New York Auto Show: The Good, Bad and Ugly
By Michelle Krebs March 21, 2008
NEW YORK — The New York International Auto Show opens to the public Friday, and what a difference a year makes.
Toyota is the nation’s second-largest brand not Ford. Jim Press is the vice chairman and president of Chrysler, not Toyota. Cerberus Capital Management, not Daimler, owns Chrysler. The national average price for a gallon of premium gas is $3.60, not $2.80.
And the most interesting cars at the New York auto show are diminutive and original, not colossal and extravagant.
Small Is the New Luxury
As the Baby Boomers reached their peak earning years, the luxury market grew. But today, they are fearful due to shrinking home equities, rising health-care costs and astronomical college tuition payments.
No self-respecting boomer would trade in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class for a Chevrolet Aveo. But why not make an alternative statement with a Smart Fortwo or a Nissan Cube? Suddenly you’re the most intelligent, forward-thinking person on the block. Your kids might even ask if you’ve lost some weight.
Cheap Cars Are Cool
If Target sold cars, the Nissan Cube would fit right in. That's because Target is proof it's easy to look good if you spend a lot of money, but it's more fun to pull it off without breaking your wallet.
The Nissan Cube is a five-door, mini MPV (multipurpose vehicle) built on a Japan market–based B-platform. In addition to the Denki (Electric) Cube, Nissan — which at last announced at the show it would sell the next-generation Cube in the U.S. — displayed the results of an artistic collaboration between the company and two highly regarded art schools: Brooks Institute in California, and Pratt Institute in New York.
"CUBE-ism, Automobile Meets Art" challenged students to create provocative films and designs that communicate the Nissan Cube’s unique personality and style. In the end, the students pushed personal mobility into the realm of pure fashion with imaginative use of color, materials and textures.
Smart also collaborated with artists. “Sideways, a Smart Art Project†began in
2006 when, in a moment of introspection, Smart concluded its brand wasnât merely about developing new cars but, âabout conceptualizing the future of mobility.â
For the project, 11 independent trend magazines identified 100 of the world’s most creative and avant-garde artists, architects and fashion designers and challenged them to visualize the Smart brand and the environmental challenges of today. The resulting works are cataloged in a provocative book that was unveiled at the New York show. The intent of the book is “to show that ecological responsibility doesn’t just involve tightening belts and going without, but can mean posing questions in the form of artistic statements that in turn help to find solutions.â€
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “All things must change, to something new, to something strange.†The Cube and the Smart are definitely new. Which cars are strange?
The Good
Ford Transit Connect Taxi concept — The Transit Connect concept is a
European-style taxi. The style is nerdy but you canât beat the functionality or the gas mileage, especially compared with the taxicab queen, Ford's Crown Victoria. Maybe this will become the London Taxi of New York.
Nissan Denki Cube — The Denki Cube is an electric car concept based on today’s
gasoline-powered Cube. Its geometric shape and asymmetrical glass make it look and feel more like a friendly, helpful appliance than a car. The Prius is so yesterday.
Nissan Maxima — The all-new Maxima is Nissan’s seventh-generation flagship
sedan and big brother to the Altima. The wide, square grille is uptight and the body contours are a bit flaccid but itâs more athletic than the current car. Welcome back, 4DSC.
Pontiac G8 Sport Truck — The G8 Sport Truck is a carlike pickup based on
the G8 sedan. Compared with the Chevrolet Avalanche or the Honda Ridgeline, the ST styling is less rugged and more urbane. Think of it as the metrosexual pickup truck.
Pontiac Solstice Coupe — The Solstice Coupe is the hardtop version of the
roadster. The long hood and small cabin appear balanced and well-proportioned, especially with the body-colored roof. Itâs refreshing to see sporty without the retro.
Volvo XC60 — The all-new XC60 is the younger sibling of the XC90. This crossover got both the brains and the looks of the family. Its graceful lines and athletic stance make the BMW X3 and the Mercedes Benz GLK look downright stodgy.
