At the 2010 New York International Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz showed off both its re-designed R Class crossover AND 2010 Winter Olympic gold medalists Steven Holcomb, Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler, and Curt Tomasevicz (the American 4-man bobsled team).

This Spring debut was the 2011 R-Class’ world premiere. With its unique styling, the R Class melds the best of the luxury sedans with the functionality of a SUV; luxury sedan creature comforts and safety features meet SUV terrain abilities in one neat package.

Most noteworthy from Mercedes with this debut is the clean diesel technology that powers the R Class. The R 350 BlueTec gets 24 mpg on the highway and can go over 500 miles one tank. With seating capacity for seven, ample cargo space, and 500 miles on one tank, it is the perfect vehicle for a road trip. On one tank, you could almost get from Washington, D.C. to Charleston, SC without stopping.

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The MAZDA2 has been around the rumor mill for quite awhile now and Mazda finally decided to show the East Coast its hand at the New York Auto Show (four months after its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The ’11 MAZDA2 will be in US and Canadian dealerships in late July 2010.

MINI brought their newest vehicle, the ’11 Countryman, to the 2010 New York Auto Show. A small crossover, the MINI Countryman bridges the gap between the classic MINI concept and a modern crossover vehicle. The MINI Countryman is a completely new car, unprecedented in the history of the MINI brand, though its likeness to the rest of its family is immediately apparent. While it is MINI’s largest production vehicle ever, it is still only a size “small,” and the company remains committed to the its core values… practicing fiscal, environmental and adrenal responsibility at all times.

The MINI Countryman powertrain options include Cooper, Cooper S or Cooper S with ALL4 (our-wheel-drive system). The Countryman will be the first crossover on the market to feature a turbocharged and direct-injected engine with VALVETRONIC technology, which together provide optimum performance and efficiency. And for those who are focused on gas mileage, MINI expects the Countryman to offer the best fuel economy in the crossover segment.

The Countryman will be on the streets early next year (2011).

“Adding world-class design and cutting-edge technologies to an already successful value-packed CUV equation, the all-new Sportage offers Kia the opportunity to attract an entirely new and more sophisticated customer,” said Michael Sprague, vice president marketing, KMA, at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. “The 2011 Sportage retains the functionality and versatility of the previous generation model but repackages the CUV into a sleek, modern and bold style with new proportions and a completely new look to help elevate the Kia brand further as a world design leader.”

The ’11 Sportage is offered in two trim levels: LX and EX. Starting at the LX level, the Sportage is outfitted with 16-inch alloy wheels matched with 215/70R16 low-rolling resistance silica tires, body-color door handles, adjustable side mirrors with side mirror turn signal indicators, and tinted glass. Moving up to the EX trim offers 18-inch alloy wheels mated with 235/55R18 silica tires, standard body-color heated side mirrors, roof rails, a rear spoiler, chrome body trim and door handles and a chrome-accented radiator grille.

The redesigned Sportage comes standard with a 2.4-liter DOHC 16-value four-cylinder engine with Continuously Variable Value Timing (CVVT) and is offered with two-wheel (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations paired to either a six-speed manual transmission (base) or a six-speed automatic transmission.

At the 2010 New York International Auto Show, Hyundai showed off the 2011 Equus, the luxury sedan they hope will become their flagship. “[The] Equus takes Hyundai’s formula for intelligent luxury to a new level,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “We’ve applied the lessons in engineering excellence we’ve learned with Genesis to the Equus, while adding a new level of customer experience that will further differentiate our take on luxury from the traditional premium brands.”

The Equus adds to Hyundai’s lineup and like the Genesis, the Equus is build on Hyundai’s rear-wheel-drive architecture. It is powered by a 4.6-liter Tau® V8 mated to a ZF 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC® manual control that produces 385 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque using premium fuel and 378 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque using regular fuel (0-60 time is 6.4 seconds). With technology you’d expect to see in the more expensive luxury sedans, the Equus showcases features such as a lane departure warning system, electronic air suspension, smart cruise control and a Lexicon® audio system.

Starting price for the 2011 Hyundai Equus will be in the mid $50,000 range.

