After an eventful 2009, the Tuned staff travelled to the New York International Auto Show to cover what is the biggest show of the 2009 season thus far. We were thoroughly impressed with many of the booths and setups that some of the manufacturers creatively presented to the press. Our gallery of the show is complete and plenty of eye candy is there to go around. We hope you enjoy some of these colorful images as much as we did! Sit back and Enjoy!
NEW YORK -- The 2009 World Performance Car award,
presented by Mobil 1, went to the Nissan GT-R as announced today during the
awards press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show and
Mobil 1 at the Jacob Javits Centre in Manhattan, New York, USA.
The Nissan GT-R was chosen from an initial entry list of twenty-three
(23) contenders nominated by fifty-nine (59) World Car jurors from
twenty-five (25) countries throughout the world.
While the winner of the overall World Car of the Year award must excel
in a broad range of attributes, there is a segment of the car-buying public
for whom performance - in its broadest sense - overrides all other
priorities. Vehicles appealing to that clientele may be too narrowly
focused to appeal to the masses, but it is an important element in the
overall automotive mix. It is for that reason that the World Performance
Car award was created in 2005.
Candidates for the World Performance Car award must demonstrate a
specific and overt Sports/Performance orientation. They must also satisfy
the same availability criteria as for the overall World Car award and may
be chosen from that list of eligible vehicles.
Additional entrants may include newly introduced variants that satisfy
the same criteria, but are derived from existing rather than brand-new
models. In all cases, they must have a minimum annual production rate of
five-hundred (500) vehicles.
The jurors voted in January 2009 in order to establish a top ten
shortlist. The 2009 World Performance Car was chosen from those finalists
as tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG.
WCOTY's jurors observed that the "Nissan GT-R stole the headlines in
the sports car world in 2008. This GT-R - the R35 - throws even former
GT-Rs into the weeds via an all-new 3.6-liter bi-turbo V-8 providing 480
horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The drive of the GT-R, especially
on a track, reveals an incredibly flexible all-wheel-drive chassis that
lays down the rubber whenever you request it. Acceleration to 60 mph from a
stop takes just 3.5 seconds, or a tick behind fellow Performance finalist
the Corvette ZR1. This is a complete effort put forth by the normally
conservative Nissan and the pleasure is in doing laps of a favorite circuit
and feeling the sheer capabilities of the car. For $77,000 it may be the
world's best enthusiast car."
"On behalf of the global team of designers, engineers and others behind
the development of the Nissan GT-R, Nissan proudly accepts the 2009 World
Performance Car of the Year award. This recognition validates their unique
vision in creating a true world supercar that can be enjoyed by anyone,
anytime and anywhere. Beyond power, beyond performance, GT-R goes beyond
expectations. Thank you, jurors, for this unexpected honor," said Brian
Carolin, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America,
Inc.
The top three contenders for the World Performance Car were the Nissan
GT-R, the Corvette ZR1 and the Porsche 911 Carrera.
Mobil 1 announced its sponsorship of the World Performance Car award in
November 2007. "Over the past several months, it has been our pleasure to
see three Mobil 1 partners recognized for their automotive engineering
excellence and vie for the world's top performance car honor," said Nancy
Carlson, strategic global alliances - sales director, ExxonMobil Lubricants
& Petroleum Specialties. "For more than 35 years, ExxonMobil research and
engineering teams have collaborated with auto manufacturers around the
globe to ensure that Mobil 1, the world's leading synthetic motor oil
brand, continues to deliver exceptional protection for all types of
vehicles and evolving engine technologies. Consequently, we know first-hand
how deserving all three finalists are for this recognition and congratulate
everyone at Nissan and the team behind the Nissan GT-R for earning the
title of 2009 World Performance Car."
Previous World Performance Car winners were the Audi R8 in 2008, the
Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.
Now in their sixth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of
the world's most prestigious, credible and significant programs of its
kind.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January
2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to
recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The
awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and
regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the
guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from
Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the
awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or
other commercial enterprise.
NEW YORK -- At a press conference hosted by the
New York International Auto Show and Mobil 1 at the Jacob Javits Centre in
Manhattan, New York, the Fiat 500 was declared the 2009 World Car Design of
the Year.
Cars eligible for the 2009 World Car Design of the Year award are taken
from the list of fifty-one (51) World Car candidates nominated by
fifty-nine (59) World Car jurors from twenty-five (25) countries throughout
the world.
The World Car Design of the Year category, and the corresponding award,
is meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push
established boundaries.
A design panel consisting of four highly respected world design experts
asked to first review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of
recommendations for the jurors. The design experts were:
-- Silvia Baruffaldi: Managing Editor, Auto & Design magazine
-- Robert Cumberford: design critic, Automobile and Auto & Design
magazines
-- Akira Fujimoto: Editor-in-Chief, Car Styling magazine.
-- Tom Matano: Executive Director, School of Industrial Design, Academy of
Art University, San Francisco, USA
Jurors then voted on the expert's recommendations and the ballots were
tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG. The top three design
finalists were, in alphabetical order, the Fiat 500, the Citroen C5 Sedan /
C5 Tourer, and the Jaguar XF.
