New York Auto Show Archives - Indiandrives.com

April 3, 2015

2016 Next-Gen Chevrolet Beat (Spark) Unveiled At New York Auto Show

To raise excitement at the New York and grab some attentions of Asian away from the ongoing much hyped Seoul Motor show, Chevrolet unveiled its new Beat (aka Spark in many countries) with many changes.

This small car of Chevrolet was the same since it was launched. Only minute nip and tucks took it over for these long years. But Beat managed for the maker to gain a impressive foothold in the bottom of market where most competitors compete for the survival just over a paltry margin. However, it was a noteworthy attempt of Chevrolet, and this new face is thrilling than before. Based on the Opel Karl and Vauxhall Viva, it holds many cues from Cruze like the front grille and wraparound head lamps. The fact this new face is more likeable, its rear door handle hidden in the C-pillar that is carried over from the present-generation also triumphed a unique equation in the new model. As appeared, that is the most loveable trick of Beat wasn’t meant to get missed on the new one. Furthermore, the rising shoulder line keeps its track with the rising waistline of the car applying it more of a character.

Moved inside the cabin, steering mounted bike-type bare basic instrument cluster is off the league; a properly designed cluster steps into the shoes. The new dashboard design with white inserts running across the length is noteworthy to talk about, just like the touchscreen infotainment system.

In the engine bay, next-gen Beat holds a 1.4-litre engine ECOTEC petrol engine sending 98bhp after mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Option of a CVT too is given in the list. In India, its beneficiary to work a diesel engine, which the country already has a one since long back.

As per the confirmation for many international markets, South Korea will start the production first, and will export to 40 other markets.

April 20, 2014

2015 Alfa Romeo 4C: 2014 New York Auto Show

Marking the Italian brand’s highly anticipated return to North America, the all-new 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C makes its New York Motor Show debut – a mid-engine design inspired by the brand’s state-of-the-art carbon fiber monocoque, all-aluminum turbocharged engine influenced by Formula 1, advanced technological solutions and revolutionary racing history, all for delivering supercar-level driving exhilaration and performance.

Harald Wester, CEO and President at Alfa Romeo said “The all-new Alfa Romeo 4C delivers supercar-level performance in its most elemental form.” “With its technological solutions and ultra-lightweight materials derived directly from motorsports, a mid-engine proportion for purposeful styling cues and maximum agility to enhance performance – the all-new 4C coupe marks Alfa Romeo’s return to sportscars and the brand’s return to North America.”

For the Alfa Romeo brand, the all-new 4C symbolizes the essential sportiness embedded in the brand’s DNA: Italian performance, technical excellence and style, for maximum driving pleasure in complete safety.

Acronym 4C

The Alfa Romeo 4C is inspired by the century-old tradition of Alfa Romeo and projects the brand’s authentic values into the future: Italian performance, engineering excellence and style, delivering maximum driving satisfaction in total safety. The “4C” name recalls Alfa Romeo’s great sporting tradition: the acronyms 8C and 6C in the 1930s and 1940s distinguished road and racing cars equipped with powerful 8 and 6 cylinder engines. The 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C model’s designation continues this tradition with the latest all-aluminum 1750cc 4-cylinder engine.

A Tradition Of Essential Beauty And Function

The inspiration for 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C dates back to the 1967 33 Stradale, the homologated version of the racing Type 33 that’s considered one of the most beautiful cars of all time. Like the 33 Stradale, which combined extreme functional and mechanical requirements with undeniable Alfa Romeo performance and style – the 4C coupe shares its body forms and follows this performance tradition with a state-of-the-art aluminum and carbon fiber structure, a high-performance turbocharged powerplant and an undoubtedly Italian-styled composite body “clothing”.

With a purpose-built cockpit inspired by the legendary 1967 33 Stradale, entering the interior of the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C means entering a world derived from motorsport – only essential components for performance are integrated. Two composite-framed sport seats, exposed carbon fiber monocoque and thermoformed dashboard emphasize the coupe’s technical uniqueness.

