Hot cars from world's best auto show

The New York International Auto Show is one of the oldest auto shows in the world, held annually since 1900.

Car makers launch some of their best car for US at this event. In fact, New York International Auto Show has witnessed birth of some of the best cars in the world, including Mustang, which completes 50 years in 2014.

Let’s take a look at some of the best cars showcased at the event.

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(With inputs from Indian Autos Blog)

Alfa Romeo 4C

Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo has made its re-entry into the US market with the Alfa Romeo 4C.

The 4C made its debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and has been wowing Europe since then.

The brand by itself was set to re-enter USA last October, but a restructuring of Fiat’s European projections put that on the hold.

The 4C is a mid-engined two-seater coupe that houses a turbocharged 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine making 240 hp at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 350 Nm between 2,100 rpm and 4,000 rpm. It gets a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with paddle shifters.

The car has a length of approximately 4 metres and a wheelbase of just under 2.4 meters. It weighs less than a ton, tipping the scales at around 850 kg.

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Honda HR-V (Honda Vezel)

The US-Spec Honda Vezel, called the Honda HR-V was unveiled at the New York Auto Show. The HR-V for the US will be manufactured in Honda’s plant in Mexico.

The production-version of the compact crossover was first introduced in Japan at the Tokyo Motor Show last year as the Vezel.

The Vezel is a huge hit in Japan, with the company getting almost 25,000 bookings within the first 3 weeks of its launch.

However the company does not plan to launch the Vezel in India in the near term, as a smaller Brio-based SUV has received the green light to hit the jetstream of the Indian mini SUV market.

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2015 VW Jetta

The new Jetta sports a few cosmetic changes along with a new powerplant. The new 2.0-litre EA288 TDI diesel engine makes 150 hp between 3,500-4,000 rpm and peak torque of 320 Nm of peak torque between 1,750 and 3,000 rpm.

To conform to both the current and future emissions norms in the US, the Jetta also features a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) exhaust unit. Compared to the NOx converter used in the previous models, VW says, the SCR promises a cleaner exhaust and more fuel efficiency.

As far as visual changes to, the sedan gets a redesigned radiator grille with three cross fins, optional Bi-Xenon headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), re-sculpted foglamps and a new bumper.

At the rear, the trunk lid has an ‘aerodynamic trailing edge’, new LED taillights (On the GLI and Hybrid models only) and a new bumper.

2015 Chevrolet Cruze

The sedan gets a few changes to both its exterior and interior but no changes to the powertrain.

The front grille takes its impression from the Chevy Impala and Malibu, giving the sedan a dual-port front fascia along with LED daytime running lights on the LT and LTZ trims.

Changes to the interior include revised cup holders, repositioning of the trunk release button to the centre console and changing the position of the door lock switches from the centre console to the respective doors.

Safety features go up in the new Cruze with 10 airbags on offer as standard, while side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, rear park assist and a rear view camera are available as options.

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2015 Toyota Camry

Toyota says that the Camry was stripped down to its chassis and rebuilt from the ground up. Only the roof remains unchanged.

Additional spot welds on the chassis and body panels promise better rigidity and ride quality, with a retuned suspension taking the Camry’s ride to an whole new level of responsiveness, says the company.

A body line starts at the Camry’s front fender and spans across the doors and the rear fender. The revised front fender now gets a trapezoidal grille - a la Lexus - and the Camry is now available in 10 colours.

Engine options remain unchanged with Toyota offering a 2.5-litre four-cylinder or 3.5-litre V6 gas engines paired with 6-speed automatic transmissions, or a 2.5-litre Atkinson Cycle engine with Hybrid Synergy drive matched to an E-CVT.

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2015 Hyundai Sonata

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata, which was launched in its home market in South Korea last month also debuting the Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design, has made its American debut at the New York Auto Show.

Showed for the first time outside of South Korea, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol developing 168 PS and 201 Nm of torque and a 2.4-litre GDI producing 193 PS and 247 Nm of torque.

Transmission options include a 6-speed manual and automatic, with the drive being sent to the front wheels.

The sedan gets 6 airbags, EBD, ABS, LED taillights, ESP, bi-xenon headlamps, blind spot detection, advanced cruise control and lane departure warning system. It measures 4,855 mm in length, 1,865 mm in width, 1,475 mm in height and 2,805 mm in wheelbase.

