This Month In Auto Volume 3: The New York Auto Show

This Month In Auto Visits NYC

Well, it’s early spring in North America and you know what that means: flowers bloom, birds chirp and the sun is out – you know, as George Costanza might say, “all that crap”.

Well, actually, we’re in New York and it’s not very sunny out at all; in fact, it’s the great deluge outside the Javits Center on the edge of Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood. We’re inside and what we’re doing has nothing to do with birds or rainbows; this is the New York International Auto Show, and it’s time to have a look at the latest and greatest one of our favourite shows on the calendar has to offer in terms of new vehicle debuts, twists on current vehicles and more off-the-cuff stuff like an…electric Ford Raptor?

Have a look at our gallery and if you happen to find yourself in New York City before April 7, head on down to the Javits Center for your fix of all things auto.

Ford Lightning Switchgear

 

Well, Ford may not officially be calling this beefy off-roading take on the Lightning EV pickup a Raptor but we’re going to anyway, because just look at it: 37-inch tires (with an extra two mounted in the bed, Trophy Truck style) Fox internal bypass shocks, unique front and rear bumpers, custom control arms and how can we forget the fact that it makes almost 780 pound-feet of torque? No, we don’t know the range and if we’re honest even if we did, we wouldn’t be wasting time on that here because that’s not what this truck’s about. It comes as part of Ford’s Performance Demonstrator Program, which is made up of vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E 1400 and SuperVan 4.2 and whose goal it is to see just how far engineers can push the EV envelope.

2025 Ford Mustang GTD

Sticking with Ford, we turn to something that doesn’t look like it’s ready for road use but 100 per cent is: the Mustang GTD, essentially a roadgoing version of the brand’s GT3 race car. Its 5.2-litre supercharged V8 makes 800 horsepower and is set to do battle with the big dogs in the segment such as the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. In addition to all that power, it also gets high-downforce aero adds (you really can’t miss that wing), inboard-mounted adaptive spool dampers and an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The kicker is whose responsible for building it: Canadian firm Multimatic, the same fine folks that helped develop the latest Ford GT supercar.

2025 Nissan Kicks

Well, it was bound to happen; after a few years of cheerily making up for the departure of the affordable Nissan Micra subcompact hatch, the Kicks subcompact crossover is growing up. The new model is larger than previous and a little heavier, but that added weight is well earned: for the first time, the Kicks will be available with AWD. Styling-wise, it also looks a little beefier thanks to an enlarged grille flanked by stacked DRLs, some subtle hood bulges and larger lower valance. Power comes courtesy of a single engine choice, also enlarged from previous: a 2.0L four-cylinder replaces the previous model’s 1.6, and it’s good for 141 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque.

2025 Porsche Macan EV

You may have seen it before, but this is the first time the full-electric Macan EV has made landfall in North America. It looks good finished in white with black inserts, with 22” wheels and headlights that are a clear allusion to the Taycan EV sedan. Like the Taycan, the Macan EV is no slouch; power is rated at up to 630 hp and 833 pound-feet of torque in top-flite Turbo spec, meaning a 0-100 km/h sprint of barely over three seconds. Range looks to be in and around 485 km, depending on spec.

More Porsche

Neither the Porsche 911 Sport Classic or 1972 2.7 RS are new, per se, but darn if they don’t remain belles of the ball. The newer 911 Sport Classic model is a modern take on 911s of old, with modern “Fuchs” style wheels, ducktail spoiler and retro racing graphics. The power it makes, of course, is far from retro as it comes in at 542 hp and 443 lb-ft., The fact that the Sport Classic comes equipped only with a manual transmission and rear-wheel-drive, however, are very classic 911 attributes.

Speaking of “classic 911s” – they don’t come much more so than the 2.7 RS. This is the original “Rennsport” model that lead to monsters like today’s GT3 RS. It was a way to provide a race car for the road and got wider wheels and tires, deleted rear seat, suspension tuning and aero adds including the famed “Ducktail” fixed rear spoiler. Those side graphics, meanwhile, can still be optioned on modern RS models. This is the 911 at its purest, and we’d hate to think of the things we’d do to one day be able to own one…

2025 Kia K4

The Kia Forte is on its way out but its replacement looks to be a goody. The K4 is a little larger than the compact Forte it replaces but of course, it’s much more than that. It gets adventurous new styling that Kia is calling “Opposites United”; look to the way the c-pillar appears almost separate from the rest of the car and the way the fenders flare gently out above the wheels to see what they’re on about. Power comes courtesy of either a 2.0-litre four cylinder good for 147 hp and 132 lb-ft, or a turbocharged 1.6L good for 190 hp and 195 lb-ft. The former gets an intelligently-variable automatic, while the latter gets an eight-speed auto. Inside, we find a fully-digitized dashboard featuring Google Built-In tech as well as optional Harmon Kardon premium audio.

