Recap: 2012 New York International Auto Show
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04-07-2012, 08:05 PM
Recap: 2012 New York International Auto Show One of this year's most anticipates stars - The New SRT Viper
Recap: 2012 New York International Auto Show
Teamspeed takes a look a back at press week from the Jacob Javits Center Spectacular!
Text by: Richard Aucock TS Photos: Andrew Cragin
BOOM! Went the 2012 New York International Auto Show: It's the new Dodge SRT Viper, finally appearing in the public for the first time, by bellowing throughout the entire Jacob Javits center on press day with a delicious 8.4-litre V10 snarl. And how Dodge brought out the big guns to introduce this 640hp all-new beast to the world (although the marching band was reserved for Mercedes). It absolutely was one of the events of the day.
It very much remains a Viper: its 600lb ft of torque is more twist than any other non-turbo engine on sale (turbos? In a Viper? Are you mad?). There will be two models, a posh GTS and an outlandish basic car, with all featuring adjustable damping, four-stage stability control and, gloriously, a launch control function.
Fiat (and Ferrari) behind-the-scenes input mean the cabin is much more upmarket and it’s packed with tech details sorely lacking on the old one. Yet the styling remains truly Viper, with a brilliant front end plus a neat lineage evolution at the rear. Dodge SRT Viper turns into genuine world-stage supercar? You’d better believe it.
It’s still a little way off but you can actually try it right now as it’s going to feature in Forza Motorsport 4. For those who prefer their racing to be real, SRT can also assist here – not only did it drive the bellowing road car onto the stand during the press conference, but it also drove a racing version onto stage too: see this compete in the 2012 American Le Mans series.
Shelby must have looked on and guffawed. ‘Just’ 600hp? Pah! Its Shelby 1000 Mustang offers 950hp in street guise – and if that is not enough, there’s a track version that punches (nay, explodes) out 1100hp. Un-be-lie-va-ble. You’d better, though, because it’s on sale now with prices starting from $149,995. That’s a lot for a Mustang. That’s nothing for a car with up to 1100hp that, thanks to Shelby expertise, will also remain in one piece too.
Oh, and 50 years ago, the New York show hosted the Shelby name for the first time, making the debut of the Shelby 1000 Mustang all the more fitting.
Amazingly, another star of the show wasn't even there: Jaguar announced it is to produce the F-Type, a two-seat sports car that will go on sale in summer 2013. This is, technically, 'the new E-Type', but a very well-kept secret was that it would launch in soft-top convertible guise. The coupe will follow later - both will be derived from the C-X16 concept that wowed the Frankfurt Motor Show last year.
As we say, we didn't see it, as all the concepts were elsewhere, dong concept car stuff to ensure the firm can hit that target June launch date. All Jaguar released were a few heavily disguised images of the prototypes that are on the roads around the Midlands facility it's to be built in. Spy photographers will no doubt be booking their flights to Birmingham Airport as we speak.
Jaguar brand ambassador Martin Brundle flashed up in a video telling us how exciting it is to ride in (he didn't drive it, probably because he wouldn't be able to tell us if he did) but that was as close as we got to a mechanical understanding: Jaguar wasn't giving much away on the technical side, other than saying there will be four power trains and one of them will match or exceed the C-X16 concept's V6 hybrid performance - more than 180mph, 0-60mph in under 5.0 seconds.
Next door on the Jaguar Land Rover stand was another star show car – which Teamspeed actually drove on the eve of the event. Yes, remarkably, we got behind the wheel of the Land Rover DC100 down at Pier 54. This has been doing a worldwide tour since first being shown at Frankfurt last year, an important part of the evaluation process prior to its 2015 introduction, says Land Rover. We haven't got tired of it: more importantly, seeing it outdoors and in context simply adds to the rightness of the design. Spot-on straight out the box? Nice one, Gerry McGovern.
The drive wasn't really representative: the Range Rover Sport-derived underpinnings and throaty (gloriously unsilenced) V8 won't make it to production as Land Rover is aiming at something much lighter.
