2015: The year Marty McFly travels to in Back to the Future II. While we don’t have hovering skateboards yet, many of the advancements we’ve made since 1985 would no doubt look pretty spectacular to someone who just hopped out of a Flux Capacitor-equipped DeLorean from the Reagan era. For us, its another chance to note the year-to-year changes made by virtually all the major automakers.
The first major change, which I immediately noticed, was the shifting of several exhibitors. For those familiar with the Jacob Javits Center, there is a “North Hall” that requires a short trek from the main exhibits down a long hallway to what you see above. This space used to be where GM set up camp, with all of their makes and models on display. This year saw the smaller Japanese automakers Subaru, Fiat, Scion, and Mitsubishi there instead. Overall, I’d say it was a smart move for General Motors, as potential consumers could compare their products right next to competitors’ vehicles. Plus, separating the entire company from everyone else always struck me as a bit pretentious.
First up is the future Toyota Corolla hatchback. Uh, hang on, I got that wrong, it’s the Scion iM. Across the pond this compact is known as the Auris, and is essentially their version of that small appliance we see on the road and love to hate because of its poor driving dynamics. Stateside, executives must have felt that naming it after something millennials did in 2005 was a good idea. Scion Instant Messenger! Am I right?
Anyway, this should be a Corolla. With so many hatchbacks like the Focus and Impreza selling in good numbers, not having something like this in every Toyota showroom reflects poorly on the company. My local dealer dropped their Scion franchise some time ago, which means a less informed customer wouldn’t find out about the hatch at all, possibly looking elsewhere for their needs.
One thing you’ll notice throughout this post is the sheer amount of blue cars that were on display at the show. The first one pictured is the Subaru BR-Z STI concept that ironically was a stone’s throw away from the Scion FR-S, its identical brother-from-another-mother. In fact, I grouped all my pictures by manufacturer, except for these next couple of photos, simply because they’re so much alike.
Here we have a tricked out FR-S. It’s a great looking car, no doubt about that.
What would prevent me from purchasing either of these sports cars is the unfortunately spartan interior. I know they’re supposed to represent a back-to-basics approach to cheap, lightweight, and crisp handling cars of the past, but for around the same price I can get a 2015 Mustang that has a better interior in terms of materials quality and technology.
Now here is a car I can truly savage: the Scion iQ. Starting price? about $15,600. EPA highway mileage? 37 miles per gallon. You’re much better off getting a Fiesta or a Focus, which could cost around the same amount based on incentives and get the same gas mileage.
And for that price you get a very shoddy interior, with this somewhat tacked-on touchscreen interface being the only decent looking thing inside. 
Here’s the HVAC controls, which make you bend down quite far just to change the temperature. My brother-in-law called the iQ “blandyland,” and I would have to agree. I wouldn’t even be excited if I won this car on The Price Is Right.
Scions first sedan, the iA, is shown here. Basically a rebadged Mazda 2 with the front end of a Darth Vader inspired vacuum cleaner. Toyota is once again dropping the ball by not simply making this the new Yaris and relegating Scion to a footnote in the corporation’s history.
Fortunately, the rest of the car looks great, and you can tell how similar this looks to both the new Mazda 2 and its big brother 3.
Mitsubishi is being kept afloat by the Mirage, and pictures really do say a thousand words. Tucked into literally the outermost corner of the auto show, the struggling automaker was not very popular among the public, as you can see above.
I’ll give the Mirage credit though; it surpassed my low expectations with a comfortable drivers seat and decent interior quality. I have no idea if it is remotely driveable, but the cabin was not at all claustrophobic.
I will say I was truly horrified at the thin tires that adorn the Mirage. Those might as well belong on a lawnmower. At this point I’ll note my regret at not capturing a Fiat 500x, which I missed due to its similarity to the 500L.
Next up we have Honda. This is the best shot I could get of the upcoming HR-V because it was absolutely mobbed. I didn’t even have much of an opportunity to sit in it. I have a feeling these new subcompact crossovers are going to be very popular.
The rear door handles instantly remind me of the ones found on the old W-body coupes. Unfortunately I think the amount of plastic created by this design detracts from the otherwise attractive greenhouse. Then again, it’s going to be an entry level crossover, and I doubt many people will view that as a deal-breaker.
One of the only true concept vehicles at the show was this FCV concept, which I’m assuming is a fuel cell prototype of sorts. It kind of looks like something that Captain Kirk of the rebooted franchise would use to pick up chicks on future Earth.
Or maybe its a good ride for an older Han and Leia to take on the way to their favorite restaurant?
Moving on to current vehicles, the interior of the 2015 Civic almost completely turns me off. This angle exaggerates the two-tier dash a bit, but if you’re sitting in the driver’s seat, that upper tier really feels imposing and would be a deal-breaker for me if I was in the market for a new compact. I prefer the interior of my Focus by a significant margin.
My brother-in-law gave this Civic concept Best In Show status. He was blown away by the design, and I certainly can’t blame him. It seems like the next gen Civic will have more passion compared to the current one, and that can only be a good thing. They just need to polish that rear end a bit.
Yeah, that is a good design. I’m looking forward to the reveal of the production version.