This is the second time that a Fiat design has been chosen one of the
top three finalists. The Fiat Grande Punto was the initial top three
finalist for the design title in 2007.
The World Car jurors observed, "Icon is an overused word in the
automotive world, but the Fiat 500 dating from 1957 genuinely deserves the
sobriquet. Revived by Fiat last year, the new Cinquecento is larger than
its predecessor but still smaller than a Mini. Cheerful and cheeky, it does
a brilliant job of capturing the visual appeal of the original version
while meeting modern design and engineering standards. Design consultant
Robert Cumberford says the new 500 "pushes the emotional hot buttons of
several generations of people who might never have driven one of the early
models, but who admired them on European streets. Built on the Panda
platform, the 500 keeps the original's charm, adding two more seats and all
contemporary safety, anti-pollution and driving aids." In Tom Matano's
opinion the Fiat possesses "heart-warming style. It is genuine,
straightforward, without gimmicks. It is a welcome addition to a car world
full of non-humanistic designs."
"It is with great pride that we accept an award which sets the seal on
the work done by Fiat to create stunningly good-looking cars that convey
everything that is best in Italian manufacturing," said Roberto Giolito,
Head of Style Fiat. "Italian design has often anticipated the future trends
of motoring and our latest models, as the Fiat 500 shows, stand out for
that 'concrete beauty' that the whole world has come to expect from an
Italian car. We will never cease to work in the direction of design
innovation, creating products of great styling appeal which at the same
time never fail to respect our historical, cultural and industrial
identity."
Previous winners of the World Car Design of the Year award were the
Audi R8 in 2008, the Audi TT in 2007 and the Citroen C4 in 2006.
Now in their sixth year, the annual World Car awards have become one of
the world's most prestigious, credible and significant programs of its
kind.
The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January
2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to
recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale. The
awards are intended to complement, not compete, with existing national and
regional Car of the Year programs.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the
guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from
Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the
awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or
other commercial enterprise.
Even with the economy in a severe downturn, consumers still are turning to certain types of new
vehicles to tackle their lives head-on--whether it's commuting to work,
carpooling kids to school or heading out for weekend adventures.
Instead of piloting big, bulky SUVs, though, car shoppers are
increasingly turning to crossover vehicles. At this week's New York Auto
Show, crossover vehicles are being introduced by the major
automakers--luxury brands included--and according to the automotive experts
at TheCarConnection.com, this may signal a clear move from the SUV to the
lighter, more versatile Crossover.
"Crossover vehicles have essentially replaced big SUVs in the minds of
many shoppers," said TheCarConnection.com's executive editor, Marty
Padgett. "They frequently have better fuel economy, more carlike handling
and extra entertainment oriented features. The car companies are responding
to consumer demand and rolling out these new, more user-friendly utility
vehicles with the features they like."
The car experts at TheCarConnection.com, the flagship reviews site at
High Gear Media--report that even at GM and Chrysler, the financial crisis
hasn't stopped introductions of two critically important new crossovers.
The most important new crossovers on display in New York this week include:
2010 BMW X5 M and X6 M
BMW's American-made "sport-activity vehicles" get a major injection of
horsepower thanks to the automaker's M division. Both the upright X5 and
the sleeker, coupe like X6 get a twin-turbo V-8 with 555 horsepower and a
price tag likely soaring past $75,000--but either one's still cheaper than
the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid
Mercedes already sells a greener ML-Class with a diesel engine; now the
German automaker launches a hybrid version of its gas-engined ML-Class,
giving consumers the rare choice of either green machine.
2010 Kia Sorento
Kia's mainstream SUV once took on the Ford Explorer; the new version
has become more of a big wagon, with less emphasis on off-roading and more
emphasis on seven-passenger seating and all-weather safety.
2010 Acura ZDX
Like BMW, Acura's taking its mainstream ute and spinning a sexier
version from it. In this case, the Acura MDX gets a four-seat silhouette to
become the 2010 ZDX. Front- and all-wheel drive versions are expected.
2010 GMC Terrain
The Chevrolet Equinox was previewed in GM's federal-loan filing. Now,
the GMC brand gets a creased-and-folded twin with its own edgy styling and
choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines
promise best-in-class fuel economy.
2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The latest version of Jeep's venerable sport-ute surfaces this week
after being leaked in Chrysler's federal loan filings. The new version's
now a cousin of the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class; even though Chrysler and
Mercedes are going their separate ways, the Grand Cherokee now shares some
pieces with the former Benz ML, though it has its own new fuel-efficient
3.6-liter V-6 underhood. All-wheel drive and a V-8 engine are options.
About TheCarConnection.com and High Gear Media
TheCarConnection.com is the flagship site of Palo Alto, Calif.-based
High Gear Media. High Gear Media is a next-generation publisher of websites
targeting car-buying audiences by vehicle and lifestyle.
TheCarConnection.com's consumer-friendly reviews gather the most respected
opinions from around the web and add expert analysis and advice to help car
buyers select the right car.
High Gear Media also publishes GreenCarReports.com, AllAboutPrius.com,
AllCarsElectric.com, and MustangBlog.com among its 23 automotive sites.
SOURCE TheCarConnection.com
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