Such is the pace of the car industry, one of last months' Geneva show stars, the Range Rover Evoque Convertible concept, didn't really make the headlines this time round. It still looks great, and its centre stage location means New York show-goers have plenty of time to review it, but the real SUV news was elsewhere.
We’ve seen the Mercedes SL plenty, but we haven’t seen the mighty new SL 65 AMG before. Really, this car shouldn’t exist, as the SL 63 AMG will be powerful enough for most. But this is a high-end car in an exalted sector, with decades of heritage: it means Mercedes can push upmarket and still find demand.
How we’re glad it does: the hefty 621hp output of the 6.0-litre direct injection twin-turbo V12 (yes – TWO turbos, despite 12 cylinders and 6.0-litre of capacity!) is, incredibly, dwarfed by a truly awe-inspiring 738lb ft of torque. No wonder Mercedes claims 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed (heavily) capped to 186mph, although an economy boost of 17 per cent is also more than impressive.
There’s a new Range Rover coming later this year, in one of the motoring world’s worst-kept secrets. Mercedes clearly heard it before any of us though, and has grabbed the opportunity to launch a revised GL. This is far better conceived than the original, which was a kind of big retro pastiche on the never-to-die G Wagon. Now, Mercedes has taken it rightfully upmarket and repositioned it as a big luxury SUV alternative to the midrange M-Class.
Boy, does it remain big: 5.1 metres long and looking like it could swallow up the facelifted (and much prettier) GLK sat alongside it on the stand. There are two engines and the 408hp 4.7-litre V8 in the GL 500 BlueEfficiency is the one you want, thanks to 0-60mph in 5.9secs and a capped 155mph top speed. Altogether, it has appeal in a way the old one didn’t – not that this stopped the old one from selling and becoming, according to Mercedes’ measurements, the best-selling vehicle in its sector. What for the new one, then?
The BMW X1 is a US debut: we've had it in Europe for several years now but it's never really se the world alight. Perhaps more powerful engines is what's needed - and US buyers get them, with the 245hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo sDrive28i (rear drive) and xDrive28i (four-wheel drive), plus the even more exciting xDrive35i that packs BMW's brilliant 306hp 3.0-litre straight six TwinPower turbo. This sounds brilliant, and the mildly face lifted styling introduced for its US debut later this year improves the appearance too. Perhaps the X1 is coming of age? Judging by the interest it was receiving at the show, maybe it's set for belated success.
The M6 coupe and convertible were on show too, looking exciting and full of 560hp 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 power. At the other end of the show stand stood the quite beautiful new 6 Series Gran Coupe. BMW's four-door coupe take on the Mercedes CLS, this is surprisingly elegant and also has a lovely interior. BMW has concentrated on rear-seat comfort and it shows.
Under pressure Fisker boss Henrik Fisker will be thankful his vital new car, the production version of Project Nina, was received warmly. The Fisker Atlantic was revealed on the eve of the show, and the production-intent concept certainly stirred up favourable vibes. If Fisker can meet the estimated $45k price tag for the second-generation range-extender hybrid, high-end BMW 3 Series buyers may well have a very pretty new alternative to consider.
Shame it's not actually there (maybe he was hoping to emulate Jaguar): the Fisker stand is instead taken up with variations of the Karma, which hopefully will encourage a few more sales to help convince the US Government this project has legs. All impress.
Infinit’s new compact concept car, the LE, was neat and flowing without springing too many surprises. The bits below are more interesting, for this will be the first all-electric premium compact hatch to go on sale when it hits the market in a few years’ time. Based on the Nissan Leaf, it puts out 134hp and has a 100-mile range, and Infiniti also plans to bring wireless charging to market, so owners can simply drive over a pad and charge up, rather than plug in cables. Neat.
Youthful sorts who fancy an Acura boast a compact model they can buy right now: the ILX. Derived from the Civic, it’s neat enough, with quasi-sports saloon looks and a familiar range of Honda powerplants – plus a neat petrol-electric hybrid model that should go down well with eco-minded Gen-X sorts.