BMW used the 2010 New York Auto Show as a chance to showcase its fan favorite, the 2011 Alpina B7. The ’11 Alpina B7 is based off of the current 750i but under the hood, the Alpina is pure performance. The twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter direct-injection V8 mated a six-speed automatic transmission with Alpina Switchtronic transmission control produces 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. With the Alpina Switchtronic transmission control, there are Sport and Manual modes.

True to Alpina style, BMW wants to draw attention to the stainless-steel dual exhaust. With the special turbochargers that are tweaked to allow better air flow from Alpina (supplied by Honeywell-Garrett), the B7 produces 1.0 bar of boost versus 0.7 bar from the standard 750i sedan.

The 2011 BMW Alpina B7 will go on sale in the spring.

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At the recent 2010 New York International Auto Show, Acura showed the world their all-new 2011 TSX Sport Wagon. “The TSX Sport Wagon represents a smart choice for those seeking a vehicle with utility,” said John Mendel, executive vice president, sales. “It’s practical, fun to drive, luxurious and technically advanced, all while achieving an outstanding estimated highway fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon* [per preliminary EPA mileage estimates].”

Powering the TSX Sport Wagon is a 2.4-liter, DOHC i-VTEC®, inline four-cylinder engine paired with a Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic transmission fit with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters. The Sport Wagon will join the TSX lineup, which already includes the 4-cylinder and V-6 powered sports sedans.

To enhance the driving experience, the TSX Sport Wagon features the latest in advanced technologies including an available hard disk drive-based Acura Navigation System™ with an all-new 8-inch full VGA high-resolution color display and AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic and Weather™ featuring radar image mapping. For the audiophile, the TSX Sport Wagon will be available with an Acura/ELS Surround® Premium Audio System and a hard disk drive (HDD) for media storage. Additionally, the TSX Sport Wagon is equipped with a well-rounded list of standard features, including a power glass moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seats, a premium sound system, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, and USB port and AUX jack music interface. Like all Acura vehicles, the TSX Sport Wagon will come with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including Acura’s acclaimed Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure.

Look for the 2011 TSX Sport Wagon in Acura dealerships in the late fall.

TSX Sport Wagon Specifications:
Length: 189.4 inches
Width: 72.4 inches
Height: 57.9 inches
Wheelbase: 106.5 inches
Wheel: 17×7.5- inch 5-spoke aluminum alloy wheels
Seating capacity: 5-passenger

At the 2010 New York International Auto show, Kia unveiled their all-new Optima. The big news with the 2011 Kia Optima is the offering of the hybrid powertrain, the brand’s first of its kind. With the hybrid option paired to the latest technology features and luxury amenities, the Kia Optima provides the best of the luxury, performance, and price worlds.

“The all-new Optima is a new strand in Kia’s growing design DNA with a blend of simple and fluid lines and elegant but uncomplicated shapes that draw the attention of the eye in much the same fashion as a perfectly-tailored fine Italian suit,” said Peter Schreyer, chief design officer, Kia Motors Corporation. “From the distinctive sweeping chrome accent that stretches through the C pillars to the sleek greenhouse and flared wheel arches, every inch of the Optima projects a distinguished and refined style and extreme attention to detail.”

Available in three trims, LX, EX and SX, the 2011 Optima offers numerous standard features. The LX includes dual exhaust with chrome tips, solar glass, outside mirror turn signal indicators and 16- inch steel wheels fitted with 205/65R16 tires. Upgrading to the EX offers standard fog lights, heated outside mirrors, exterior chrome/body-color door handles along with 17-inch alloy wheels with P215/55/R17 tires. Moving up to the sporty SX adds HID headlights with auto leveling, LED rear combination lights, unique front grille design, rear lip spoiler, sculpted side sills, aero wiper blades, red brake calipers and 18-inch black machined finish alloy wheels furnished with P225/45R18 tires, achieving a true performance look.

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The 2011 Optima is available in three all-new and fuel-efficient Theta II powerplants, a 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder, a 2.0-liter GDI turbo engine or a 2.4-liter hybrid. The 2.4-liter GDI engine produces 200 horsepower1 and upgrading to the available 2.0-liter turbo GDI engine (SX model) delivers V6-type power with a four-cylinder engine that produces 274 horsepower1, while mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. This represents Kia’s first application of GDI technology, while a 2.4-liter hybrid Optima will be introduced in 2011. All automatics feature SportmaticTM clutchless shifting. A single six-speed manual transmission is available only with the LX four-cylinder model.

