I’d like to begin this post with an apology. Over the past several years I’ve developed a minimum standard for auto show coverage: document all the new or interesting products from all the mainstream automakers. Traditionally, that goal has been easily achieved, but this year I could not successfully complete my mission. The reason? Subaru decided to move back to the main floor after spending many years in the North Hall. Maybe they wanted to occupy space that would attract more foot traffic. Perhaps they deliberately attempted to sabotage my coverage of the auto show in an effort to undermine my credibility. We may never know the truth. But a lack of photos won’t stop me now, or ever.Â
I don’t have any shots of the Subaru Ascent in the flesh, so these official shots will have to do the trick. The Tribeca, Subaru’s last attempt to sell a three row crossover, was a rare failure for the company. Can Subaru atone for the past? It’s definitely possible, and the Ascent’s design certainly hits all the right notes.
Since the concept already looks like a production-ready design, I doubt we’ll be in for any surprises once the real thing makes its debut.
The Ascent’s cabin looks less like a production-ready design, but its at least eighty percent of the way there. Obviously Subaru isn’t going to turn the window switches into one giant touch sensitive panel and those vents will adopt a more realistic design on the real thing. Hopefully the interior color scheme moves over to the production model as well, because the combination of brown, white, and silver look great.
The Ascent will likely be the largest product to use the Subaru Global Platform, which will underpin all future vehicles from the automaker.
Curiously, the concept features a seven seat configuration with three seats in the back, a setup that is not common in the three row full-size crossover segment. Usually only vehicles like the Ford Expedition come equipped that way, and since the Ascent isn’t as wide I can’t see the design making its way to the production model.
The Acura TLX is a a decent car. Not as distinctive as an older TL, but still pretty nice. Especially now that Acura moved on from the giant beak motif that plagued their lineup for years. I wanted to dislike the new grille and went into the Javits Center with an anti-Acura mentality, but the truth is that the new design works.
The new front end improves the TLX, but the overall exterior is generic. This is probably why sales of Acura’s sedans keep falling. They just aren’t as distinctive as they used to be.
If I had to shop for an Acura, I’d be more inclined to pick up an MDX. It just wears the new look better than the TLX.
Acura swag! I can’t tell if that thing at the bottom is a laptop case or a handbag. Either way, Acura’s designers need to get to work on it.
In contrast to Acura, Infiniti boasts unique styling throughout their entire lineup. In the case of the QX30, while the exterior stands out from its competitors, its platform is shared with the Mercedes GLA, which is quite apparent when you look at the two side-by-side.
The duo ostensibly fit into the compact crossover segment, but their ride height falls short in a way that makes the vehicles more like really tall hatchbacks.
Unfortunately, the QX30 suffers from sunken screen syndrome, a malady currently present in many modern vehicles. Makes the interior of smaller cars feel bigger than they should.
At least the stitching is real!
BMW released the i3 several years ago to much fanfare, and the little EV still gets a whole lot of attention.
This particular floor model contained an absolutely opulent interior. Pretty much every surface was covered in leather or fabric, although I couldn’t tell if any of it was alcantara.
Lexus get a new flagship for 2018 in the form of the LS 500.
Despite the crazy spindle grille up front, the LS 500 ends up looking very nice overall.
This particular model is the hybrid variant, which comes equipped with a twin turbo V6 and two electric motors for a total output of 354 horsepower. The transmission is a CVT mated to the Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System, a fancy name for what is essentially a four speed automatic that works with the the rest of the setup to eliminate the rubber band effect that plagues many CVT transmissions currently on the market. The result is performance similar to a conventional ten speed automatic transmission. Pretty cool stuff, and I reckon we’ll see it spread to other products in the future.
The floating roof motif is another trend increasingly spreading throughout the auto industry. Is it a fad? I have no idea, but it is one design I thought I’d hate until I stumbled upon the Murano several years ago. I despise them intellectually, but on an emotional basis I find them acceptable.
The LC 500HÂ resided on the floor this year, and just like the RX, it sports a floating roof.
The coupe looks a lot more interesting than the sedan.
In a break with tradition, Mitsubishi did not take the least populated section award for 2017. Instead, that distinction goes to at least half of the Lexus display, a development I did not expect.
And in case you figured attendees shied away from sedans while gravitating towards crossovers, here is a shot of the NX F Sport, all by its lonesome.
In a more populated area, Lexus had this concept drawing a few eyes.
Given its appearance I think its safe to say that this concept predicts a future subcompact crossover from Lexus. It looks too much like the recently released C-HR to be a coincidence.
There is a hallway that connects the North Hall to the rest of the Javits Center, now called “The Link.” This year Venturi brought the Buckeye Bullet 3 to this area. The vehicle is claimed to have a top speed of 372 mph, which would make it the fastest electric powered car in the world. The current record stands at 307 mph and is held by a predecessor of the Venturi.