The Bad
Acura TSX — The all-new TSX is Acura’s latest attempt to compete in the red-
hot entry-luxury segment. Too bad itâs just a rebadged European Honda Accord with a new grille. The styling is conservative and uninspired. The TL better be a home run.
Honda Fit — This is the second-generation entry-level car from Honda. Just like
the Japanese automobile executives living in the U.S., the car has gained some weight. The original was sprightly and spirited. This one is growing up too fast.
Hyundai Genesis — The Genesis is Hyundai’s attempt to compete against
import luxury coupes such as Infinitiâs G37. The car may be fun to drive but the styling is fussy and unruly. A coupe has to have a soul and be drop-dead gorgeous, and this one falls short.
Kia Koup concept — The Koup concept is a compact coupe aimed at the best of
the Japanese. In fact, it actually looks like a Honda Civic with a more gaping grille. If Kia wants to shed its value-proposition image, it needs to stop plagiarizing other brands.
Saleen S5S Raptor — The S5S Raptor is a Ferrari 430 fighter created by a
collaboration between Saleen and ASC. Its racecar-inspired styling is handsome enough, but itâs hard to figure out why these types of cars are relevant anymore.
Suzuki Kizashi 3 concept — The Kizashi 3 is Suzuki’s attempt to prove that this
Japanese company can compete head to head with Toyota, Nissan, and even Mitsubishi. The styling is exaggerated, especially the front fascia. Suzuki should lay off the Viagra for awhile.
The Ugly
Scion Hako
â The Hako is Scionâs latest styling exercise using the box. The look is American retro meets Beadamon, and comes off as culturally confused. The Hako is the antithesis of the thoughtful, artful Nissan Cube. Sometimes change really is just strange.
Photos by manufacturers:
1 — Smart art car
2 — Ford Transit Connect taxi concept
3 — Nissan Denki Cube
4 — Nissan Maxima
5 — Pontiac G8 Sport Truck
6 — Pontiac Solstice coupe
7 — Acura TSX
8 — Honda Fit
9 — Hyundai Genesis
10 — Kia Koup concept
11 — Saleen S5S Raptor
12 — Suzuki Kizashi 3 concept
13 — Scion Hako
LEAVE A COMMENT
Click here to comment on this entry.If frugal is in, then I must be a really cool dude.
Still waiting for the clean diesels as an interim to fuel cell powered cars. I need a new car this summer, so why is it taking so long for the clean diesels to show up in the U.S.? With $4/gallon diesel they won’t make sense if they cost more than a couple of thousand above a gas version.
Hybrids are primarily urban cars (where we should be developing mass transit like the rest of the world). Note that Honda got out of the hybrid market. Their cylinder shut off technology (or turbo charging) offer equivalent economy with better overall drivability. If marketable, micro electric cars might become a niche solution though. Mass production of large batteries is not environmentally sustainable and they take too long to recharge, so I don’t see battery power as the final solution. That leaves fuel cells. So let’s stop dinking around with other technologies already!
The Pontiac pickup reminds me of the El Camino, etc. from the 70’s. Hopefully it’s more successful than the Chevy SSR (but I doubt it). At least the Acura TSX allows the U.S. to glimpse at what the rest of the world enjoys as an Accord. Seems to me that the Accord (and it competitors) have lost their way and gotten too big. Current Honda Fit is sprightly? I thought the sport shifters provided an exercise in futility. Please explain what you mean by the Fit, “growing up too fast.” And yes, the Scion Hako looks like a Jeckyll and Hyde make over of a 2008 xB.
I would also like to know why the Honda Fit is classified under 'BAD'. I have a 2007 Fit, which I am so crazy about, I am ready to buy the 09, later in the year.
Hey Jeff,
Just an fyi, we have already been able to successfully make and sell electric cars. Ask Chevron, who owns the patent to the battery, and then try to guess why they aren't doing anything with it..........
