New York International Auto Show 2008

I posted a bunch of photos last year, so it's only fitting that I do so again this year. The 2008 show was far better than probably the previous 4 shows. It's been a long time since there were so many significant debuts/concepts in New York. I had begun to think that the auto industry just didn't care about the East Coast. (Although with the Detroit and LA shows on the rise, I guess there's only so much you can do in the US.)

Similar to last year, my photography is iffy at best. But I tried. Really, I did. Some of them actually came out well. I don't have a press pass and NY people just don't give a god damn when you have a camera up to your eye, so you have to take your shot when you can.

Commentaries follow each model. I love to comment. In the order I found them:


Ford Mustang FR500S

Turn-key race car, just $75,000. I thought it was a great deal until I found out it's really just a stripped-out Shelby GT. Not bad, but the best part seemed to be the "sticker".

Ford Mustang GT500KR

Great power, poor ability to use it. Too bad the aero kit doesn't do much, either.

Ford Mustang Bullitt

Must have looked good on paper, because it sure doesn't work here. Right color, right amount of trim (i.e, none), but it just ends up looking like a base-level Mustang with optional wheels. Proof that the original GT390 was the real deal and this is just a hack copy.

Mazda Furai

Love this thing. Too bad it's based on a Cougar chassis. Could have been a contender....

Jaguar XF

This thing's a winner. Tata's going to make off like a bandit, and that's not even counting Land Rover. A solid (if a bit old-school Audi-esque bland) exterior design, a delightful interior...all it needs is to be decent to drive. Judging by other recent Jaguar's, this should be a slam dunk.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Another winner. Nice design, total re-invention of what the company stands for, and it should even be reasonably fast. Twenty years ago if you told me there would be a rear-drive Hyundai that I would actually consider owning, I'd have laughed in your face. I'm glad to be wrong.

Acura TSX

Honda follows Subaru's lead and uglifies an otherwise competent car. There was nothing wrong with the previous TSX. Why they felt the need to make things fussy is beyond me. Same car, otherwise, and I still don't care about it.

Mini Cooper Works Challenge

Another turn-key racecar. This one might be worth it, though.

Mini Clubman

An even bigger Mini. Having recently been reminded of just how small the original (read, "real") Mini was, this thing seems like a boat. As far as I'm concerned, the Smart ForTwo carries on the true spirit of the Mini, not this trendy -- but fun -- poseur.


That's all for tonight. Editing the photos down and uploading took longer than I thought. I should be able to get more done tomorrow, though, starting with GM/Chevrolet, and hopefully making it through to BMW.

First comment!! Spectacular! Amazing! Astonishing, uncanny, ultimate, new, etc etc.

I'm surprised you didn't upload the Bullitt badge (it had a cool reflection, didn't it?)

You're the best, harrytuttle! love love love love love

By special request:

Thanks for the photos. I loved the window sticker on the FR500S. Agree on the TSX - some crazy guy on here has one and though I constantly tell him it's underpowered, I rarely tell him it's beautiful (which it is). New one looks weird.

Seen two XFs on the road now. I believe they look very odd too, at least from the back.

Part two:

Chevrolet Camaro

Much smaller in person than I imagined, but looks just as good. I eagerly anticipate road tests of this.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1

Maybe I'm just used to the C6 body style, but this just doesn't have the presence that the Z06 did the first time I saw one. Seeing the engine through the hood looks more like a photo rather than the actual supercharger. Would have gather much more of a crowd if they turned it on.

Cadillac CTS-V

A fine example of my miraculous photography. Still, why the -V looks so much better than the base model is proof that GM is still so disjointed internally. It's not the aggressive fender flares or the mesh grille, it's the entire front-end treatment that's better. It makes the base model look like an unhappy insect.

Cadillac CTS Coupe

Not a good idea. It looks like a hatchback. That's not a bodytype Cadillac wants to be confused with. At best, it could be an angular A3, but certainly no Cadillac I ever heard of. And then there's the generally ugly, ill-proportioned problems it has....

Buick Riviera

Obviously the CTS coupe underneath, and obviously not something Buick should be pursuing any more than Cadillac. I'm not sure where Buick fits in anymore (aside from the retirement community), and it's obvious neither does GM. Maybe they should be more Mercedes-like while Cadillac becomes more Audi-like? Or do I have that backwards? And can someone explain what the hell Chinese is doing on the back of a Buick? Is that where this is being sold, built, designed, or what??

Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

El Camino!! Honestly, it's not my thing, but I'm all for it. Big crowd around this one all day, although it doesn't look like it in the photo...

Pontiac Solstice Coupe

Not as good as the roadster, and not even as good as last year's club sport concept. This is not to say it's bad, it's just that they had a good idea earlier, and they fumbled it.



