5 head-turning cars at the New York Auto Show
Usually the sleek, roaring sports cars get the biggest auto show crowds and most attention from photographers. But for the second year in a row at the New York International Auto Show, Lincoln has come up with a startling large concept vehicle that's stealing the limelight.
Last year, it was a concept for the resurrected Continental -- now going into production. This time, the stunner from the formerly staid Lincoln is the concept version of the redesigned Lincoln Navigator -- featuring huge gull-wing doors and a folding staircase (pictured above), like a small airplane.
And while this Navigator is a star, there's no lack of stylish ready-to-rumble sports cars at this year's New York show. Nissan unveiled its redesigned GT-R sports car that it will produce in a racing version (and will race). On the green end of the spectrum, Toyota is out with a plug-in version of its pioneering Prius hybrid -- which it calls Prius Prime. Hyundai is introducing its all-new (if oddly spelled) Ioniq, which will come in three versions: classic gas-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric.
Click ahead for more details on the five cars that are turning heads in New York.
Click here for photos of some of the show's other dazzlers, such as the Audi R8.
Lincoln Navigator Concept
Lincoln was strong on showmanship in introducing the concept version of its new Lincoln Navigator. It trotted out actor and advertising spokesman Matthew McConaughey to introduce the new Navigator, which looked sleek enough by the standards of large SUVs. But the show really started when the Navigator opened its huge gull-wing doors and put down a folding staircase.
The doors are so big that when they're open, both front and back seats are clear for entry (see photo on the opening page). Ford (F) hopes to capitalize on a very strong market for large SUVs. CEO Mark Fields said Lincoln SUV sales are running at the highest level in 15 years.
But the gull-wing doors may not prove to be very practical. You would need three spaces in the mall parking lot to make sure a door doesn't hit an adjacent car when opening. Ford officials did indicate they're still uncertain if the doors would remain on production versions of the new Navigator.
2017 Acura MDX
Acura has refreshed and restyled the MDX -- the all-time best-selling luxury SUV. The bolder look comes mainly from a new pentagonal-shaped grille flanked by so-called "jewel eye" headlights. A new hybrid version with 325 horsepower will be more powerful than the gasoline MDX.
The latest safety equipment comes standard with the new MDX. That includes collision-avoidance technology like automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning.
Acura, a division of Honda (HMC), also introduced a redesigned version of its NSX sports car.
2017 Nissan GT-R
The GT-R gets a makeover inside and out and a boost in horsepower to a whopping 565. The exterior design features Nissan's (NSANY) "V-motion" grille, which has been enlarged for better engine cooling. And a new hood has been reinforced to improve stability during high-speed driving.
A new exterior color called Blaze Metallic (pictured above) has been added to customers' choices. Interior redesign includes new, more comfortable front seats and simplified controls -- reducing the number of switches from 27 to 11.
2017 Toyota Prius Prime
As big SUVs rack up record sales and green cars lag, Toyota (TM) and other companies are nonetheless pushing ahead with high-mileage models to help meet government-mandated fuel economy standards.
Toyota unveiled the plug-in version of its fourth-generation Prius, which it is calling the Prius Prime. The Prime is expected to have a combined EPA rating of 120 MPGe (the gas mileage equivalent for a plug-in electric). That's a 26 percent improvement over its predecessor and the highest of all plug-ins, Toyota says.
The company also claims the Prime can drive for 22 miles on the electric engine alone and that the electric engine will power the car up to 84 MPH without needing to engage the backup gasoline engine. Improved batteries mean a driving range of 660 miles with combined electric and gasoline power before needing to recharge batteries and refill the gas tank.
2017 Hyundai Ioniq
While Toyota is on its fourth generation of Prius, Hyundai is showing its all-new green car, the Ioniq. But Hyundai is boasting that the Ioniq first automotive platform designed to accommodate three different versions: classic gas-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric.
The sleek, air-cheating design has a drag coefficient of just 0.24, or best among competitors, the company says. Inside, the Ioniq has the latest in cell-phone connectivity, compatible both with Android Auto and Apple Car Play.
Ioniq is equipped with the latest in crash-avoidance technology -- including automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning. The hybrid version combination of electric motor and 1.6-liter gasoline engine produces 139 horsepower.