I haven’t been to an auto show with so many actual significant reveals, from so many different automakers, with so many journalists in attendance since the pandemic. It’s kind of a wonderful feeling, and I’m looking forward to what I’m going to see today.
Yes, this is a live Morning Dump from the New York Auto Show. Or, rather, from the hotel I’m staying at for this trip to the New York Auto Show. A hotel full of journalists. Toyota and Subaru, for sure, have flown auto scribes in from around the country. I’m the guest of Hyundai, which brought in what looked like two dozen or more of us.
Most of today’s news will be of the auto show variety (stuff not quite deep enough for its own story), but I’ll weave in a little other news as well.
Automakers Are Spending Money At Auto Shows Again
The reality is that auto shows became outrageously expensive for brands, with booths costing upwards of $10 million before you even got to the cost of staffing them and paying, like, Bryan Adams to come out and sing a song (a real thing that happened).
Even worse, there were a few big global shows and at least four events in America (Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago) you had to attend. In an early, pre-Internet era, this made its own sort of economic sense as automakers had to appeal to a lot fewer journalists during press days.
The Internet didn’t ruin this entirely, but it accelerated a trend that was already underway. Automakers were all fighting for attention on the same day, and some lost. Rather than spend millions to lose, PR departments realized they could just take their ball and go home. Pick another random day, fly everyone to Hawaii, and show off your cars in a controlled environment where you’re not competing for attention with everyone else. It was not only a near guarantee of attention, they thought, but also net cheaper.
I’m not entirely certain what has caused so many automakers this week in New York to change their minds. Is it that their presence at the auto show has gotten cheaper? Is it that, while there are more brands here this year, it’s not as crowded a space as in the past?
It’s one of the big questions I’m going to ask today as Brian and I tramp around the floor of the auto show.
Prestige Graphite Trim Comes To GV70
I was invited to a dinner by Genesis last night at the fancy New York Genesis House for, I think, the third time in a row. I guess I haven’t overstayed my welcome yet. It’s always a lovely affair, and the execs and PR staff at the company have a kind of relaxed confidence that comes from kicking giant moon jars full of ass lately.
Obviously, all the journalists immediately flocked to the G90 Wingback “design study” that looks weirdly like a production car. It’s amazing, and Genesis should build it. The photos of the car were so stunning, I assumed in person I’d find a way to be disappointed, if only to shield myself from the sometimes oppressive power of hope, but it was impossible. I could find no real fault.
The other car there was the 2027 GV70 Prestige Graphite, which is the new trim applied to the extremely popular and altogether nice GV70. Here’s a description:
The exterior of the 2027 GV70 Prestige Graphite features a darker, performance-driven character that sets it apart from the rest of the lineup. The vehicle has 21” dark metallic glossy alloy wheels which enhance its athletic stance. Complementing the wheels are new, exclusive red brake calipers that emphasize the model’s performance orientation and give the exterior a bold touch. Gloss black mirror caps add a sleek, athletic feel, while dark chrome accents applied throughout the exterior further refine GV70’s already distinctive styling.
Inside, GV70 Prestige Graphite features Nappa leather seating surfaces with suede inserts, and headrest logo embossing, creating a refined yet athletic interior environment. New carbon fiber trim adds a high-performance edge to the cabin’s aesthetic and provides a striking visual contrast to the soft-touch materials. The unique startup animation further enhances the digital experience from the moment the driver enters the vehicle.
It looked good in person.
Ford Celebrates 30 Years Of Expedition With 2027 Ford Expedition 30th Anniversary Appearance Package
Again, not all of the news today is of the big, global reveal variety. Ford is celebrating 30 years of the Ford Expedition with a special appearance package. What do you get?
The deep, rich tone of the available, exclusive Blue Ember metallic tri-coat exterior paint makes an immediate statement. Originally reserved only for the Mustang Dark Horse, the exterior color is meant to highlight Expedition’s power, refinement, and distinctly premium identity. Available on Expedition’s stealth appearance trim, the anniversary appearance package is differentiated by its lighter, salt crystal gray interior trim.