Speaking of green things, GM had a couple of redesigned Sparks on hand. Overall, they look like quite the step up from their older counterparts, with a better design, more horsepower and a larger interior. These should do well.
This was the point where the spokesman told us that the white Spark next to him was called Toasted Marshmallow, which was simultaneously the moment I walked away.
GM also had the new Volt on hand. I’ve always thought that gasoline/electric hybrids were the way to go, and it pleases me to see such a significant update to a car I already admired from afar. This is a much better design than the current gen, and if there were an H badge where the bowtie currently resides, I’d call this a very successful redesign of the Civic.
I wasn’t kidding. Despite what you may think of GM, this is a good looking car. Plus, its blue! It won’t be the last blue car we see either, as 2015 seems like the year the color becomes ubiquitous.
It was rare to see cut-away models this year, but Chevy rolled out this white volt in all its dissected glory.
The interior, although far from view, also looks like a major upgrade.
The Malibu nameplate has had a storied history since its revival in the late 90’s. I’d argue the first generation qualifies as a Deadly Sin. These days however, the newer models have made progress, with our own William Stopford finding a lot to like about the current generation. Even if this new Malibu cribs its looks from the 200 and the Fusion, it’s still a big step up from the 2015. My only real gripe is the placement of the bowtie, which should either be higher or not have the painted bridge surrounding it.
The rear end looks great, however. A noticeable upgrade from the current generation.
I still can’t drop the feeling that the Impala design is superior to the Malibu’s–just that much cleaner overall. Oh well, they’re both good designs. 
Check out the Trax! Chevy’s entry into the subcompact crossover segment. This was also a popular stop for auto show attendees, although the fanfare wasn’t as crazed as with the Honda.
Its hard to make out, but that rear bumper is already scuffed up quite a bit. I take it this particular one will be a demo.
The interior of the Trax was pretty bare, and the materials quality was lacking. Perhaps my expectations for this segment are higher than they should be. 
Moving on to Buick, we have the upcoming Cascada, which is essentially an Opel with a different name.
It looks pretty, though. We’ll have to wait and see if its attractive design makes it the car of choice for retirees in Florida.
Speaking of concept cars, here is the Buick Avenir. I’m not sure Buick needs a range-topping sedan like what you see above, especially since GM is really touting the CT6.
A nice design, no doubt about that, but the business case isn’t there.
I had to stop and take a close up shot of the GMC Canyon because these things are big. They really aren’t much smaller than a Sierra or Silverado.
I found myself liking this color, which was surprising.
Rounding up the last GM products is the all-new Cadillac CT6. This is the brand’s attempt to gain further credibility by gunning for the big luxury sedans. Since its introduction essentially warranted a name change for literally every other Cadillac nameplate, it had better be good.
The redesigned Sonata has a more sculpted front end, which I prefer over its predecessor’s.
More importantly, I found the interior to be pleasant. Even if the aesthetic quality of the interior isn’t the best, it was a comfortable place to sit. Note the increasing use of two- and three-tone interiors. Automakers are adding far more flavor to their interiors now, and it shows.
I had to include this refreshed Veloster because of its matte blue paint scheme.
Are we seeing the debut of the first car-based pickup to be sold in the US? I’m reading that this thing may actually see production.
More blue! I don’t think there was a bad blue on any model at the show. It looks good on the new Tucson as well.
Now I didn’t take any exterior pictures of the Equus, so you’ll have to make do with this shot of all the glorious controls you get as an occupant of the rear seat.
Here is the screen that was in front of me in the rear seat. It doubles as the head cushion for the front passenger.
Now we’ve arrived at Mazda HQ. I guess they really don’t want you to forget their tagline.
Now THIS is a 21st-century Miata. I could see myself in one of these for sure.
Just don’t expect a great time when reaching for your beverage in your new Miata.
Our third subcompact crossover! The CX-3 blends right in with the current lineup.
The Mazda 6 received a light refresh and it looks better than ever. Definitely one of the best looking cars in its segment.
The interior had fantastic quality all around, but I would never buy the 6. Know why? I don’t like the inside of my car having what looks to be an Ipad glued on top of the dashboard as an afterthought. Complete deal- breaker.
Mazda had their larger CUV lineup close buy, and I noticed they all had their roof racks filled with cargo. Other manufacturers did this too. Its the first time I’ve noticed them doing it.
Now on to Nissan. What you’re looking at here is the new Maxima, in a very nice shade of blue. I practically threw up when I first saw pictures of this sedan, but in person it’s a far more attractive design, and I have little doubt it will win over Nissan loyalists.
I’m not sold on the partially blacked out C-pillar though, as it seems largely unnecessary. Another mark against the sedan is its sole powertrain: a 3.5L, 300hp V6 that’s front-wheel drive only. Isn’t the Maxima supposed to have a performance angle? It doesn’t seem like it could compete with a Taurus SHO as of right now.
The new Rogue has been out for a while, but I felt compelled to share a picture of its interior, which I found to be tastefully designed. I’d question the steering wheel’s ability to withstand stains after years of use if I were a prospective buyer.
