For those of you who haven’t had the absolute pleasure of making it to the Javitz Convention Center on the West Side of Manhattan, let’s just say it’s wedged between getting stuck next to a guy eating a burrito on the F train during rush hour and taking parents from out of town sightseeing when they visit in terms of things New Yorkers just absolutely love. (Please note that the italics represent absolute sarcasm.)
But there is one thing that makes the hike to the edge of the island worth it: the annual New York International Auto Show.
The NYIAS is a yearly showcase of new models and old favorites and is a place where the heavyweights of the automotive industry go to see and be seen. The two-day press preview at the Javits is a champagne-soaked melee of cellphone pics, scrambles for free food and scoops both won and lost.
Those scoops pertain to models like Porsche’s new 911 Speedster, an electric VW dune buggy and a custom Levante GTS Maserati made custom for none other than retired NBA sharpshooter Ray Allen. (Hint: plenty of legroom). Below, you’ll find fresh photos of and all the details on those three models as well as 14 of their friends from the 2019 NYIAS.
You’ll just have to imagine the new car smell on your own.
1. Bugatti Anniversary Model
Made to mark the French marque’s 110th anniversary, the “110 ans Bugatti” is a special version of the Chiron Sport and has plenty of red, blue and white flair. All 20 limited-edition models are already spoken for and it’s believed they went for about $4 million a pop.
2. Nissan GT-R SE
A collaboration between Nissan and Italy-based design and engineering firm Italdesign, this special edition Nissan GT-R commemorates both of the brands 50th anniversaries. Based on a GT-R NISMO, the SE is longer, lower and wider than the production model.
3. Range Rover Velar
This SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition of the range-topping Velar is powered by a supercharged V8 that gives the SUV a top speed of 170 mph. Though there’s been no announcement of on-sale date or price, the model will be available for one year only once it hits the market.
4. Koenigsegg Jesko
Dubbed a “megacar” by Koenigsegg, the Jesko is a carbon-fiber monster that can run on a combination of gasoline and biofuel. Made for the track but legal for the road, the Jesko comes standard with a five-liter twin-turbo V8.
5. BAC Commemorative Mono
Built to commemorate BAC (Briggs Automotive Company) building its 100th Mono, this edition of the single-seat supercar is decked out in green and gold. Street legal despite having a need for speed, the Mono weighs less than 1,300 pounds and boasts a 0-to-60 time of 2.8 seconds.
6. Toyota i-Road
Meant to appeal to city slickers, the i-Road blurs the lines between car and motorbike. A three-wheeled two-seater that sits passenger behind driver, the i-Road is a garage-less parallel parker’s dream at just three feet wide and seven feet long.
7. Dodge Durango Pursuit
Powered by a potent V8 engine coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Durango Pursuit has a two-speed transfer case which can come in handy during off-road pursuits. Able to go from 60-to-0 in 134 feet, the Pursuit offers 7,200 pounds of towing capacity.
8. Rimac C_Two
Billed as an electric hypercar, the C_Two is powered by a quartet of electric motors with a combined output of 1,914 horsepower. All that power doesn’t slow the car down any as Rimac claims it can do 0-to-60 in 1.85 seconds and 0-to-186 mph in just 11.8 seconds.
9. Chevy Blazer
The redone version of a Chevy classic, the 2020 Blazer is a crossover model with a “wide stance and tight proportions.” It doesn’t look much like the one your buddy had in high school, but this Blazer does have the HID headlamps and LED tail lamps that his truck never did.
10. Porsche 911 Speedster
The final production model of the 991-generation of the 911, the 2020 911 Speedster will have an MSRP of $275,750 and be limited to 1,948 units worldwide. Those 1,948 customers will be pretty happy to spend the $275K though as they’ll be getting a beaut with a naturally aspirated flat-six and six-speed manual transmission.
11. Volkswagen ID Buggy
Inspired by the dune buggies of the ’60s, Volkswagen’s open-top concept vehicle is powered by an electric motor with a top speed of 99 MPH. It’s cool to look at, but there aren’t plans to put the model into full-scale production anytime soon — and definitely not in time for summer.
12. Ray Allen’s custom Maserati Levante GTS
The first example of Maserati’s new One Of One customization program, this Levante’s most distinguishable characteristic is its astral blue matte finish. Sadly for Celtics and Sonics fans, Allen said the color was inspired by the city of Miami which he fell in love with while playing for the Heat.
13. Alfa Romeo Giulia NRING Edition
Limited to a run of just 55 cars, the Giulia NRING Edition from Alfa Romeo is already completely sold out despite its $91,485 price tag. Alfa Romeo said the car was based on performance and exclusivity and, based on its twin-turbocharged V6 and sold-out status, we’d say check and check.
14. Mullen Qiantu K50
Powered by a pair of liquid-cooled electric motors connected to a 70 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, the two-seat K50 looks quite impressive. Announced touches like a heated windshield, rooftop solar panel and voice-activated 3D navigation system make it sound that way too.
15. Genesis Mint Concept
Capable of 200 miles per charge, the Mint concept car is another vehicle designed with city mice in mind. The two-seater’s easy-to-park size is partially due to its lack of trunk space but that’s of small concern as the doors that open to said space are, for some reason, of the gullwing variety.
16. Rivian R1S
A three-row SUV from a car startup based out of Illinois, the R1S could theoretically let Rivian compete with big boys like Tesla at some point down the road. Offering more than 400 miles of range between charges, the R1S actually has decent speed despite its size and can hit 60 MPH in three seconds.
17. Karlmann King
Made to resemble a stealth bomber instead of a truck, the Karlmann King is enormous and tips the scales at 13,000 pounds. With a base price of $3.8 million (it can go up based on customization requests), the King holds the title of the most expensive SUV in the world.
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