Bling of the Road The Sweetest Rides at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show

Gearheads from across the nation will flock to McCormick Place this weekend for the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, and there is plenty to see for those fluent in the language of cylinders, engines and horsepower.

But a lot of us go to the annual expo to see hot rides with tricked-out interiors - the kinds of cars that pull up to red carpets and sparkle in music videos.

We found the coolest cars on the show floor and imagined what famous faces could appear behind their wheels.

For Leo and his eco-conscious pals

- Going hybrid is all the rage in Hollywood, but even Mr. DiCaprio would have to admit that the Prius looks a little dorky. Enter the Toyota FT-HS, a new hybrid concept that takes the basic shape of the Prius and streamlines it. The two-seater boasts Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, but can it match the Prius' 60 mpg on the highway?

For the Roc-A-Fella

- Rap legend Jay-Z's affinity for the Maybach is well- documented, and he won't be disappointed in this year's offering from the Mercedes-Benz offshoot. The Maybach 57 boasts absolutely ludicrous standard features: a champagne flute beverage holder, a back-seat refrigerator, a rain sensor, curtains for the rear windows, VHF-TV reception, a DVD player and even a custom umbrella for when you leave your moving lap of luxury. Want one? Better find about $350,000.

For Vincent's "Entourage"

- If Turtle ever gets tired of carting Johnny Drama around in his Hummer, Jeep's new concept car might do the trick. The Trailhawk has a bulky but slick chassis and could bump its way down Sunset Boulevard with the best of them. The open air frame would allow Mr. Chase to flirt with all the Hollywood honeys on the road.

For celebutantes

- The 2008 Lexus IS-F is a powerful little sport sedan that, like, would look totally cute with Lindsay Lohan at the wheel. Its 5.0-liter V8 engine can get from zero to 60 in 4.9 seconds, making it perfect for outrunning paparazzi - or rehab facility security guards.

For the fast and the furious

- Should Vin Diesel decide to make a triumphant return to street racing cinema, he could smoke the competition in this pimped-out 2007 Lotus Elise. It would push 60 in 4.7 seconds and top out at 150 mph. If you feel the need for speed on the mean streets of ... Long Grove, you can get one for $47,195. (Spinning rims and racing decals not included, of course.)

For time travelers

- The Kia Kue concept car is an audacious coupe peppered with control panels and video screens galore. You could make a phone call, play an MP3 and switch DVDs from the motion-sensing touch-pad center console or from the backseat. Scissor-style doors open to reveal swiveling bucket seats in this silver space-age car - all that's missing is Doc Brown with his flux capacitor.

For Bond. James Bond.

- 007 always rides in style and the Ford Interceptor concept car looks like a perfect match for the suave spy. It's sleek and sophisticated, perfect for a late-night rendezvous with Octopussy, but it could also outrun Blofeld's thugs with its Ford Racing 5.0- liter V8. And who knows what Q could install in its stocky front end?

For a sad Bear

- Maybe the best thing to cure the Super Bowl blues is a new truck. Picture Brian Urlacher behind the wheel of this custom Chicago Bears 2007 International MXT. This hulking 4x4 with a 7- foot pickup bed could tow the entire Bears' roster and still have 3,500 pounds to spare.

Chicago Auto Show

Where: McCormick Place, Lake Shore Drive at 23rd Street, Chicago

When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today through Feb. 17; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 18

Tickets: $10 for adults; $5 seniors, children ages 7 to 12; children 6 and younger admitted free

Web: www.chicagoautoshow.com

(c) 2007 Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.