2010 NYIAS Sneak Peak: Hyundai Sonata and Sonata Hybrid

Hyundai surely did a great job preparing for the unveiling of the all-new Sonata hybrid at this year's New York Auto Show. Their fiber optic lighted cage around the Sonata hybrid was magical to say the least, but the details of the cars were most impressive. 


Hyundai unveiled the Sonata first, stating the 2011 model will lose the V6 and come only with a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder turbo engine. You might think this is a terrible thing, but when the man behind the microphone released the numbers it all changed. 


Hyundai is claiming 274hp and 269ft/lb of torque while still getting close to 30mpg highway miles, more power than its V6 predecessor! They also claim it's equipped with the lightest 6-speed automatic transmission on the market today.

Then the Sonata hybrid was unveiled with a whole new front end and some really, REALLY cool details. 

Numbers are still good for the hybrid, getting 209 hp and almost 40mpg...but aside from the bore, what about the design details? 

The nose has a much sportier look than the non-hybrid version with a huge grill and more refined lines.

The best part about this car is the rear-end. It's aggressive, classy, and simple while somehow being fresh and brand new. It has design cues resembling that of the VW, Lexus, and Audi but not copied.


I spent about 10 minutes looking into the tail lights, which could be the most innovative and intricate design I've seen yet. What do you think? Rose buds?

Check out the Sonata's light show presentation video below.











~M/o  "Stay up to Speed"

2010 NYIAS Sneak Peak: Scion TC & IQ

Scion had reserved the uppermost room of the house in the galleria where it was pitch black, lights out, until the Scion show started. 

The sound was great, the light show was spectacular, and the crowds’ reaction was a sign that Scion struck a positive note with the presentation. It was by far the best presentation of the day.

Although the TC show’s only a few changes to the exterior, including widened head lamps, a GT-R-like b-pillar, and some tail lights that look like they were borrowed from BMW 1-series, it shows that Toyota is willing to push its little ugly duckling out into the pond to learn how to swim. 

After showing the new TC, the new, little IQ rolled out onto the stage, blessed by the almighty gods of Japanese engineering.

Following the presentation, Scion unveiled “hooked-up” versions of the cars in their booth. The TC in “bloodshot red” and the IQ in gunmetal. 


Take a look at the press release video of the new Scion TC. What do you think?

~M/o  "Stay up to Speed"

2010 NYIAS Sneak Peak: Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 Racecar!

When Mercedes unveiled the SLS GT3 they just had to start it up to get it onto the stage and when the engine started it could only be compared to the roar of an angry lion. As if a regular SLS Gullwing wasn't good enough, Mercedes unveils a GT AMG version.

The body is made entirely of carbon fiber, it has a massive splitter under the front bumper, and an even bigger rear spoiler. The GT3 boasts a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds.

Gold fell from the heavens as the GT3 show ended.

Mercedes also had the American bobsled team help unveil the GT3. Germany 1, USA 0.

To hear and see for yourself, check out the video below...oh and turn up your volume.

~M/o  "Stay up to Speed"

New York International Auto Show: Sneak Peak 2010

Welcome to the 2010 New York Auto Show. This year's show was all about focus, practicality, efficiency, and hoping the public doesn't notice there weren't any REAL concepts. Auto companies seem to be investing more in alternative energy models and technology and less in conceptual design for changing brand image.


Every company under the sun unveiled some altered version of a current model with a hybrid sticker on the side and the ones that didn't were pitiful, uh-hmmmacurahhmmm. Even Porsche had hybrid SUVs, I hoped the day would never come. Imagine trying to explain to Ferdinand Porsche that their company would eventually lug a rich family of four to soccer practice in something sitting 20 inches off the ground.


But it wasn't sad for everyone. Ford announced they'd be adding an electric Focus to their line-up with some help from Microsoft's Hohm system and Chevy hit back claiming the Volt will be backed by Con Edison. Volvo bragged about their "Pedestrian Detection System" that stops the car before you can hit that person who walked out in front of you without looking.


So what can you expect when going to the New York Auto Show this year? Be ready for more hybrids than one can handle.


A few booths you have to go and check out:
Mercedes-Benz SLS Gullwing AMG GT3 racecar
BMW Alpina B7
Audi R8 Spyder
Scion TC
Ford F150 Raptor (down stairs truck section)


Stay tuned for lots of updates to come on the 2010 NYIAS.


~M/o  "Stay up to Speed"

Ford Selling Volvo confirmed

Rumor had it that Ford was in the works to sell Volvo to Geely, a major Chinese auto manufacturer, and today in Sweden, rumor changed to fact. Ford and Geely reached an agreement for $1.8 billion which includes Volvo's intellectual property and physical assets.


You might have seen some photos of past Geely designs with laughable resemblances to European cars.

A Chinese Volvo almost sounds like an oxymoron. Volvo has a reputation of luxury and safety while most Chinese cars can't be sold in America because of safety standards alone. But although this could be viewed as a sad day for Volvo, Geely has had a few respectable concepts recently. In the 2008 Chinese Auto Show, Geely unveiled the GT a monster coupe that shows resemblances to the Maybach Exelero.

We can hope that Geely's young heart and ambition to prove themselves will bring about some spice in the Volvo line-up, whose most exciting car in the past few decades could be the C30 but hasn't shown much since.

Look below for some more photos of Geely cars.