The ’11 Optima will be at dealers in early fall.

Volkswagen brought their second generation Touareg (with a twist) to the 2010 New York Auto Show. The 2011 Touareg features a hybrid powertrain, showcasing the brand’s first-ever hybrid. The Touareg offers three available engines to suit a variety of different drivers: A V6 FSI gasoline engine, a V6 TDI Clean Diesel engine, and a V6 TSI gasoline hybrid engine. With the hybrid model, a 3.0-liter supercharged, direct injection V6 gasoline engine is paired with a special electric motor that reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by about 40 percent.

An eight-speed automatic transmission, helps the Touareg Hybrid achieve approximately 25 mpg and 21 mpg during highway and city driving respectively. A special clutch can disengage the transmission from the engine when the engine is not powering the Touareg, allowing it to coast forward emission free to further aid in fuel savings. The electric motor can also recover kinetic energy during braking to help recharge the nickel metal-hydride battery pack. With the V6 engine and electric motor combined, a total of 375 horsepower and 428 lbs.-ft. of torque are available, allowing for full towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2011 Touareg is wider and has a shorter overall height for a stronger presence. A longer wheelbase and greater length provide greater stability, and more room inside the cabin, while the use of new materials and other adjustments have removed nearly 450 pounds from the vehicle. The Touareg’s interior has also been refined, making for a better use of space for both the driver and passengers, as well as in the cargo area.

A seven-inch widescreen color display located between the main gauges in the dash provides the driver with the latest vehicle status information, including of the drive system in the hybrid model, turn-by-turn navigation directions, and more. Volkswagen’s new RNS850 touch screen entertainment and navigation system features an 8-inch screen, a 60GB hard drive with 18GB of space available to upload audio, video, and more, and a DVD/CD player with MP3 playback and Satellite/FM/AM stereo. The navigation system can display maps and directions in a 3-D view, and highlights major landmark highlights to further assist when traveling.

At the 2010 New York International Auto, Volvo showed off their new S60 sport sedan. It seems that Volvo is banking on the S60 to take them to the top of the sport sedan world: “There is no doubt the all-new S60 will be going head-to-head with the best sport sedans in the world,” said Doug Speck, VCNA President and CEO. “But with 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive and a very attractive starting price, I’m confident we’ll be popping up on many driving enthusiasts’ shopping lists.”

The all-new S60 will be launched stateside with the T6 engine, an upgraded, more powerful version of the T6 engine currently offered in the XC60 premium crossover. All T6 models come standard with Volvo’s all- wheel-drive system. The turbocharged T6, displacing 3.0 liters, has been improved with lower internal friction and is the most powerful six-cylinder engine currently offered by Volvo. It now puts out 300 horsepower and a stout 325 lb.-ft. of torque. Maximum torque is achieved from just 2,100 rpm and remains available throughout the rev range. Power is transmitted to the wheels via Volvo’s second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission.

The S60 is the first sedan on the market equipped with Advanced Stability Control. A new roll angle sensor identifies any skidding tendency at a very early stage so the anti-skid system can step in earlier and with greater precision. Advanced Stability Control is a great asset in dynamic driving involving considerable lateral forces, which improves handling and rapid avoidance maneuvers.

Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring for smoother cornering. This technology is a further refinement of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC). When cornering, the car’s inner driven wheel is braked while at the same time more power is transmitted to the outer driven wheel. This allows the driver to take the corner more tightly while reducing any tendency to understeer .

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And lastly, and perhaps most newsworthy, is the new Pedestrian Detection system. Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake is a groundbreaking technological solution that actively helps the driver avoid accidents. Volvo’s radar and camera-based system can detect pedestrians in front of the car, warn the driver if anyone walks out into its path and then automatically activate the S60′s full braking power if the driver fails to respond in time. This world-first technology can help the driver avoid a collision with a pedestrian. Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake consists of a newly developed radar unit integrated into the all-new S60′s grille, a camera fitted in front of the inside rearview mirror and a central control unit.

