Flashy Wheels Roll Out Of New York Auto Show

Automakers take a big bite out of The Big Apple and bring a slew of flashy new crossovers and an evil-brewing muscle car to the annual New York Auto Show.  From Lincoln to Subaru, Genesis, Jeep, Toyota, and beyond, here are the highlights:

2018 Subaru Ascent Concept

Meet the near-production version of Subaru’s new three-row crossover that will be built in Lafayette, Indiana later this year.  Three rows of seating for seven, turbocharged Boxer engine, standard AWD, and muscular styling raise it up.  The brown/cream leather and glassy controls are probably for show, but look beautiful anyway.  Loyal Subaru owners and those of competitive makes should all love it.
 

2018 Lincoln Navigator

Lincoln smacks Escalade in the face.  The brand’s big new grille graces a streamlined SUV powered by a 450 horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine and 10-speed transmission.  Aluminum bodywork saves 200 lbs.  Wireless phone charging, standard Wi-Fi, a dozen power plugs, head-up display, and 20-speaker Revel audio impress.  Front seats with massage and 30-way adjustment front a wide stitched dash.  Elegant.

2018 Buick Enclave Avenir

Following the GMC Acadia and Chevy Traverse, Buick debuts its all-new full-size crossover – made more special in Avenir luxury trim boasting 20-inch wheels, hands-free liftgate, LED headlamps, 4G Wi-Fi, and rear camera mirror.  A 302 horsepower 3.6-liter V6, mated to a 9-speed transmission and AWD, tows up to 5,000 lbs.  Seventeen radar, camera, and ultrasonic sensors keep it safe.

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

Numbers for this drag-ready Challenger, the most powerful production muscle car ever, are insane.  It packs an 840 horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, whips from 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds, scorches the quarter-mile in 9.65 seconds at 140 mph, and generates 1.8g acceleration force.  If the Hellcat was evil, this represents Satan incarnate.

Genesis GV80 Concept

Hyundai’s luxury brand previews its first crossover.  Styled with “athletic elegance”, it displays clean organic forms, mesh grille, flush door handles, slim quad headlamps, and 23-inch wheels.  An opulent interior features a wide horizontal dashboard topped by a 22-inch curved display and joined by an ash wood console bridge, quilted leather, polished aluminum, and trussed side pillars.  Capacitive touch infotainment control commands the electronics.  Power comes from a plug-in hydrogen fuel cell system.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

Think of it as Jeep’s Hellcat, sharing Dodge’s 707 horsepower 6.2-liter supercharged V8.  It’s the quickest SUV ever, able to vape from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and reach 180 mph.  Brembo brakes halt it from 60 mph in 114 feet.  An adaptive damping suspension allows drivers to tune performance for Auto, Sport, Track, Tow, and Snow.

Toyota FT-4X Concept

Designed for Gen-Y city-dwellers, the angular FT-4X enjoys AWD and a flexible interior.  It features a Clean Zone in front with flooring inspired by Japanese wood, Wet Zone in middle and under rear seats, and Cargo Zone with tracks and tie-downs.  The rear hatch can flip up or split to the sides; removable vertical side windows echo old Toyota pickups.  Record adventures with a GoPro camera in the driver’s mirror.

2018 Kia Rio

Designed in U.S. and European studios, Rio sports aggressive exterior styling and a suave interior with contrasting-color horizontal dash topping a bi-level tray for phones and tablets.  Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto conjure connections; available auto braking improves safety.  It moves with a 130 horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.

Storm Forward!

E-mail Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube and Twitter:  @AutoCasey.