“Stop car show.”
This is a refrain heard frequently by people covering the auto industry. It’s true that these trade shows no longer mean two days of press conferences, a sprawling lineup of new cars from nearly every auto company and extravagant off-site events. It’s also true that auto shows were shrinking even before the global pandemic so that automakers could spend less money and get more press attention for autonomous vehicle unveilings or digital debuts.
But the Auto Show is not dead as E3 has basically died in the gaming industry. And this week’s 2023 New York International Auto Show was proof of that. It’s a far cry from the days when journalists, industry figures, and auto shoppers saw wild concept cars, surprise debuts, and great events. It is still important as a snapshot in time to identify the new trends, technologies and products that will define how we will move over the next few years.
Electric cars, trucks, SUVs, and plug-in electric vehicles were hallmarks of this year’s New York International Auto Show, and the message is clear: The auto industry is racing toward zero-emissions cars, but it won’t sacrifice the large, luxurious, expensive cars that consumers love (and spend big on) in the future. this process.
This car also felt like a reality check on some fronts. After years of failed promises about “self-driving cars” – at least on the consumer front – the New York automaker had little to say about autonomy and more about electrification, fast charging and software features.
Car companies are not giving up the race for advanced autonomy. But they all sound more sober in how they describe their ways forward. In the meantime, expect advanced automated driving assistance and intelligent cruise control to improve, but no one here was talking about sending your car out as a personal robottaxi to generate passive income. Given the event Jaguar showed off its Waymo i-Pace concept car in 2018, that says a lot.
But auto deals like this one are still of tremendous value to car shoppers, many of whom have been unable to find what they want amid a chip shortage and are eager to find out more without the stress of being in a dealership.
Let’s take a look at some of the highlights, news and exhibitions from this year’s show and what they mean for the industry as a whole.
Literally great big debut
Image credit: ram
The two major new cars in New York weren’t just electric cars, they were big electric cars.
The Ram 1500 Rev debuted in production form in New York this week. While the end result is a bit toned down from the sleek concept car shown at CES, Ram’s first EV offering is still packed full of displays, 350kW fast charging, and features like bi-directional charging. This is a fancy way of saying the truck can power other gadgets or return electricity to the grid, essentially making it a battery on wheels; We expect this to be very important in upcoming electric vehicles.
Also, this is a big truck, as is any Ram 1500. (And it’s probably just as fun to drive around busy New York streets.) Ram hasn’t mastered with this truck. As Kirsten Korosec, Transportation Editor at TechCrunch points out, the best Ram 1500 Rev packs a giant 229-kWh battery, more than twice the size of Tesla’s largest battery. Ram says this should allow about 500 miles of range, but we’ll see what the EPA has to say about that number.
Kia EV9 SUV Image creditCredits: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The Kia EV9 is one of the brand’s biggest debuts ever – literally. Building on the runaway success of the petrol-powered Kia Telluride crossover, this takes the familiar platform seen in the Hyundai Ioniq5 and Kia EV6 into a three-row format for large, “multigenerational” families.
In person, it’s not as tall as I expected, but it’s a fairly large crossover; Think Toyota Highlander here. It should be a huge hit for buyers who want to get off the gas but have a lot of stuff, and people, to move around.
Lots of talk about software
Image credit: pocket
Nobody likes the term “Software Defined Vehicle”. But despite that, this is the truth. The electric and electric cars of tomorrow will likely be defined more by software features, customization options, in-vehicle apps, and streaming entertainment than driving dynamics.
That’s what automakers were talking about at the 2023 New York International Auto Show. It’s not just about screen size anymore; It’s about what he does for you.
The Ram 1500 Rev’s multiple screens and tech infotainment system were highlights of the show, as was Hyundai’s addition of Tesla-style over-the-air updates. Even the rugged 2024 Jeep Wrangler isn’t a Luddite; The Uconnect 5 system has 62 built-in off-road guides now. This number jumps to 3,000 tracking guides if you upgrade to the subscription version.
We expect to see more of that in the coming years. Automakers place a big bet on subscription feature revenue, whether buyers like it or not.
Cool Hyundai Cars (And Screaming Deals)
Image credit: Patrick George
The electric car debuted from Kia’s cousin Hyundai (the brands essentially all share the same hardware and software), and it shows that big-bargain cars don’t have to be big-time. The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric looks very promising, with stunning looks, compact dimensions, and an expected range of 260 miles.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but considering the last Kona Electric started at $33,550, this might be a better deal than the often pricey Ioniq 5. Going EV isn’t your jam yet.