Also: look for the potential arrival of a five-door hatchback version. So far, it’s been confirmed only for the US in North America, but time will tell if it will make its way here. Considering our penchant for hatchbacks, we’re thinking its eventual arrival is a pretty safe bet.

2025 Polestar 4

Hot on the heals of the Polestar 3 crossover comes another crossover from the Swedish all-electric brand. Only this one appears to sit more closely to the Polestar 2 sedan on the spectrum, looking like a beefed-up version of that model. It’s a very cool look that’s in keeping with many of the “crossover coupe” models proliferating in the market today. Inside, we find a low-clutter interior that features a horizontal central display as its focal point. That differs from other Polestar models that have a vertical display. It features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but also Google Built-In. There will be single and dual-motor models, with the most powerful versions making up to 544 hp and it will also be compatible with the new NACS charging standard.

Genesis Magma

We’ll spare you the Dr. Evil allusions and just get right to it: the Magma models – personified here by the GV60 Magma, the very limited run G80 Magma and the X Gran Berlinetta Concept — are spectacular. Especially the Berlinetta X, which is available for anyone who owns a Playstation video game console and Gran Turismo 7, because that’s the only way anyone’s going to be driving one. For now, just the GV60 Magma is planned for our market, but we’re not complaining; it looks spectacular with its unique wheels, big roof-mounted spoiler and wider front fascia. Power figures have not been released, but we’re expecting something in the 650 hp range.

Genesis Neolun Concept

While the Neolun – “new moon” – is slightly more real than the Gran Berlinetta, we say that only because its of the much more popular SUV persuasion. Still, though; with out-there stuff like 360-swivelling front seats, radiated heating in the floor and even the tweeter speaker mounted where normally an infotainment dial would be – not to mention massive 24” rims that are quite obviously inspired by items from certain German automaker – we think there’s probably a ways for this one to go before it hits the big time.

2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz

This is really only a facelift but it’s a pretty good one that sees Hyundai’s trucklet get tougher with new grille styling, headlights and wheel designs. The all-new XRT version goes a step further with unique off-road wheels shod in all-terrain tires, front tow hooks, new front and rear bumpers and new overfender cladding. Inside of all Santa Cruz models we find a new curved display housing the gauge cluster and infotainment screen but interestingly, they’ve gone to a somewhat more old-school interface for the climate controls which are now done via “hard” buttons and dials. Gone is the touch panel from previous, which is great as it’s so much easier to work with traditional buttons, especially with gloves on.

NYC’s Finest

All the new stuff is very cool, of course, but a trip down to the basement of the Javits is not something to miss. There, you’ll find a display of NYPD police vehicles through the ages, from a Plymouth Fury in the green, black and white of NYPD in the ‘70s as well as a “bathtub” Chevrolet Caprice in that oh-so-famous light blue. There’s even more eclectic stuff from departments that no longer operate, such as the dark blue and orange Fury from the now defunct NYPD housing commission. It’s down here that we also find a FDNY ladder truck painted with imagery from the 2001 attacks. Its number? 343, as a tribute to the number of firefighters who passed that day.

Bonus 1: Play ball!

We all know that New Yorkers love their sports. In a nod to that, Toyota brought along a number of vehicles painted in the colours of various NYC pro sports teams; a Tundra repping the Red Bulls soccer team, a Highlander painted in the orange-and-blue of the Mets and my favourite – a Prius with Yankee pinstripes on the hood.

 

 

 

Bonus 2: Engines as art

Also in the Javits basement we find the aftermarket gallery. The cars are arranged by type; Nissan Skylines over there, Toyota Supras here, lowriders there and that’s all cool but many of them also sit with their hoods open, providing a fascinating look at the heart of these beasts.

 

 

 

 

Bonus 3: Fancy

Well, it is Manhattan, right? You know, 5^th Ave, Madison and all that? You’re not going to have a car show here without featuring some precious metal. To wit: the supercar and classics display right at the heart of it all, featuring motors like the Lamborghini LM002 and Sian and the Rolls-Royce Spectre.