Despite this unflattering angle, the new Murano leaves the same impression on me as the future Maxima; looks awful on the internet and distinctive in the flesh. The presentation by the spokeswoman on the right was awkward due to showgoers being able to go inside and climb around while she was speaking. This was the only vehicle I saw that had a window sticker on it as well.
I’ll just quickly say that the new Titan looks like a Chinese knockoff of the F-150 and leave it at that.
Here’s the Infiniti QX30 concept. Nissan had better get this into production as quickly as possible to capture some of the very hot compact luxury crossover segment that is super hot right now.
The most festive display area award this year goes to Volkswagen, which had these disco balls above their models accompanied by catchy music.
The cheeriness doesn’t hide the case of the missing three row crossover, which Volkswagen has said will arrive over and over again, without actually revealing a production unit. Is it any wonder that they’re not doing so hot in the states right now?
Here’s a smart move on their part: an all-wheel drive Golf wagon for our market. If its reasonably close to the price of an XV Crosstrek it should sell decently. This was one of the few cars that you could climb in despite not being for sale yet. Since it’s almost identical to the Golf wagon on sale currently, that probably isn’t a big deal.
FCA has done a good job following their acquisition of Chrysler. The Dodge Charger looks like the brawny cruiser it was always meant to be. Here’s an R/T hanging out by its lonesome. There were no Hellcats at the show, probably because they want all of those units at dealerships pronto so they can immediately hand the keys to the throngs of customers lining up to buy them.
Of note is the dash of the Charger, which has acres of disappointing grey plastic.
It also has this strange looking shifter, which resembles a video game joystick more than anything else. It did feel good in my hands though, and was made of good quality materials.
I was impressed by the interior of the 200 and really got a kick out of the mocha colored seats. They were also very comfortable.
I was less of a fan of the steering wheel, which really bothered me by not having a hole in the bottom spoke. Just a subtle piece of cost cutting, methinks.
I really liked the driver’s instrument panel, and it more than makes up for that cheap steering wheel.
I get mixed signals from the controls of the 200. The shift dial is cool, but you would have to divert your eyes pretty far from the dash for your HVAC settings and the like.
I didn’t get any photos worthy of sharing that featured the exterior of the new Renegade due to the entire borough of Queens temporarily occupying all areas surrounding each of the models on the floor. So I decided to snap a pic of the coolest feature of the Renegade.
Out of all the subcompact crossovers on display, the Renegade had the highest quality interior.
It also had these sweet two-tone cloth seats, which were very high quality and quite comfortable.
Jeep even had this display of all the swag you can get buy to show you’re a fan even when you’re not driving one.
This Compass wanted some friends to talk to but must have recently farted and didn’t realize it, so people stayed away. Or maybe it’s just a vehicle way past its prime.
The new Edge has now switched to the current generation Fusion platform, which means a huge upgrade in driving dynamics over the previous version. Its also longer and wider to differentiate itself from the Escape.
The interior is surprisingly similar to the outgoing model in looks, but not in material quality. It’s vastly improved over the old Edge. Those leather seats felt superior as well.
Ford also listened to customers who complained that the buttonless center console was frustrating to use and wisely added some buttons to the new car.
Ford gets an award for having the oddest piece of furniture in its section. This spinning top-like thing was entertaining for about 30 seconds yet drew many curious folks from nearby. Alas, the video featuring yours truly looking like a 5-year-old on the thing was botched and is not worth sharing.
Maybe you were wondering why I didn’t start out with the hottest Ford products coming soon to a dealership near you. My answer is: I have no idea. Anyway, feel free to gawk at the Focus RS in all its beauty. I’m curious if the all-wheel drive system will find its way to the less sporty versions for the next generation.
This shade may be a bit too light for my tastes, but I’m still convinced there is no such thing as a bad blue.
Curiously, Ford had a Focus and Fiesta ST decked out in this excellent blue, but the doors were locked on both with a “prototype vehicle” sticker adorning each of them, which was odd since I could not detect anything different from the versions already on sale aside from the color.
Proving Ford can design performance cars for all income brackets, the GT is here to compete with the best Italian sports cars. This is my first purchase after winning the lotto.
The GT350R was also there, missing A/C, a rear-view camera, and other frivolities that are featured in lesser, non-track ready Mustangs.
Ford also had all their EcoBoost engines on display.
Speaking of which, did you know that you can get a 1.0L, three-cylinder in a Focus?
It understandably has one more gear than the 2.0L four-cylinder version. I imagine you’ll need to shift often to keep the engine in its optimal power band.
Speaking of performance, the Raptor looked menacing even while standing still.
More excellent blues. Ford was actually handing out little Raptor models for anyone under 12. Since I have morals, I decided not to punch a child and steal one. I’ll instead call Ford out on their ageism. Those bigoted jerks!
Ford sells quite a few Explorers each month, so its not surprising they decided to do a light refresh on the three row crossover instead of a full redesign. The new front end looks very similar to the Range Rover.
It looks like Ford is switching up the grilles for different trim levels on the Explorer, like the automaker already does with the F-150.