Ultra-Lightweight: Carbon Fiber, Aluminum And Composites Structures

To create an ultra-lightweight architecture needed for dynamic efficiency and maximum performance, the engineers looked to Formula 1 and only the most advanced supercars for state-of-the-art materials. The result is a monocoque made entirely of carbon fiber that delivers extraordinary strength and stiffness. Attached to the Alfa Romeo 4C’s exotic monocoque are roof reinforcements, lightweight aluminum engine-mounting frame and front and rear cell structures.

Finally, two sport seats feature a fiberglass and carbon fiber reinforced-composite structure for delivering the seating position and strength needed for performance driving.

High-tech powertrain for exceptional track performance and drivability

Powering the 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C is 1750cc direct-injection aluminum engine, which is good for churning out 237 horsepower with 258 pound feet of torque. To ensure exceptional drivability and performance on the racetrack or city streets, this new engine features cutting-edge technical solutions, including intercooler, dual (intake and exhaust) direct-injection, eight counterweights, continuous variable-valve timing (VVT) and intake and exhaust systems optimized for Alfa Romeo 4C’s mid-engine layout.

The engine is mated to a paddle-shifting Alfa TCT dual-clutch transmission that has been specifically designed for the 4C. With its distinctively calibrated software, which adjusts with the Alfa DNA selector system, the Alfa TCT’s gearshifts are engineered to become most aggressive in the Race and Dynamic modes.

Alfa DNA selector offers advanced technological solutions

The 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C features the brand’s pioneering Alfa DNA selector with “Race” mode – enabling the driver to optimize the right level of performance through four modes.

Natural – allows smooth drivability and grand touring comfort for Alfa TCT gearbox

All-weather – allows special engine and brake control logic and gentler accelerator input to prevent skidding and match road speed and engineered to ensure maximum control under adverse weather conditions

Race – One of the most extreme performance modes, putting the driver in total control of the car under race conditions. Anti Slip Regulation and ESC are deactivated to allow the driver to control traction through the accelerator pedal.

Dynamic – allows enhanced driving performance through less intrusive electronic stability control setting and a more aggressive powertrain calibration

Limited To 500 Serialized Units: 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition

For “Alfisti” in North America, a special 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition will be made available this June. These first 500 Alfa Romeo 4C coupe models will be serialized and include the following appointments:

Bi-xenon headlamps with LED illuminated daytime running lights

Alfa Red, Rosso Competizione or Madreperla White exterior paint

Aluminum rear diffuser

Carbon fiber rear spoiler and mirror caps

Racing exhaust

Race suspension tuning with front- and rear-sway bars and performance-tuned shock absorbers

Red lacquered brake calipers

Staggered 18-inch (front) and 19-inch (rear) forged wheels painted in Dark Gray

Sport seats with black microfiber

Leather-wrapped instrument and door panels

Serialized “Launch Edition” plaque

Red or White interior accent stitching on the instrument panel, steering wheel, handbrake, floor mats and door handles

April 18, 2014

2015 Jaguar XKR Final Fifty Edition Unveiled at New York Auto Show

Jaguar XK is about to end its life and the final lot is just about to hit the production bay; but before hitting the last mile on the line, Jaguar had released the Final Fifty edition of the 2015 XK and had said to make it exclusively available for the US at the 2014 New York Auto Show.

The final fifty edition is based on the 2015 Jaguar XKR models.

Out of the total fifty, 25 of them would be the 2015 XKR Coupes and the other 25 would be 2015 XKR convertibles. All of them are meant to be painted in Ultimate Black with special trim.

It will hit the production in summer and would reach the showrooms in fall.

Not to be surprised, this inspiration of the final fifty was taken from the special final edition of its iconic E-Type sports car in 1974, where 49 of them were painted in black over cinnamon trim and one in British Racing Green.

