NOT IN THE BACK OF THE NISSAN NV200 TAXI, WHERE I HAD PLANNED TO WRITE THIS BLOG, NEW YORK – This is my 16
th New York International Auto Show, and I can’t remember another more loaded with significant new cars and trucks. Non-automotive media have for years tried to play up the “Green” slant to this show, but not this year. The Infiniti LE concept is the only such car making its debut here, if you don’t count hybrid versions of cars also sold with conventional internal combustion engines, such as the Lexus ES and Chevrolet Impala.
Here’s what I saw:
Most Significant
SRT Viper, of course. Not because it will sell in remotely big numbers, or even make any money for Chrysler Group. It’s a halo car, after all. Design chief Ralph Gilles says it’s crucial for the soul of the company, and that’s all that matters. Pre-unveil buzz on the Viper is that the model’s many fans were disappointed in the styling, and from far back in the crowd at the press conference, it looked like a mild rework of the original GTS. Look more closely, and it’s a nicely refined Viper. With its federally mandated stability control and its Ferrari-supplier seats, its probably a much better car to drive than the original. The new, lighter, 600-horsepower car gets the kind of update that has kept the Porsche 911 relevant for 48 years.
Most Significant Car Not Here
Jaguar F-Type. Automakers, especially the European luxury ones, have learned to stretch out unveilings to get the most ink/glowing words for upcoming models. And why not? After all, this is the follow-up to the E-Type.
Best Sedan Launch
Lincoln MKZ. Good to see Lincoln managed to translate the Detroit concept into a real, real good-looking midsize luxury sedan. If the ’13
Ford Fusion has an Aston Martin-like grille, the ’13 Lincoln MKZ has an Aston-like tail. The brand might just survive, after all.
Runner-Up, Sedan Launch
The 2014 Chevrolet Impala. Chevy almost shot itself in the foot by first wheeling out the two best-looking Impalas, ever, a ’65 SS 409 and a ’66 SS 396 convertible. It redeemed itself a bit with the new front-drive model, which shares the long-wheelbase Epsilon II platform with Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac XTS. The new car evokes ’69 Impala “fuselage” side surfacing without being retro. The problem is that GM can’t afford to introduce cars off a single platform at the same time anymore, the way it did with, say, the ’65 Chevy Impala and ’65 Buick LeSabre. Ford, whose new Fusion and new Lincoln MKZ launch about the same time this year, can. The result is the new Impala will have some tech features that won’t be retrofit on the more expensive Buick LaCrosse, while the MKZ will be a more obvious upgrade from the Fusion.
Chevrolet’s Nose Job
Traverse. Along with the nose on the new Impala, this obviously is the new face of Chevrolet. More
Camaro-like, less massive, and a good improvement.
Buick’s Nose Job
Dave Lyon, Buick’s design chief, told me that the ’13 Enclave’s nose is designed to make the crossover “more assertive” while also being “more carlike,” if that makes sense. I guess the alternative might have been to insert a retro ’55 Buick grille. Anyway, it works, and the classic ‘50s Buick grilles look good in the new models, including this one.
Another Shot at Midsize, Front-Drive Passion
Nissan compared its latest generation front-wheel-drive midsize sedan with the
BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. Nice try, but we’ve heard that at least since the launch of the first bigger Altima, the 2002 model. It was a very good midsize sedan, and made a good run for our
Car of the Year award for ’02, but the Altima has never been a sport sedan, especially with the CVT. With all the new midsize cars launching this year, from Chevy Malibu and Ford Fusion to
Honda Accord and Mazda6, isn’t it time to accept these cars for what they are; very well-built transportation appliances? First thing is to make these cars comfortable, efficient machines for up to five people.
Another Shot at Fullsize, Front-Drive Passion
Toyota wants to get more Gen-X buyers into its Avalon, the sedan previously known as the World’s Best Buick. When I saw the pictures, I thought it looked like the designers were trying far too hard. Viewed in the tin, it looks better, and it’s far more interesting than the new Lexus ES also at this show.
Best Hidden Redesign
The new Ram 1500 pickup. It has optional air suspension and a heavily reworked chassis, electronic power steering and optional start/stop. Much more important than new sheetmetal in a pickup truck. If Chrysler’s claim that the V-6 Ram with Torqueflite 8-speed automatic gets better fuel economy than the EcoBoost V-6 Ford F-150, it will be a very significant new truck. I like revival of the Torqueflite name, which like the Dodge Dart name, comes from Mopar’s mid-century glory years.
Best Vaporware
Fisker Atlantic. I actually like the looks of this new, compact Fisker. Even the nose is growing on me, messy as that sounds. None of this makes me confident Fisker can make any money on these cars, even if it doubled list prices.
