The 2011 New York Auto Show had its share of the studs and the duds. The general mood at the Show seemed to reflect the burgeoning fuel prices of the time as many strived to put forth the most fuel-efficient vehicle. Here is a list of the top ten that we felt deserved special mention as the hits of the 2011 NYIAS.
1. 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet adopted a novel approach to premiere the 2013 Malibu thus ensuring that many had their eyes and thoughts riveted on their latest offering. The company has done considerable work to make the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu more visually appealing via the revised exterior and interior designs. Also, the vehicle embraces more technological and safety features.
The forthcoming Chevrolet Malibu will be equipped with an all-new 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine that is mated to a Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic transmission and expected to churn out power up to 190 hp and 180 lb.-ft. of torque.
Imbibing design DNA from the Camaro and the Corvette, the new Malibu has a wider stance, broad shoulders and a range of large 17-, 18- and 19-inch wheels . Meanwhile, the interior gets a premium feel from an all-new dual cockpit design and other features. Further, the Malibu will have Chevrolet’s new MyLink infotainment package and be pedestrian protection-compliant.
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu will go on sale across 100 markets worldwide by early 2012 in LS, LT and LTZ trim-levels. Pricing will be announced in late 2011.
2. Scion FR-S Concept
Is Scion’s FR-S Concept Friggin’ Really Sweet? Incidentally, the FR-S in the name stands for “Front Engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport”. The concept is a new rendition of the Toyota FT-86 concept that made its debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and will likely go into production in 2012.
Powertrain of the FR-S concept will be 2.0-liter boxer engine that is imported from Subaru and will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a paddle-activated automatic transmission. It will feature Toyota’s new D4-S injection system that uses both port and direct injection to increase horsepower and torque, while still maintaining an impressive mileage.
The Scion FR-S Concept production version is very much looked forward to as it has appealing modifications compared to the Toyota FT-86.
3. 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
As the company opined the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 “adds high-performance hardware to the elegant proportions and head turning design of the 2011 Chrysler 300C.” The forthcoming Chrysler 300 SRT8 will be powered by a new 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine that is expected to deliver 465 hp and a torque of 465 lb.-ft.
As for performance, the vehicle is estimated to have a top speed of 175 mph and can go from 0-100-0 mph in less than 16 seconds.
Other features include Adaptive Damping Suspension that tunes suspension for specific conditions as well as a revised interior that is fitted with real carbon fiber trim pieces to render a high-performance look.
4. 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Another showstopper at the NYIAS from the Chrysler stable was the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 that will feature a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine under the hood. The powertrain will be mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and can yield up to 465 hp and 465 lb.-ft. of torque.
Performance figures are impressive as the 4800-pound 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 can go from 0 to 60 mph in merely 4.8 seconds and boasts a top speed of 155 mph. Despite this, fuel consumption is 13 percent better than the precursor with the driving range purportedly increased up to 450 miles.
And all this comes wrapped in a revised exterior and interior package that includes body colored grille, lowered suspension and carbon-fiber accents along the dashboard and door panels. Starting price of this high-performance powerhouse is expected to be $40,000 and will likely hit the roads towards the end of 2011.
5. 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
Come September it will be determined whether the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will indeed appeal to the male populace. Nonetheless, this third rendition of the original ‘bug’ holds the promise of breaching the gender barrier.
In addition to dropping the ‘New’ from the title, the wand has been waved to make the dashboard-mounted vase and cavernous roof disappear. The revamped version has been given tweaks that lend it a more sporty and dynamic look.
The 2012 Beetle will be equipped with a 2.5-liter five cylinder gasoline engine, a 2-liter diesel or a 2-liter turbocharged gas engine. As for transmission, choices include a 5-speed manual, 6-speed automatic or 6-speed dual-clutch version, depending on the model.
The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will be priced at about EUR 17,000 ($24,361) and will reach Europe in October and likely be available in Asia by February 2012.
6. Nissan Leaf Nismo RC
The Nissan Leaf Nismo RC was intended to put forth the concept of a new breed of ‘green’ racing cars, thereby aiming to set a different benchmark for this arena. Like the Nissan Leaf, the Nismo RC will be equipped with a lithium-ion battery and an 80 kW electric motor capable of producing up to 107 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle is touted to be able to reach top speeds of upto 93 mph while completing the 0 to 60 mph sprint in a mere 6.85 seconds.
However there is a catch. Running time of the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC is projected to be about 20 minutes under racing condition and the vehicle can be charged up to 80 percent of its full capacity in 30 minutes using a quick-charging port in the rear.
This means that, should the concept catch on, we shall witness either very short races or one with very long put stops. And unlike our usual noisy races, ones with this zero-emission vehicle will be very silent indeed as the Racing Challenge version of the Nissan Leaf gets rid of the tailpipes and will have no exhaust sound.
7. 2012 Fiat 500 C
Fiat’s 500 C is based on the European variant with upgrades to suit the U.S. consumers. The 2012 Fiat 500 C will be powered by a 1.4 litre Multiair four cylinder engine that is expected to deliver 101 hp at 6500 rpm and 98 lb-ft torque at 4000 rpm. Transmission options include a 5 speed manual as well as a 6 speed automatic.
A unique feature that sets the 500 C apart from other convertibles at the moment is that is has been designed to protect the occupants from wind noise and buffeting. Further, the power-retractable cloth top automatically retracts to rear-spoiler position when the liftgate is opened for trunk access. Also, Fiat boasts that there are “more than 500,000 ways to stylize and personalize the new 500c.”
Expect the 2012 Fiat 500 C to hit the roads this spring in two models namely Fiat 500 C Pop and Fiat 500 C Lounge.
8. 2012 Subaru Impreza
The 2012 Subaru Impreza has managed to impress a few with styling tweaks both on the inside and the outside as well as a new, fuel efficient engine. The all wheel drive 2012 Impreza will feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that is expected to churn out 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The engine will be mated to a five-speed manual transmission or the second generation Lineartronic CVT.
Redesigned door panels have made the vehicle roomier despite the unchanged length and width. Estimated fuel economy of the Impreza is 27/36 mpg city/highway. Meanwhile, the 2012 Subaru Impreza will hit the roads this Fall.
9. 2012 Hyundai Accent
Hyundai seems to have really scored it this time with the 2012 Accent that share styling cues with theElantra and the Sonata and has a more spacious interior, a host of safety features and other goodies. The 2012 Hyundai Accent will be powered by a new direct-injection 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that can be mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
The forthcoming Accent is expected to have power of 138 hp and torque of 123 pounds-feet. In addition, fuel economy ratings of both the automatic and manual variants are touted to be 30/40 mpg.
The 2012 Hyundai Accent will be available in the sedan and four-door hatchback configurations this summer. As for pricing, it will range from $12,445 to $17,000 for the fully loaded version.
10. 2012 BMW 650i
As to why the 2012 BMW 650i Coupe made it to the list is a no-brainer. One merely needs to feast their eyes on this magnificent creation to be struck by the new heights that the company has reached in terms of design and luxury.
The forthcoming BMW 650i will be powered by a 4.4-liter V-8 engine that is capable of churning out 400 hp and a peak torque of 450 lb-ft. The reverse-flow engine when mated to either a new 8-speed Sport Automatic gearbox or traditional 6-speed manual transmission can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Styling tweaks of the BMW 650i Coupe includes shorter rear deck, a dramatic slope of the rear light as well as a more luxurious interior. The 2012 BMW 650i Coupe will hit US markets in late September and will be built at their plant in Dingolfing, Germany.-nitrobahn.com
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