Prior to the Chicago Auto Show Mitsubishi promised the “return of a legend.” As we predicted, it was the North American debut of the GC-PHEV concept first seen at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Mitsubishi unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show a full-size plug-in hybrid electric SUV that augurs the direction of the next Pajero. Americans might know it by the name Montero, but there are no solid plans for a resurrection of that model and the GC-PHEV is strictly a concept at this point.

The most notable thing about the vehicle is its imposing design, marked by large flared fenders and squared-off wheel arches. In person, it towers over lesser cars and even most SUVs. Mitsubishi says it wants to appear both intimidating and stately at the same time.

Power comes from a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 with Mitsubishis’s MIVEC valve timing system mated to an electric motor and 8-speed transmission. The idea is that the instantaneous torque from the electric motor can not only save fuel, but help when the vehicle needs to scale an incline or tow a trailer.

Power gets distributed through a full-time 4WD system via front and center limited-slip differentials. Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution-derived four-wheel management and active yaw control electronically proportions the torque delivered to each wheel. The battery, located under the cargo area, can generate 1500 watts and has a standard outlet 100-volt Japanese outlet that can power the average household up to one day running alone, or 13 days if the engine is used to charge the battery.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Tokyo Motor Show concept if it didn’t have a few far out technologies to showcase. As such, the GC-PHEV has an augmented reality windshield that displays route guidance and warnings for a variety of safety issues, such as lane departure or pedestrians jumping out in front of the car.

The interior is dominated by a surfboard-sized touch-screen dividing the cabin lengthwise along the center. It syncs with smartphones for a smorgasbord of features like shared trip planning. It’s a safe bet it won’t carry over to any potential production versions, much like its B-pillar-less suicide doors.

Live images by Ben Hsu.

Rumors of a car developed by electronics giant Apple have been escalating all week, and now the cat is apparently out of the bag. It’s true. Apple, Inc. is building a car.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the project is an all-electric vehicle known internally as “Titan” (not to be confused with the newly revealed 2016 Nissan Titan). If produced as is, there will likely be little chance of that, since the WSJ says it apparently “resembles a minivan.” This would not be the first time an Apple van has raised eyebrows.

Led by ex-Ford engineer Steve Zadesky, who has been with Apple since 1999 and has been the VP in charge of iPhone/iPod design. The article states that Apple CEO Tim Cook has given Zadesky has a team of 1,000 people to support Titan.

It is said that some of these staff members have been exploring various contract auto assemblers such as Magna Steyr, which has helped companies like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen develop and construct several models, including the X3, E- and M-Classes, and the Audi V8L.

However, the article is careful to say that the Titan is still at an experimental stage and at least several years from production, if it sees the light of day at all. It may also be a platform to test in-car technologies such as Apple’s CarPlay.

With tech companies like Google, Uber and Apple getting in to the transportation business, along with Tesla, Silicon Valley may be the next Detroit. If Nissan takes Apple to task about the name, we’ve already got the perfect replacement — the AppleCart.

Mercedes-Benz has introduced an all-wheel drive version of the mid-size Vito van.
The winter-friendly Vito is equipped with a modified version of the 4Matic all-wheel drive system that is found in Mercedes’ passenger cars. A central differential sends 45 percent of the engine’s torque to the front wheels and 55 percent to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions. When one or more wheels lose grip, the Electronic Traction System automatically applies the brakes and transfers traction to the wheels that have grip in mere milliseconds in order to keep the Vito moving forward.

For the time being, the Vito 4×4 can only be ordered with a 2.1-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine rated at 190 horsepower and a healthy 324 lb-ft. of torque. Linked to a seven-speed automatic transmission, the oil-burner returns up to 36 mpg in a mixed European cycle. All told, the Vito 4×4 is only 110 pounds heavier than its rear-wheel drive sibling.

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz Vito 4×4 is on sale now in Germany, where it carries a base price of €36,120 (about $41,000). 134- and 160-horsepower versions of the Vito 4×4 will be introduced in the coming months.

U.S.-bound?
Mercedes will launch an Americanized version of the Vito called Metris in time for the 2016 model year. Technical details have not been published yet but it’s not too far-fetched to assume that the four-wheel drive model detailed above will make its way over the pond. Whether the drivetrain will be linked to a diesel- or a gasoline-burning engine is up in the air, however.

Company insiders have revealed to Leftlane that Renault is preparing to introduce a pickup truck based on the new Nissan Navara (pictured).
The yet-unnamed truck will be aimed squarely at the Volkswagen Amarok. It will stand out from its Japanese sibling thanks to a brand-specific front fascia with sharp headlights and an oversized Renault emblem, styling cues that will put it in line with the Juke-fighting Captur and the recently-introduced Kadjar crossover.

Front end aside, the truck is expected to be nearly identical to the Navara inside and out. The two models will be built on the same assembly line in Samut Prakan, Thailand.

Like the Navara, Renault’s upcoming pickup will be offered with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine available with either 163 horsepower and 297 lb-ft. of torque or 190 ponies and 332 lb-ft. of twist. A gasoline-burning 2.5-liter four will round out the lineup but it will represent a tiny percentage of sales at best.

