2005 New York Auto Show Wrap-up Story and photos by John LeBlanc
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...