2009 Fit in the 'BAD' column?
In one generation, the Fit sold 2,000,000 units in just 5 years worldwide. The '09 Fit addressed all of the G1 Fits shortcomings. The 2009 Honda Fit is a homerun.
In your article on the Detroit autoshow you completely missed the shear brilliance of the Furai concept--an oversight that revealed a lack of depth in your understanding and commitment to automotive design. The banal bias that peppered that article continues in your assessment of the NYIAS.
Fit in the "bad" category...really? And the new Maxima is a reasonable effort, but as a show standout? Please. Still on Nissan's pay role are we? The Kizashi is a strong, cohesive design, but I guess cars that portray any element of "masculinity” are still too scary for you. "Lay off the Viagra"; maybe you should grow a pair (you know, figuratively of course). Regarding the Raptor you say, "It’s hard to figure out why these types of cars are relevant anymore." What? Sure, I suppose it is, if you think that everyone should be driving a toaster.
The Genesis Coupe from Hyundai is in the 'bad' category? Huh? This is an exciting entry (rwd, turbo, 4cly.,$20k) into a segment that many automakers have ignored. Honda, Toyota, Nissan). For an enthusiast like myself, I can't wait to get my hands on this coupe for $20k.
Ms. Krabs is simply grouchy. I won't even discuss the apparent bankruptcy of automotive knowledge present in this column. Dribbler.
The Maxima is odd looking as is the TSX. She was on point regarding the TSX because its going to appeal to no one outside of die hard Acura lovers. The Hyundai coupe needs some help in styling but overall its a nice effort on their part. The G8 GXP should have been in the "good" column if you ask me.
I saw the Fit at the NY show and I assure you most people walked right past it. If it gained weight and did not increase its efficiency Honda may have made a mistake.
The 09 Fit has gained 22 lbs (1%) and is less than 3 inches longer than the first generation. How is this "growing up too fast?"
And the Nissan Maxima continues the assault on rear seat headroom - only munchkins can fit in the back of that thing.
And after a steady diet of derivative Japanese styling for the past 3 decades, I like the change offered by the Scion Hako. I don't understand it; but I like it.
Thank you all for caring enough to post your comments. I would like to elaborate a little bit regarding the Honda Fit. I am actually a HUGE fan of the Fit, and this is why I am hard on the new Fit - because I expect better from Honda. The original Civic hatchback, way back in 1973, was a breakthrough car in terms of packaging, powertrain, and design. A decade later, in 1982, Honda introduced another amazing product called the City. Again, this car was a segment-busting sub-compact. The City morphed into the Fit, and it's been a very successful car, for all the reasons that you mention. However, with the new Fit, the packaging may be improved somewhat but it has lost the personality and character that the current generation holds.
These days, Honda is too focused on the rational aspects of the car, and overly cautious about providing emotional appeal. This is a big mistake as there are many affordable subcompacts available now with good quality, functionality, and of course fuel economy. So what's going to make people buy a Honda Fit? Because like a good friend, you just love being around him/her, imperfections and all. By growing up too fast, the Fit has become serious and staid...before it needed to.
I definitely like the new Maxima. Can't wait to see it in person. Small detail though -- the headlamp flourishes bug me.
The new TSX powertrain is disappointing, but I do like that we can basically get a Euro Accord, since the Accord seems too big for me now. But diesel is on the way, so that's a nice addition.
I'm not a fan of the Fit, style-wise. I was hoping they would make it lower and wider, but it appears not. Oh well.
Surprised to see your positive take on the Pontiac "sport truck." I'm gonna make my prediction now that it will do what the SSR did: appeal to a very few, horify the rest, and disappear mercifully soon.
Not sure what happened with the Genesis coupe. The sedan shocked me with its effortless beauty; the coupe is just jumbled up. But it does seem like a nice performer at a nice price.
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