Hope so to make it a collectible too, Jaguar had given some special touch on the exteriors and interiors. The hood of the car is taken from the XKR-S GT, with a 20-inch wheel. The under hood technicalities are made equipped with Performance Pack and Dynamic Pack, which feature performance enhancements to the suspension, aerodynamics and powertrain.

Though, cabin of the 2015 XKR final fifty edition remains mostly unchanged, but the sorted pinnacles of Performance seats, a Jet suedecloth steering wheel and special door sill plates are included. The special Jaguar also bells a Bowers & Wilkins audio system, and ultimately a badge featuring the signature of Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum completes it all.

The power to it will come from a AJ-V8 Gen III 5-liter V8 engine that produces 510hp and 461 lb.-ft. of torque. It can zest from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds and can stand onto a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h).

April 16, 2014

New 2015 Mini Countryman Revealed

Mini unveiled the new 2015 Countryman ahead of 2014 New York Auto Show debut.

The 2015 Countryman receives new front grille, LED daytime running headlamps, and revamped alloys with reduced weight. The all-wheel drive variant gets an underbody guard and fog lamps as standard. The 2015 Countryman buyers can also avail the new exterior from three options: Jungle Green metallic, Midnight Grey metallic and Starlight Blue metallic. Additional customisation options includes contrasting colours for the roof and exterior mirror caps, bonnet stripes and Sport Stripes as well as Piano Black Exterior – available for MINI for the first time.

The interiors too get a tint of change, dark dials for road speed and engine speed, MINI John Cooper Works Countryman additionally with John Cooper Works logo in the central instrument, ventilation controls in chrome, extendable luggage compartment from 350 to as much as 1,170 litres and new a infotainment system.

The engine specification remains the same with 4-cylinder petrol and 4-cylinder diesel engines. The Countryman S gains an upgraded from 1.6-liter turbo mill of 190 bhp (140 kW) & 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque. The model now is enabled to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 218 km/h (135 mph). The gearbox standardizes with 6-speed manual transmission, while the 6-speed automatic transmission gets listed for the optional forte.

To those who thinks standard MINI Countryman is not so cool, for them the BMW owned car brand had revealed endless number of customization options, and they are xenon headlamps and adaptive turning light, comfort access, panorama glass roof, automatic air conditioning, removable tow hitch with trailer load of up to 1,200 kilograms, MINI navigation system, Sport Button, sports suspension, sports leather steering wheel with shift paddles for automatic transmission, multifunction steering wheel with cruise control, Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and model-specific John Cooper Works accessories.

The 2015 MINI Countryman is about to head towards the showrooms in Germany by July.

April 14, 2014

Volkswagen Golf SportWagen To Debut At New York Auto Show

Volkswagen of America, Inc. will be introducing concept version of the newest SportWagen model at the New York Auto Show, which will feature the new EA288 TDI Clean Diesel engine and a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. The concept previews the new Golf SportWagen, which goes on sale early next year. Based on the new MQB (modular transverse matrix) platform, the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen will continue the trend introduced by the 7th generation Golf whereby it is bigger, lighter, more fuel efficient, more powerful and roomier as compared to the outgoing SportWagen model.

Thanks to the extensive use of high and ultra-high strength steels, the SportWagen bodyshell is lighter than the current Jetta SportWagen and provides an enhanced crash structure. Throughout the vehicle, incredible attention to detail has optimized components such as the air conditioning unit, seats and even the electrical architecture to help save weight. The Golf SportWagen is 0.7 inches wider and 1.1 inches longer as compared to the current SportWagen model. It is also 0.9 inches lower, which benefits both the car’s proportions and aerodynamic performance: the CdA number has been reduced by almost 10% unlike its predecessor. The interior package has been optimized for providing more rearseat shoulder and leg room. Although the overall height of SportWagen was lowered by nearly an inch, rear and front headroom has been improved by 0.4 inches.

