2005 New York Show Wrap-up

Story and photos by John LeBlanc

March 31, 2005 - New York – With only three honest-to-gawd concepts introduced (Scion t2B, Nissan Sport, and some thing that looked like a dentist’s chair from Toyota), combined with the Geneva show in March unveiling most of the stuff car zealots are really interested in (Aston V8 Vantage, Audi RS4, BMW M6 and 3 and 7 Series’, Lexus IS, and Mazda MX-5), this year’s New York show didn’t exactly knock anyone’s socks off.

Carmaker’s offerings were focused more on future production models and the occasional City That Never Sleeps Celebrity Sighting. (Virgin mogul Richard Branson in a Volvo spacesuit was interesting…)

Domestic carmakers continued to roll out sport-utility-vehicles by the bucket-full. The Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Commander, and Ford Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin were all introduced against same day announcements of a weakening U.S. economy, primarily fueled by rising gas prices. Go figure?

Adding to this economic news, days before the New York show, General Motor’s brass decided to cancel development of North American versions of their large, rear-drive Zeta platform to allow the company to focus on the launch of its new full-size SUVs in 2007. Reportedly, this platform was to produce the Pontiac G8, the next GTO, Buick Velite, and potentially the next Camaro.

Oh well, there’s always the:



Ford Shelby Cobra GT500 Mustang
Ford wants the rumours of the death of its in-house speed shop, SVT, to be put to rest with this car. Legendary racer and multiple organ transplant recipient Carroll Shelby was on-hand to show off the GT500’s 5.4-litre, supercharged vee-eight that unofficially makes 450-hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. In addition to the 2007 Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin also on the Ford stand at New York, expect future SVT versions of the Fusion and Focus
Availability: June 2006
Price: $39,900 U.S. (est.)
Future competitors: BMW M3 V8, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Pontiac GTO



Dodge Enforcer & Charger SRT8
So, how do want your the 425-hp rear-drive sedan? In a nice black-and-white motif with accenting cherry rack and bumper bar? Or how about all tricked out in give-me-the-ticket-now red, with attention grabbing hood scoop and rear wing? Or a 0-60 mph acceleration time of about 5.0 seconds? Like the Chrysler 300C, Dodge Magnum and new-at-New York Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, the SRT folks have dropped the 6.1-litre HEMI vee-eight into two versions of the Charger: Uniform and plains clothes. This was like having the Joker and Batman being introduced at the same time
Availability: Fall 2005
Price: $46,000 Cdn. (est.)
Future competitors: Ummm…



Cadillac XLR-V
Only The Donald could out-Trump Bob Lutz; exactly what happened at the XLR-V intro. The on-stage gimmick about Trump picking up his keys for his new DTS limo only took away from the legitimate upgrades made to the lacklustre cooking XLR. As in the same 440-hp 4.4-litre supercharged vee-eight that’s found in the STS-V, bigger brakes, recalibrated magnetic shocks, 19-inch wheels, and much-needed material upgrades in the cabin. BTW, you can add the XLR-V to your list of “0-60 mph under 5.0 second” cars
Availability: January 2006
Price: $85,000 U.S. (est.)
Future competitors: BMW M6, Jaguar XK-R, Maserati Gran Sport, Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG



Nissan Sport
Introduced while a bunch of graffiti artists worked in the background on-stage, like the Azeal concept shown at Detroit in January, the Sport was designed by the Nissan studio in Michigan and is pointed directly at Scion customers. Looking like something you would build in Gran Turismo, this is one of Nissan’s most belligerent designs, picking up cues from family members like the Murano and the Zed
Availability: 2007, or never
Price: $19,000 Cdn. (est.)
Future competitors: MINI Cooper, Scion tC



Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu MAXX SS
Chevy’s idea of a muscle car for the family is a little different than Dodge’s, eh? I thought it couldn’t get any worse than Chevy sticking an SS badge on the hoary ol’ front drive Monte, but the Malibu and Malibu Maxx SS are a new low in badge theft. With “upgraded” power that can be found in standard Altimas and Accords all day long, the 240-hp vee-six just doesn’t cut it. When your biggest claim is the “segment(‘s)-largest 18-inch flangeless wheels”, you know you have a lame duck on your hands. And then they rolled out the TrailBlazer SS… oy veh!
Availability: Fall 2005
Price: $35,000 Cdn. (est.)
Future competitors: Dodge Charger RT, Ford SVT Fusion, Pontiac G6 GTP



Mitsubishi EVO IX & Lotus Exige
As a touch of forbidden fruit, here are a couple of cars currently not available in The Great White North.

Obtainable worldwide since 2003, the refreshed 2006 EVO IX receives variable valve technology (VVT) and the valve timing and lift Electronic Control (MIVEC) system. Combined with turbocharger enhancements, the new 2.0-litre mill has 286-hp and 289 ft-lb of torque at a very low 3,500 rpm.

The Lotus Exige is a fixed head version of its roadster Elise mate, including its 190-hp, 138 lb-ft of torque Toyota-derived, 1.8-litre four-banger. A stiffer suspension taken from the Elise's performance package means this is a car for all you track dogs out there. The coupe's top speed drops to 147 mph, but the Exige's 0-60 times equal the Elise at 4.7 seconds. The existing Elise headlights and bumpers technically do not meet U.S. standards, but federal authorities have allowed the limited production car to be sold regardless.
Availability: Mitsubishi is promising the next gen EVO, due in 2007, will be sold in Canada. Lotus is working with Canadian authorities to have the car available either late 2005 or early 2006
Price: Mitsu: $45,000 Cdn. (est.) Lotus: $75,000 Cdn. (est.)
Future competitors: Mitsu: Subaru WRX STi Lotus: Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, straight-six.com