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2015 Nissan Versa (Nissan Sunny facelift)

Nissan has unveiled the 2015 Nissan Versa (facelift) at the ongoing New York Auto Show. Indian readers will be aware that the Nissan Versa in the USA is the same as the Nissan Sunny in India.

The changes to the 2015 Nissan Versa are also pretty much similar to that of the Nissan Sunny facelift shown at the Auto Expo 2014.

Up front, the sedan gets larger headlamps and chrome border on the grille and foglamps. There are also some variant level changes like an ORVM integrated with indicators for the top SL and 15-inch alloy wheels for the SV.

Importantly for the US market, the Versa gets a 1.6-liter HR16DE 4-cylinder engine rated at 109 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm.

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Audi RS7 Dynamic Edition

The Audi RS7 Dynamic Edition made its global debut at the 2014 New York Auto Show. The vehicle was showcased to detail the options available to the company’s personalisation program.

The RS7 Dynamic Edition features a front splitter, diffuser and engine cover made with carbon fibre The model is also seen with a sports exhaust system, red brake calipers and 21-inch gloss black alloys.

Changes to the car’s cabin is relatively less, with customers given the company of Valcona leather seats, carbon fiber trim, red seat belts and contrast stitching.

Wile the engine is the same as the standard RS7 (4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 560 bhp), the special edition sits on a DRC suspension that uses three-stage variable dampers hydraulically linked to the Audi Drive Select system, as well as a sport differential at the rear.

The RS7 Dynamic Edition will be available in the United States from summer onwards at a base price of $146,045 (Rs 88.13 lakh). In India, the RS7 was launched earlier this year for Rs 1.28 crore.

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Mercedes S63 AMG Coupe

Even before the S Class coupe could go on sale, Mercedes-Benz have revealed the S63 AMG coupe at the New York Auto Show which commenced.

The S63 AMG coupe is based on the S Class coupe which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

Where the S Class coupe gets a 4.7-litre V8 engine producing 455 hp and 700 Nm of torque, the S63 coupe gets an AMG tuned twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 engine outputting 585 hp and 900 Nm of torque.

An AMG SpeedShift 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox can channel this power either to the rear wheels or to all wheels in case of the AWD model.

The RWD model does 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, while the AWD takes only 3.9 seconds for the same sprint. Top-speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

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BMW Concept X5 eDrive

BMW has unveiled the BMW Concept X5 eDrive at the ongoing New York Auto Show.

The concept is what BMW calls as the meeting of its xDrive and eDrive, describing it “the logical next step towards bringing about a radical reduction in fuel consumption and emissions”.

The concept is equipped with two engines - a BMW 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine making 245 hp at 5,000 rpm and peak torque of 350 Nm at 1,250 rpm and an electric motor that makes 95 hp.

A lithium-ion battery pack, located under the luggage compartment, provides power for the electric motor which gives the concept SUV a range of 30 km at maximum speed of 120 kph on all-electric mode.

The concept gets a few styling changes, like the kidney grille bars, air intake bars and an insert on the rear bumper, all finished with the i Blue colour made for the BMW i8 and i3.

The hybrid SUV also comes with body-coloured wheel arches, roof rails, a connector for the charging cable which lights up during charging.

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BMW M4 Convertible

The official unveiling of the BMW M4 Convertible was held at the New York Auto Show. Prices start at $73,425 (Rs 44.11 lakh) in the US, with deliveries commencing this summer.

The 3.0-litre V6 engine, featuring M TwinPower Turbo technology with two mono-scroll turbochargers, that produces 431 hp between 5,500 and 7,300 rpm and peak torque of 550 Nm between 1,850 and 5,500 rpm powers the convertible.

A 6-speed gearbox is standard whilst BMW’s 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission gearbox is optional.

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BMW X4 SUV

The X3′s bigger brother X4, in the USA, gets 3 petrol engines and 3 diesel engines, with power outputs ranging from 184 hp to 313 hp.