Buyers will be asked to choose between rear- and four-wheel drive. A six-speed manual transmission will come standard, and a seven-speed automatic unit will be available at an extra cost.

Renault’s Nissan-based pickup will be introduced at a major auto show either later this year or in early 2016 and it will go on sale in Europe and in a number of global markets including Latin America shortly after. When it lands, it will face stiff competition from the aforementioned Amarok and the new Mitsubishi Triton.

The annual Chicago Motor Show is one of the smaller events of the season but that didn’t stop automakers from trekking out to the Windy City to unveil new and improved models.

Japanese and Korean automakers all but stole the show this year. Honda displayed the new 2016 Pilot, Acura updated the RDX crossover, Toyota refreshed the Avalon and Kia showed a rugged-looking concept called Trail’ster. American automakers had a handful of new models to show but, surprisingly, European brands remained quiet.

Haven’t been able to catch all of the automotive action? Read on for a condensed version of Leftlane‘s complete coverage.

The Big Debuts

• 2016 Chevrolet Equinox – For 2016, the Equinox crossover gets a new front end that falls in line with Chevrolet’s latest design language and an updated cockpit. The Bowtie has also added more high-tech equipment and simplified the lineup by axing the 1LT and 2LT trims.

• 2016 Honda Pilot – The third-gen Pilot stands out as the only completely new production car in Chicago this year. Looking more streamlined than the outgoing model, it is also considerably more efficient thanks in part to a 300-pound weight reduction, a new 3.5-liter V6 engine with cylinder deactivation and Honda’s first-ever nine-speed automatic transmission.

• Kia Trail’ster e-AWD concept – The Trail’ster is one of the most innovative Kia concepts to date. Based on the Soul, it gains a raised ground clearance, a 1.6-liter turbo four and a potent electric motor that spins the rear axle. While the crossover-inspired styling will likely remain at the concept stage, Kia has hinted that the turbo-electric hybrid drivetrain could reach production in the medium-term future.

• Nissan 370Z NISMO Roadster concept – As its name implies, the 370Z NISMO Roadster concept is essentially a topless version of the existing 370Z NISMO coupe. It packs a number of sport-focused upgrades including a more aggressive body kit all around, a pair of Recaro bucket seats and a 350-horsepower V6 engine. The 370Z is a concept in name only and we suspect that it will be added to the Nissan lineup in the next few months.

Other Debuts

• 2016 Acura RDX
• 2016 Chevrolet Colorado GearOn Edition
• 2015 Chevrolet Silverado Custom
• 2016 Ford Police Interceptor Utility
• 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT
• 2016 Hyundai Veloster
• 2016 Kia Rio
• Mazda MX-5 accessories concept
• Nissan GT-R LM NISMO
• 2016 Ram Laramie Limited
• 2016 Toyota Avalon
• 2015 Toyota Camry, Corolla Special Edition

Chevrolet has revealed the 2015 Colorado GearOn Edition at the Chicago Auto Show.
The appropriately-named special edition truck highlights the Colorado’s GearOn cargo management system. GearOn allows for versatile configuration of several built-in mounting points and additional accessories to maximize the Colorado’s gear-hauling capabilities.

” Chevrolet Colorado answers the call for customers who have passions of all types and the GearOn accessory system enables them to bring more adventure wherever they go,” said Tony Johnson, Colorado marketing manager in a statement. “And with Colorado offering segment-leading efficiency and capabilities, it’s a combination that maximizes adventure without compromise.”

Cargo-oriented accessories bundled into the GearOn Special addition include the bars package, divider package and cargo tie-down rings. Non-cargo features include an EZ Lift and Lower tailgate, off-road assist steps, gloss-black wheels, a body-colored grille, blacked out Bowtie emblems, fog lamps, a rear window defogger and remote start.

The Colorado GearOn Edition will be available this spring with a starting MSRP of $31,250. The package will be available on LT models in extended or crew cab configurations with either the long or short bed. 4WD is optional.

Live images by Brian Williams.

Hyundai has traveled to the Chicago Motor Show to introduce the updated 2016 Veloster.
Visually, the Veloster gains minor updates such as a strip of silver trim around the radiator grille, redrawn headlights, new-look fog lights as well as the expected assortment of new alloy wheel designs and paint colors.

The interior upgrades are equally minor and largely limited to new available black and yellow bucket seats for the front passengers, a redesigned speedometer for the Turbo model and a seven-inch touch screen that runs an updated version of Hyundai’s infotainment system.

Bigger changes are found under the hood, where the Veloster is offered with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for the first time ever. Exclusively available on the 204-horsepower Veloster Turbo, the dual-clutch can be controlled using shift paddles mounted on the steering column.

Veloster Rally Edition
2016 also brings a limited-edition model called Veloster Rally Edition. Based on the Veloster R-Spec, the Rally Edition is upgraded with a stiffer suspension setup, RAYS 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped by performance all-season tires and faux carbon fiber trim pieces all around. The motorsport-inspired look continues inside with the B&M sport shifter, custom floor mats and a sprinkling of Rally Edition badges.

Hyundai will build just 1,200 examples of the Veloster Rally Edition, and each one will be painted in a model-specific shade called Matte Blue. Pricing information will be announced at a later date.

Live images by Brian Williams.