The 2011 model year of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI holds great news for fanboys and enthusiasts alike. 2011 means a new WRX STI four-door with wide-body design, two body styles, and re-tuned suspension. It is the first time that the WRX STI has been offered in two body styles (5-door and 4-door).

“The continuous evolution and development of the WRX STI is driven by the strong, loyal and vocal support from thousands of enthusiastic owners of this exciting high-performance vehicle,” said Tom Doll, executive vice president and COO of Subaru of America, Inc. “The 2011 4-door WRX STI will expand the appeal of this iconic performance model to a wider range of driving enthusiasts.”

In front, the 2011 WRX STI models feature sharpened bumper corners and wider, blacked-out fog lamp nacelles to accentuate the “wide and low” profile. A jutting lip spoiler with three-dimensional detailing emphasizes the cars’ sporty intent. The newly designed front grille with black base and blacked-out Subaru wing highlights the headlights’ shape to give the entire front end a more powerful appearance, accentuated by larger grille and bumper intake openings.

The Subaru WRX STI was already a highly optimized performance machine. Aluminum front lower L-arms reduce unsprung vehicle weight. Major chassis tuning changes include a lowered ride height and new pillow-ball bushings in front and stiffer bushings for the rear subframe that supports the double-wishbone suspension, thus improving camber and toe stiffness. Both the front and rear suspension systems employ higher-rate springs and thicker front and rear stabilizer bars than the 2010 model: 21 mm vs. 20 mm in front and 19 mm vs. 18 mm in rear. Spring rates have increased by 15.6 percent in front and 53 percent in the rear.

Exclusive to the WRX STI, the Brembo Performance Brake System uses ventilated 4-wheel Super Sport anti-lock (ABS) disc brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD). Super Sport ABS can control the braking forces at each rear wheel independently, which optimizes braking ability during hard cornering to help reduce understeer.

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The 2011 WRX STI continues as the ultimate-performance Subaru with its high-boost 305-hp turbocharged/intercooled 4-cyl. Boxer engine and 6-speed manual transmission. The STI also features Multi-Mode Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) version of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with three “Auto” modes, as well as a manual mode with six driver-selectable differential locking settings.

The WRX STI is equipped with advanced dynamic control systems, as well: the Multi-Mode Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) stability and traction control system is standard and features a track performance-optimized mode; Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE) technology allows the driver to tailor the car’s driving characteristics by choosing from among three selectable modes: “Intelligent,” “Sport” and “Sport Sharp”, using a rotary dial on the center console.

Expect to see the 2011 Impreza WRX STI models in Subaru dealerships late this summer.

At this years’ New York Auto Show, Nissan surprised the crowds with the 2011 Nissan JUKE Sport Cross. The JUKE is the next competitor to enter the compact crossover/hatchback segment. With its roots in a variety of lifestyle influences like motorcycles and rally cars, the JUKE packs quite the punch in a small package.

“JUKE is about to carve out a unique space in the rapidly growing compact crossover/hatchback segment with its combination of striking design, agile handling and driving pleasure and user friendly technology,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, NNA. “Add in the convenience, versatility and high seating positioning of a traditional compact SUV – and pricing that is expected to start at just under $20,000 – and you’ve got a vehicle unlike any other in its class.”

Powering JUKE is a standard 1.6-liter Direct Injection Gasoline (DIGTM) Turbo, 16-valve DOHC aluminum-alloy inline 4-cylinder engine rated at 180+ horsepower and 170+ lb-ft of torque. The engine, the first application in North America, combines energetic performance and good fuel economy. Two transmissions are offered – Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVTTM (Continuously Variable Transmission) with S-Mode and a 6-speed manual transmission (SV FWD and SL FWD models only).

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Another new-to-Nissan technology debuting on JUKE is the innovative Integrated Control (I-CON) system. The I-CON system functions in one setting as a controller for the automatic climate control system, and in the other offers a drive mode selector with three different throttle/transmission (CVT)/steering response settings – Normal for everyday driving, Sport for a more intense performance feel and Eco for maximum efficiency.

For more on the JUKE, visit the dedicated website for more images, video downloads, and info.