Upon entering the North Hall attendees were greeted with an interesting sight: a discontinued car. I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen a recently axed vehicle at the show before, especially one just sitting in the automaker’s lineup as if nothing happened. I remember reading a while back that FCA had a huge number of 200’s languishing in dealership lots, so it makes sense they would want one at the show.
Unlike the 200, Chrysler’s Pacifica is still in production. The minivan borrows the entire front end from the 200 and looks good while doing it.
If you told me in March that Mitsubishi would actually attract show goers to their section this year, a response about such an event only occurring when pigs fly would not have been irrational, given the years of photos I have to back up that claim.
And yet here we are.
2017 marks Mitsubishi’s 100th anniversary, a milestone the company promoted with this picture and nothing else. Paramount’s limp approach to Star Trek’s 50th anniversary in 2016 immediately came to mind.
Mitsubishi intends to revive the Eclipse name in the near future, with that product being called the Eclipse Cross. It wasn’t at the show for some reason, but the Outlander was. The Outlander sits on a platform that made its debut during the George W. Bush administration. In a move that should surprise no one, Mitsubishi will continue to use the GS platform on the Eclipse Cross.
The interior of the Outlander is thoroughly mediocre, but better than expected.
Don’t consider that an endorsement of the Outlander. Tucked underneath the infotainment of the crossover is what I’m dubbing the Zone of Sadness. I don’t think any other vehicle on the market has an area like this. Sure, entry level cars have button blanks in some spots, but not as blatantly obvious as this section in the Outlander. The five horseman of the car interior apocalypse can’t even stand in formation correctly: that non-button on the left already looks like its in danger of shaking loose. Then again, maybe it wants to break free.
Essentially the five seat version of its larger sibling, the Outlander Sport gets a refresh for the 2018 model year.
Front end aside, this is a pretty decent design.
The Mirage got a bit of a refresh last year that helps it look a little less cheap than before.
That being said, the Mirage still wins the award for loneliest vehicle at the auto show even if the brand managed to avoid that distinction this year.
Was Mitsubishi’s popularity a ruse? The small living quarters movement, or whatever its called, decided an auto show would be a good place to show off their products. I guess there probably isn’t enough interest to fill the entire Javits Center, and considering these specific houses can be put on a trailer, it makes a certain amount of sense to advertise the homes there, as I’m sure a decent percentage of visitors own vehicles capable of towing them.
I couldn’t tell if one or multiple companies brought their tiny homes to New York because the official auto show website just lists “Tiny Houses” on the floor plan for the North Hall, and I didn’t take any picture of corporate logos because this particular section wasn’t exactly on my to-do list. But what I do know is that the area was full of people waiting in line to check out the interior of these things, and its not hard to guess why, because how often do you get the chance to experience something like this?
And even if Mitsubishi benefited from the exhibit, there were enough people lurking around the Outlander and Outlander Sport for me to think their interest was genuine.
Following in the footsteps of its siblings, the Buick Enclave gets a complete makeover, ditching the Lambda platform for the C1XX, a variant of the E2xx platform that succeeded the Epsilon II. The current generation Traverse and Enclave grew in size slightly while the Acadia shrunk down considerably. GM deliberately decreased the Acadia’s footprint so the crossover could better compete with the likes of the Ford Edge and Jeep Grand Cherokee, a wise move that reduces internal competition.
The Lambdas always looked a bit bloated for my tastes, although the previous generation Enclave wore the look a bit better than the other members of the trio. Even so, these are massive cars, and GM’s full size crossover lineup are the biggest of the bunch.
You may be wondering why this next photo is also that of the new Enclave. The answer is apparent when you look at the grille. This is a regular Enclave, while the blue example belongs to the Avenir line, which is basically Buick’s version of GMC’s Denali.
The Lacrosse received favorable reviews from auto critics, and while I still think the sedan is possibly the worst named vehicle in history, the car succeeds on the merits.
Seriously though, what’s next? The Toyota Basketball? Ford Volleyball? Nissan Tennis?
GM’s obsession with expansive grey trim on the center stack continues with the Lacrosse. If you’re fine with that setup you’ll be happy to hear that the cabin is full of high quality materials.
Buick’s second smallest four door is slated for the chopping block with the introduction of the 2018 model. However, the Regal name lives on in the “I can’t believe its not a sedan” hatchback.
Hatchbacks with a sedan like profile generally stay on the other side of the Atlantic, but sedans are dying, and automakers are faced with an interesting quandary. Do they simply kill the traditional four door sedan, or find ways to make the configuration more marketable? Buick did both. I suspect the Regal can simultaneously satisfy both sedan enthusiasts and customers looking for something with a little more cargo flexibility.
