New cars! We all love seeing the latest cars and the soon-to-be-released models that will take to roads in the year ahead. Most exciting are actual surprises, completely unexpected takes that move a nameplate into a new direction, or even better, something as wholly and shockingly original as the GM Firebird III must have looked to the car buffs of 1959 (or 2026 for that matter. Even after more than six decades, that thing looks bananas).
Now, the NYC show isn’t really about wacky concept drops (boo), and I bet not even one 2027 model is spec’d with F-86 Sabre-style aero brakes as GM proposed for the Firebird III. So let’s consider some more down-to-Earth car desires from the gang:
Thomas Hundal: “The return of the Toyota Paseo Convertible.”
Seconded. What’s not to like?
Antti Kautonen: “A Chrysler New Yorker. It would be a Very Fancy Edition of the Charger with a formal roofline. Preferably with a vinyl top. I mean, anything else than a Pacifica…”
Stephen Walter Gossin is on the same Charger track:
With all of the talk in recent years about Chrysler only selling one vehicle, or possibly being shut down, I’d love to see that storied, old-school-cool brand get a product based on the new Charger platform. A 2027 Chrysler 300 2-door, with a Hemi and fuselage styling that looked like it came right out of 1971, but with modern engineering, would be glorious.
Your turn:
What Do You Wish Was Being Announced At The New York Auto Show?
Immediate global sale of the Hyundai Crater with no changes
Complete sidenote: I was at a museum awhile back that had a few of the Motorama cars on display, including the Firebird III. I couldn’t remember what the logo on the fin meant, and asked a docent. He gave me a half-assed answer that I knew wasn’t correct, and when I tried to talk to him about it, he wouldn’t engage with me. I tried to do a web search for info on it to no avail.
I was so irritated about his demeanor to me (as someone with a degree in museum studies AND an automotive nerd I was irritated x2). I spent the next few months researching and creating the Wikipedia article for the General Motors Air Transport division…just to spite that cranky boomer.
So many things… I wish they would allow Kei cars, that we would have a global safety standard so that forbidden cars would available for import now. I wish we had more small cars in general. Bring back the Fit! Or just import the Jazz! I also want to see more bolt-in EV conversions for existing cars. I want regulations and extra taxes on large trucks. I want cars I can actually see out of. Especially out the rear! I want station wagons AND luxury minivans. I want buttons. I want screens that blend in to the dashboard and don’t look like an ipad was just hastily attached. I want every car engineer to be required to fully take the car apart and put it back together again twice so they have some real idea of what mechanics have to deal with. I want headlights that don’t blind everyone and suck at the same time. I want cars that smile and don’t look angry. Mostly, I want driver tests to be way more strict, because most of the people with driver’s licenses shouldn’t have them. And for those people, I want fully autonomous cars, because sometimes, I like to drink (like tonight, in case you can’t tell), and then I want to get home safely.
What do I wish were being announced there? That Alpine caught the EV heebie-jeebies and has decided to not only continue making the current A110 but also sell it in America. If only. Happy March 32st!
A station wagon for us poors!
Like an Accord or Camry wagon?
Sure! I mean I’d welcome basically anything, since I know I’ll never afford the AMG’d or M’d options that remain and the Outback is ruined. Even if Genesis makes that Wingback, I feel like they’re trying to compete with those super pricey ones anyway. Also RIP Volvo wagons.
Genesis putting the X Coupe and X Convertible into production this year.