Southwestern Michigan College’s 140 Chicago Auto Show visitors Feb. 15 saw Chevrolet’s life-sized LEGO Batmobile, the Toyota Tundra Cubs truck toting a 10-foot-tall World Series trophy, a Blackhawks custom Camaro convertible defended by cutouts of hockey players Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and a three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot motorcycle.
The 109th show ran Feb. 11 through 20.
Twenty-four SMC automotive students attended, along with 26 from Buchanan High School’s auto program.
Two other charter buses carried an additional 90 students from Dowagiac, Edwardsburg and Elkhart Career Center to witness what Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner calls North America’s largest auto show with more than 1 million square feet of McCormick Place display space.
While traveling, automotive professors Jeffrey Robson and Enrique Reyes highlighted SMC’s new automotive curriculum.
Robson said the new program is broken down into smaller classes to allow better transition for high-school automotive students to get credit for introductory courses they may have at their high school and apply to SMC, reducing degree costs.
“Learning opportunities students had were to experience and see the technology displayed all in one place,” Robson said. “Students were able to take test drives and virtual experiences, as well as see cutaway engines, transmissions and various vehicle displays.
“Hopefully, this ignites a passion in them to be a part of this ever-expanding technology industry. Hybrids, electric and performance vehicles were all on display. Lots of opportunities to dream, touch and feel their career field unfolding before them.”
“We also had them participate in a trivia game on the bus to engage with them about SMC — not only the tremendous value it offers, but to get them to talk about and experience opportunities SMC has for their future learning close to home,” Robson said.
Lewis Cass Intermediate School District Career Technical Education Director Mikki Spagnoli partners with the college and local school districts to “provide students with the opportunity to see something they may not have the ability to do on their own.”
“It also provides an opportunity to talk to students about post-secondary options,” Spagnoli said. “This is the second year we have facilitated the trip to the show. Educational goals a trip like this can provide is showing students what the transportation, manufacturing and distribution career pathway has to offer. The show also showcases sales and marketing.”
Downloading the Chicago Auto Show app and registering epass access could win a two-year lease of a new Buick Envision or GMC Acadia.
Family fun was built into the event. Hockey pucks could be seen flying around the Chevrolet Dealers Blackhawks Family Fun Zone.
The Pacifica Family Fun area in Chrysler’s South Hall display offered kids’ games and activities.
Ford showed off a lighter 2018 Expedition. Dodge offered the 475-hp Durango SRT. Buying one includes a day at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
Compact crossovers like Nissan Rogue outsold midsize cars last year.
Chevrolet’s new Redline trim line features red and black accents, blacked out bow-tie emblems and black wheels with red hash marks.
Mopar celebrated its 80th anniversary with Dodge Challengers — two special-edition color schemes, pitch black/contusion blue and pitch black/billet silver, only 80 of each.
Besides male and female spokes models, Ford touts products with Hank the Robot.
Ford also has a performance video game on a hydraulic platform simulating driving an F-150 Raptor.
Every nook and cranny contains random gems, like a Lexus Sriracha logo made of hot-sauce bottles; a Shell spinning wheel for fuel savings at your next fill-up; State Farm’s RoadHouse, a tiny house on wheels; Fifth Third Bank ATMs for cash fill-ups; even Mackinac Island fudge.
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s Public Service Booth brought staff on site to assist with driver license or ID card renewals, applying for vanity or personalized plates, processing title applications and disability parking placards and purchasing license plate renewal stickers.
Even on a weekday, the Grand Concourse filled with visitors before gates opened to the south and north halls.
Returning visitors sprinted for five indoor test tracks in South Hall before lines grew long — returners Camp Jeep, Toyota RAV4 and Highlander Experience and the City Drive FCA track. New this year were Ram Truck Territory and Mercedes-Benz Iron Schoeckl.
Car shoppers could actually test-drive Mazdas, Kias, Fords and Subarus.
Displays make products come alive, such as the rock pile showing off Chevrolet’s mid-size pickup, Colorado.
Toyota’s stage show featured a spokesman wearing a racing suit.
Signage promoted Toyota’s 1.3 million annual American-made vehicles.
Southwestern Michigan College is a public, residential and commuter, community college, founded in 1964. The college averages in the top 10 percent nationally for student academic success based upon the National Community College Benchmark Project. Southwestern Michigan College strives to be the college of first choice, to provide the programs and services to meet the needs of students, and to serve our community. The college is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.