colored grille make the Tundra look like a bigger Honda Ridgeline, which is not a positive change. The interior is practically a direct rip-off of the current Ford F-150, and with no changes to the structure or powertrain (a five-speed automatic transmission? Still?), one wonders why Toyota even bothered to change anything.

David Thomas: Winner
I like the updates to the Tundra because it maintains a modern look versus the traditional styling of the domestic trucks on the market. The Tundra is what you think a truck in 2013 should look like. The different treatments to the grille are interesting, too, and everyone seemed to love the stamped-in name on the tailgate. Inside may be a "ripoff," but it is well-executed.

Joe Bruzek: Loser
Is Toyota giving up on the Tundra? It looks that way with hardly significant styling improvements and rip-off of the F-150's interior styling plus no mechanical changes to the truck's capabilities. The Tundra's old interior at least differentiated itself from other pickups with a unique, clean and swoopy design instead of the blocky industrial look it now uses.

2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR Video

If you thought Volkswagen's iconic Bug couldn't get any cuter, just wait. The automaker unveiled the Beetle GSR at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show.

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Inspired by the Beetle GSR from the 1970s, the limited-edition 2014 version of the coupe wears yellow and black, inside and out. Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays gives us a closer look of it and the R-Line version of the Beetle Convertible in the video below.

2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core: Photo Gallery

SRT versions of the Dodge Challenger just got a little more accessible. Chrysler's high-performance brand unveiled the 2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core model at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show; it's a lower-priced version of the traditional Challenger SRT8.

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Power is unchanged: The new Core version uses the same 470-horsepower, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. Exterior features include a black grille rear spoiler, unique decals, 20-inch aluminum wheels with black pockets and black Brembo brake calipers. The biggest story is price: The Core version starts at $39,990, including the $995 destination fee. The regular Challenger SRT8 starts at $44,770, including destination. 

Check out the photo gallery of the Challenger SRT8 in Plum Crazy Pearl Coat below.

2014 Toyota Tundra Video

There's no doubt Toyota has done much to engender the 2014 Tundra's intimidating demeanor. From the larger, more chiseled grille to the character lines that define its body, it's clear that this full-size pickup truck has been infused with a bad attitude (in a good way). Even more impressive, says PickupTrucks.com Editor Mark Williams, are extensive interior improvements that eschew some of the old Tundra's less-impressive features.

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Despite all the "drama" on the surface, though, Williams says we'll have to take it on faith that the automaker intends to expand the Tundra overhaul to its structural elements. Will this first step be enough for the Tundra to compete in an increasingly heated segment? Watch the video below and decide for yourself.

2014 Kia Cadenza: Photo Gallery

Although Kia's new sedan bowed at the 2013 Detroit auto show in January, we were able to get a closer look at the Cadenza this week at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show. 

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The automaker hasn't had a full-size sedan in the U.S. since the Amanti's departure a couple years ago, but this is no Amanti. The Cadenza may be around the same size, but it's more luxurious, with elegant exterior styling and premium interior materials. The front-wheel-drive sedan comes standard with a 293-horsepower, 3.3-liter V-6 and should be at dealerships this spring. Check out the gallery below.

2014 Cadillac ELR Video

With sleek styling rivaling Cadillac's own CTS coupe and luxury flourishes you might not find in comparable plug-ins, the 2014 Cadillac ELR aims for the best of both worlds. Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays explains that the new ELR uses an electric motor and a small turbocharged four-cylinder engine; the combination is good for 35 miles of electric-only range and 300 miles of total range.

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Inside, Mays says an abundance of high-quality materials — lots of leather, carbon fiber and stitching details — helps perpetuate its premium rep. Still, things such as un-Caddie-like trunk space and awkwardly positioned door handles annoy. Mays says we’ll have to wait and see if the yet-to-be-announced price will be worth it. Watch the video below.

2014 Kia Cadenza: Up Close

The 2014 Kia Cadenza's premium aspirations are clearly evident from its design. Indeed, it draws heavily from the BMW 5 Series despite being dimensionally closer to the larger 7 Series.

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The similarities start up front. The triangular headlight surrounds are topped with white-ish eyebrows, just like the 5 Series, and the hood has the same kind of flowing creases as the BMW. The Cadenza's grille also looks like BMW's familiar twin-kidney design — if the two ports had merged together.

2014 Kia Forte 5-Door Video

The new Forte 5-Door's sweeping headlights, 18-inch wheels and muscular body make it one of the best-looking cars in Kia's portfolio, says Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. 

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The uplevel SX version borrows the Hyundai Veloster's turbocharged four-cylinder, which is good for 201 horsepower. Standard features across the lineup — a backup camera, leather-wrapped steering wheel and Bluetooth connectivity — mean it's well-equipped. Its roomy backseat and cargo area should also appeal to car shoppers. Check out the video below.

Superman Kia Optima Hybrid: Photo Gallery

The Superman-inspired Kia Optima Hybrid, revealed today at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show, might have been the Man of Steel's sweet-16 present from daddy Jor-El if only Krypton hadn't been destroyed. The Supes-style sedan is instantly recognizable, adorned in the hero's signature blue with red accents on the grille, wheels, rear bumper and elsewhere, with glowing red undercar lighting and "heat vision" headlights.

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To further guard against mistaken identity, the Last Son of Krypton's signature S shield is displayed in multiple places, most prominently on the hood and seats, and a shadowy black image of him is incorporated into the rear windshield. Despite all their similarities, Superman gets his power from Earth's sun while the Kia Optima Hybrid runs on gas and electric — and cannot fly. The car is the sixth in a planned eight-car Justice League series born of a partnership between Kia and DC Entertainment. Check out the gallery below.

2013 Chicago Auto Show Recap

This year's auto show in the Windy City brought out new models like Toyota’s redesigned Tundra pickup truck, a diesel-powered Chevrolet Cruze and a five-door version of Kia's new Forte. Wild concepts like the Kia Cross GT and new high-performance trims like the Volkswagen Beetle GSR, Nissan Juke NISMO and the Dodge Dart Mopar also took the spotlight. Learn more about the models you may have missed below:

• 2014 Volkswagen Beetle GSR: Photo Gallery 
• All You Need To Know About the 2014 Toyota Tundra 
• 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO: Up Close 
• 2014 Kia Forte 5-Door: Up Close 
• Redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla to Debut This Year 
• 2013 Dodge Dart Mopar: Photo Gallery 
• 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show 
• 2014 Toyota Tundra: Photo Gallery 
• 2013 VW GTI Gets Limited Editions Before Redesign 
• 2013 Nissan Juke NISMO at the 2013 Chicago Auto Show 
• Kia Cross GT Concept: Photo Gallery 
• 2014 Nissan 370Z NISMO: Photo Gallery 
• VW to Offer R-Line Trim on 2014 Beetle Convertible