The New York Auto Show will be going strong for those of you who can make it out to the show. The press days are all wrapped up though and the best of the best have gone through the pomp and circumstance of their great reveals. Some vehicles are jaw dropping spectacular, and some failed to capture the heart of even the most open minded critic, but with so many models on display, that is only to be expected. Here are the top cars that made it out to the annual event. (In no particular order)

2014 Cadillac CTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hands down, the Cadillac CTS was the most exciting debut to hit the stage. This luxury liner puts the “Caddy” back into Cadillac and reminds the world just how iconic this favorite luxury mobile has been for generations now.  This model is longer, lower, leaner and meaner than any other midsize luxury sedan. It hosts the first ever eight speed automatic transmission that offers superb performance in a lighter weight vehicle filled to the brim with high tech and comfort features.

Bob Ferguson, vice president, Global Cadillac said, “The all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan delivers crafted design, thrilling performance and sophisticated technology. The car that has always been Cadillac’s centerpiece stretches figuratively and literally to challenge the world’s best. With Cadillac growing globally, driven by rising product credibility, the new CTS elevates the brand to a new level.”

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Volkswagen Golf 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not only did the Volkswagen Golf 7 make an appearance at the New York Auto Show, but it has been named the 2013 World Car of the Year, which definitely makes this outstanding electric compact worthy of being in the Best of the New York Auto Show.   Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, shared, “We at Volkswagen are all delighted that the Golf has been named ‘World Car of the Year’. To win this award again shows that the Golf is and remains in a class of its own all around the world. This car sets new benchmarks again and again, not least in terms of efficiency and environmental credentials. Soon, for instance, the Golf will also be launched as a plug-in hybrid and as a 100% electric car.”

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2014 Jeep Cherokee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been ten years since the Cherokee has done much of anything and the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee has had high expectations put on it. It has an unusual styling and downsized engine, but is still rough and touch and built to handle about any type of driving condition possible, which is what it’s designed for. While the sturdiness is there, it has also gotten a dash of luxury added in with better quality materials and high tech gadgetry. This new Jeep should quickly become a favorite. The base model hosts a 2.4 liter “Tigershark” good for 184 horsepower and 171 pound feet of torque that will get about 31 highway miles per gallon. Or, you can opt for a faster 3.2 liter Pentastar V6 which will give you 271 horsepower.

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Subaru WRX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This great car is finally getting some looks to match! While this vehicle is only a concept version, our guess is the production version will come out looking pretty similar to what we can see and if it does, it just might become a top seller in its segment. It is designed for performance and has an all wheel drive grip and more athletic form to keep up on the roadways. There are no details in regard to what type of engine it will have, but it is expected to be something that will offer enough horses to keep up with the sporty look. The new paint color is called “WR Blue Pearl III”. Along with fluorescent yellow accents, it sets the style off to perfection.

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2014 Chevy Camaro SS and Z/28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Motors has been hard at work on their Camaro lineup and all we can say is – it shows. The Camaro SS and Camaro Z/28 are clearly meant to rule the highways and byways in the sportscar segment and no bolt has been left unturned in the design and engineering of either of these cars.

Mark Reuss, president, GM North America, comments about the Z/28, “As the ultimate track-capable Camaro, this car restores the mission of the original Z/28, and serves as a testament to the expertise of Chevrolet as the best-selling brand of performance cars. The build sheet is the wish list of any racer: lightweight, high-revving, dry-sump LS7 engine; carbon-ceramic brakes; integrated coolers for track use; true aerodynamic downforce, and a significant reduction in curb weight. This car could only come from Chevrolet, and could only be called the Z/28.”

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Audi S3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the Audi A3 comes in at the entry level for small sports sedans, the luxury has nothing to do with “entry level” and Audi makes it very clear to point that out. The standard models come fully loaded with what hardcore Audi fans expect in their vehicle, even if it is a big shorter and sportier. The A3 is set to arrive at the dealerships sometime next summer, ahead of schedule. If you are considering one, expect to pay about $39,000 for the standard model. You can also expect heads to turn wherever you drive, and a driving experience worth writing home about with feature such as a sunroof, 18-inch wheels, full leather, Sirius satellite radio, the three-spoke sport steering wheel with shift paddles for the also-standard six-speed S-tronic, and fully automated adjustable sport seats.

