At Chicago's annual auto show, DiamlerChrysler went all out, using the most space of all the featured automotive manufacturers featured this year. DiamlerChryslers's elaborate exhibit included more than 100 vehicles, live bands and video games but the focal point of their massive exhibition was a specially designed half-mile driving course. Some of the vehicles featured are the Jeep Gladiator, Hurricane and Liberty diesel, the Dodge Ram Mega Cab and their Nitro concept SUV and much more.

The driving course included both on and off-road challenges including a Jeep "Trail Rated Course" that requires fording a stream, traversing logs and climbing a 15-foot high hill with a 35% incline. Another area of the driving course was the "Dodge Truck Off-Road Course" which included more open space for demonstrating the trucks ability to pull heavy loads as well as towing capabilities.



Building the exhibit was challenge in itself, requiring over 100 tractor-trailers of track material, media equipment, and vehicles as well as all the dirt, rocks, logs and other outdoors stuff needed to create the driving course. Did we forget to mention the 25-foot high Dodge Ram Head? That was also included in one of the hundreds of semi's.

All in all, the DiamlerChrysler display encompasses a mind boggling 156,000 square foot display, which is roughly the equivalent to the size of 4 football fields and includes so many attractions that the Ford and Chevy guys might not have too many visitors. The only thing that we here at Truckblog have to say is, why did the Houston Auto Show only have 20 cars and trucks?

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