The New York International Auto Show for 2013 features a lean, mean Caddilac CTS, the return of the fire-breathing Camaro Z28, a hot-rodded version of an entry-level Mercedes, and lots more. Check back here as we add to the list, and visit our automotive blog, PopMech Proving Ground, for more in-depth takes on the car tech.
1. Chevy Camaro Z28
The newest Z28, a model that's waxed and waned in the Camaro line since its introduction in 1967, is getting the enormous 7.0-litre (427 cubic inch) V-8 from the C6 Z06 Corvette. And as is tradition, it's naturally aspirated. Power output is promised to be at least 500 hp and 470 lb. ft. of torque, but really the focus here is on track use - engineers shaved 300 lbs. from the car.
2. Toyota Highlander
Like much of Toyota's recent new vehicles, the Highlander sports new sheet metal and a redesigned interior but carries only minor tweaks to the mechanical pieces. Engine choices continue to be a 2.7-litre four-cylinder, 3.5-litre V-6, or the 3.5-litre V-6 mated to a hybrid system. Inside there's a soft-touch dashboard, a convenient shelf under the radio to stash and charge your phone, and roll-top centre console big enough to swallow a large purse.
3. Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG
It's the North American debut of the CLA-class, and Mercedes-Benz put an exclamation point on its New York press conference with the world premiere of the CLA 45 AMG. The hand-built 2.0-litre turbo four is dialled up to 26.1 psi of boost. With 355 horsepower, it's the highest-output production four-cylinder in the world.
4. Range Rover Sport
The new Range Rover Sport follows the lead of the Range Rover in moving to all-aluminium construction. The result is an amazing 970-pound weight reduction from the previous model. The result is a 0 to 60 time of 5.0 seconds in the supercharged model, making the 2014 Range Rover Sport the quickest Land Rover ever even though both engines carry over from the previous model. Like the improvements to the Range Rover, we expect an increase of 1-2 mpg, aided in part by the use of a new 8-speed automatic.
5. Cadillac CTS
Finally revealed to the world, the CTS looks as good in person as it does in photos. And yes, now we're even more excited to jump behind the wheel and unleash the full fury of Cadillac's new 420-hp, 3.6-litre twin-turbo V-6. Thanks to a host of weight-saving strategies, Caddy's engineers managed to shave 244 lbs. from the curb weight, shrinking the CTS to 3616 lbs.
6. BMW 328d
BMW's last 3-Series diesel came at a premium price and didn't come with AWD. The new 328d gets optional AWD and BMW says the base price will be just under $40,000. While the old 335d six-cylinder diesel was the most fuel-sipping BMW ever sold in the U.S., at 36 mpg, the new 2.0-litre four-cylinder 328d promises 45 highway mpg. Expect 280 ft. lb. of torque at a very low 1750 rpm - and a new six-cylinder diesel for the 5-Series in the 2014 model year.
7. Audi A3
Audi says it has tossed out the old philosophy of debuting all the hot tech on the most expensive cars, then trickling it down to the entry models. Instead, the A3, the most affordable car Audi will sell in the U.S. (expect an MSRP starting in the low $30,000s), is getting the hot tech first, including what the brand calls the thinnest display in the industry. The A3 launches this coming winter as the A3 sedan, an S3 with standard quattro, and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the Sportback body. Audi's mum on what production numbers for the hybrid, but says gas engine cars will come with either a 1.8-litre making 170 hp or a 2.0-litre engine of unannounced output, and, unofficially, the S3 is likely to scrape 300 hp.
8. Jeep Cherokee
In any of its four trims (Sport, Limited, Latitude, and Trail Hawk), the Cherokee pushes the boundaries of the midsize SUV segment, and not just with the polarizing front end styling. This is also the first application of supplier ZF's 9-speed automatic gearbox, which contributes to a 45 percent fuel economy gain over the outgoing Liberty. That increase applies to the standard 2.4-litre Tigershark Multiair I-4. For those less worried about gas, there's also Chrysler's new 3.2-litre Pentastar V-6 with 271 hp and 239 lb-ft of torque as an option. Equipped with the V-6, the Cherokee is capable of towing up to 4500 pounds.
9. Nissan Pathfinder HEV
Nissan already improved on the outgoing Pathfinder's fuel economy by 30 percent in the 2013 model. But the company is betting some customers want even better fuel efficiency and are willing to pay a $3000 premium to get it when this hybrid arrives in April. Nissan's saying the hybrid will get 25/27 mpg, a jump of 24 percent over the gas-powered crossover. While 3500 pounds of towing capacity won't match the 5000 pounds of the gas-only model, Nissan is betting the hybrid's combined supercharged 2.5-litre four and 15-kW electric motor will suffice. Together the system offers 250hp and 243 lb-ft. of torque.
10. VW Golf
The new Golf, coming to the U.S. next spring, promises to be both a bit bigger, growing about two inches, and also later by 60 pounds thanks to more high-strength steel. The 2.5-litre engine is history, supplanted by a 1.8-litre direct-injected turbo four that VW says will have 168 hp and 184 lb-ft. of torque; the latter figure is up from the 2.5's 177 lb-ft. There's also a new 2.0-litre turbo diesel, where horsepower jumps to 190, up from 140hp in the present diesel Golf.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please adhere to proper blog etiquette when posting your comments. This blog owner will exercise his absolution discretion in allowing or rejecting any comments that are deemed seditious, defamatory, libelous, racist, vulgar, insulting, and other remarks that exhibit similar characteristics. If you insist on using anonymous comments, please write your name or other IDs at the end of your message.