Likewise, this will be the first time many consumers will see the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan in a body (aluminium, I guess?) I haven’t seen in person yet, but I guarantee it will catch your eye. Inspired by classic “fluid lines,” this sedan eschews the IONIQ 5 crossover’s corners for an ultra-sleek look. Sedan sales may be a fraction of what they used to be, but if they’re going out, they’re doing it in style.
It’s an EV show now
Image credit: Patrick George
Javits Center attendees will see new and upcoming EV offerings from basically every manufacturer, proving just how massive this electric onslaught can be.
A few that caught my eye include the new Nissan Ariya that’s already on the streets; the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV, which could be a strong competitor to Tesla if it delivers on its $30,000 price tag; the Ford F-150 Lightning and its cool box; View showing the naked chassis of a Volkswagen ID.4; And many more, including Volkswagen ID. (Also, why isn’t this already on sale? We’ve seen this for years, so let people already buy it!)
If you’ve been dying to check out an electric car in person, New York has your chance.
It’s a truck and SUV show now, too
Image credit: screenshot
We often equate “efficiency” with “small”. But as I wrote yesterday, automakers won’t sacrifice volume with their EV payments—and they’ll fund it with sales of trucks, crossovers, and SUVs.
Even as they went green, the bigger, tougher cars were the lights in New York. Nissan, Ford, Chevy, Toyota and many more offered people-hauling trucks and work-focused vehicles, with all the exterior accoutrements that come with that. Check out the gigantic Subaru-built faux national park display built on the show floor if you need more proof of it.
The future of cars may be greener, but it certainly won’t be compact. And a bit of a shame. Given that this is the New York Auto Show, I’d have liked to see more city-friendly options from the automakers here, but that’s not where the business seems to be going. How many cars are on display here and would you like to parallel park in Brooklyn?
Genesis is getting into the “SUV coupe” thing.
Image credit: Patrick George
Speaking of which, the SUV boom has led automakers in recent years to push the boundaries of what an SUV is. One by-product of this was the SUV coupe, which doesn’t mean coupe in the two-door sense but rather (uh, sort of) in that the vehicles have a lower roof and a steeper, coupe-like profile. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche do it all with enthusiasm.
Now we can add Hyundai’s budding luxury division to that list: Meet the Genesis GV80 Coupe Concept, which debuted at this auto show and is just a “concept” in name only. It’s heading into production and it definitely looks that way. Hyundai offered few details about this week, but if Car and Driver is right and only offers the GV80’s 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, I’d expect it to start a little higher than this car’s $62,950 base price.
I love that orange shade. This is the hope that it will make it into production and that people will actually buy it.
No wild concept cars this time around
I’ve covered this business long enough to remember when auto shows meant car companies would roll some never-before-seen concept cars off stage into the collective moments of everyone in attendance. (And how publications will compete frantically to get leaked photos of these concepts ahead of their official debut.)
This was not the case in New York. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the GV80 Coupe. The Ram, Kia, and Hyundai Kona have all been featured in press releases in the past few weeks. It probably doesn’t mean much to most consumers, but it does show the diminished role of auto shows as news events these days. Car companies would rather organize their own standalone events (and often online too, which is much cheaper) than share space or interest with their competitors.
EV’s education
Image credit: Patrick George
One thing that struck me was the sheer number of electric vehicle demonstrations on site and inside to boot. Hyundai has a small test track so people can try out its Ioniq cars; Ford offers ride-hailing in the Mustang Mach-E; and a small course in the basement that allows visitors to take a tour of electric vehicles from BMW, Chevrolet, Kia, Nissan, and Volkswagen.
Obviously, it’s easier to do this indoors because electric vehicles operate with zero tailpipe emissions. (Carbon monoxide poisoning is only fun the first time it happens; ask me how I know.) Plus, Toyota is running a test drive course right outside the Javits Center, including its electric bZ4x.
The takeaway: Car companies want you to give these EVs a try. They drive, feel, and operate differently than ICE cars, and auto shows like this could be the first chance for many electric-minded buyers to see what that’s really like.
Also, lower-level exhibits also feature a number of government entities and corporations such as Charge NY and Autel who show home energy options and ways to use tax incentives to sweeten the deal. Buying an electric car isn’t quite the same as buying an ICE; This means adjusting your habits, expectations, tactics, and equipment to keep the car rolling. If you have questions about how to do all of that, you may be able to answer them in one place here.
Bonus Round: JDM Concours d’Elegance
Image credit: Patrick George
Finally, if you need a break from EV, kWh, and SV charging and just want to indulge in some old-school nostalgia, head downstairs.
There you will find the JDM Concours d’Elegance, a curated display of some very unique vintage Japanese cars from decades past; Many of them were never sold in America. It was a nice surprise to stumble upon, and should be a good trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up on Gran Turismo – or their kids.