2009 New York Auto Show

Any analysts looking for evidence of distress in the wake of depleted auto sales got a different picture at the New York Auto Show, held in mid-April. Even when the financial crisis was mentioned during automaker news conferences, it failed to cast much of a shadow on the presentation of new and redesigned models.

Exuding Confidence

At recent auto shows in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Chicago, fuel efficiency was the byword. New York showed another side of the auto business, with more talk than action about serious gas-mileage boosts. Only a handful of smaller, frugal automobiles took center stage. Sixteen major manufacturers hosted more than 30 debuts—either global or for the North American market.


Held once again at the Javits Center on the western edge of Manhattan, the New York Auto Show was as colorful and energetic as ever. Exuding optimism along with caution, the 2009 event made it seem as if answers to concerns about failing automakers and fuels for the future just might be found. "Not since the early part of the 20th century," said Mark Scheinberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, "have we seen such a variety of innovation."


While performance was proudly previewed, ingenuity also debuted. One particular example is the General Motors and Segway collaboration to reinvent personal transportation with Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), a two-seat, two-wheeled, zero-emission prototype, perfect for congested cities like New York.

World Cars of the Year Winners

At an early-morning presentation, Volkswagen took the title of World Car of the Year with its Golf VI, topping the Ford Fiesta and Scion iQ. Green Car of the Year is the Honda FCX Clarity, which beat the Mitsubishi i MiEV and Scion iQ. Nissan's GT-R took Performance Car of the Year honors (lead photo), topping the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and Porsche 911 Carrera. Best Design of the Year: the Fiat 500 minicar (shown here), which competed against the Jaguar XF and Citroen C5 sedan.

Show Standouts

Honda went to the dogs in New York, introducing a "Dog Friendly" version of its Element crossover SUV, which features a cushioned, elevated pet bed in the cargo area, second-row and cargo-area pet restraints, an extendable load-in ramp, a spill-resistant water bowl and a ventilation fan in the rear. Sales begin this fall.


Well-known supercar developer Steve Saleen's latest venture, SMS, unveiled the SMS 570X Challenger coupe (above), with a 700-horsepower Hemi V-8 engine. Painted Bright Silver, the 570X features "Red Butterflies" induction and a newly designed supercharger with six intercoolers. Only 500 will be built. SMS (which stands for Saleen's initials) also offers a 500-horsepower edition. "Performance will never go out of style," Saleen said.


Spyker, a perennial participant at the New York, revealed a new C8 Aileron model with scissors-style doors. Previously seen at the Geneva Motor Show, the second-generation model flaunts aircraft-derived styling cues, has a 6.1-inch wider track dimension, and is built on a longer wheelbase.


Showgoers could see the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid sedan, which is said to run 50 miles on battery alone. At that point, a gasoline-powered generator kicks in. On the Inner Roadway of the Javits Center, Volvo set up a test course to demonstrate its City Safety system, which can help avert low-speed collisions in heavy traffic.