Complementing this unique paint are aggressive 22-inch high-gloss ebony wheels. Their dark, sleek finish contrasts sharply with the Blue Ember paint, enhancing the vehicle’s commanding road presence.
There are also badges. Ford loves anniversary badges. I do think it should have been the red-and-black of the Funkmaster Flex Ford Expedition, but you can’t always get what you want.
California Dealers Get To Keep Suing Volkswagen Over Scout
Someone asked me the other day what I thought of Scout, and I had to admit that I wasn’t 100% sure it was going to come to market. I love the look and the concept. I think it could fit in the market. However, its already prolonged reveal period has been prolonged even more, and the company is righteously pissing off dealers. As I wrote before, Volkswagen is pretending as if Scout isn’t a wholly-owned company and therefore should be able to get sold without dealers.
Scout has successfully argued that they should be able to sell cars directly in Colorado, which should be a huge market for the brand. In California, likely the biggest market, well… Automotive News reports it’s not going so well:
It’s a major legal setback for Scout and Volkswagen of America in the nation’s largest new-vehicle market as the companies prepare to launch U.S. sales straight to consumers, a practice vehemently opposed by franchised dealers.
The California lawsuit claims Scout’s direct-to-consumer model violates a state law that was amended and took effect Jan. 1, 2024. The dealer association considers Scout, wholly owned by Volkswagen AG, to be an affiliate brand of VW.
The amended law requires affiliated brands to use franchised dealers to sell and service vehicles, the lawsuit says.
This is far from over, but it’s an awkward position for Volkswagen, which hasn’t exactly delivered exciting products to dealers lately. On the other hand, Scout has to compete against Rivian, Tesla, and Lucid, and none of those brands has to go through dealers. Is there some reasonable middle ground here?
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
It’s the great Billy Joel performing “New York State of Mind.” Perfect.
The Big Question
What new car are you most excited about?
Top photo: Matt Hardigree
Unfortunately, my excitement for the Scout vehicles have waned, though I still would like an off-road EREV. But for now, I’ll stick with my old Jeep that gets terrible fuel mileage but is small enough to fit on most trails. About the only new vehicle on sale today that grabs my attention at all is the Crown Signia, as it would make a nice, practical, comfy replacement for my hatchback hybrid commuter. Sort of bleak considering 25 years ago I was building drag cars, but since most new vehicles are generally disinteresting, all I have to go for is practicality and efficiency.
The Crown is nice. We have the sedan. The Signia solves the small trunk issue. Hope you manage to snag one you like.
One of my neighbors has a bronze Signia with the saddle leather interior that I see all the time, and I think that would be my choice – I’d be living up to at least some parts of the dream of a brown diesel manual wagon. My spouse isn’t fond of the bronze color and likes the blue/grey color.
I salute your choices for color of any kind. Cheers!
Colors are good!
That’s why I have cones in my retina.
Now we just need to get back to colors bright enough to engage the rods too!
“The reality is that auto shows became outrageously expensive for brands, with booths costing upwards of $10 million before you even got to the cost of staffing them and paying, like, Bryan Adams to come out and see a song (a real thing that happened).“
Somebody once paid Bryan Adams to come out and see a song?
Is that really a thing that happened?
What song did he see?
The Bear Went Over The Mountain.
Is this a sign of using speech-to-text rather than typing your copy? It doesn’t seem like you could accidentally type “see” when you meant “sing”, but I could see speech-to-text software messing that up.
Or just auto correct.
Many years ago, I found the easiest way to find wrong words in my written text: read it out loud. Catch many twisted words that way.
Obviously the song he saw was Cuts Like A Knife.
Things got a little messy.
I haven’t been to a New York auto show since I was a little kid living in Queens. I distinctly remember seeing the Bricklin there, and being intrigued by the car show models, even at that tender age. I’m sure there’s more to it now than just new trim packages for the GV70 and Expedition, but if stuff like that’s the gist of it, I’ll stick to reading about car stuff with my morning coffee at home.