Ford has come a long way compared to even five years ago. A short time ago you only had the Mustang and SHO as your options if you wanted a sporty car from the blue oval. Now you have more than double that, and Ford is touting the RS so much that they put one up on display here in lieu of the Mustang, which I believe has always had the honors of holding that spot until now. Let’s just hope we see a Fusion RS soon.
Here we have it: the new Continental. Besides eschewing the alphanumeric naming scheme that Lincoln has stuck with for the last ten years, the new sedan is a return to form with a design that evokes memories of the brand from its glory days. Armchair analysts will tell you the formula for putting Lincoln back on the map goes something like this: Step 1 – Create a rear-wheel drive performance coupe from the Mustang platform. Step 2 – ???. Step 3 – Profit. I disagree with that assessment. Ultimately, if this new Continental looks the same in production form and sports the rumored 3.0L, 400hp EcoBoost with all-wheel drive, it will go a long way toward restoring the storied brand to its previous heights.
Here’s the schnoz of the refreshed Camry, which sports a front end that I can actually call attractive.
The Camry does have two large demerits though: this horrible design cheat to make the C-pillars look thinner than they are, and an unremarkable interior.
Even Toyota had a sexy blue on display, although this color/trim package isn’t for sale as of this writing.
Toyota had this FT-1 concept on display, which is rumored to be the next generation Supra. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Lexus had two new CUVs on display at the show: the new NX series compact, and a redesign of the RX series. Here’s the gaping maw of the NX, complete with Nike-swoosh daytime running lights.
The rear end is much better looking.
Again, the interior shares the glued on infotainment screen that is featured in Mazdas and other vehicles. I also found that mouse pad left of the shifter unappealing; it reminded me of a 90’s IBM laptop.
And here is the Lexus RX, sprouting the Cylon-inspired snout of its stablemates. The rest of the crossover looks pretty good. We’ll see if this changes sales at all.
Alfa Romeo also had a presence at the show as well, putting the 4C right up front. I hope to see one of these in the flesh someday.
Is the Volvo’s comeback vehicle? If so, it should be successful, it looks good and stands out versus other luxury crossovers.
Finally, we have the actual production version of the NSX. We’ve been teased with concepts for so long that this is almost anticlimactic. Whatever, I just can’t wait to see the inevitable comparison between this and the Ford GT.
Mercedes had a few GLA models on hand. Boy, are they short! It almost looks like a CLA hatchback rather than a true compact crossover.
I promise this is the last time I tell you about my distaste for interiors with this setup. In my opinion, the interior of this GLA has the worst execution of this design.
Mercedes also had its Metris vans on display. They seem to occupy a size between the small vans like the Transit Connect and NV200 and the bigger full size ones like the regular Transit or the larger Promaster ones.
They also had a few decked out Metris vans as well. Doesn’t that rear end remind you of the previous generation Pathfinder?
Looks like the van is going to play a role in the upcoming Jurassic World.
This was the first time military recruiters were at the show. The stand indicated they were from West Point, which isn’t too far of a drive north from the Javits Center.
The basement, or Level 1, is always host to a variety of vehicles not directly related to brand new cars, trucks, or crossovers. They had an actual fire truck there this year, which was hard to photograph due to its size.
Premier Restorations had this sweet first gen Charger on display.
As well as this second gen Camaro. No joke: “Take Me Home Tonight” just happened to be playing while I was walking by. I found it quite appropriate.
The NYC Police Museum returned for the second time, with much more vehicles to display, including a 1930 Mack.
They also had this sweet vintage Plymouth.
As I understand it, most of the cars from this collection are personally owned by retired NYPD officers. I’m guessing this belongs to a cop who liked the older green-and-black color scheme so much he had to have it on his late-model Interceptor. Can’t say I blame him.
The previous color scheme of blue and white is featured on this two-decade-old Caprice, and it looks fantastic.
I’m fairly certain those guys standing by the Caprice are the retired owners of the vehicles you see here. Major kudos to them for showing their classics at the show.
Overall, an excellent display of genuine classics.
They also had some more modern steel there as well. I imagine the cop who gets this as a squad car does not have the greatest relationship with his boss.
A New York State Trooper Charger was also present. I’ve always liked this color scheme.
Who killed the electric car? Absolutely no one. And the big players were present at this cool demo track near the NYS Police Museum Exhibit.
You could climb in and get a ride in a number of all-electric cars, like the i3.
None of the Soul EVs were being used, for some reason.
It was very strange seeing all those cars buzz around the track with no noise to accompany their movement, only the occasional tire squeal from the surface they were riding on.
Nearby was this Hummer H2, the polar opposite of an electric car.
There was also this horribly outfitted Lamborghini on display. Despite its looks, I’d happily take it for free.
And finally we arrive at what greeted us as we left the Javits Center. Perhaps a few of these will end up inside at that museum display in a decade or two? Anyway, thanks for checking out my extensive coverage of this year’s auto show.
Related Reading:
Curbside Classic Visits The 2014 New York International Auto Show
Curbside Classic Visits the 2013 New York International Auto Show
Very interesting tour and great pics. However, I really do feel sometimes that I belong back in 1985. Don’t like the styling of most new vehicles, and don’t want any of that touchscreen crap, either. Just give me some nice big buttons for the HVAC and radio controls and I am happy.