While the new generation 2.0-litre diesel engines do duty for the xDrive 20d, the four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engines are found in the xDrive 28i and xDrive 20i. For the 28i and 20i, the engines make 258 hp and 184 hp respectively.

Auto start/stop function comes as standard as part of BMW’s technology package for the X4 that also offers a coasting function if the 8-speed automatic box is fitted.

Brake energy regeneration low rolling-resistance 17-inch tyres are other fuel saving features on the SUV.

Serial production of the BMW X4 will begin in at the Spartanburg plant in Spring, and hit the market at a starting price of $45,625 (Rs 27.54 lakh).

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Land Rover Discovery Vision concept

The concept shows the future direction for all Discovery models, the first of which is due in 2015.

The theme for the concept, says JLR, is versatility. The car carries design elements like a stepped roof and alpine lights.

Seats can be folded flat or slid backward and forward to make the car a six-seater, five-seater or a four-seater ‘Limousine’ mode, via a touchscreen menu on the centre console.

Technologically speaking, the concept sports various features like video calls between passengers through seatback infotainment units. Doors, indicators, headlamps and seatback screens can be operated via gesture controls.

The day-like laser headlamps feature intelligent object tracking and beam-dipping capabilities.

Land Rover’s next-generation Terrain Response system makes its debut in the concept.

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Ford Mustang 50 year limited edition

Ford has unveiled the Ford Mustang 50 year limited edition at the New York Auto Show to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mustang. It was at the New York Auto Show in 1964 that the Ford Mustang was brought to life.

Ford will make 1,964 units of the special Mustang in two new colours - Wimbledon White and Kona Blue.

Exterior features unique to the limited edition Mustang are the soft chrome surrounds for the three LED blades forming the rear combination lamp, and louvered rear quarter windows.

The aluminium trim panel that houses the instrument panel features an axel spin finish and the serial limited edition badge on the passenger side. These touches are unique to the special edition.

Ford has fitted the special edition with a Performance Pack. Power is derived from a 5.0-litre V8 engine that churns out 420 hp and comes in manual and automatic gearbox variants.

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Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible

The convertible, predictably, is pegged as “The most powerful convertible ever produced by Chevrolet.”

The soft-top roof that has been added can be closed and opened at speeds up to 30 mph/50 kph. There are also dual accent panels behind the seats that come in two colours.

The convertible is same as the coupe mechanically, inheriting the 6.2-litre LT4 V8 engine that develops 625 bhp and 861 Nm of torque which is mated to a seven-speed manual transmission or an optional eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

There have been no structural reinforcements added after the roof has been chopped off, says Chevrolet.

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2015 Ford Focus

The Focus is the world’s best selling car and the facelift of the hatchback was shown in Geneva last month.

The four-door sedan now gets the famed 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox for the US-spec version.

In addition, Ford offers an SE Sport Package, which includes new body treatments, paddle shifters (requires automatic transmission), a revised touring suspension, 17-inch black gloss aluminium wheels and P215/50 HR-17 tyres.

Cosmetically the new Focus gets a new grille, restyled hood, signature LED for headlamps and taillights, new rear lamp clusters and a restyled trunk lid. On the inside, the Focus gets its rear view cameras to display on either a 4.2-inch screen or on an 8-inch screen that comes with MyFord equipped cars.

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2015 MINI Countryman

On the outside, MINI has made changed to the Countryman’s LED daytime running lights, grille, alloy wheel designs, LED foglights, added three new body colours and under-body guards (available only on all wheel drive variants).

Mechanically, all variants of the Countryman now comply to Euro 6 emission norms. The Countryman Cooper S produces an additional 6 hp from its 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

Inside, the refreshed Countryman gains Mini’s new infotainment system and some chrome on the switchgear.

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2015 Fiat 500

Apart from 3 new exterior paint colours, the hatchback is pretty much the same as its current version. On the inside, however, is a host of changes.

To start with, Fiat has provided an advanced instrument panel with a 7-inch HD TFT screen that can be used to both monitor and configure vehicle information.

The centre console has been revamped to provide it with an additional USB port and the car is now equipped with Bluetooth audio control.

The TFT display will be standard on the 2015 Fiat 500 Sport, Lounge, Turbo and Abarth models, and optional on the Pop variant.

