New York Auto Show Press Days #1
By Chris Haak
We’re on the ground here in New York at the scenic Jacob Javits Convention Center enjoying the first day of press conferences (the construction along 34th Street leading to the building was particularly lovely) . So far, the show has not disappointed, with far more new-model introductions than we’ve seen in past years.
In just the first two and a half hours, we’ve seen Honda release a Civic Hybrid that gets 44 MPG combined and a non-hybrid Civic that gets 41 MPG on the highway. We’ve seen the amazing Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, which adds 45 horsepower and tastefully aggressive body tweaks. Ford has revealed what I believe is its first 2013 production model, the revised Taurus. The new Taurus will get a mid-cycle refresh that changes the front and rear fascias a bit, and adds MyFord Touch to the interior. The Taurus is also getting a 31-MPG 2.5 liter EcoBoost four cylinder option.
Nissan showed its new Versa – which lost over 150 pounds in its chassis alone, and gained over four miles per gallon combined compared to the old car – all wrapped in a body that Nissan calls “elegant,” but I call dowdy and cheap against the likes of the Fiesta, Focus, Sonic, and Elantra.
More to come from us, including some more in-depth articles about the new vehicles, later today. There’s clearly a huge emphasis on fuel economy, which is no surprise whatsoever considering CAFE and fuel prices.
Stay tuned!
