New York is, for all intents and purposes, the U.S.’s anti-car capital.
Between taxis, Uber and the subway, who needs one?
But that changes for a fortnight every April when the New York International Auto Show rolls into town, bringing with it some of the most exciting car releases of the year.
With just a few days of the show remaining, we’ve rounded up the show’s nine best new vehicles … so far.
From a star-spangled Rolls Royce to — gasp! — an affordable Cadillac crossover, it might be time to kiss that Metrocard goodbye.
Lincoln Aviator
Lincoln is, if anything, loyal to its old-school clientele. That’s still apparent with the new Aviator, though the beauty is getting some much needed modern upgrades this time around. The twin-turbocharged hybrid will come with a smartphone key (wherein your phone replaces a physical key), all new rear-drive formatting and a generous three rows for plenty of friends, grandkids or IKEA.
Maserati Levante Trofeo
It’s true: one of the fastest Maseratis to date is an SUV. This dark knight is gunnin’ with a 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 capable of 580 horsepower and 538 lb.-ft. of torque — that’s good for 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and a top speed over 187 mph.
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Powerful and dynamic, there is a reason that the F-Pace has become Jag’s top dog. The ride is equal parts elegance and aerodynamics, with a supercharged 5.0-liter with 550 ponies and 502 lb.-ft. of torque under the bonnet.
Mercedes-AMG C63
Slick, efficient and masculine, the C-Class Benz is the quintessential city car, with a nine-speed AMG Speedshift transmission and a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine with 469 horsepower (or an optional 503 horsepower, depending on your package). And the interior boasts a fresh AMG digital cockpit for maximum intuitive connectedness on the go.
Cadillac XT4
Is there anything more New York than cruising Broadway in a Caddie? We think not. The XT4, has all the makings of a luxury ride without the overbearing SUV size — or price. The stunner starts at just $35,790.
Audi RS5 Sportback
We’d like to take a moment to thank Audi for breathing life back into the green car. Why did we ever quit these? The RSS is confirmed to come stateside, with deliveries later this year. Practical but still powerful, the ride is packing 444 horsepower, a top speed of 155 mph and a Dynamic Plus Package that’ll top ‘er out at 174 mph. Plus: all the Audi infotainment that your (or, more likely, your kids) simply cannot live without.
Lexus RC F Sport Black Line
You know what they say: New Yorkers will wear black until they can find a darker color. Which makes the new Lexus line a covetable accessory. The Black Line will be limited to 650 models total, with (curiously) two exterior finishes available: Caviar (aka black) or Atomic Silver. Fanciful dark design features include matte black wheels and dramatic interior touches inspired by an ancient Japanese calligraphy shop, plus a standard nighttime pedestrian detection system.
Genesis Essentia Concept
Jaw. Drop. This make is poster-on-your-adolescent-wall worthy. While we don’t much about the concept at this juncture (or whether it will ever make it to production), we do know that chief designer Sasha Selipanov wanted to create a ride inspired by the future, not the past. I think we can safely say that they’ve succeeded in avoiding nostalgia here.
Rolls-Royce Wraith Luminary
Damn, Rolls. The Luminary lives up to its name in more ways than one. Only 55 of these instant collector’s items will be produced, featuring 176 “shooting star” LEDs woven into the stainless-steel headliner throughout the cabin. Inside, one is also privy to illuminated wood paneling and a first-of-its-kind Sunburst Grey paint.
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