More in a short while.

Why do you say the Furai might have been a contender? As far as I've read, magazines have absolutely nothing but good things to say about it. One, I believe R&T, got to sit passenger with a Mazda LMP driver and said it's ungodly fast

Part three:


Audi A4 2009

Nice update, I think. I still don't agree with the LED driving lights, though, on non-S or non-RS models. It doesn't look all that great, and makes the S/RS models that much less visible or special. Best to ditch it altogether and move on to real LED headlights.

Porsche 911 GT2

Porsche is the only real sports car manufacturer at the show that has no reservation about filling the floor with their best. If you get their early enough (like before noon on the first two days) they even have the doors unlocked. Even the 911 Turbo. After that, it's all locked up outside of the Cayennes, and I don't blame them. The NY crowd is generally just hoods. Present company excluded, of course....

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560/4

Lamborghini at least tries to fill their space. Given that they only have two models, they actually put together a nice display. Could do with more color, though. Last year was monochromatic, too.

Lamborghini LP640

Same as above. Monochrome is cool...up to a point. And certainly not year-on-year. But still: Where's the Reventon? Surely someone in the Northeast would buy one. In the world financial capital? Really?

Bentley Continental GT Speed

This reminds me: Bentley was in full force, but Rolls-Royce and Maybach? Completely absent. Ever wonder why VAG has such a huge following in the Northeast? I can guarantee you it's not the snow....

Ferrari 430

This was awful. You'd think it was some Chinese-brand's first time at the show. I mean, good god, not a prancing horse logo in sight, just some black 430 on a turntable. What. The. Hell. And the rest of Fiat, with Alfa's supposed return? Nowhere. It's like they're not even trying, or they're not taking it seriously. If they think it's going to fail, then these kind of actions will ensure that it does. Idiots.

Aston Martin DBS

Cool to see in person. Same booth they've had for years, but it works. All the cars, easily viewable. The DBS looks as good as it does in photos, even in black. I guess all of AM looks the same -- but when it's this good, why change it? There's enough differentiation for me. Maybe under their new owner they'll finally get around to experimenting with light weight and mid-engined ideas. They should, that's for sure.

Saleen S5S

For the first time, Saleen was on the main show floor rather than being kicked to the front lobby. Maybe it was this car that clinched it, although the S7 should have been good enough. This thing looks tiny. Maybe not Elise-tiny, but certainly smaller than its performance suggests. I keep trying to place the design details from other cars, but I can't. They're from somewhere, I know it. Either way, it's a nice cohesive design, like the S7 was before it. I have no idea who's designing Saleen's body work, but I highly applaud them. I was hoping for a high-revving V8, but the supercharger's more Saleen's nature anyway.

Nissan GT-R

Nice to finally see in person, only 2 years late. For some reason, I can't help but be underwhelmed by this car. It looks okay, and it's probably the fastest thing around (unless you pay three times the price), but it's all the electronic aids, not actual driver skill that makes it fast. At that point, who cares? It's a video game, not a sports car.

Nissan Forum

Nissan's new minivan? Interesting, I suppose, but I still prefer my concepts to look just slightly more down to earth. Especially for something as grounded as a minivan. Can't help but notice the GranTurismo-alike taillights (and headlights). That seems to be the new thing, sort of like the Aztex hawk-eye headlights were three years ago.

Nissan Maxima

Another underwhelmer. Who care's if there's 300HP if it's just through the front wheels? Nissan needs to make this all-wheel-drive already. It's far too big for front-wheel-drive; it's so amateurish now. But wait -- that would scavenge Infiniti sales. Then stop moving the Maxima upmarket! Stop making it bigger and more powerful! Stop pushing the Altima and Sentra the same way! And, Japan, seriously: stop with the uglification. Just because Americans are buying this crap now doesn't mean they will later.

Lexus F-Sport accessories

So far only available for the IS350, but interesting nonetheless. It will sell, but only to poseurs who think that Lexus is a sporting brand.

Lexus Project IS-F (by 5-Axis)

Now this has promise. Just one problem: that black stuff wasn't carbon-fiber. Other than that, it's actually much more attractive and aggressive than the IS-F. Probably would be a lot better, too, if it were CFRP. IS-FR, anyone? No? Me either. It's still a Toyota.

Gran Turismo 5 - Lexus IS-F

Also at the Lexus booth was this setup of GT5. You drove the IS-F against a bunch of other, far lesser cars. The fastest one out there was an RX-8. You started 8th out of 16 and had one lap to come in first. They left all the driving aids on, including automatic shifting, so it was easy to finish at the font of the pack. The red & blue line was helpful, too. Actually, I really like that for learning the tracks. I thought they'd be handing out a copy, but all they had was a PC version of rFactor isolated to the IS-F. Not bad for a freebie. Never played rFactor, but I think I will now. Funny how it didn't convince me of the IS-F....