The Volkswagen Golf SportWagen has long been a top choice for customers who want a vehicle that’s fun to drive and provides a large cargo area, which is truly versatile. This new SportWagen is even more appealing, providing nearly 10% more cargo room with rear seats folded than the outgoing model. Essentially, the Golf SportWagen offers a sportier alternative to compact sports utility vehicles. It will be available with two engine choices. The Golf SportWagen will be motivated by a 1.8-liter turbocharged, direct-injection 4-cylinder TSI engine, which is good for producing 170 horsepower. The engine will be mated to 6-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmissions. These powertrains provide manufacturer highway fuel economy that’s enhanced by as much as 17% unlike the 2.5-liter Jetta SportWagen.

The TDI Clean Diesel model will be propelled by the new EA288 common rail, 2.0 liter direct injection, turbocharged diesel powerplant, which is good for pumping out 150 horsepower, an enhancement of 10 hp over the current SportWagen model. The TDI model will have a choice of DSG dual-clutch automatic or six-speed manual transmissions.

Design

The design team, led by Klaus Bischoff (VW Brand Design) and Walter de Silva (Group Design), created a sophisticated and timeless new SportWagen, using the principles of Volkswagen’s Design DNA. Thanks to the MQB platform, which dictates a fixed relationship between the pedals and the front wheel centerline, the vehicle’s proportions have changed. The front wheels, for example, are now 1.7 inches further forward than on the current SportWagen design. This has created what Bischoff calls “‘a cab backward impression’. That’s what we call the proportions of premium-class vehicles, where the passenger compartment is a long way towards the back and the hood is long.” Unlike the previous generation SportWagen, the new car’s front end looks completely different, thanks to the way that the hood slopes down into the front fenders instead of the fender peaks being higher than the hood. This new SportWagen features more angular horizontal design cues, with a slender radiator grille.

At the back, the clean surface around the Volkswagen badge, the wide rear window, and the geometric taillights are typical SportWagen features, even though the lines are completely different. The tailgate, for instance, allows for a lower load height than before, while the overall effect emphasizes the additional width of the new car.

Features

Along the lines of the new Golf 7, the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen will bring numerous available new features to market including 12-way power driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof, Bi-Xenon headlights with LED DRLs, Climatronic automatic climate control, Park Distance Control, available 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and Advanced Front lighting System.

In addition, the new SportWagen features a new standard driver assistance system dubbed Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, a system which automatically engages the vehicle’s brakes after it is involved in a collision in order to help reduce secondary collisions and to help bring the vehicle to a stop. The system is triggered when the airbag sensors detect a primary collision and it is limited to a maximum retardation rate of 0.6g by the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) unit. The driver can effectively override the system at any time; for example, it is disabled if it recognizes that the driver is accelerating. The system is also deactivated if the driver initiates braking at a higher rate than 0.6g.

April 9, 2012

2013 Avalon of Toyota unveiled at the New York Auto Show

Considered as the flotilla leader of Toyota’s mid-size sedans, the 2013 Avalon by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota has been introduced at the 2012 New York Auto Show, which is happening in the United States right now. This fourth generation of Toyota’s big and fancy sedan has gone through the evolution of its previous nine models that came up in the previous years. Even Bob Carter, who is the overall head of the Toyota’s American subsidiary, couldn’t stop himself from commenting that even he has never seen such a beautiful car of Toyota in his 20 years of association with the Japanese firm. This mid-size sedan will definitely attract a huge fan following and the sale should be very good.

It is a very closely guarded secret that Avalon is Toyota’s first all-American car. This has been designed in California, engineered in Michigan and built in Kentucky, while the sales and service for this car would be carried out throughout the United States. This makes it a lot more American than any other cars by foreign car manufacturing firms who often manufacture their units in Canada or Mexico. Many people have started comparing it with Toyota’s Buick, but the Buick has upgraded itself commendably over the past couple of years, and this should be seen as a compliment for 2013 Avalon.

The details of the powertrain for the new Avalon is not clear at all, but sources say that it would give a better mile per gallon compared to a Fiat 500 which comes with a fuel efficiency in the city driving condition for 30 miles per gallon and on the highway for 38 miles per gallon. The Avalon, which came till now were powered by V-6, 3.5-liter engine.According to sources from inside the company, the 2013 model would definitely see a V6, but it has not been made clear what would be the displacement of the engine as well as the power and torque figure.