I am only 50, but increasingly feel like a grumpy old man in today’s world. I really struggle with all the new technology. Does anybody else feel like me?
+1
Some might call it old age, but I call it a desire for rational design. Manufacturers & consumers alike forget that anything which distracts from driving should be minimized or eliminated. But consumers evidently want toys to play with while driving (hence people drifting out of their lanes), so manufacturers oblige them, & that’s all you hear about in advertising. That, & childish fantasies about off-roading or tearing up a two-lane road beyond legal speed limits.
I don’t so much object to driving aids like nav systems, range sensors, & auto parallel parking, which might help fogies like us, but I wouldn’t pay extra for ’em.
Plus, car companies pretending to understand software user-interfaces worry me even more than the computer industry itself. There is a serious lack of QC discipline here, in my estimation. Ford’s reliability track-record in Consumer Reports has been undermined largely on this front.
I hear you.
I’m 26 and I feel that way
Yup, I feel that way at 48. I’ll just keep driving my 01 Focus and 07 Caravan which have good old 3 dial heater/AC controls and no touch screen.
My father who is 78 does not appreciate these features in his new Ford Escape, but is dealing with them (albeit as little as possible)
At any rate interesting cars were made before 1973, most things after that date are just transportation…
I am older than all of you above (not yet 70), and I like my 2014 CTS’s buttonless CUE system interface. Well buttonless except for the steering wheel that is. I do agree that one can get too involved in the screens but I try to watch that.
Amen. I can’t abide touchscreens in anything — I hate them for phones and cameras and I don’t think they belong in cars. Minor controls in moving vehicles need haptic feedback so that the driver can manipulate them without having to look at them.
A touchscreen makes sense for stationary applications like kiosks, where speed of use is not an issue and you want to present options primarily in visual terms. For instance, a touchscreen might be appropriate for an information terminal in a train station or airport.
For cars, I think touchscreens are primarily a fad, driven by the mistaken idea that younger consumers want everything to work like mobile phones and tablets. That’s a basic misreading of the audience (the limiting factor for young people buying new cars is money, not what apps will play on the infotainment system) and I hope it goes the way of motorized seatbelts and eight-track players.
The nav screens are not going away. The only way they will work in a car is to be touch sensitive. Whether or not all controls should be run by a touch sensitive surface is a good question. I am not unhappy with my Cadillac’s system. Moving all controls to a touch sensitive screen is probably not good. Buick tried this with the 1986 Riviera.
I’m 52 and I agree with you on all points.
Is it bad that I can’t tell any of the compacts from each other?
Yep. Really bad.
Thanks for the pictures! Unfortunately, I’m a bit disappointed in the “Xerox effect” styling of the Cadillac CTS…err, CT6. There’s the problem – I can’t tell the two cars apart. The first few times I saw the New York commercial, I thought the car at the end was just a CTS and not the brand-new CT6. Yes, I know cars from the same brand should share some common design cues, but they should NOT look identical. A bit disappointing given the hype and my own high hopes.
Cadillac is not alone – Audi and BMW are guilty as well. Mercedes avoids the problem by having adjacent models (i.e. E vs. S, C vs. E) wear different design language, and the same goes for Jaguar.
The Lincoln Continental, by contrast, looks more unique despite being related to the Fusion.
* Final judgment reserved until I see these cars on the road. These are the first non-doctored photos I’ve really looked at.
If you owned the current CTS you might notice the differences. I am not quite sure what the CT6 is supposed to be, except that it is up market from the CTS. However, I think it is not quite Mercedes S class (which is moving up market too), although it may be BMW 7 series quality, which is not quite so far up market.
The standup nav screens(or touchscreen or infotainment screens or whatever they’re called today) look so horrible. It’s like ricers who put 5″ tachometers on the dash of their Civics ten years ago have inexplicably jumped through the right hoops in life, became real car designers and incorporated their crappy sense of integration and symmetry into current car designs.
My Dad picked up a 2015 Mazda 6 over the 2016 based on that stupid looking screen on the newest one, not kiddling. Rest of the design is basically identical except that bizarre detail.
My dad has a suction windshield mount for his phone so it can act like a GPS, it’s stuck in pretty much the same spot and looks fine.
But that’s because he did it himself, so it IS, as Edward said, an afterthought. He obviously isn’t going to completely redesign the center console in his 1998 Tercel so that his GPS phone doesn’t look tacked on, but a car manufacturer should have more than enough time and resources to in my opinion.
Lincoln Continental, are they going to make that? That looks awesome!
Pity, I didn’t see many Kia products, they’re not bad. Ford is still top in the new car department, imo.
The new Conti will probably be this concept in much the same way that the Flex was the Fairlane concept, or the new F-150 was the Atlas concept.
All the spy shots of the Continental test mules running around Detroit indicate that its going to look nearly identical to the concept.
Nice. I’m looking forward to that.
It’s hard to tell in pics how large it is but the new Continental has a wheelbase 1.6in. LONGER than a Crown Vic. It’s going to be a large car compared to the smallish and cramped MKS.
Hmm, where have I seen that Camry C-pillar before? Oh yeah…
The Ford Focus RS, please. Thank you.
