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The tug of war that is the 2024 New York International Auto Show

I visit the 2024 New York International Auto Show and discover the tug of war that exists between what we want, and what companies must make.

2024-new-york-auto-show

Let’s have a chat about the current car landscape. The public has yet to warm up to electric cars, despite massive discounts. The government is starting to force the situation. Caught in the middle: car brands. They can’t make cars no one wants, but there is that good ol’ government and their mandates. No where is this more evident than at the 2024 New York International Auto Show.

Long gone are brands that normally grace these pages. No BMW, no Mercedes, and no Cadillac. But I did find a few gems, and even a few electric cars that look like fun. Let’s take a tour together.

The hot hatch is hotter than ever

Hyundia Elantra N
Not a hatch, but plenty hot.

We start with good news if you’re in your 20s – the hot “hatch” is really on fire right now. Not everything is a hatchback of course, but it fits the category.

We have some returning favorites like the GR86 and BR-Z, some updates like the WRX TR (track ready) and Volkswagen GTI, and new arrivals such as the Hyundai Elantra N (available with manual!) and Toyota GR Corolla. Details for each car are in the captions.

Nissan Z NISMO
New for 2024 is the Nissan Z NISMO, and it starts at an eyeball-popping $65,090.
Nissan Z NISMO
It’s automatic-only, with a similar interior to the regular Z. Red graphics on the dash are a tell.
Nissan Z NISMO
Painted two-tone Stealth gGey (the GT-R matched), it does look nicely updated with a NISMO body kit.
Toyota Supra GR
The Supra GR, with manual. Toyota doesn’t sell many, but in my own BMW circle, they are prolific.
Hyundai Elantra N
The Hyundai Elantra N gets a mild update for 2024, with revised bumpers, headlights and badging.
Hyundai Elantra N
N buttons work like M buttons.
Hyundai Elantra N
The Hyundai Elantra N comes in an automatic or manual, and has a 286-hp turbocharged four cylinder good for 286 horsepower.
Subaru WRX TR
The Subaru WRX TR arrives for 2024, with Brembo brakes, a revised suspension, and a moonroof delete.
Subaru WRX TR
The TR’s only tell are red Brembo calipers and unique wheels.
Toyota Corolla GR
The Toyota Corolla GR was introduced last year, and has a three-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower.
Toyota Corolla GR
The car has some unique pieces inside (and a manual).
Toyota Corolla GR
The top-end Circuit edition features a forged carbon roof.
Toyota Corolla GR
The MSRP as shown is a bit over $46,524, but watch out for dealer markups.

The Ford Mustang stands alone

Ford Mustang GT
The new Ford Mustang GT is the only muscle car left.

Dodge has killed the V-8, and they weren’t even at the show. Chevrolet might have won my heart with the Z06, but it’s still a $120,000 sports car, and the Camaro is now dead too. So if you want a relatively cheap V-8 in a good-looking sports coupe body, it’s the Mustang or it’s nothing.

Ford Mustang GT
You could win this Sydney Sweeney-designed GT. I just like the heart bolts.

If that’s too pedestrian, the Mustang GTD was also there with its $300,000 price tag. It’s a unicorn (but a beautiful one) – the regular GT will do just fine for most. I’m not sure I’ll ever get to experience one, but let me put out there that a P-51 Mustang (you know, the one that flies) is just $4 million. Doesn’t have a Ford V-8 though.

Ford Mustang GTD
This is the Ford Mustang GTD, and it is over $300,000.
Ford Mustang GTD
It looks the part, with a carbon fiber body, magnesium wheels, and a supercharged V-8 with over 800 horsepower.

It’ll be tough to walk past not one, but two Z06s for one of these.

Also shown was a revised Ford Mustang Mach E with wheels that look like knockoff 826Ms in bronze. The car gets a $6,000 price cut this year, and is now able to charge with Tesla’s Supercharger network (with an adapter). Yay…

Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Perhaps this year, MWS will complete the trifecta with a test of the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray.
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Love the color scheme, both outside…
Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
And in.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
But will it top my favorite sports car?

If you want electric, you want a Porsche

Michael Strahan 911
Wait, not this Porsche…

Tucked waaaaay in the back was a small four-car section from Porsche. They showed off a new Panamera with a questionable front-end design, though the wagon is dead. Of course it gets shared with the Cayenne SUV (Coupe in this case).

Porsche Panamera
The new Porsche Panamera’s front-end.
Porsche Cayenne GT
Carried over to the GT as well.

Also there was the revised Taycan with a subtle facelift (not that it needed it). No Turbo GT. But a nice surprise was the new Macan Turbo. It’s electric, but it looks great to my artistic eye at least. I wonder if Porsche is saving their sexier designs for the electric cars now.

Inside, it’s typical Porsche (minimal), but I must say I’m excited to try it. This Macan is perhaps the “newest” Porsche design I’ve seen in a long time.

Porsche Taycan
The revised Porsche Taycan.
Porsche Taycan
The rear sports a new 3-D brake light design.
Porsche Macan Turbo
The new Porsche Macan Turbo is electric, and looks terrific.
Porsche Macan Turbo
The front-end looks better here than the Panamera’s design.
Porsche Macan Turbo
Inside, it’s more of the same, with fewer buttons.
Porsche Macan Turbo
That’s all you get now.

No 911 though, unless you count Michael Strahan’s on display.

Tedsom Daydream R
The Tedsom Daydream R takes an old 911 and combines it with a modern GT3.