*McLaren*

Why do you say the Furai might have been a contender? As far as I've read, magazines have absolutely nothing but good things to say about it. One, I believe R&T, got to sit passenger with a Mazda LMP driver and said it's ungodly fast

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Ungodly fast, unbeliveably good, I'm sure. But not buildable. Not for the road. That's where it missed. Sure, a mid-engined supercar would be even more of a leap for Mazda than it was for Audi, but think of the reputation boost it would give the rotary engine (although they should have used the Renesis, not the 20B). The use of ethanol is swing-and-a-miss, too. And if they can't use it in Le Mans (or can they?), then it's truly pointless.

So it's a miss all around, then.

Here's the story on Ferrari (or some of it), I was wondering what was going on as well.

Yep, seems pretty obvious that was a dealer.

As for the Reventon, Lamborghini had said they wanted the Reventon appearing at some of more popular auto shows, and only for a short time. Well, the LA one came first, and the car left after that. It's back in Sant'Agata Bolognese at the factory.

Part four:


Dodge Challenger SRT-8

By mistake, they put up a poster with a visual comparison between the old and new Chargers. I say 'mistake' because it clearly highlights where the new one fails: it's way too tall and fat. Fast, better-looking than the Charger and Mustang, but not quite the looker it could be. Still good, though. Camaro will be best all of them.

Dodge Zeo

Another brand confused as to what its focus should be. Electric utopia-vehicles? Give me a break. Get the basics right, then consider alternative vehicular lifestyles.

Chrysler EcoVoyager

See above, but slightly less so. First stop making that foolish SUV and pathetic convertible.

BMW M3 GTR

I can't remember the last time functional aerodynamics looked this good. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was some cheap Japanese bodykit. But it really does look good. This makes it, what, 4 turnkey racecars this year? Nice. 👍

BMW M3 sedan

Same M3, more doors. The M3 sedan returns. Probably the lesser performer, what with the steel roof with the silly glass opening. CF FTW!

BMW M3 convertible

Same M3, less roof. Or more, in regards to weight. Probably a big seller, as it was last generation. CF still FTW!

BMW X6

If it weren't for the advanced all-wheel-drive system and the trick twin-turbo V8, I wouldn't care about this car. In fact, I don't care for this car. I just want to see the engine in the new Esprit replacement, and the drivetrain in other BMW's. This oddity can go back to Munchen.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster

Probably how the SLR should have been to begin with. It not only looks better, but better suits the way it drives.

Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

While the previous SLK (just before this facelift) was not the most graceful of designs, it definitely looked better than this does. Too busy up front. Are designers becoming lazy? What happened to clean, graceful lines? Does Ian Callum have the monopoly on this? Mercedes may be making their cars more interesting dynamically, but their losing their aesthetic touch.

Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

Does anyone but me remember the previous version's SL63? I have photos of the thing, so I know it was for sale (Park Avenue, NYC). Did no one buy it? I'm sure this facelift/revision should be spectacular, if not the better looker, but it's like they deny it existed before.

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

I really think that AMG gets better with each successive car. This may not be quite as good as the M3, but for it even to be considered a strong contender is a major leap for Mercedes. It even looks the business, too. I guess that blacked-out bottom lip is in vogue for AMG now. Kind of like coloring in a tooth, isn't it?

Vonie

Here's the story on Ferrari (or some of it), I was wondering what was going on as well.

Click to expand...

Then that's even worse. Ferrari is hardly a brand of low desirability here. Now I want to know why they didn't show up. It can't be money, it can't be lack of sales, it can't even be lack of press. Sure, the Javits Center isn't the most glamorous place in the world, but I think NYC is more than a little deserving of "the great one's" presence.

I think Ferrari is concentrating more on Europe right now with its new models and displays. At Geneva, Ferrari really went out showing the new models along with a few classics such as a Daytona.

Part five (the last one):


Subaru Impreza WRC

It's a big hatchback. Ford and Citroen will sweep the floor with Subaru this year. Oh, wait; this is the US version. Well, never mind. No one watches that anyway. And, no, I didn't like the STI road car. I'll be getting a test drive and do a write up soon. (I know you're all on the edge of your seats in anticipation....)

Mach 1

It's from the movie. No, I won't be seeing it. No, I never watched the original. Because it sucked. That's what people remember: the cartoon sucked. It wasn't good, and doesn't deserve to have a live-action movie made from it. People don't have fond memories of it; they remember it because it sucked and they could make fun of it. Did I mention it sucked?