Scout does little for me in terms of excitement or anticipation. Perhaps that’s because I’ve owned so many VW products (my last one for 23 years) and I’m pretty much done with their many well-documented shortcomings.
Nissan: please reinvent yourself by bringing the Micra to America. Citroen, Renault, and Peugeot: please return to our shores, so we can have some interesting small cars again. The current administration, with all its turning back of the clock regulation-wise won’t be in power forever, and let’s be honest: gas is only getting more expensive in the long run.
OK, fever dream over.
I would like to see how the Honda Fastport eQuad is accepted by the Gig workers it inevitably will be given to.
Man those buildouts are looking way more expensive than my Javits booth for ICFF in May
Do we ever wonder if it would be more economical for Rivian to badge-engineer the Scout for Volkswagen given the existing billions of dollars relationship? Could lead to more
Hope to make it to the NYC Auto Show next week. It’s only been 35+ years since I last attended a car show.
Does anyone really trust VW? Like for anything? Asking for a friend.
They’re the wurst. The currywurst.
I just hope all the controversy surrounding Scout’s introduction doesn’t depress everyone at VW because there’s nothing wurst than sour krauts.
Even they don’t want to see how the sausage is made.
You can’t see but I’m giving you an approving nod.
It’s Apr1, maybe they’ll announce the Harlequin again.
I just don’t quite agree that auto shows are making a comeback. The Koreans are basically the only ones keeping any of them going at this point.
That new Hyundai drop might be interesting if it’s literally anything else except an “off-road” SUV, especially not one like the Bronco that’s three sizes too big to be actually useful off road..
I’m almost 2 years into my GR Corolla so I’m not really looking at new cars. I’m more into the 92 Miata bought in November and getting it to a decent runner.
But, since your piece on the Slate truck I keep thinking about replacing the Crosstrek with one. And the more I see about the new Celica the more I’m at least curious.
I feel like VW just needs to Monkey’s Paw the dealerships about the Scout.
Set MSRP pricing requirements, showroom requirements, set service models, etc.
Any dealer who doesn’t comply doesn’t get allocated stock. Of ANY VW products. Until compliance is met.
Then offer them the alternative of letting Scout just sell direct and trickle the tech into the rest of the VW lineup (North American Amarok, anyone?)
I don’t see why they can’t malicious compliance this. Set up a single one room “dealer” attached to a service center in the entire state. All orders are online with delivery but you can test drive or have the sales guy order it for you there.
Would their costs really be that much higher?
I’m sure all the money for the autoshow was earmarked and spent prior to recent events instigated in the middle-east, events that have a strong ability to disrupt the ensuing sales for some time.
Tradeshows are usually planned months in advance so probably not in time for this.
I’m keeping my eye out for both the elusive Recon and what Jeep has in store for the Wrangler next model year, considering the next gen is coming so soon.
Automakers should be pretty desperate at this point to generate enthusiasm for their upcoming releases. For a large number of people I know, buying a car they were excited about used to be about the most exciting thing there was. Now most of my friends couldn’t give a shit about anything being announced, and I’m approaching 40… not exactly a group of people you want to be apathetic about car purchases if you’re a manufacturer.
This is, genuinely, where Toyota has thrived.
You really want a Corolla hybrid? Not really. Buuuuuttt… do you want a reliable car that is efficient on fuel, has strong resale, can be maintained anywhere, drives reasonably well, and won’t elicit a strong love/hate from anyone else on the road? As a bonus: you don’t need to think about it for another 10+ years.
People default to Toyotas because nobody is really offering anything all that much more exciting or novel, so if you’re going to be stuck driving a transpo-pod, why not drive one that’s reliable and has good resale value?
So many manufacturers seem to think they can get away with beating Toyota at their own game (cough, VW, cough) which is… well, a whole lot of hubris is necessary for that sort of mindset.
This reminds me of phones. Remember when a new phone was exciting? Now it’s just heavier.