The Mercedes Metris van is a renamed Vito van. Below the first gen Vito, as introduced in 1996.
Good to see commercial van choices expanding, after years of domestic design stagnation due to the Chicken Tax. I assume Mercedes uses some wasteful legerdemain, like knock-down kits, to get around this stupid 25% duty on the Metris, as they have with the Sprinter & Ford has with the “Turkish” Connect.
Is that exclusive to the Italian market?
Yes. In Germany it’s called the Mercedes Helmut.
We had it in oz as the Vito. Love that first gen shape, just needs some nice mag wheels.
The W638 (1st gen Vito) after a bit of tuning. Not bad, not bad at all.
But they were shoddily built and unreliable – they have almost all disappeared from Viennese streets by now, much more than the VW T4.
There’s enough negativity in the world without having to add more. What did everyone here LIKE about what they saw?
The old police cars were very cool!
The respective lineups of America’s big 3; definitely improvements across the board, very desirable cars.
The Camaro and Charger are pretty nice, as well as every police car sporting sealed beams. As for the new stuff I quite like the Ford GT and the aesthetics of the Continental(underneath it just sonds like a MKS though).
There’s too much positivity in the world if some of the other designs are getting approved lol
There’s no MKS in the new Continental.
Ecoboost V6, AWD and a FWD based platform. Unless this is a bespoke chassis, which would be a total wtf scenario, it’s going to either be D3 based(MKS) or CD4 (MKZ), based on the size I assume it’s the former.
CD4, but like the woodsman’s axe there’s pretty much nothing left. It’s considerably wider and longer, with much more usable interior space.
And this is the first gen Toyota Auris (excuse me, Scion iM), introduced in 2007. The name Corolla has left the Eurozone.
It’s supposed to be a VW Golf competitor. But its sales numbers have always lagged far, very far, behind. Toyota is slipping away. Outdated diesels (except the 1.6 liter BMW diesel they use in some models), low-power gasoline engines (is a 152 hp 2.0 liter the best they can do ?), no crossovers, no hot hatches, no own vans anymore (just a rebadged Euro-van), no light trucks anymore (the Dyna cabover they used to have).
Are you up to date? parkers.co.uk has a review of the UK market ’12+ Auris, and while they rate it as less “engaging” to drive than the Focus & Golf (horrors!), they didn’t pan it, either, giving it 3½/5 stars. And they say it’s reliable (though to be fair, it seems hardly any model they review is deemed unreliable, which makes their credibility suspect compared to America’s Consumer Reports).
Rest Of World loves Toyotas, what gives in Europe? Is track performance really all that important to most buyers?
Re-read my comment. It’s all there; their model- and engine lineup, that’s what gives in Europe.
Europe loves state-of-the-art-high-performance turbo diesels and ditto turbo gasoline engines. And Toyota doesn’t offer them. And we love compact crossovers. And Toyota doesn’t offer them. We love compact, midsized and big vans. And Toyota doesn’t offer them. And we love light trucks. And Toyota doesn’t offer them.
Take it easy, Neil.
I was only replying to your remark about the Auris, not Toyota’s entire market range. There were 3 different turbodiesels offered in the 1st-gen Auris you mentioned, but now, only one.
The problem with cars like the Auris in Europe is that a lot of markets are very, very brand-conscious, which has a significant effect on residual values. Buying an “off-brand” choice can get very expensive even if the price when new is similar or cheaper (not always the case). So, to get people to consider an alternative, it has to be compelling — just being a decent effort is not enough, especially if there are obvious deficiencies (like the lack of top-flight turbodiesel engines).
As far as I can tell, European buyers are far more resistant to Asian brands in general than are Americans. Hyundai has been making some inroads by designing cars specifically for the European market and pricing them aggressively, but Toyota and Honda have not been so lucky, even where they have an edge in reliability. (If anything, that seems to reinforce the image of Japanese vehicles as retirees’ cars.)
Exactly that. Nissan saw that and tried something else, resulting in the Qashqow, uh, Qashqai. The (European) midsize segment is very conservative, but only to a certain stretch. Reliability alone isn’t going to cut it, since the Europeans themselves aren’t that bad on that either (though not to Japanese level), you’ll need more to offset the lesser brand value, smaller dealer network and, by extension, lower resale value. Nissan offered a taller hatchback with (sort of) SUV looks, and it worked.
Forbes’ article on Honda’s loss of European market share attributed it in part to recent Civics, which because it’s more aggressive to appeal to younger buyers (& assertive older drivers like me☺︎), it put off its traditional clientele in Europe with no compensating gain among others. They also said Nissan is posting gains because it’s pushing the right market buttons with that Qashqai thing.
And the Fit (as Johannes would surely remind me) has no Diesel available, even though it earned high praise otherwise.
Been lurking for months, finally decided to make an account to comment.
That Ford Raptor and Lincoln Continental look really sharp. All those old black-and-green police vehicles look great too.
Great overview, thanks for the all the photos! It seems you’d had an enjoyable time.
