"Bringing the kids is good bonding experience," said Stefani Kladis. "What are you gonna do? Leave them with the babysitter so you can look at cars? No, it's kid-friendly here."

Besides a rugged course for drivers 18 years and older, Jeep also set up a mini-track where toddlers could drive their own motorized Jeep Wrangler. While toddlers enjoyed their Big Wheels, the older kids waited in line to climb the rock wall.

The Family Fun Zone, located in the South Building had more to offer kids. With a wider space, radio stations like B96 set up a bags game and played word games that offered prizes for the right answers. A Blackhawks booth set up in another corner of the Fun Zone was lined up with kids waiting for a chance to play a hockey game.

But for some families, the real fun is in the cars- whether finding out if the minivan fits the whole family, or just letting kids get behind the wheel of a concept car.

"This is cool," said four-year-old Aiden Johnson, jumping into a Dodge concept car.

The 2012 Chicago Auto Show runs Friday, February 10 to Sunday, February 19 at McCormick Place, located along Lake Shore Drive at 23rd Street, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day -- except for an earlier close at 8 p.m. on February 19.

Admission is $11 for adults, $7 for children 7 to 12 years of age, and children 6 and under are free with an accompanying parent. Senior citizens 62 and older pay $7. Weekday discount vouchers ($4 off the regular adult admission) are available at area new-car dealers and from participating banks.

Preckwinkle launched the campaign at the auto show to highlight the car dealers, producers and suppliers in Cook County.

The new car smell hits you the moment you walk into the hall at McCormick Place. There are plenty of new offerings this year, 27 new production vehicles, and the show is happening at a time when things are looking up in the auto industry.

After Governor Pat Quinn, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Secretary of State Jesse White helped cut the ribbon, it was time to kick the tires Friday at the 104th Chicago Auto Show.

"I've always been a gearhead. It's in my blood," said auto show attendee Tony Swingler.

Organizers say advanced ticket sales are up significantly this year, and automakers have rented more floor space, a reflection of positive times in an industry adding jobs.

"I think it's just you're seeing a resurgence of manufacturers have more money to spend on cars, more money to spend on displays," said Michael Ettleson, 2012 Chicago Auto Show co-chair. "And I also think that the time between when a new model is thought of and when it comes out is getting shorter."

Some of the smallest cars are the biggest stars, including the 2012 North American Car of the Year, the Hyundai Elantra, part of the burgeoning all-gas compact segment.

"Manufacturers want to hit those higher mileage figures that they're going to be required to hit," said Joe Wiesenfelder, executive editor at Cars.com. "It costs more to do it with a hybrid, so they might be building hybrids, but that isn't necessarily the key to selling large numbers of vehicles."

Friday morning, Illinois officials checked out some locally-made vehicles, including Ford's Police Interceptor, which is assembled in Chicago, and Chrysler's Dodge Dart, which is produced in Belvidere.

"When I became governor, Chrysler had 200 workers up in Belvidere at that time, this summer they'll have 4,200 workers," said Governor Pat Quinn.

The show this year features plenty of hands-on activities, including ride-a-longs, driving simulators, and even test tracks to get behind the wheel yourself.

"Every year this gets more and more interactive, more virtual, always bringing more ways to get to know the car," said auto show attendee.

The show runs through February 19.

Tickets for adults are $11. Kids are $7. Children 6 and under get in free.

"I think it says that . . . we want the fuel economy, but we're not ready to pay a premium to get the hybrid," Michael Ettleson, Chicago Auto Show co-chair, said.

There are a slew of worthy, gas-sipping competitors from the Chevy Cruze to the Ford Focus and Fiesta. Even SUVs like the 2013 Ford Escape are cracking the 30 mpg barrier. The new Escape also has a pretty nifty feature for those times when your hands are full -- with a kicking motion underneath the vehicle, the truck door opens and closes.

Several stars of this year's show are assembled in the Chicago area, including the new Dodge Dart, made in Belvidere. Dodge last produced the Dart in 1976...

"It's an iconic name, and we did a lot of research with the consumers out there, and it resonated very, very well," Vince Muniga, Chrysler, said.

But this isn't your father's Dodge Dart. The new fuel-efficient $16,000 Dart has Italian sports car DNA.

"It is the first joint development with Fiat, which is their new majority owner, and it's based on an Alfa Romeo platform," Wiesenfelder said.

Also made in Chicago: the new, sportier Lincoln MKS and Ford's updated Police Interceptor, which replaces the gas-guzzling Crown Victoria.

"We already have 40 cities, municipalities, and counties just within the state of Illinois who've already ordered this vehicle," Mary Culler, Ford Motor Company, said.