Yep, we’ve hit a point of diminishing returns with phones, not unlike cars. A new phone is more of an inconvenience than anything now.
And similar to cars, phones have become so ingrained into our lives that many people are almost desperate to get away from them.
Thinner, but taller and wider. Eventually they’ll just be like pieces of paper and completely inoperable in your hand, and foldability suits that to a tee. And with 20,000 nits brightness you’ll be able to stun attackers. Or go spelunking.
That’s about where I’m at. I’m in my early 30s with a stable job that pays well enough for me to afford something decent and new. The problem is that there isn’t really anything currently sold new that I can afford/justify affording and want to drive.
I will be dragged into the all crossover future kicking and screaming so like 90% of the new car offerings are already out. I have no way to charge an EV at home and no good access to public charging so that’s out. Bigger SUVs won’t fit in my garage and I don’t want something that big in general so those are out. Same for most trucks. The handful of cars that are left are fine but none really make me go “I want that” and the ones that do are way out of my price range.
If your whole deal is huge trucks and off-road SUVs, I would imagine you’re having an awesome time right now.
If you have literally any other preferences for a vehicle, 2026 sucks ass.
You just might be able to charge an EV in any garage with electricity.
I do have a garage with power, unfortunately that power is just a few old, ungrounded 120v outlets. I know the older Ford level 1 chargers that came with the Fusion hybrids would refuse to charge at all on an ungrounded outlet so I assumed most if not all other level 1 chargers are the same. Even if it did charge, I don’t think I’d trust the wiring to carry that kind of load for a sustained period. Also, I rent so it’s not my garage to update and my landlord isn’t the kind of guy who would spend money updating the house.
If you weren’t renting you cound ground a new outlet with a nail and copper wire.
No 86/BRZ or v6/v8 option generating enough interest?
Stated before waiting for the R3X and/or if the Scouts actually materialize and the price they will be. I for one will just want the BEV versions don’t really care to get the EREV’s don’t see the need for the extra maintenance as long at they get 300+ miles of battery range that will be a good upgrade from the Polestar 2.
Ford’s “Model T Moment” is the most interesting thing I see on the horizon.
I’m also interest to see how the Ramcharger actually performs and what direction Ford takes the hybrid Super Duty they have been talking about.
Where is the evidence that auto shows are back? Hopefully there is more to come because two special editions are pretty lame if they are headlining a show.
I used to go to the Detroit Auto Show every year in the 90’s – begged my dad to take me down before I had a license. Massive displays, a dozen or so concept cars and new models, race cares, cutaways of different engines, etc. It was an event and that was before you when to the supplier level.
Yeah, the Detroit show has been pretty sad the last couple years. This year continued the downward trend and was missing several major manufacturers. The displays were of a “regional show” level and there wasn’t really much in the way of reveals or concepts. I hope it comes back, but I don’t think it’s going to. Everyone has moved on to SEMA and other larger markets.
I happened to be in Detroit last year when the auto show was going. I took a quick look at what would be there and it was basically just local dealers with production models. It was funny how some interviews with show staff trying to spin this as a positive and how now the auto show was an opportunity for car shoppers to see every production model under one roof.
As you mentioned – it was nothing different than the “auto show” put on by local dealers every year here locally.
It was pathetic and I went to the Henry Ford Museum instead.
That’s a really nice museum, I like the little historic village too.
But the pricetag of tickets feel far too high to me.
Tickets are expensive, but I’ve never once regretted going. It’s a vast museum that you could easily spend a couple days in and still not see everything. The cafe is surprisingly good now, too.
It is. I hadn’t been since I was a kid.
$22 for an adult seems reasonable to me.
Yeah, for an “automotive” museum that also has trains, tractors, planes, and the freakin chair that Abe Lincoln was shot in, that’s very reasonable.
I really don’t remember many cars specifically (I went over 10 years ago now) but getting up close to the trains sticks in my head, as does sitting on the Rosa Parks bus. It’s an amazing museum.
I was a big fan of all the steam engines / turbines.