My thoughts:
* Overall, all American brands seem to have made a major leap forward since the crisis kicked them out of their laziness in 2008. The contrast of that Jeep Compass to the newer vehicles couldn’t be bigger, and I applaud it. Finally, America makes cars you’d want again (but dammit, we don’t get them out here anymore. I hope that will some day be reversed).
* The Lincoln Continental seems like a winner: modern AND distinctive. Not so fond of the Cadillac CT6 though.
* The new Malibu looks good, but the Impala seems more distinctive.
* The Spark will be everywhere soon. Its European twin, the Karl (ridiculous name, like the Adam. Historical connotation alone is not enough) is probably gonna be even bigger.
* Toyota seems to have lost its way even more, with those new “Scions”. If Scion is intended to be sporty, the Auris is NOT going to do the job (my dad owns one. Good car, but as lustworthy as a fridge, and quite cramped to boot).
* Mazda is doing well on the other hand. The 6 is very handsome, and the new MX-5/Miata, brother of a new Alfa Romeo, looks cool.
* Great parade of old cop cars. I pity the fool in that (not-so-) SmartCar.
That steering wheel level photol of the dash of the 200 looks like a happy face.
Thanks for the walk-through. Personally, I like that big Buick sedan better than anything I have seen coming out of Cadillac lately.
Thanks for posting this! 2015 was the first time I’ve missed the NYIAS in the last few years – just too burnt out from working a stupid amount of hours (which is also the reason I’ve been absent from CC lately). Still mad at myself for not pulling it together and going, but I’m glad I got a chance to experience it here via .jpegs!
Love the classic NYPD cars… the blue/white they currently use isn’t unattractive, but I’d really love to see a Fusion or Charger in the old light blue they used for years. That was the coolest color (and apparently very trendy at the moment too… c’mon DiBlasio, get with the program!!)
Out of the new cars, I like the Malibu, already liked the Impala and Mazda6 a lot, love the CT6 and that gorgeous shot of the Alfa 4C… but I think I’m actually most interested in the Volvo XC90. The original was a big success and the ultimate soccer mom ride for years, so hopefully Volvo has the same kind of hit on their hands with this one. Seems like a crucial product for them. It was only a few years ago that we were wondering if Volvo would even be around in 2015, and so far so good. Also the T8 version looks ridiculously cool and should have a head start on similar vehicles forthcoming from BMW and Mercedes.
I remember last year Lincoln had an awesome booth set up – looked like something straight out of the 1964 World’s Fair. Seems like they went with the same theme this year, but toned down a bit. I like the Continental, but I’m not nearly as impressed with it as most folks seem to be. Aside from the baleen whale grille, I think the current MKZ’ styling is a lot more exciting.
The disembodied touch screens seem like an obvious rip-off of the BMW i3, where this feature looks great because it’s part of a really unique dash layout, designed that way from the ground up:
The A/C controls look a lot like the ones on my 1983 Skyhawk in your picture of the BMW dash.
If the lowercase i3 were gas powered it would be looked down on as the hideous pos it is. An E9 looks great, that dash looks stupid, albeit slightly better than the exterior.
Well, I may be the only one that thinks the i3 IS a hideous P.O.S. regardless of how it’s powered.
Did you notice if the Hyundais and Kias had bad smelling interiors? I noticed that when I went to the Portland Auto last year and this year.
The rear bench seat on the Extended Cab Silverado is quite uncomfortable, do not know if you had a chance to notice.
I thought for sure the plastic on the Camry’s C-pillar was going to sound hollow, but when you knock on it, it sounds solid.
The 2015 Charger’s dashboard sure is what I am used to, none of these touch screens, and loads of different colors.
The 90s Caprice 9C1 sure does look nice indeed and I miss that paint scheme. Wonder what the Smart is used for. The New York State Police do not patrol the 5 boroughs and they went gaga for Tahoe’s so surprised to see a Charger of theirs and them being present in the 5 boroughs.
The Jeep Renegade sure looks nice and I would like to own one I think.
The BMW i3 is neat and getting to ride around in one at the Portland Auto Show was a treat. The interior is cool and had interesting textures.
A bunch of these cars would get chewed up the moment they leave smoove Asphalt, but they are nice to look at.
I actually thought the Sonata I sat in smelled pretty good.
My observations:
– I cannot see any reason for choosing an HR-V or Trax over the Fit and Sonic hatchback, respectively.
– That doesn’t apply to the Renegade, partly because it’s probably the one to have if you absolutely *must* have AWD and partly because FCA doesn’t have a real 5-door subcompact.
– Scion’s continued existence continues to baffle me. To this day when someone says they drive a Scion you picture a firstgen xB (even though, on the other hand, the secondgen feels like it’s been lingering on the back of Toyota lots since 1978).
-*- The Scion iM is a promising car; basically a Corolla with extra utility and extra some interestingness. The name’ll probably hold it back as will the Scion one-trim-level policy; sunroof and leather are popular high-margin options but by no means universal in the C-segment, and many buyers won’t want to pay for those alloys and bodykit.
-*- The iA’s trunk looks far better integrated than many B-segment sedans but that nose looks like they hung a ’57 Chevy truck grille surround over the real front.
– Honda buried the lede with the new Civic. There’ll be a Type-R and a 5-door hatch.
