From the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon to the Audi RS3, the 2017 New York Auto Show fired on all cylinders and turned the latest instalment of the event into a massive success like its predecessors. We pick 5 of our favorite show stars.
The 2017 New York Auto Show had its dates set right in between the Geneva and Shanghai auto shows. So New York turns out to be the official American debut platform for some of the concepts and production models which made their world debuts in Geneva. It also serves as a teaser for what to expect in Shanghai.
This year’s edition of the New York Auto Show featured a wide variety of production cars from the leading players. While some were there to shine in the moment and fade off later, there were others who were there to stay.
Here is our list of the 5 big hits of the show.
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
The drag-strip-focused hellhound from the house of Dodge SRT is the weapon that every drag racing enthusiast ever wished for. The 840 hp muscle car was one of the biggest hits of the show, raking in rave reviews and generating loads of positive response. Thanks to a heap of records that it broke, including the quickest production car in the 0-60 mph dash, the Dodge SRT Demon has even upset hypercar manufacturers with its performance numbers. Only 3000 units will be made for the US and an additional 300 will be built for sale in Canada. Now, it’s all about getting the 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8-powered muscle car’s sub-$100k pricing right.
Audi will be offering the 2018 RS3 sedan with a price tag of $54,900 and for some unfathomable reason, they are also offering the 2017 RS3 sedan at $54,500. The latter will be in limited numbers though. Both models will be powered by the same 2.5-liter TFSI petrol heart which belts out 400 hp of power and 354 lb-ft of torque.
Capable of clocking a top speed of 155 mph with the speed limiter and a staggering 174 mph without that leash, the Audi RS3 will do 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. The RS3 is feature-loaded, has got the bells and whistles to mark it out as a thoroughbred RS machine and comes with the manufacturer’s signature Audi Virtual Cockpit too.
2017 Honda Civic Type-R
The hot hatch which enters the US post its debut at the 2017 New York Auto Show is going to kick up a storm once it reaches the dealers here. We have even put together a list of 5 awesome stuff about it. Tested and pushed to the edge at the Nürburgring, the Type-R is one of the nightmares that will hurl the Ford Focus RS out of the bed. Looking devilishly-evil and aggressive enough to intimidate and own its rivals, the Honda Civic Type-R is the first R-badged Honda to be ever sold in the US. 306 hp of power and 295 lb-ft of torque produced by the 2.0-liter i-VTEC are deployed to the wheels by a short throw 6-speed manual gearbox. A mid-$30k pricing will be doing the rest of job of killing the challengers in its path.
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
Take the supercharged 707 hp, 645 lb-ft Hellcat V8 engine that powers the Charger-Challenger SRT Hellcat siblings. Tuck it under the hood of a bulky Jeep Grand Cherokee. Do the tweaks and mods demanded by a heart transplant surgery of this nature. What you get is the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk – a full-blown 4X4 SUV which can teach sports cars a lesson or two at the track.
From a standstill, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will set off to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and will cover a quarter mile distance in 11.6. The juggernaut will put 180 mph on the dials if you bury your foot deep into the foot well. Sadly, Jeep hasn’t done much to visually differentiate the Trackhawk from the SRT8, other than a couple of badges, new air inlets and wheels. But who cares when it’s mind-blowingly fast?
2018 Range Rover Velar
The Range Rover Velar uses the same aluminum architecture as its distant cousin – the Jaguar F-Pace. It sits right in between the Range River Evoque and the Range Rover Sport, with prices starting at $50,895. And it’s going to be one massive headache for BMW and Mercedes-Benz to deal with upon going on sale this summer. Its styling draws cues from its siblings as well as from the F-Pace and the resulting package is quite a looker.
The interiors are futuristic with a clean dash devoid of clutter. Two large 10-inch touchscreen displays occupy the center console and their tasks are split up between infotainment and onboard feature details/controls. Land Rover has integrated an array of tech into the Velar including their off-road assistance systems.
The US-spec Range Rover Velar which made its debut at the 2017 New York Auto Show has three engine options – a 247 hp 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol, a 380 hp 3.0-liter supercharged V6 petrol and a 180 hp 2.0-liter diesel. All units will come mated with an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
