Stars of the 2016 New York Auto Show

For automotive aficionados, spring-time in the Big Apple means only one thing, the New York auto show at the cavernous Jacob K. Javits Center in Hell’s Kitchen. My vagabond shoes took a stroll through the aisles last week, and here are a few of the hits, and misses, from the city that never sleeps.

 

Audi R8 Spyder

Audi R8 Spyder - New York Auto Show

No surprises here that after the arrival of the fresh-faced R8 coupe, a drop-top Spyder would follow. And like the previous Spyder, it’s drop-dead gorgeous. Power comes from a 540-horse 5.2-liter V-10 which gives 0-to-60 sprinting in 3.5 seconds. But arguably the more important figure is 20, which is the number of seconds it takes for the power top to drop.

 

Nissan GT-R

Nissan GT-R - New York Auto Show - Howard Walker's Top Picks

Fans of Nissan’s Godzilla all-wheel-drive rocketship will love the extra 20 horseys – now up to 565hp – the retuned suspension for a slightly less bone-jarring ride, and the subtle styling changes. But this hulking, overweight twin-turbo sports coupe is well past its sell-by date and its replacement, due in 2020, can’t come soon enough.

 

Lincoln Navigator Concept

Lincoln Navigator Concept - top vehicles from the New York Auto Show

Lincoln owned the full-sized luxury SUV market with its honking Navigator. Then threw it away to Cadillac. Now they want it back and at New York unveiled an over-the-top gullwing-doored concept showing how next year’s production Navigator will look. Ignore those crazy doors and fold-out steps – they’re just for the show car. But can the new Nav’s copy-cat, Range Rover-inspired styling take buyers away from the too-cool Caddy? I think not.

 

Genesis New York Concept

Genesis New York Concept

Since Hyundai established its Genesis luxury sub-brand in December, its designers have been busy working on the brand’s future design direction. At New York they showed how their upcoming BMW 3-series/Merc C-Class challenger could look with this aptly-named New York Concept. It’s one sexy, slinky four-door coupe with great curves and a bold grille. Build it!

 

Mazda MX-5 Miata RF

Mazda MX-5 Miata RF - Howard Walker's top cars from the New York Auto Show

Arguably the biggest surprise of the New York show was Mazda’s unveiling of its funky hardtop Miata. Badged RF, short for Retractable Fastback, it comes with dramatic trunk-top buttresses, an upright glass window and hard panel roof. Folding is a piece of mechanical ballet, but sadly the look with the top up or top down is almost cartoonish, with the roof being too high for the Mazda’s stubby lines. Best stick with the ragtop.

 

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

What’s not to love about a 640-horse supercharged 6.2-liter V8 convertible with a 10-speed automatic? Chevy pulled the wraps off its new Camaro ZL1 Convertible, guaranteeing muscle car fans a tan with their testosterone. Bodily changes include a huge, Shaker-style carbon fiber hood insert, bigger front grille, wider front fenders, unique rockers and a wing on the trunk lid.

 

Porsche 911R

Porsche 911R - top sports car from the New York Auto Show

Yes, it debuted at the recent Geneva auto show, but New York was the first U.S. showing of Porsche’s magnificent 911R and I was delirious to see it for the first time. This might well be my new, most-favorite car on the planet. Powered by the same 500-horse naturally-aspirated flat-six as the track-focused 911 GT3 RS, the purist R is only available with a six-speed stick. Porsche will build just 911 cars priced at $185,000 each. Sadly, they’re all sold.

 

Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet

Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet - Best Luxury Sports Car at the New York Auto Show

Hot on the heels of the Geneva auto show intro of Merc’s sexy new C-Class convertible comes the hot rod C63 version. Making its debut in New York, the C63 Cab will be offered with not one, but two versions of AMG’s biturbo 4.0-liter V8  – 469hp standard, or 503hp S.  Don’t worry, both will be insanely fast. They’ll join the C300 Cab and AMG C43 Cab when they land later this year.

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