Iconic GTR

A re-imagining of the AC Cobra (although they're trying to get on the Shelby bandwagon). Nice, but still rooted firmly in the past. All it seems to have accomplished is giving it a Panoz Esperante front end. But a good try nonetheless.

Mitsubishi MIEV

Do we get to see this car on the road or what? It's not a bad car, I think, and if it works it would do Mitsubishi a lot of good. It certainly would give them a second market to go into now that everything else is horrible besides the Lancer.

Mitsubishi CX

I kind of like it. It's like the Suzuki Aerio but with better proportions. The Evo front end initially seemed out of place, but now I think it works. And would finally give Mitsubishi somewhat of a family look, a real brand image.

Almost forgotten: Volvo XC60

Like a scaled down XC90, and there's not a single thing wrong with that. Maybe a little fussy (the weird little lights between the headlights and main grille), but otherwise a nice looking car.

Honda Civic Si Mugen

Fortunately, this one hadn't had its wheels and exhaust stolen yet. I think it has by now. But $30,000 for this? $6,000 more than the regular Si? No thanks. I'll take that money and get some Ultraleggera wheels and a similar suspension setup, and still have money left over. Or maybe I wouldn't waste more than $20,000 on a Civic that wasn't being explicitly turned into a racecar. It's a Civic.

Lotus 2-Eleven

I used to think the Elise was tiny. Then I saw one without an upper half. There's truly not much to this car. I'd love to see one on the road, but I can't imagine any Americans brave enough. Looks just like it does in the photos, though: a true track car.



And so that's that. It was fun. I spent less time this year, but that time was better spent. It's the first time in years that I felt there was stuff really worth seeing, some real significant cars. It's also the first time in years that I only went with one person, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I would like to thank that person greatly for not only coming with me, but trudging through the whole crowded place all day. Yes, she is the one in the pink jacket, she is 'morganlives', and I love that woman dearly.

harrytuttle

Then that's even worse. Ferrari is hardly a brand of low desirability here. Now I want to know why they didn't show up. It can't be money, it can't be lack of sales, it can't even be lack of press. Sure, the Javits Center isn't the most glamorous place in the world, but I think NYC is more than a little deserving of "the great one's" presence.

Click to expand...

I heard they skipped it because this year's show wasn't as huge as past years'. The fact that they're all pre-sold can't hurt. The real surprise was Maserati not showing up... unlike Ferrari, Maserati doesn't sell itself and a lot of those cars are bought on impulse - the kind of impulse you get when you sit in one at the auto show.

harrytuttle

Cadillac CTS Coupe

Not a good idea. It looks like a hatchback. That's not a bodytype Cadillac wants to be confused with. At best, it could be an angular A3, but certainly no Cadillac I ever heard of. And then there's the generally ugly, ill-proportioned problems it has....

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It has the potential to look good, but now it just looks like someone who has pulled up their pants too high.

I actually just got back from this. 👍 It was a real madhouse today. The sheer amount of people going to the BMW and the Mercedes areas were astounding. There were also more people around the Zeo than the Challenger.

The smart was really cool as well. Very big on the inside. 👍 My father also said that he will have a Challenger within a few years. Most likely an SE in that blue color.


Biggest Surprises: Ford Flex (Interior), Dodge Journey (interior), smart fortwo (interior space, packaging) throngs of people around a used 325i like it was something special.

(Whoops, used a lot of emoticons...)

Oh yeah, the Pontiac G8 kinda left me disappointed, it was nice, just not as nice as I thought it would be.

M5Power

I heard they skipped it because this year's show wasn't as huge as past years'. The fact that they're all pre-sold can't hurt. The real surprise was Maserati not showing up... unlike Ferrari, Maserati doesn't sell itself and a lot of those cars are bought on impulse - the kind of impulse you get when you sit in one at the auto show.

Click to expand...

I have to agree about the show being smaller. The NY show has been slowly sliding in terms of both relevance and size over the last 10 years. This year was a big step up (Hyundai's debuts, for example) but it still pales in comparison to all other shows. I'll still go in the future (it's too close not to), but I probably will make it more of a day-off excursion, much like this year was.

I don't think Fiat knows what it's missing, though. It's not like Ferrari Manhattan and Miller Motorcars have empty showrooms or anything.

harrytuttle

It's also the first time in years that I only went with one person, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I would like to thank that person greatly for not only coming with me, but trudging through the whole crowded place all day. Yes, she is the one in the pink jacket, she is 'morganlives', and I love that woman dearly.

Click to expand...

Love love love gush gush gush! You know the drill. I love you harrytuttle! You're the awesomest! I love your car and your love for cars and GT4 and GTP! Also everything else about you!

Harrytuttle is a stud. Truth.