The Acura RLX concept looks a bit more interesting than the dreary RL it will replace for the 2013 model year, but of more interest is the stuff below the surface: this shows off the ‘Super Handling All-Wheel Drive’ tech (blending V6 engine up front with a pair of beefy electric motors for the rear wheels). Why is it significant? Because this drivetrain will also be used in the beautiful Acura NSX Concept car sat dutifully right of centre stage. Forget the RLX, Acura: we want the new NSX. Now.
The cars you see on your drive everyday to work were also out in force. After 16 million sales and 50 years on the market, Chevrolet hits the 10th generation of Impala, with a new model that is charged with reviving what’s increasingly become a white good for fleets. Sleet new styling should help, as will a 195hp 2.5-litre or 303hp 3.3-litre V6 engine choice that are complemented by a 2.4-litre hybrid-tech eco alternative.
Something else you’ll be familiar with soon: Nissan’s best-selling Altima has been replaced, by one that’s 25 per cent more fuel efficient and a bit less boring to look at. The new Pathfinder was there too, now boasting unitary construction for better ride, refinement and handling. Far lighter than its predecessor, it’s also 33 per cent more economical.
And how gas mileage matters these days. Which is why Porsche has got in on the diesel bandwagon with the US market launch of the Cayenne Diesel. Cue enthusiast outrage and Ferry Porsche spinning in his grave – but hold on writing it completely off until you drive it. On sale in Europe for several years now, it’s much better than you’d think. Honest.
Ford had a huge stand but not a lot of new product, while posh division Lincoln had a staggering stand that looked like someone had built a posh house in the corner of the hall. In between the deep-pile rugs and wood paneling were several examples of the new production hopeful, the MKZ – and what a striking-looking thing it is, clever slide-out moon roof and all. If this is what Ford has planned to revive Lincoln, then bring it on. Not everyone will like the bold new looks but it’s way better than the blandery that went before.
Talking about corners of halls, it seemed rather incongruous for the Bugatti Veyron, a duo of Aston Martins and a McLaren MP4-12C to be tucked away in a dark corner of the upper floor – but I guess we can be thankful they were there at all. Indeed, there were actually TWO McLaren MP4s in the Jacob Javits centre, thanks to one sitting downstairs, next to a Lamborghini Aventador, to demonstrate finalists for World Performance Car of the Year. Incidentally, World Car of the Year was announced on the second press day: this year, it’s the ingenious VW Up.
Trucks may not quite be Teamspeed fare but there have been developments there that may make them of more interest. The 2013 Ram 1500 gets an eight-speed automatic transmission, fuels-saving stop-start and adjustable air suspension, for example. Impressive tech for a working machine.
And moving over to SUVs, the new Santa Fe looks great. We're used to big generational shifts with ever-new Hyundai, and the original game-changing new Santa Fe continue the trend. Now offered in both standard and long-wheelbase guise, it's surely a coincidence Hyundai launched it at the same show as the Mercedes GL, but it's interesting to draw comparisons. Yes, Hyundai really does command status with this new model.
As for other stuff, Lexus ES? Refreshed, but boring. Toyota Avalon? It’s getting sportier for 2013 but it’s got a long way to go. Dodge Dart? Travis Pastrana will be driving a 600hp rally version in the Global Rallycross Championship, but this Brit was unable to get a view of the great-looking new Dodge compact as all the cars on the show stand were locked. Thanks Dodge.
Finally, full cheers to Terrafugia, which will be many a dreamer’s car of the show. Shown in the lobby, the flying car is at last a reality, and this is proof of it: would you believe, it’s even actually flown too, successfully and under the watchful eye of the authorities who are clearing everything the firm is doing with apparent relish.
It’s not all that pretty and to bill it as a car that flies is pushing it (this is a bespoke creation rather than a concerted road car). It’s expensive too, at $279,000. Or, is it? If Terrafugia continue to hit all its targets, this really will provide fly-drive transportation for anyone with deep pockets and a pilot’s licence (Terrafugia will help with that if you don’t).
The first of many and a taste of the future? This writer for one can’t wait to find out. This could indeed be the most noteworthy launch of all at New York International Auto Show 2012.
