There are four major U.S. auto shows -- "major" meaning the manufacturers use them to showcase all-new products. First up is Los Angeles, then Detroit, then Chicago, and finally, in April, New York.
Since manufacturers know that after New York major unveilings must be done overseas or wait until January for Los Angeles and Detroit, New York often gets more than its share of debuts. That, coupled with the fact that the New York show gets plenty of media exposure, thanks to its proximity to media outlets, makes the New York International Auto Show relatively important.
This year, the news was pretty mainstream (in 1999, General Motors' hospitality suite caught on fire at the Waldorf-Astoria, thus setting off the sprinkler system and causing sooty water to trickle into the lobby) and nonpolitical (also in '99, Ford declined to debut its huge Excursion in New York, aware of the anti-ute media feeding frenzy that would ensue).
Film director Spike Lee showed up, announcing an affiliation with Jaguar in a marketing campaign aimed at minority customers.
Ford announced it will spend $15 million giving away car child seats, many to needy families regardless of the brand of car they own, and teach parents how to use them properly.
Toyota announced that its four-door hybrid, the Prius, will begin deliveries in August and list for less than $20,000 -- the same price as Honda's three-door, two-passenger hybrid, the Insight.
Last year at the show, Nissan confirmed it would build a new Z sports car; it had hoped to debut the Z here, but it has been delayed. Maybe at Detroit in January, we were told. Nissan did confirm it will build a full-size pickup for 2003, and it will be built in Tennessee.
Otherwise, here are the picks of the New York pack.
-Steven Cole Smith
2001 Lexus SC430
Yes, we've shown you this droptop two-plus-two Lexus before, but we're showing it to you again because Lexus has finally admitted that it is going to build it. Due next spring, the SC430 will be based on the Lexus sport coupe concept car, which premiered last year at the Tokyo show. Lexus's first convertible will have a 300-hp, 4.3-liter V-8 -- the same engine that will appear in the restyled LS430 sedan this fall -- with a five-speed automatic transmission. Expect one-button top operation for the retractable hardtop and lots of leather and wood inside. It replaces the aging SC400.
2001 Subaru Outback H6 3.0 VDC
Finally, Subaru is adding a six-cylinder to the all-four-cylinder lineup it's had since the departure of the SVX and XT6. It will be a 3.0-liter boxer with 212 horsepower, compared with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder's 165 horsepower. It will debut first in the Outback H6 3.0 VDC, with VDC standing for "Vehicle Dynamics Control," a stability system that works with the all-wheel drive. There will also be an L.L. Bean edition of the Outback -- it will get the six, too.
2002 Isuzu Axiom Sportwagon
Powered by the Trooper's potent 215-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, the Isuzu Axiom Sportwagon, known previously as the ZXS concept vehicle, is an attempt to bridge the gap between the Trooper and the smaller Rodeo. Look for it next spring.
2001 Chrysler Sebring convertible
DaimlerChrysler has been trickling out the Dodge Stratus/Chrysler Sebring replacements over the Chicago and Geneva auto shows, with New York finally getting the Sebring convertible. With this new version, the Sebring convertible moves slightly upscale from the darling-of-the-Florida-rental-fleet model it currently is. Power comes from the 200-hp, 2.7-liter V-6.
2001 GMC Yukon Denali, Yukon XL Denali, and Sierra C-series
"Upscale, refined, and distinctive" is how GMC describes the Denali variations on the standard Yukon and Yukon XL (the Suburban-size one). They are powered by a 325-hp version of the 6.0-liter V-8, seen previously as a 300-hp version in three-quarter-ton pickups. The extra muscle comes mostly from new cast-aluminum cylinder heads, intake valves, and porting. There's a new full-time all-wheel-drive system using a center differential and an "Autoride" electronically controlled suspension, plus all the leather-clad luxuries you've come to expect since the Denali model was introduced in 1998. GMC also debuted its Sierra C-series pickup, which has the 325-hp, 6.0-liter engine, all-wheel drive, OnStar, and two-plus-two doors as standard -- think of it as a Denali with a pickup bed.
