Apr. 26, 2006 - NY Auto Show

I have read that this year’s New York Auto Show was one of the better ones, but I found it disappointing nonetheless.  While it is held in one of North America’s most important cities, the annual springtime auto show at the Jacob Javits Center is simply no match to the much larger (in significance) North American International Auto Show held in Detroit and it is barely on the same footing as the Los Angeles and Chicago shows.  The New York show is considered to be the last major auto show of the season; a season which begins in September in Europe at either Frankfurt or Paris (they are alternating shows), moves to Detroit in January, Geneva in March and finally to the big apple in April. 

One of the main reasons for my booking a flight to NY this year was the expectation of seeing the new BMW 3 Series coupe, code named the E92.  I figured since the NY Show would be the last major show before the car went on sale, and so many scantily covered prototypes were already uncovered by all the major automobile enthusiast outlets that it made sense for BMW to trot it out.  No such luck.  Instead we were introduced to the M Coupe—a thrilling car to be sure, but a car we have seen in one iteration or another already before.

Porsche did not bring over their 911 GT3 either, though the 911 Turbo was given a proper introduction off site.  The statistics for the new Turbo are pretty awesome, but the car simply doesn’t thrill me as much as it used to.  Maybe the shape is just becoming too familiar, or maybe it’s the prodigious weight gain along with its move up market that has taken the dropped jaw factor away.  Either way, it’s a really spectacular car that has lost some of its luster.  

One of the most interesting new vehicle introductions for me ended up being the redesigned Audi TT.  Call it a hairdresser’s coupe if you like, but I’ve always had a soft spot for this stylish Golf offspring.  It symbolizes the traditional German Bauhaus school of design perfectly.  The wide bottom and narrow greenhouse, wheels positioned at the outer reaches of the sheet metal envelope and the many industrial details made it stand out from the fickle coupe crowd.  And thanks to those squat proportions, it drove reasonably well. 

In a few short years it became an iconic design if not for the entire German automotive industry, at least for Audi.  The brand found its design mojo in the form of that little round car.  So when it came time to update the icon, I was not the only one skeptical.  After seeing the newly updated version at the NY show, I can say Audi’s careful reinterpretation worked very well.  You’ll have to trust me until you see one yourself, but it looks much better in person than in pictures.  It is instantly recognizable as an Audi TT, yet it is very different in effect.  The overall stance and presence is much more masculine, much more aggressive.  The old TT was never an all out sports car, and the new one isn’t either—the styling alone forces too many compromises—but  it was a very good sporty car and I am confident in saying the new one will only be better.

A few other introductions are worth mentioning.  The mother of all hybrids, the Lexus LS600h was introduced with such bravado you would have thought you were at a Mercedes press conference.  Toyota and Lexus have been heretofore modest to the point of embarrassment when it came touting their cars.  Not anymore.  In Toyota's own words they set out to produce the best car in the world, and by their immodest estimation that’s exactly what they did with the Lexus LS600h.  They say it can match Mercedes superfluous gadget for superfluous gadget, and beat Benz with superior quality and dealer service.  We’ll have to see if they can keep up that golden quality record, because this new car is so horribly complex that major problems are almost inevitable.  

The always interesting Carlos Ghosn introduced the new Infiniti G35 with such simple and straight forward conviction you wanted to give him a down payment right then and there.  More of an evolution over the previous design than a revolution it is a stunning car nonetheless.  The designers took the clean but conservative lines of the previous generation and added some emotion.  Much like the TT, it is a car best enjoyed in person.  The many curves and subtle lines form to make a pure sculptural statement that pictures cannot convey.

Finally, Saturn introduced a couple of interesting new vehicles and at the same time re-introduced the brand.  Forget that homespun Tennessee Americana, Saturn has gone international.  GM’s German operation, Opel, is donating much of the new Saturn DNA.  Bob Lutz noted that many international motoring scribes asked why the General doesn’t bring over some of the fun to drive Opels from Europe and market them in North America.  With the new Aura sedan, Saturn is doing just that.  And, according to Lutz, many more future products will be shared between Opel and Saturn.  This may be the best idea GM has had for Saturn since the Springhill Homecomings.