-I’m as perplexed by the tacked-on-touchscreen fad as anyone. They’re not going anywhere. Or do the manufacturers know something we don’t?
– Love the 9C1 Caprice but it needs its’ wheelcovers to show to full effect how it predates the synergy between cops wanting to look badass and carmakers wanting to decontent the police package.
The 3100 on the NYPD cars is a reference to the old police phone number before 911 was introduced, Spring 3100. The NYPD used to have their headquarters at 240 Centre Street before they moved into 1 Police Plaza downtown. Spring 3100 is a magazine published by the New York Police Department for current and retired members of the service.
Hey, wanna live in the old police headquarters? It’ll only cost you about $3,000,000 dollars…
…and that’s for a 2BR apartment, not the whole building:
http://streeteasy.com/property/1149660-the-police-building-4a
I remember around 2000 when we elementary school students were taught that 607-2**-8000 was no longer the number to call and 911 was the new number we should call in the event of an emergency.
Nice article—thanks for posting it.
Not a stripper car in that whole bunch of new cars and that is the only car I would buy today. So I don’t and will be looking at a possible Classic Curbside buy on Wednesday for #9.
The yellow Scion FR-S is a direct result of positive response from the Chicago show car of 2014; just see the (much uglier) Series 1.0 as proof. Both my sister and I agreed it was by far the best car at the show, even though street use was next to impossible thanks to its 2 inch ride height. Need proof? My personal shot:
Thanks for a thorough tour of the New York show, especially the retired patrol cars.
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one to question Toyota’s decisions regarding marketing the Auris in the US. To me, this car should have become available at the same time as the current Corolla did, as a Corolla, and with different trim levels. Their poor decisions marketing this car has cost them many, many sales. Does anybody at Toyota remember how popular the first Matrix was? And I thought only GM could muck up this bad.
I did like that Buick!
I assume Toyota is still trying to prop up Scion.
Scion iQ?! I thought it was discontinued! Glad they are still making it ’cause I think it is quirky and interesting. Though I agree the price and fuel economy don’t make any sense. You are much better off with an iA.
They can’t make the iA the new Yaris. Toyota has to build their own Yaris, they can’t use a Mazda for that. I don’t even like the idea of the iA being a Mazda. But it has a good “value proposition” because it’s loaded with features.
Speaking of the new Mazda 2, was it there?
Mitsubishi needs to stop building embarrassments like the i-MiEV and Mirage. Glad the Mirage cabin is comfortable. But from what I’ve read, as soon as the engine starts the trouble begins.
The new Civic will have a hatchback body style again! Yeah!
The new Spark is certainly an upgrade from the original.
The new Volt is looking great, as is the new Malibu.
That Impala is one of the best cars on the road right now, at any price.
The original Trax concept car from the 2007 New York International Auto Show was really cool looking:
http://www5.pcmag.com/media/images/157098-10a-chevrolet-trax-concept-car.jpg
So now they bring out the production version at the same show 8 years later and it’s really disappointing. And BTW, where’s the Groove? They need to build that to compete with the Kia Soul.
I don’t like the Avenir’s styling. Seems kinda weird. Regarding Buick’s “business case”, don’t forget China.
CT6 looks weird too. But it’s going to be amazing.
Nope, no Mazda 2 around. Either that or I missed it.
GM should make the Buick Avenir sedan as a new Electra, a sport coupe as a new Riviera, only if they don’t water-down the styling. Business case might or might not be there, though both Buick and Cadillac benefitted when they both had top-line sedans for buyers to choose from. This Buick could help but be a hit in the Chinese market too.
Finally, a Lincoln Continental concept again. Not prefect but far better than any other recent Lincoln concept. If Ford goes ahead, one hopes they at least make a solid effort to hide the fact its built on a Taurus platform…..unlike the MKS.
The new Malibu looks WAY too much like a current Avalon…
Great write-up and selection of photos; I really enjoyed it thank you Edward!
Nice collection of cars.I don’t think the Scion iM will sell much. I don’t think it would sell well even if it was badged as a Toyota Corolla. Toyota buyers don’t seem to like hatchback cars as the decline of sales of the versatile and highly capable Matrix showed.
I am curious as to why Scion still exists. It seems like a pointless waste of resources and cost. Heck I have yet to see a Scion commercial on TV
Mitsubishi is not as dead as people seem to claim. Since 2012 they have seen an increase of sales each year. in 2014 they sold 77,643 cars and trucks which is pretty good for the size of the company and have been in the black since 2012(and made a profit each year since 2012)
I think they will rebound more as they add more models to their line up.
There is to be a Mirage sedan arriving soon to compliment the hatchback. I test drove a Mirage hatchback and it was not that bad and the base model came pretty well equipped for the price(with power locks and power windows etc) If they bring a sedan version into the USA then sales of the Mirage will expand at a great rate. A sedan version that is a well equipped in base model guise as the current hatchback would steal a lot of sales from the Versa sedan which has manual windows in base model guise.
I will admit I am a fan and actively root for Mitsu to return to the 1990’s glory days. The original Eclipse came out while I was in 7th grade and it was the car to lust after(along with the Talon and the Laser) during the 1990-1994 era.