#5: 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI



Volkswagen drops its proven 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel under the hood of the Bug, makes a few subtle mechanical and cosmetic tweaks and introduces the 2013 Beetle TDI. The 236 pound-feet of torque will deliver smiles while an EPA expected 8.1L/100 km city and 6L highway deliver the miles. While decidedly more masculine than its predecessor, we chose this coupe simply for its powertrain – an oil-burning mill we've enjoyed over and over again in the Golf, Jetta and Passat.






#4: 2013 Acura ILX



Let's clear something up right off the bat. Yes, the Acura Integra ILX (we really hate the name) is our #4 pick for the best car of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, but we're really only talking about one model: the 2.4-litre/six-speed manual. Why? It's basically a better-appointed, more under-the-radar Civic Si sedan, and while we have plenty of qualms with the new-for-2012 Civic range, we can't really fault the Si that much. Honda (and Acura) may be headed in a funny direction these days, but the ILX is certainly a step toward salvation.



#3: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT



The Hyundai Elantra is making a big splash here in the United States, selling like hotcakes and garnering the praise of both the public and media alike. Hyundai is smart, then, to be expanding the Elantra lineup, and while we're fond of the swoopy coupe that also debuted here in Chicago, it's the five-door GT that really catches our eye. It's the lightest yet most capacious vehicle in the segment, and we like specific design elements like the way the windshield wraps up into the panoramic sunroof and the subtle revisions to the Elantra's front end. We're sure it will only further Hyundai's quest for C-segment domination.



#2: Kia Track'ster Concept



The Kia Track'ster, while purely a concept, is seriously cool. And it's not even because of the supposed 250-horsepower turbocharged engine underhood – we love the Track'ster simply because it makes the Kia Soul more desirable to a whole 'nother group of enthusiasts. The three-door body looks great, the lowered stance and wider hips look great on the Soul body, and while some of us didn't immediately love them at first, the X-shaped fog lamps up front are pretty neat. Our Chicago team couldn't stop talking about the Track'ster during our time at the show, and we'd seriously love to see a production version somewhere down the line (we can dream).



#1: 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R






How'd we arrive at this list? Each Autoblog editor in attendance ranked his personal favourites from one to five, and points were awarded to each (five points for the first place spot, one point for the fifth place spot). Points were tallied and cars were ranked, but if you're curious, here's how the actual voting breakdown looked.

• Cobra R – 23 points
• Track'ster – 21 points
• Elantra GT – 14 points
• ILX – 10 points
• Beetle – 7 points

Honourable Mentions

Let's call a spade a spade here: There wasn't exactly a whole lot to see at the Chicago Auto Show. But that doesn't mean our voting was unanimous. In the spirit of honouring all of our top picks, here are our honorable mentions, and how many points each one received.

• 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe – 5 points
• 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible – 4 points
• 2012 Mazda MX-5 Special Edition – 3 points