Candlelit dinner, a dozen roses or a new ride
A candlelit dinner, sentimental card or piece of jewelry are time-honored, traditional methods for conveying your thoughts on Valentine's Day, but why not a night out in one of Bankrate's picks for cars for lovers from the 2013 Chicago Auto Show? After all, it is the season for taking out that someone special in style.
None of these picks are in showrooms yet, and there were no qualifiers for this list beyond being new and on display at the Chicago Auto Show. Because Bankrate thinks it matters to couples in love, we did stick with models with cozy cabins.
Cars aren't something lovers typically think about, particularly on Valentine's Day, but why not kick tradition to the curb and celebrate with a new ride instead of baubles or flowers?
2014 Nissan 370Z Nismo
- Base price: Projected $44,000
- Projected on-sale date: Summer 2013
Unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, the 370Z Nismo stands on the shoulders of the wildly popular Nissan Z, resulting in an even sportier and fun-to- drive coupe.
Nismo is Nissan's performance brand.
Setting 370Z Nismo apart from a regular 370Z is a number of mechanical and appearance upgrades. Although it uses the same 3.7-liter V-6 found in other Zs, Nismo gooses engine output by enhancing exhaust flow and utilizing other tuning tricks to coax 350 horsepower from it. Additionally, the suspension is tuned for more athletic handling.
More than 6 inches longer than a typical Z, exterior enhancements include gray accents, red pinstripes and an extended nose. But couples will probably be more interested in the cabin that features special black-and-red seat fabric with red stitching on the Z sport seats as well as special leather wrapping on the steering wheel and a six-speed manual shift knob.
2014 Jaguar F-Type
- Base price: $69,000
- Projected on-sale date: Summer 2013
What better way to celebrate love than zipping around in Jaguar's all-new elegant two-seat roadster? If it has a bad angle, we can't find it. "Drop-dead gorgeous" comes to mind.
It's not just another pretty face, either. Even the base F-Type can sprint to 60 miles per hour from a standing stop in 5.1 seconds with its 340-horsepower 3-liter supercharged V-6. Moving up the model pecking order finds the F-Type S and the F-Type V-8 S with even more get-up-and-go. A driver-shiftable, eight-speed automatic transmission delivers power to the rear wheels. The liberal use of aluminum in its construction helps reduce the F-Type's weight.
Contributing to the smooth exterior lines are hidden door handles and a retractable rear spoiler. The convertible top drops in just 12 seconds and can be operated at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.
Different finishes in the driver and passenger areas highlight a cockpit featuring leather surfaces with aluminum accents.
2013 Dodge Dart GT
- Base price: $20,995
- Projected on-sale date: Spring 2013
More expensive than a pound of Godiva chocolates but not by much, the Dodge Dart GT packs a lot of content into a compact wrapper.
There is a bit of romance attached to the "Dart" name. Dodge revived it after combing through almost 100 years' worth of Dodge model names. The original Dart GT launched in 1963, but the new Dart GT has a lot more than just history going for it.
Inside, a number of surprising goodies such as an 8.4-inch touch screen, perforated Nappa leather seats and a heated steering wheel join more popular features such as a backup camera, remote keyless entry, power windows, door locks and heated outboard mirrors with integrated turn signals.
Under the hood, a 184-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine sends power to the front wheels via either the standard six-speed manual or optional driver-shiftable, six-speed automatic transmission. Dodge sport tuned the suspension for the driving dynamics enthusiasts lust after.
2014 Kia Cadenza
- Base price: To be announced
- Projected on-sale date: Spring 2013
Kia will announce the price of its new Cadenza just before it hits showrooms in late spring, but as the brand's new flagship, expect it to be priced above the $21,350 Optima.
The Kia brand has been relentlessly creeping upmarket since the company introduced the 2010 Soul. However, with the Cadenza, creeping turned into leaping. Kia refers to the Cadenza as a premium sedan.
Furnished for five passengers, Cadenza will come in only one well-equipped model option. Among its standard appointments: a navigation system with an 8-inch touch screen, backup camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless start, Bluetooth connectivity and an Infinity-infused 12-speaker surround-sound audio system.
Leather seating and wood accents are standard, as are power-folding outboard mirrors with integrated turn signals.
A 293-horsepower 3.3-liter V-6 uses a driver-shiftable automatic transmission to usher output to the front wheels.
You might want to postpone your Valentine's Day outing until the Cadenza goes on sale.
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
- Base price: Projected $52,000
- Projected on-sale date: Fall 2013
You can have a great evening with your sweetheart and do some showing off at the same time in the redesigned Corvette Stingray. Chevrolet calls it the most powerful standard Corvette model ever, based on its estimated 450 horsepower from its all-new 6.2-liter V-8 engine. The maker also claims a zero-to-60 time of less than four seconds.
Although the 2014 retains the iconic Corvette profile, its lines are more chiseled than the outgoing model. Weight is held at bay by the use of carbon fiber and composite exterior panels. Inside, the wraparound cockpit features Nappa leather on the highly supportive seats. The driver's command and control are enhanced with a pair of 8-inch screens and an available color heads-up display that projects vital information on the windshield in front of the driver.
Among the other available technologies are OnStar with 3D navigation maps and Chevrolet MyLink infotainment interface.