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2015 Jeep Renegade

The Renegade gets a choice of two engines, the 2.4-litre Tigershark engine that makes 184 hp and 240 Nm of torque and a smaller 1.4-litre turbocharged engine that makes 160 hp and 250 Nm of peak torque.

The five-seater Renegade gets the family grille at the front. Its almost flat roofline amplifies luggage space at the rear.

A ‘My Sky’ open-air, dual-panel roof can also be removed and stored flat in a height-adjustable rear cargo area, says Jeep.

NEXT to read more…

2015 VW Golf Sportwagen

VW is calling the concept as “A sportier alternative to compact SUVs”. There are two engines on offer. A turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder petrol engine that develops 170 bhp and a 2.0-litre TDI that makes 150 bhp.

While the petrol engine can be connected to a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic, the TDI can be paired to a six-speed manual or DSG transmission.

The production-model, which is to be launched early in 2015, will get bi-xenon headlamps, panoramic sunroof, 18-inch aluminium wheels along with automatic climate control inside.

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2015 Dodge Challenger

American muscle car maker Dodge unveiled the 2015 Dodge Challenger at the New York Auto Show.

The 2015 Challenger is available in eight trim levels: SXT, SXT Plus, R/T, R/T Plus, R/T Shaker, R/T Plus Shaker, 6.4-liter Scat Pack and 392 HEMI Scat Pack Shaker.

The muscle car gets a host of engine options, starting from a standard 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 that churns out 305 hp mated to an 8-speed automatic.

Next is a 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine for the R/T variants that makes 375 hp and is mated to a 6-speed Tremec manual gearbox.

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2015 Infiniti QX80

The full-size SUV is given new full LED headlamps and tail lamps, a reworked grille, two new alloy wheel options and three fresh paint options.

In the cabin, two new finisher colours and two colour schemes have been included in the facelift.

To the variant line, an additional ‘Limited’ trim has been included which is presented in three exterior paint options, bespoke 22-inch dark alloy wheels, smoked headlamps & taillights and a unique Truffle Brown interior finish blending brown, black and silver leather with wood inserts and trim.

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2015 Subaru Outback

The 2015 Subaru Outback was unveiled at the New York Auto Show. The new Outback is based on the popular Subaru Legacy.

It is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine that makes 175 hp at 5,600 rpm and 236 Nm at 4,100 rpm of peak torque.

The Outback can also be ordered with a 3.6-liter DOHC horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine that produces 256 hp at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 335 Nm at 4,400 rpm. A CVT box and a 6-speed manual are standard in this variant.

The Outback has been one of Subaru’s most popular vehicles, accounting for 118,000 of its nearly 425,000 unit U.S. sales in 2013. Only Subaru’s Forester crossover SUV is more popular.

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2014 Ram Power Wagon

Based on the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty 4×4 Crew Cab, the Power Wagon features off-road-specific enhancements, including a unique suspension with more than two inches of ride height, locking differentials and a 12,000-pound winch.

Power for the truck comes from a 6.4-litre HEMI 16-valve V8 engine which develops 410 hp at 5,600 rpm and a peak torque 582 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

A 6-speed automatic transmission channels this through a part-time Borg Warner BW 44-47 transfer case.

Design enhancements for the Power Wagon include chrome front and rear bumpers, 17-inch forged and polished aluminium wheels, 33-inch tyres, monotone paint and ‘Power Wagon’ decals.

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2015 Nissan Murano

The new Murano gets Nissan’s ‘V-motion’ front-end, LED boomerang headlamps and unique “floating” roof. The interior, Nissan says, has been done in such a way that it resembles a social lounge.

Key changes include lowering the position of the instrument cluster, wide centre console etc.
The Murano will be powered by a 3.5-litre DOHC V6 engine mated to a Xtronic CVT gearbox. The car comes in 4 variants with each available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions.

Moving Object Detection (MOD), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW) and Forward Emergency Braking are some of the active safety technology for the Murano. The new Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) system, Nissan says, utilises radar to detect a moving vehicle behind the Murano approaching from either side of the parking space.

In the cockpit, the Murano gets a 7-inch high resolution and customisable display for the instrument panel. For the infotainment system, the display is an 8-inch multi-touch screen.

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