One thing I do love about being a member of the press is that I can go to an event like the 2025 New York International Auto Show and “shop”. What do I think you want to read about? What will be fun to try out?
The truth is that there’s just not much left. All the major luxury brands no longer participate. This year, Lexus, Cadillac and Acura were nowhere to be found. There were some exotics, but they are placed by local dealerships, not the auto makers, and so it’s more like a car show in a building instead of an event.
Still, I’m sure we can find some things to try. So, with pics fresh from the Photoshop oven, let’s go on a tour together.
The JDM displays at the 2025 New York International Auto Show are the best part
In the old times, the basement area used to be reserved for just SUVs of all the major brands, but for obvious reasons that’s no longer the case. Instead, people are invited to apply for show their own car for the week-long event. It’s cool to see 90’s classics appreciated, but because a majority of the cars are from the tri-state area, it’s mostly things you’d see at a Sunday Cars & Coffee.
I think this is the best part of the show, especially for a 90’s kid like myself. All the JDM here cars are here, and most are immaculate. Well – no 3000GT, but it’s rare to find one out in the wild now anyway.
Tons of personal Germans
If you wanted to find the German marquees, the place would again be the basement. There was a mix of BMWs old and new, along with some 911s and even a few Mercedes. The biggest draw was a small set of beautiful RWB-built 911s.
RWB live build
The hype around RWB-built Porsches has been growing, with good reason. Built by Akira Nakai in Japan, they represent a sort of mix between classic Porsche and Mad Max. They are wild, expensive, and hand-built. You can see Nakai build one in person on the 25th and 26th, as he transforms a 2006 Carrera.
Personally, I believe that social media has gotten a hold of this phenomena and helped the legend grow. But the work is always exceptional, and you can often watch Nakai build cars live. Makes it feel special.
Mainstream automakers keep it simple
Things get more complex on the main floor. There were some debuts, like the Hyundai Palisades, that drew quite a crowd. But there were just a few concepts, and from Infiniti to Lexus and Mercedes, not one luxury brand held a display.
A sad lone Alfa Romeo Stelvio was tucked so far into the corner that it might as well have been parked on the West Side Highway. Come on guys…
Nissan is still trying
They have one of the few legitimate cheaper sports cars on sale, and much of their lineup is new.
American muscle is a barren landscape
The Charger and Challenger are dead. The Camaro is too. There were no special Mustang editions. That means if you want a V-8-powered sports car in 2025, you must get a Corvette or a Mustang GT. Only the strong survive.
A few noteworthy exotics
Finally, I saw quite a few exotics on display, mostly through Manhattan Motorcars. While brands like Ferrari never really had a presence at the show (it’s Ferrari – they don’t need the exposure), it feels a bit odd to me that you can now see most of these at local events. This section has become a showcase for MMC to woo potential clients.
The 2025 New York International Auto Show is happening from April 18 – 27, 2025. Find out more info here.
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