BMW at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show

The Chicago Auto Show, the nation’s largest, runs Feb. 13-21 at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive. More than 1 million square feet of exhibition space is devoted to this car lovers’ annual “must see.” Totally redesigned for 2016 in what show organizers have deemed a “show floor shakeup,” the new layout at McCormick Place aims to make the experience easier for attendees.

Organizers unveiled a new website and mobile app for 2016 that gives more dimension and tools for navigating the show. ChicagoAutoShow.com focuses on previewing historical videos and enhanced photo galleries as well as social media feeds, while the app is a guide once on-site with its interactive map, notifications for updates to the daily schedule, and integration with drivechicago.com, where users can get more information on cars they are interested in and real-time inventory from dealers and private sellers across Chicago.

Free Wi-Fi will be accessible in all areas of McCormick Place and there are additional promotions for using the app. There are also beacons throughout the show floor so you can get messages from exhibitors about activities and more chances to win prizes. With an average visit time of four hours, exhibitors at the Chicago Auto Show have also amped up experiential opportunities with all new, highly interactive displays.

The 2016 BMW 7 Series was completely redesigned for this model year, and it represents the peak of luxury in the BMW brand. To match its BMW counterpart, the 2017 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive will also appear at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show. This is the third generation of Alpina vehicles to be based off of the BMW 7 Series, and it takes the original model’s power to the next level.

The BMW Alpina B7 xDrive’s heart is a 4.4-liter, eight-cylinder engine with twin-turbo charging, gasoline direct injection and Valvetronic that can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.6 seconds and reach top speeds of 193 mph. The engine will achieve 590 lb-ft of torque and 600 bHP.

Alpina engineers have also been hard at work to add special calibration to the suspension and chassis technology, adding Integral Active Steering that makes maneuvering the larger BMW Alpina B7 xDrive feel as nimble as a much smaller sports car. This is achieved by allowing the rear wheels to actively steer up to three degrees at lower speeds. The added Sport+ Mode not only changes how the vehicle drives by modifying drivetrain and suspension settings, but also lowers ride height by 0.8 of an inch. Lastly, the BMW Alpina B7 xDrive will be equipped with special Michelin tires and a Carbon Core body.

Tickets, $7-$12 (children under 6 are free) can be purchased atchicagoautoshow.com/tickets.