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2005 New York International Auto Show
By: Drew Phillips
Photos by Tony Schreiber and Jason Thorgalsen
April 25, 2005

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The New York International Auto Show has become a more prominent event on the automotive schedule for the last few years, and this year's event was one of the best ever with several important introductions by the major manufacturers. From April 12-13, the automotive press packed the Jacob Javits Convention Center to see over 1,000 vehicles displayed by 43 manufacturers. American and Japanese cars stole the show, including a new Shelby Mustang, the next generation Mazda Miata, Lexus IS, and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, as well as high performance versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Cadillac XLR.

Ford

Rumors of a Shelby Mustang began almost as soon as January of last year when the Mustang was introduced in Detroit. More evidence of a super Mustang came earlier this year, when it was announced that a high performance version of the Mustang would be introduced in New York, and the name "Cobra" was mentioned - meaning either a new SVT model or a Shelby version. When the car finally made its debut, it was indeed a Shelby - the Ford Shelby Cobra GT500 to be exact, making it the first time the GT500 name is on a car for thirty-five years. The connection between this car and its ancestors are quite apparent, with the dual racing stripe, retro Shelby and GT500 logos, and a front splitter. "The new Mustang has classic design cues from some of the best-looking Mustangs of all-time, including the Shelbys," said Keith Rogman, Ford senior designer. "The design of the GT500 has been at the forefront of our minds since the outset of the entire Mustang program."

The new Shelby Mustang has much more than just exterior modifications. The heart of the car is its engine: a supercharged 5.4 liter V8 with at least 450 hp, making the new Shelby the most powerful production Mustang ever produced. The engine features a cast-iron block, four valves per cylinder, and a screw-type supercharger set to 8.5 pounds of boost. Aluminum cylinder heads, and piston rings and bearings are all sourced from the GT supercar. The engine is mated to a Tremac T-56 6-speed transmission that will ensure precise shifts and durability.

Other Ford introductions in New York included a special edition Ford GT called the "Tungsten GT" named after its special paint color, and a concept truck called the Sport Trac Adrenalin. The limited edition exterior paint, called Tungsten Silver, is being offered by Ford to celebrate its 1-2-3 victory in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Sport Trac Adrenalin is a concept that is claimed by Ford to be the first high-performance sport-utility truck. "Adrenalin is designed to offer a unique combination of performance and functionality never before offered in the 'go-fast' market" said Steve Lyons, Ford Motor Company vice president. The concept uses a supercharged 4.6 liter V8 sourced from the 2004 SVT Cobra and incorporates a 6-speed transmission and all wheel drive for even higher performance. With its production-look styling and shared parts from other Ford vehicles, the Sport Trac Adrenalin could be the replacement for the discontinued SVT Lightning.

DaimlerChrysler

DaimlerChrysler introduced several new hemi-powered vehicles in L.A. and Detroit, and they continued the high-performance vehicle onslaught in New York. The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the first vehicle in the Jeep brand to get the SRT badge, putting it in a league with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Mercedes ML55 AMG. The 6.1 liter hemi engine is slightly de-tuned from its other applications to 415 horsepower and 410 lb-ft torque, but the SRT8 more than makes up for it with the advantage of legendary Jeep all-wheel-drive. All aspects of performance were considered when building the car, and the SRT8 is given a sportier suspension, lowered ride height, 20-inch wheels, and Brembo brakes. The interior is given special treatment using materials such as carbon fiber and aluminum.

Only months after the Dodge Charger's introduction in Detroit, the SRT version was introduced in New York even before the car could hit showrooms. Like other SRT vehicles, the Charger was given the usual dose of enhancements starting with the 6.1 liter Hemi engine followed by suspension, braking, and cosmetic upgrades. Distinguishing itself from the rest of the Charger line up, the SRT8 has special badging, 20-inch aluminum wheels, as well as unique front and rear fascias. Brembo brakes on all four corners easily fill out the extra room allowed by the larger rims as well as improve stopping power. The Charger SRT8 is expected to perform in a similar fashion to the other SRT vehicles: 0-60 mph in around 5 seconds and braking from 60-0 mph in approximately 110 feet.

Mazda

Also revealed at this year's New York Auto Show was the third generation of the best selling sports car of all time. The 2006 MX-5 (Miata) debuted as a special edition model to commemorate the evolution of the car into its modern form. Featuring styling cues taken from the RX-8 sports car, the MX-5 has updated styling with a more modern look while retaining its well-liked attributes. Both headlights and taillights are recessed into the car, and prominent fender flares give the car a more aggressive appearance. The car rides on new 17-inch rims and is powered by a 2.0 liter inline-4 that produces a healthy 160 bhp and 140 lb-ft torque. Enthusiasts will obviously be looking for a Mazdaspeed version, and they will surely get it in the next few years.

Lexus

With the introduction of BMW's new class-leading 3-series, Lexus updated its IS sports sedan with a wide range of updates. The design of the car, influenced by the recent LF-A and LF-C concept cars, takes the car in a different direction that will either turn on or off potential customers. Helping buyers to decide may be the new engine, which has increased in displacement to 3.5 liters, allowing the V6 to make 300 hp (also changing the name of the car to IS350). The new engine will go well with the standard 6-speed sequential transmission that can be shifted by paddle shifters just behind the steering wheel. Handling is also improved with a brand new front and rear suspension that uses Lexus' new Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system.

Other Introductions

Other introductions included Nissan's Sport Concept, a 3-door hatchback that shows Nissan's interest in the sport compact segment. This concept allows a look into Nissan's future in which they hope to bring some excitement to a category that Nissan claims to have "a lack of design excitement and strong visual appeal." Mitsubishi unveiled the next generation Lancer Evolution, although the Evolution IX offers fewer updates than last generations. The turbocharged 2.0 liter inline-4 offers up 286 hp and 289 lb-ft torque, continuing the EVO's dominance of value in terms of performance for money. Lastly, Cadillac introduced its latest addition to the V-Series lineup in the form of its flagship model, the XLR. The XLR-V is powered by the same supercharged Northstar V8 that is in the STS-V, making 440 hp and 430 lb-ft torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission is programmed for more aggressive shifting, and the suspension was specially tuned at the Nürburgring to handle all types of driving conditions. The XLR-V continues Cadillac's renovation of the brand, and should provide interesting competition for Mercedes' SL55.