Buick is also going to sell a Regal wagon, a development I did not see coming.
GM clearly wants to take down the Volvo V90 Cross Country with the the Regal TourX. They could conceivably do so, as the wagon looks just as good as its Swedish counterpart.
Over at GMC the Terrain gets a redo. It will join the Equinox in offering a diesel model, which will be one of the three turbocharged engines available.
While every recent GM redesign has improved the looks of their respective predecessors, the Terrain ends up looking better than the Equinox.
GMC also helpfully raised this Sierra up so visitors could stare at a section of the truck they’d likely never see if they owned one.
I don’t think an automobile can get much cleaner than this. I doubt they even leave the factory in such a spotless condition!
Superlatives for Part 3
Best interior: Buick Lacrosse
Worst interior: Mitsubishi Outlander
Most likely to succeed: Subaru Ascent
Most likely to fail: Mitsubishi Mirage sedan
Saddest area of the Javits Center: Approximately 40 percent of the Lexus section
Happiest area of the Javits Center: the kids play area next to the Chrysler Pacifica
I think the Buick lineup is the only one attractive to me. The rest are reminiscent of 61 Plymouths. Nothing I would run out and trade in my 4 year old Camry for. I guess I’m just getting old.
The Buick wagon would be about the only thing I’ve seen in the 3 part series that would remotely catch my attention. I hope Buick sells a million of them so that if I live long enough, might be able to get one used. Just not a new car guy.
I always hated excess muscle-bulges on cars, and the Subaru continues that tradition.
OTOH, I like the brown & silver interior.
As for Lexus, I think LSD 500 might be a more suitable badge.
Of this bunch, I did appreciate the relatively clean styling of the Mitsubishi and Buick line-ups.
Of course, ‘clean’ probably means ‘boring’ to many of today’s new car buyers, indoctrinated by years of bizarre, ‘evil-reptile’, ‘fish-mouth’, and ‘joker-face’ vehicles.
I keep telling myself that, like the gigantic ’59 Caddy tailfins, this too shall pass.
Happy Motoring, Mark
The Subaru concept looks great but Subaru has long had a habit of releasing production models that never look quite as good as the concepts, even though the concepts look production-ready. They may have finally broken that habit though… the current Outback, Legacy and Impreza look great! Pretty clean lines and a nice premium look. Interiors seem to have lifted their game too.
I’d be a lot more excited about the Buick Regal if I wasn’t sad it was becoming our new Holden Commodore. Have to admit though, it looks great! And the TourX will be a niche model but it will help broaden Buick’s appeal.
QX30… yawn. The Benz GLA looks better inside and out. I hope Infiniti finds their groove again.
Terrain looks alright but not as memorable as the current one. Not a fan of the floating roof look.
Enclave will be a hit. Buick does well with its crossovers. I prefer the look of the Traverse though, even though it isn’t as fancy.
I’m very excited to read the first reviews of the Lexus LC and LS. The LC is absolutely stunning. A little surprised they’re mimicking the LC and LS taillight design on the ’18 Camry though, considering they’re all coming out at the same time.
Regarding the i3, I believe the interior extensively uses recycled materials. I think I read that somewhere. I just wish they’d clean up the sides of the car… a bit messy.
GM simply rebadged the European Opel Insignia 5-door sedan and wagon as Buick Regals. I doubt there’s much market demand, just a way for GM to deploy production capacity. I’m guessing the car will be gone from GM’s roster soon, now that Opel has been sold to the PSA Group.
As for the LaCrosse name, it has the additional ignominy of being slang for masturbation in Canada…
I’d buy a Nissan Tennis. (It almost sounds real!)
Perhaps a Nissan Ping Pong? Could slot below the Juke…
And rename the largest crossover the King Kong.
The Outlander’s “Zone of Sadness” is truly depressing. It’s crazy, when I remember Mitsubishis of my college years 20 years ago actually being decent cars.
CC Effect: Just two days ago, I spotted my very first, new Mirage notchback. It looked shockingly like a Nissan Versa sedan.
Loved your Buick section, here.
I always love your auto show coverage, whether the pictures are many or few. I don’t always comment only because there’s usually nothing I can add to such great, in-depth pieces. Keep them coming.
You get the impression Mitsubishi’s heart is just not in it these days.
Zone of Sadness – I love it.
Count me as a non-fan of that “floating C pillar” look. In fact, with as many over the top styling gimmicks on cars this year, Virgil Exner seems to be getting some posthumous validation. You see a 61 Plymouth on the Toyota/Lexus lines and I see a 60 Chrysler in the front end of the Acura.
