Next week's Chicago auto show will see the first public showings of the new Saturn Astra, Pontiac G8, and 2008 Toyota Highlander.



The show, held at the city's amply sized McCormick place, opens to the media on Feb. 7, with the public given its chance to see the latest production and concept vehicles that weekend.



Among the major introductions scheduled for the show are the Saturn Astra, the European-bred compact sold in Europe by GM, and now being brought to the U.S.; the Pontiac G8, an Australian-made sedan with V-8 power and rear-drive; the Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, completely redesigned for the 2008 model year; and a facelifted Nissan Titan pickup truck.



Scion will show off its new generation of vehicles - a successor to the xB is planned, as well as a new model dubbed the xD. Ford is expected to show updated versions of the Mercury Montego and Ford Freestyle, both of which are manufactured in the Chicago area. And Dodge is expected to have an updated Dakota pickup truck for Chicago's stands, too.

Nissan will show four new versions of existing truck models at the Chicago auto show Feb. 9-18.

First is the 2008 Armada, updated with new front and rear fascia. LE models receive new 20-inch wheels, lockage glove compartment, and an enhanced Bose stereo system with a hard drive music storage system and third-row speakers. Third-row power folding seats, heated steering wheel and Bluetooth are new LE options. Navigation now features a XM NavTraffic system with real-time traffic information. DVD entertainment systems have a larger eight-inch screen.

The Pathfinder line grows for 2008 to include, for the first time, the Titan’s 5.6-liter 317-hp V8. Front- and rear-end styling, wheel designs and body side moldings are new. Interiors receive a freshened center console, reclining second-row seats, and a standard information display with RearView monitor on all models except S-V6 versions. LE variants get a heated steering wheel, Intelligent Key, Bluetooth and available revised navigation with the hard drive storage system.

Finally, Nissan’s full-size pickup faces the twin onslaught of new big trucks from Toyota and General Motors with a refreshed 2008 Titan and two new models, Titan Long Wheelbase (LWB) and PRO-4X. PRO-4X adds a special off-road equipment package to include Rancho shock absorbers, lower final gear ratio, two additional skid plates, electronic locking rear differential, white-faced interior gauges and body-colored exterior trims. LWB models will feature the largest-in-class 37-gallon gas tank for improved driving range. All Titans get redone front end styling, wheel lip moldings, wheel designs and seats.

Chevrolet's twin Corvettes at next week's Chicago auto show will be special editions, not the long-rumored Blue Devil, or mid-engined Corvette, or V-6 version, or any of the other mythical Corvettes reported breathlessly elsewhere (and here, once - oops!).

The coppery Corvette Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Replica is dressed in Atomic Orange and will go on sale in the spring. GM promises 500 copies will be offered for sale. Fittingly, each one will be a convertible. Gold graphics and Z06 wheels are standard for the asking price of $66,995.



The Indy Pace 'Vette will show up in Chicago next to the Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette Z06 (whew! Almost ran out of letters!), a special version in Arctic White with racing stripes and Ron Fellows' autograph. It too goes on the sale in the spring, for $77,500. Only 300 copies will be sold in the U.S. of a total of 399 cars.