Not so super cars

Rimac Nevera
The Rimac Nevera will take you to 60 in 1.74 seconds.

Directly in front of the Porsche booth was what we’ll call the “rich” section. Rimac, Karma, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Lamborghini and Lotus.

Karma, Rimac and Lotus are irrelevant. You’ll never see them on the road. The only time I’ve even been with a Rimac was to help prep it for…a car show. Karma – I don’t know what to tell you. The car they are stuffing full of God-knows-what powertrain now feels like a zombie that never dies. And that Lotus SUV…yeesh.

Lamborghini LM002
The Lamborghini LM002.
Ferrari La Ferrari
The Ferrari La Ferrari had more attention than the Nevera.

For the price, aren’t you in a Porsche or Ferrari?

Rolls Royce had the Spectre EV out in a stunning shade of purple, and though I did not release the Maybach review yet, I must tell you that an EV is the way to go for ultra-lux. It’s silent and smooth, even more so than a V-12.

Rolls Royce Spectre
The Rolls Royce Spectre is their first EV.
Lotus Eletre
This is the Lotus Eletre is an electric-hybrid SUV.
Lotus
Is Lotus even a relevant company?

That leaves the Lamborghini Revuelto, the Aventador’s replacement. It combines a V-12 with three electric motors for 1,001 horsepower, and I think this is the key to unlocking the future of the supercar. It possesses the speed you expect (like the Rimac), with the emotional parts of a combustion engine still involved. Of course, the holy trinity did this five years ago, but it just shows that treating a battery like a turbocharger or another boost component is going to be important over the next decade.

Price: $600,000. But a Diablo is over $400k, so I’m sure you can swing the Revuelto.

Lamborghini Revuelto
The Lamborghini Revuelto still has a V-12, so keep calm.

Genesis is such wow

Genesis MAGMA
The Genesis MAGMA line foreshadows a performance division.

I’d say the biggest presence was from the Lexus/Toyota and Hyundai/Genesis area. I appreciate the effort.

Toyota had everything from their group of sports cars to a SEMA-prepped Tacoma, while Lexus brought out the very rare IS500 and LC-F. I’m honestly not sure how much longer cars like that will be around.

Toyota Tacoma X-RUNNER
The Toyota Tacoma X-RUNNER concept.
Lexus IS500
The Lexus IS500 with its V-8 is still around.
Lexus
Lexus RC-F
The RC-F’s resale value holds up pretty well – these are rare.
Lexus LC-F
The Lexus LC-F is still around, and feels more special than BMW’s 8 Series.
Lexus IS500
Hoping to grab one this year to review.

As for Genesis, they showed off a trio of MAGMA Orange performance cars (the X Gran Berlinetta Concept is truly stunning), and the Neolun Concept that looks like something Mercedes made if they weren’t stuck with century-old design language. I’m not sure the Berlinetta would every becoem a reality, but the Neolun has the chance to enter production as a GV90.

Genesis GV80 Coupe
Genesis has gotten much closer in quality and style (and price) to the Europeans.
Genesis GV80 Coupe
The Genesis GV80 Coupe is the latest fastback SUV to follow the trend.
Genesis Neolun Concept
A very Mercedes-type design.
Genesis Neolun Concept
The Genesis Neolun Concept.
Genesis MAGMA
MAGMA is a concept to push a performance division for Genesis.
Genesis MAGMA
The Genesis G70 as M3 fighter?

Going old school

Nissan GT-R
The final year for the Nissan GT-R.
Nissan GT-R
Nissan NISMO
Check out all the NISMO parts available for older cars!

Head down to the basement, and be embraced by nostalgia. First, there’s a display dedicated to the Toyota Supra (complete with DENSO racecar!). Behind that is a very lovely group of JDM cars that really bring back memories. Nissan Z cars, Mitsubishi Evos (multiple generations, even grey market imports), Imprezas…if you grew up in the 90s, you’ll appreciate this display, so don’t miss it.

Toyota Supra 45th anniversary
It’s the Toyota Supra’s 45th anniversary.
Toyota Supra 45th anniversary
Hard to argue with the wide body.
Toyota Supra 45th anniversary
Perhaps one of the most famous Supras, the DENSO GT 2000. Fire up the PS3!

About the only thing missing? A 3000GT.

And remember, the GT-R is dying, and the 2024 New York International Auto Show marks its final appearance as a “new” car. How long before it appears in the basement for nostalgia?

R2XPO Rides & Rigs
R2XPO Rides & Rigs
R2XPO Rides & Rigs
A Jaguar XJ 220.
R2XPO Rides & Rigs
The Dodge Viper.
R2XPO Rides & Rigs
How Nissan did a NISMO edition 20 years ago. I’m old.
R2XPO Rides & Rigs
Cats and dogs, living together.
Mitsubishi Lancer
Mitsubishi Lancer
Generations of Mitsubishi Lancer on display.

Everyone is waiting to see what will happen

Not many concepts, not many new cars, recycled displays – feels like everyone is waiting to see what will happen. Almost everything here seemed “normal”, as in not news-worthy. You’d find it on the street.

That’s to be expected as the government tells us all in ten years that we’ll be fully electric. We’ll see. The 2024 New York International Auto Show is running from Friday, March 29, through Sunday, April 7 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

2024 New York International Auto Show
Long live the 2000s.

Want MWS to review your car?

If you live in the tri-state area and want me to check it out, send me an email! 

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