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2014 Buick Regal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The long awaited new Buick Regal was happy to take the stage at the New York Auto Show. This sportier version looks as if it is going to be a hit no matter which way you look at it with advanced performance, comfort and safety features. The new radar and camera features were introduced for this model and include Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Collision Mitigation Braking. Natural speech recognition has also been added to cut down on driver distraction.

As far as style Ven Lai, Buick creative designer for color and trim comments, “The advanced technologies in the 2014 Regal complement its flowing passenger environment, with integrated elegance. The cabin’s rich, tailored elements are executed in warm tones and soft-touch materials that enhance the premium ambience in a thoroughly contemporary manner.”

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Toledo, Ohio has something to feel proud about as the 2014 Jeep Cherokee gears up to hit the runway at the 2013 New York Auto Show. That’s where these new Jeeps are being built and from the looks of them, they have plenty of new things in store for Jeep fans everywhere.

The Official Press Release gave the rundown of what you can expect, and as you can see, it’s a long list:

• Best-in-class capability
• Three new four-wheel-drive systems that raise the standard for mid-size SUVs:
• Jeep® Active Drive I with one-speed power transfer unit (PTU)
• Jeep Active Drive II with two-speed PTU and low range
• Jeep Active Drive Lock with two-speed PTU, low range and locking rear differential
• New Jeep Selec-Terrain traction control system with up to five customized modes – Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud and Rock
• Best-in-class V-6 towing capability – 4,500 pounds
• Jeep Trail Rated capability
• Up to a 56:1 crawl ratio, a 90-percent improvement versus the outgoing model
• Vastly improved fuel economy – up to 31 mpg
• First SUV with nine-speed automatic transmission
• Industry-first rear-axle disconnect resulting in reduced energy loss when 4×4 capability isn’t needed; improving fuel efficiency
• 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir I-4 delivers a more than 45 percent fuel economy improvement versus outgoing model and nearly 500-mile range
• First use of Chrysler Group’s new 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 engine
• Superior on-road ride and handling
• First Jeep vehicle to utilize Chrysler Group’s Compact U.S. Wide (CUS-wide) platform
• New independent front and rear suspension
• Increased torsional stiffness
• Exceptionally quiet cabin
• New Jeep design with world-class craftsmanship
• New aerodynamic design cues combine Jeep heritage with advanced technology
• Aggressive approach and departure angles contribute to leading capability
• Advanced LED lighting technology with distinctive daytime running lights
• Premium, well-crafted interior with extensive use of soft-touch materials
• Class-exclusive all-new CommandView panoramic sunroof and Sky Slider roof
• Array of advanced, cutting edge technology features
• Full-color 7-inch reconfigurable LED instrument cluster
• Uconnect 8.4-inch color touchscreen media center
• Uconnect Access Via Mobile
• More than 70 advanced safety and security features
• First Chrysler Group use of ParkSense Parallel/Perpendicular Park Assist
• System aids the driver in parallel/perpendicular parking
• Clever functionality and versatility
• Second-row 60/40 split folding seat moves fore and aft for passenger comfort and cargo flexibility
• Fold-flat front passenger seat with covered in-seat storage
• Useful, clever storage features throughout the Cherokee cabin
• Innovative Jeep Cargo Management System

Source: Jeep

News is all over the map, and the World Wide Web about how Chrysler will be gearing up to expand, hire and build hundreds of thousands of new Jeeps at their Toledo Ohio plant (250,000 to be exact), and now we hear that the 2014 Jeep Cherokee sales dates are being set back due to Fiat’s financial position.  Fiat is in a tough spot due to the European economic weather and is cutting budget for development, engineering, and yes, retooling the Toledo plant that will be building the Cherokee is being delayed while the Italian automakers shifts its budget around to figure out how to live up to their goals.

In the meantime the 2014 Jeep Cherokee is languishing in images and a great deal of discussion over its styling down to the sheetmetal that is being used to build the beast. SRT president Ralph Gilles and Jeep design head Mark Allen are defending that by saying that the objective was to have a vehicle design that would still look fresh within five years, but a recent article in the Wall Street Journal mentions how looking fresh really had nothing to do with the design work. Apparently, what you see for the Cherokee are features that were originally designed for an Alfa Romeo model. Using those plans for the Jeep was a way for Chrysler to push the new Cherokee into the market faster while saving hundreds of millions of dollars in engineering work.

Needless to say, everyone is a bit confused in regard to what is coming out of the Chrysler camp in regard to what they are doing, how they are doing it, and especially when they are doing it. Jeep fans will just have to hold on a little while longer until the automaker gets it figured out. Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.