The new model has undoubtedly new looks of a more lower height from the tire to the body, with constricted rear and front overhangs and a front frame which is now extended. The length has increased but the height has reduced in comparison to the previous models. The sloping roofline gives it a more classy kind of look which is attractive indeed. The front grille is redesigned and the tail lamps has LED lights fitted with the double rear exhaust pipe outlets give it a race car look from the back.

The interior of this sedan clearly exhibit an attempt to give its passengers a more spacious and premium feel of a royalty when they get into it. The noise intervention inside the cabin is greatly reduced by the acoustic glass on the front-side and the windshield. The leather upholstery is pretty rich in its texture and feel, even the gear shift knob and steering wheels are leather draped to show off what the luxury Avalon stands for. This is a very tech-savvy sedan, which has three color display screens to handle the multi-information system display from audio navigation interface to climate control panel.A 6.1-inch touchscreen for entertainment has been also installed in it by the firm. The safety features in this vehicle are simply state-of-the-art. The TRAC (traction control), ABS (anti-lock braking system),SST-BOS (smart stop technology brake-override system), brake-assist, EBD (electronic brake-force distribution) and VSC (vehicle stability control) are the main features of this new age sedan.

The current models of Avalon start from $34,000. So the latest 2013 Avalon should be somewhere around that and at the same time it is not suppose to step on the toes of Lexus as well. With speculations of its appearance in the dealerships across America by this year end, expect the price to be declared only then.

April 6, 2012

Shelby Cobra CSX2000 returns to New York Auto Show after 50 year

In 1962, Caroll Shelby rolled out the first ever Cobra painted in Pearl Yellow at the sixth International Automobile show in New York. Fifty years into the event, the performance carmakers are set to roll out the Shelby Cobra from the same year.

The 62 Shelby roadster was created by Caroll Shelby himself, and the vehicle is the first union of an AC Ace and Ford V8 engine. Shelby initially opted a 3.6-litre V8, before finally dumping it for a more powerful 4.2-litre engine that thumps a missive 260 hp. To keep the wheels on ground with the extra ponies added, Shelby tweaked the chassis tubes, driveline, springs and rear differential.

Fifty years later, the CSX2000 is arguably in good state. The seats are worn out, shifter has lost its glitter and the paint looks dull, but that is the charm of a classic car. This first generation snake is priced for $20 million, however, Shelby has no intentions of selling what is considered the most valued American Sports car.

April 5, 2012

Land Rover DC100 Expedition concept unveiled before New York Auto Show

This new concept shows off a possible design direction towards the next generation of Land Rover Defender. Although the new Defender isn’t suppose to come until 2015, but we sure got a glimpse of the looks it could possibly be coming with, in future. This happened with the showcasing of the open top DC100 Sports concept and hard top DC100 concept car in the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.

This concept car has a V-8 petrol engine that sounds very tempting to accelerate, while on the circuit at a low speed the engine response is formidable. But as per the Land Rover experts this is strictly a concept model for viewing purpose only but not a true copy of a production car’s maneuverability efficiency. But as per the experts, if this so specified concept model for viewing only purpose can drive around at a low speed on the road copy circuits in such a smooth manner, the refined version would be the best considering there is still more than a year to work on this concept before the real deal comes on the show.

The slightly higher position of seats compared to the Land Rover Freelander and Range Rover Evoque will definitely give the driver and passenger an advantage when it will come to looking around at a larger area with fewer blind spots in front of the driver and beside as well. With a superb view of outside and a light-full of airy cockpit this has no such safety kits inside, around the pillars of windscreen to restrict visibility. The huge glass roof on the top gives the cabin a feel of airiness and space, this roof can extend back over the rear windshield to the boot space on the rear. Although its boot space is a bit small and with the rear space having double benches on either side in the same disposition as of the current Defender makes it more comfortable.

