The Ten Coolest Cars at the 2024 Chicago Auto Show (2024)

Production of the long-awaited Cybertruck is underway, and we finally got up close and personal with the electric truck. The Cybertruck is an imposing beast, and its slab-sided design stood out on the show floor. The interior is dark and slickly designed, with minimal ornamentation in typical Tesla style, but there are a few interesting details, including a glovebox that slid outwards like a drawer into our knees. We hope to get behind the wheel of this 845-hp truck soon.

We were shocked to stumble upon the Kimera EVO37, an immaculate restomod of the Lancia 037 rally car. The body is shaped from carbon-fiber composite and is a perfect recreation of the original. The 2.1-liter four-cylinder uses the original engine block but is both supercharged and turbocharged, sending roughly 500 horsepower through a six-speed sequential gearbox. With only 2300 pounds to move, the rear-wheel-drive EVO37 must be a hoot to drive. Prices start at $650,000 and just 37 are being built.

We first saw the burly Tacoma X-Runner concept last fall at the SEMA show. Not only did we get to check out the sport truck again, but Toyota also fired it up for us. The X-Runner uses a 421-hp version of the Tundra's twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6, and while the engine note was a bit tinny, the exhaust provided some satisfying braps. A lowered suspension and restyled bumpers give the X-Runner a mean look, and we're praying that Toyota will put this special Tacoma into production.

The Volvo P1800 is the the most beautiful car in Volvo's back catalog, and this restomod from Cyan Racing—the Swedish WTCC race team formerly called Polestar, before Volvo bought the moniker to use for its EV brand—takes it to the next level. Cyan's take on the P1800 comes with a Volvo turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that has powered the racing team to championships and produces 420 hp. The claimed curb weight is a 2424 pounds, and there's no traction control, stability control, or ABS. The price tag is an eye-watering $700,000, and we were lucky enough to drive one in 2022.

Lamborghini revived the Countach nameplate for 2022, using the Aventador as a base, and the 6.5-liter V-12-powered supercar was stunning in the flesh. The modern Countach is incredibly flat, and while it retains some design cues of the original, it trades the classic Countach's blocky looks for a slipperier style. Only 112 examples have been built, and we got to drive it alongside its 1990 counterpart a couple years back.

GMC teamed up with overlanding upfitters EarthCruiser last year for a camping-ready version of the Hummer EV SUT truck. The carbon-fiber housing with a pop-up roof looks properly futuristic, and there was plenty of space to fully stand up inside. The cabin is best fit for one person and includes a fridge, sink, stovetop, and water heater. There's no official word on how this setup affects the Hummer's 329-mile range. If you already own a Hummer EV SUT, EarthCruiser is currently taking reservations for the upfit.

There were plenty of normal CR-Vs on the show floor, and then there was this. The CR-V Hybrid Racer debuted last year and cloaks an IndyCar twin-turbo 2.2-liter V-6, IndyCar rear suspension and brakes, and Acura NSX GT3 front suspension and brakes in an aggressive carbon-fiber take on the CR-V body. The engine is mated to an Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox and an experimental hybrid system featuring an electric motor and a supercapacitor. Our ridealong in the Hybrid Racer last year was thrilling.

The F-150 Lightning Switchgear is Ford's latest electric demonstrator, a rolling laboratory for exploring the possibilities of an off-road EV. While the powertrain is stock, the dual-motor all-wheel-drive Lightning is plenty potent, with 580 hp and 775 pound-feet of torque. The major changes for the Switchgear include a one-foot wider track, custom suspension, Fox internal-bypass dampers, and a set of 37-inch Nitto Ridge Grappler tires on 18-inch beadlock wheels. The Switchgear looked seriously impressive in person, and we hope Ford puts an electric F-150 Lightning Raptor into production soon.

Rolls-Royces are supposed to whisper along in silent opulence, so an electric powertrain makes perfect sense for the British luxury brand. The Spectre is Rolls-Royce's first EV but thankfully retains the dramatic long-hood proportions and colossal size of past two-doors like the Phantom Coupe. With a peak output of 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, the Spectre is no slouch, despite a 6600-pound curb weight. And of course, the cabin is appropriately plush and ornate given the $422,750 starting price.

This is no ordinary Subaru GL wagon. This wild machine was modified for Hoonigan's Gymkhana YouTube series, where rally driver Travis Pastrana drifted the Subie around a series of obstacles in a giant cloud of tire smoke. The body is fashioned entirely from carbon fiber, and the 2.3-liter boxer engine makes use of a massive Garrett turbocharger to produce 862 hp. The boxy old-school looks certainly stood out among the aerodynamic EVs on the show floor.

This final entry doesn't feature any metal or oily bits, but an honorable mention has to go to Subaru's dog pen, a long-running staple of American auto shows. The Chicago setup featured four adorable two-month old puppies, who alternated between frenzied excitement and lying in their kennel, all tuckered out.