I find it odd that the Henry Ford Museum would seek out and purchase the chair Lincoln was shot in. As near as I can tell Henry and John T Ford aren’t related (cursory search) and have no connection besides last name. Seems like something I’d want to keep a little bit of distance from if I were the Ford “brand”.
There is a section of the museum related to slavery, which is pretty sobering but something that more people should see. Seems like they felt it worth showing the dark sides of history.
I too used to be a regular yearly attendee of the NAIS, my yearly winter pilgrimage downtown to freeze on the Cobo Roof parking deck and spend all day walking around flicking knobless gear shifters.
It’s been more than ten years since I’ve attended, and I probably won’t ever go back, I’m just apathetic at at this point and every new reveal leaves me feeling uninspired.
The last few visits left me wishing things like a new Mazda Speed Mazda 2 was something I’d see soon, and well; none of that happened, and the cars I used to drool over are mostly gone, so why spend the time and money? I don’t care about another new CUV/SUV with a giant tablet and a slab sided body.
It’s a fantastic museum. My kids are obsessed with the little math room (okay I am too) and my husband could spend all day looking at the industrial equipment.
Last time I was there I saw a grown man weeping while looking at the Ford GT40.
I’m going to need Genesis to build the G90 Wingback and for someone else to take the horrifying Korean depreciation to the face so I can buy a certified one for $55,000 in 3 years….
I’m excited to hear more about the Toyota Celica I keep hearing rumors about!
Waiting for affordable, simple e-revs. The scout is fine if you want a 4 wheel drive off road beast, but I prefer a simple sedan, or better yet a grand tourer like the Mazda Vision 4 door coupe concept car. Dedicated ice/ generator combos with a smallish battery for 80-100 miles battery only range. They have such vehicles in other parts of the world… the US is waiting ( though if I was an e-rev I wouldn’t want to come to the US right now either) .
LOL at that copy for Genesis’ 50th shade of gray. If you want something that actually “sets it apart from the rest of the lineup”, try an actual color.
As someone who knows HKMC very well and due to this of course also Genesis:
There is still so much they need to learn, if they want to build more exclusive cars – which they definetly want. I don’t want to say the cars are bad. But they lack so much exclusivity, as there’s not much stuff you can choose from.
And I thought in 2026 noone would consider a matte grey / Black / whatever paint as exclusive. From my perspective, it usually looks cheap. And since they love to compare themselves with brands like Porsche (another brand I know well): Just look at what is possible paint wise at Porsche! The only limit is your budget.
I like that Genesis not only offers chromatic interiors but match the steering wheel and dashboard liner, the way manufacturers used to until shareholders told them it adds too much cost per unit.
Beyond that, meh.
Genesis makes a beautiful dark green color. I saw it on a…G80? Maybe? I think that would be better than anything in matte gray.
I want to see the new GM trucks and SUVs for 2027.
Overblown auto PR bits are truly hilarious at this point. Swap the places of “Expedition” and “Mustang” in Ford’s, and it still works.
I always wonder if the marketing people are snickering as they come up with this stuff, or if they’re truly sincere.
Of all the people I work with, marketing people have zero sense of humor and make everything the most important thing ever. Never try to joke with them as they are also easily offended.
Working with them is exhausting.
Lol, this is why I will stick with supply chain and manufacturing. They’re actually doing something and they’re able to joke about it (well, most of them).
Can confirm… sort of. Dated someone in public relations (who would howl in fury at lumping PR in with marketing) for a year and the amount of “my job is important!” versus the amount of job-doing of noticeable importance told a tale.
I did as well and man waiting for her to finesse an answer to a simple question was exhausting. She worked in politics as well and it showed. Keeps you on your toes in a discussion and you better bring your A-game if you have an issue to discuss. You have to watchout for all the Jedi Mind Trick techniques- like Deflect, Redirect, etc. Made for some fun verbal volleys though.
Gotta spend big at auto shows when you are flush with all that cash from EV cancellations and layoffs.