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2005 New York Auto Show:
Little News From the Big Apple (continued) |
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Expectedly, Lexus didn't stand still. The IS350 rounded out the IS line introduced at Geneva. With 300+ horsepower, it should be a worthy successor to Lexus' first-gen corner-carver. Meanwhile, for the Sierra Club set, the hybrid GS450h was unveiled. A rear-drive sports sedan, it also claims over 300 horsepower - and 0-60 in under six seconds. Fuel economy is said to be in the high twenties, a definite improvement. The target on-sale date is next spring.
Another predictable press conference centered on the next Cadillac V-series, the XLR-V. With a supercharged Northstar pumping out 440 horsepower, this $85,000 roadster will bring even more excitement to the Standard of the World showrooms - but it hardly drew a second glance from journalists who were desperate for a "big introduction." That tepid reaction was repeated at the Mitsubishi stand, where the Evolution IX was unveiled. With 286 horsepower and mechanical upgrades to the suspension, transmission, aerodynamics, AWD, etc., the new Evo can't help but be an amazing drive - but wearing the same sheetmetal and with the same essential character as the last model, it just wasn't new or different enough to warrant much excitement from us newshounds.
A breath of fresh air came courtesy of Hyundai, which introduced two new production models. On the heels of the attractively redesigned Sonata, Hyundai continued its 24/7 product blitz (seven models in 24 months) with the new Azera and Accent. Still riding the wave of recent accolades - the Sonata was declared 'America's Most Reliable Car' by Consumer Reports and the entire brand placed 3rd in J.D. Power's Initial Quality study - Hyundai looks poised to continue growing its market share with these two new sedans.
Snaring buyers at an early age, the Accent is an important model for Hyundai. The strategy works; the brand boasts 57% ownership retention. The '06 Accent is completely new, and looks well-equipped and sophisticated. Available at first only in a four-door GLS configuration, the Accent has grown in every dimension, but the most appreciable change is a three-inch increase in height; he interior looks much roomier as a result. Powered by a ULEV 1.5-liter four-banger, the Accent now features six airbags and five years of roadside assistance - all of which might just raise the bar in the historically neglected subcompact class.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Azera is Hyundai's most luxurious offering - bucking industry trends, the new nameplate replaces the alphanumerically-named XG350. The reveal took place at an after-party featuring a piano performance by Michael Cavanaugh of the Billy Joel-inspired Broadway hit Movin' Out - I could swear he altered the lyrics: "he's trading in his Lexus for a Hyundai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai, you oughta know by now!" The Azera's gorgeous interior is constructed of first-rate materials; truly Lexus-worthy. Exterior styling is blandly elegant, again on target for the segment. Perhaps most exciting is the powertrain, which mates a 265-horse 3.8L V6 to a five-speed automatic, creating the most sophisticated driveline we've seen from Korea. With more space than BMW's 760i, the Azera boasts eight airbags and the only standard ESC in its class. The classy woven headliner, and substantial doors and trunklid are icing on the cake. Pricing wasn't announced, but expect modest increases in character with Hyundai's value-driven philosophy.
Bargain brand Suzuki followed suit, sort of, joining Detroit's Concept X with the imaginatively-named Concept X2. Although neither of these design exercises is production-ready, the latter much more closely resembles a viable auto - thus its mention here. Unarguably attractive, versions of both are slated for manufacture - and should be more than adequate replacements for the mediocre Vitara and XL-7 lines.
In the main, the New York Auto Show brought us a few truly new vehicles, and a bunch of warmed-over concepts and trim packages we either saw elsewhere or have seen coming for months. We did see a bunch of hype and hoopla - like Volvo's skit featuring millionaire Sir Richard Branson giving some lucky schmuck an XC-90 and a ticket to the first commercial spaceflight, or Porsche's 'Cayennes for Canines' initiative with the Humane Society - but we didn't see a lot of actual news. Perhaps the timing was off. Maybe everyone was just tired from all the auto-show season travel. Or perhaps the auto industry - having explored retro, exploited high-tech propulsion systems to create cars as green as they are mean, and beaten to death every financial trick in the book to move cars out dealership doors - is just plain out of ideas. 
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