As to what I do like? The Buicks and Chryslers seem to have some of the cleanest styling going. Those Buicks (particularly the Regal Wagon and the big Enclave.
The rear shots of the Acura TLX and Lexus IS make me think they were separated at birth and had a reunion at the show.
Odd, but the only things that interested me were…the tiny houses. Sad commentary on the binniss. Wonder if there were any tiny garages?
I’m basically picturing a circa 1880 outhouse with a hook in the ceiling to hang a bicycle up…:-)
One thing that occurs to me when I read this series and think about current styling trends is that we are experiencing yet another “era of excess” that seems to happen every 20 years or so.
You could argue that it started in the late 1950s, when the U.S. makers tried to outdo each other with the wildest, most overdecorated creations imaginable. To some perhaps they were exciting and stylish at the time, at least until the next year models arrived–to others they were just plain ugly. Worst offenders were offerings like the ’58 Buicks and Oldsmobiles. Today, nostalgia may look at them kindly as curiosities, but in general they weren’t pretty and did not age well.
Fast forward to the late 1970s, when the U.S. Big 3 + 1 went bonkers for Broughams. Padded vinyl, coach lamps, wire wheel covers, acres of velour and fake wood. The bubble burst when the streamlined 1980s look started to dominate, though for some makers, the inability to move-on from the Brougham era was a damaging mistake.
Tick the clock forward another 20 years to the late 1990s, and the aero-look gets overdone, with overly-rounded blobby cars hitting the market. The ’96 Taurus/Sable personify this example of “jumping the shark.”
And another 20 years brings us to the present, where we are being subjected to yet another era of excess, this time driven by the Japanese Big 3, who cannot resist slathering on every crease, crinkle, incongruous line, oversized grille or jarring angle that could be imagined in a sci-fi horror film… Even the Germans are now guilty of styling excess in ways previously unimaginable–witness Audi’s gaping maws, which look large enough to roast an elk…
So, perhaps we are on the cusp of a new styling direction, as we have seen in previous cycles when design has become too overwrought.
Thanks again for a great series!
Agreed. One could even add the very late ’30s to this Theory of Overwraught Automotive Design. The Graham Sharknose, the ’38 Hudson, the Willys 77, etc. Streamline Moderne gone mad. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love all these, but one has to admit they were a bit extreme compared with late ’40s or mid-’30s designs.
The third row in the current Toyota Highlander has three seats or at least three seatbelts. With the captain’s chairs in the second row (optional on XLE, standard on Limited) it’s the same configuration as the Subaru. I won’t say it isn’t cramped for me but it works for the soccer team. With the second row captain’s chairs at least access to the back isn’t bad, certainly better than folding seats etc.
Nice coverage overall, the Regal wagon is a nice surprise, I hope it does well but doubt it will be marketed. I don’t see the intended buyers cross shopping it with Subaru, VW, or Volvo…Those are similar crowds with differing budgets amongst them, and I don’t see the Buick name fitting in there…
The only thing that caught my eye, like a few other CCommenters, was the Buick wagon. Nice to see GM going back to what it used to do best – big roomy cars. Whether anyone will actually buy one is another question…
“what’s next? The Toyota Basketball? Ford Volleyball? Nissan Tennis?” VW Polo? Golf?
Actually, LaCrosse is also a city in western Wisconsin. So maybe they’re following Hyundai Tuscon or Santa Fe.
I’m holding out for the Kia Kenosha.
Haha, if Ford had named cars after cities (instead of birds and animals) in the 1960s, we could have had an Indianapolis 500. 🙂
That could have been a special performance version to square off against the hemi engined dodges and the fuel injected chevies of the late 50s. Which engine? Imagine a three 2bbl carb Super Interceptor 352 with one horsepower per cubic inch.
“Come and see the Vancouver, now on sale at your Volvo dealer”
LaCrosse was a Buick concept car. Also, the sport isn’t as common as basketball or baseball. I think the name is fine.
That Lexus concept looks like it rolled down a cliff.
The Regal wagon I’m surprisingly attracted to, and I’m not a fan of GM, Buick, or station wagons. As to the hatch sedan, I think it’s the only logical thing to do with these ever more rakish bodystyles and am surprised how uncommon it is. There are quite a few sedans whose trunk lids are as vestigial as those used on ponycars. Who cares how much volume they hold if you can’t get your cargo into it?
Infiniti’s look is the best in awhile. Can point out a block away and looks unique.
The Lexus grille looks like it could easily break from a kick, but maybe made of more durable plastic than 70’s cars.
Seeing the overdone grille textures in the new Lexus models makes me wonder where they’ll go next for future designs. Surely they’ve gone as far as they can go in this direction.
As GN says above, maybe we’re on the cusp of a new styling direction.