With new white and orange exterior the DC100 Expedition Concept looks ravishing but it also reminds me of the KTM bikes with the same color pattern. The levers and switches inside the cabin of this concept vehicle aren’t functional yet; however, the dashboard looks smart and simple. A gear-leaver mounted on the dash is a classy touch to this concept as well as it makes it apart from the previous Land Rovers.

April 5, 2012

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe unveiled: New York debut

Hyundai has been fairly successful in the global market with the Santa Fe crossover. Which is why, the Korean automaker launched not one, but two Santa Fe crossovers at the New York Auto Show. There’s the regular seven-seat 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, and a heavy diet five-seat version called Santa Fe Sport.

As expected the 2013 Santa Fe features the Korean automaker’s Fluidic Sculpture design language. However, unlike the Sonata Fluidic and i20 Fluidic, the 2013 Santa Fe crossovers feature the company’s latest ‘Storm Edge’ design theme. The Korean automaker claims the ‘Storm Edge’ design theme takes Fluidic sculpture to next level and it means the “dynamic images created by nature during the formation of a storm.”

On the front, both the Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe models feature the familiar hexagonal grille, strong character lines and rising beltlines. It simply makes the characteristic designs of the crossover more aggressive. The Korean automaker is likely to repeat the design in future Hyundai lineup. It also features new headlights, larger fog lamps with daytime running LED and black cladding that highlights the entire body. On the rear, the Santa Fe features tail lamps with LED and trapezoidal twin-exhausts that slip in under the rear bumper. As a whole, the Santa Fe features bold and aggressive appeal.

For the 2013 edition, the Santa Fe features as a two-row five-seat Santa Fe Sport and beefed-up three-row seven-seat Santa Fe. For the extra row, the seven-seat version gets a longer wheelbase (3.9-inch increase), a longer overall length (8.5-inch increase) and a slightly increased width and greater ride height. In addition, it features 1.9-inch extra leg room in second row together with 5.6 cubic feet extra cargo room.

In terms of comfort, the 2013 Santa Fe features several options from heated rear seats, eight-way power driver’s seat and Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system. The top-of-the-range model sports a heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof.

Under the hood of the Santa Fe Sport is four cylinder option from 190 hp, 2.4-litre engine giving 181 lb-ft of torque, while the turbocharged 2.0-litre churns out a massive 264 hp. For the three-row Santa Fe model, Hyundai offers 3.3-litre direct injection V6 that gives a massive 290 hp. Power is driven to the wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability. Front-wheel-drive is standard across the Santa Fe range, however, the crossover is featured with Torque-Vectoring Corner Control (TVCC), a system that distributes torque and controls braking to maximize traction under steep gradients. The Korean automaker claims that the TVCC has never been seen before in non-luxury crossovers.

Hitting the European market in early 2013, the Santa Fe series in s like to come to India soon after that. In India, it will face serious competition from Ford EcoSport and Mtisubishi.

April 3, 2012

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL Class: Leaked

With the New York Auto Show just around the corner, teaser images and leaks of cars have bombarded the web. What we have here is the new Mercedes-Benz GL Class that has undergone serious tweak with an updated power plant.

Following the design cues of the next-gen Mercs, the GL Class features news headlamp design similar to those seen on the SLK and SL. It features LED running headlamps, two-bar grille and redesigned bumpers incorporating larger air vents.

Featured as a seven-seater, the GL Class is largely based on the M Class with leather seats, wood trim, sculpted surfaces and metallic accents.

There is no word on the how the new GL Class will be powered, but we’re likely to see the 3.0-litre V6 diesel motor that pumps out 255 bhp. Mercedes could also provide the option of a 412 bhp turbocharged 4.7-litre V8 running on gasoline. Mated to the engine will be a seven-speed automatic transmission with the 4-Matic drive.

India will begin production of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL Class towards the end of 2013 at the Chakan facility, where it will arrive via CKD kits. However, the German luxury carmaker might import CBUs by mid 2013.