Holy Toledo! Chrysler made the announcement that they are building onto the Ohio Toledo North Assembly plant and gearing up to produce 250,000 Jeep Cherokee and around 220,000 Jeep Wrangler versions there per year. That’s a lot of Jeep. Of course Ohio couldn’t be happier because not only does that mean more employees going to work at Jeep, 200 that had all ready been mentioned and then more to equal up to 1,105 new workers, but all the surrounding businesses that will be involved in building the new plant addition, along with restaurants and more are all psyched to know that the activity is going to bring a huge, and much needed boost to the economy.

For the new addition, 111 acres have been purchased at Overland Industrial Park and ground breaking is on the calendar for next month. This property had been in the hands of Jeep from 1888 to 2006. Port Authority paid $95,000 for it when Chrysler was going through bankruptcy. Now it looks like the land is back home where it belongs. The plans are to build six buildings that will total 650,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

Matthew Sapara, chief operating officer of the port authority, said, “That is the historic home for all of the Jeeps that have been built since the early 1900s. Everyone in this community has some type of relationship to that parcel. Either they themselves worked there, or friends or family members worked there.”

Bruce Baumhower, president of UAW Local 12, another happy camper, adds, “The opportunity for suppliers to come here and be 2 1/2 miles down the road from the customer that is using half-a-million components annually is huge. We are going to build almost half-a-million cars a year here in Toledo. We are going to do 220,000 with the Wrangler and we are going to do 250,000 on the Cherokee side.”

Source Detroit Free Press

Jeep and Mopar are putting the final spit shine on their new concept vehicles for this weekend’s Moab Easter Jeep Safari event. This is the 47^th year for this off roading celebration that’s held in Utah at some of their most challenging trails for enthusiasts to buckle up and test their driving skills, along with looking over some of the most exciting on and off road vehicles that Jeep and Mopar can muster up for the event.

Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC, comments, “Off-road enthusiasts will be pleasantly surprised by the range of Jeep models we’re bringing to this year’s Easter Jeep Safari. We go to this extremely popular event in Moab each year to showcase the latest production vehicles from Jeep, as well as a host of new customization and personalization ideas. In doing so, we connect with and receive a tremendous amount of feedback from our most loyal customers.”

Jeep shared the list of their finest vehicles you can look forward to getting up close and personal with:

• Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept is most extreme Grand Cherokee ever with 35-inch tires and EcoDiesel V-6 power
• Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon features 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 power and prototype beadlock wheels and Stinger off-road bumper
• Jeep Wrangler Stitch is a light-weight follow-up to the diehard enthusiasts’ favorite Wrangler Pork Chop
• Jeep Sand Trooper II builds on the extreme off-road capabilities of the original Sand Trooper with 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 and Mopar Portal axles and Shorty off-road bumper
• Jeep Wrangler Flattop features 37-inch tires and go-anywhere hardware in a sophisticated package
• Jeep Wrangler Slim combines affordable extreme weekend fun with everyday road use featuring Mopar prototype 2-inch lift kit and prototype on-road beadlock wheels

This will be the 11^th year that Jeep and Mopar have teamed up to create brilliantly unique concepts vehicles specifically to show off at the Easter Jeep Safari. Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand, points out, “We created our new Jeep Performance Parts portfolio for extreme off-road Jeep fanatics. Jeep owners who are passionate about customization, performance and personalization will have a long menu of Jeep Performance Parts from which to choose.”

Source Chrysler

If you thought the Jeep Operation SAFE Return was just about Super Bowl commercials, you are mistaken. This initiative and partnership with USO is going strong and you can see one of the heartwarming events in the following video.

The Jeep Operations SAFE Return statement says, “In 1941, we were there to take our troops into battle – today we are here to support them as they come home. Because when they’re home, we are more than a family. We are a nation that is whole. The Jeep® brand is proud to provide support for our nation’s heroes as we welcome them home.”

The S.A.F.E. Platform: “The Jeep® brand has established the S.A.F.E. Return fund to provide both financial and in-kind aid as well as hands-on support for our returning troops through an integrated partnership with the USO. This platform allows us to give support where it is needed, throughout the transition to home, work and health.”

Activities through Operation SAFE Return offers transportation for USO centers for troops and supplies, support for helping troops reintegrate into American living with employment initiatives and incentives to help them buy a Jeep, homecoming events are sponsored and ongoing assistance for wounded, ill and injured troops and their families. This is Jeep’s way of saying “Thank you” and the Virginia plant Jeep employees are more than happy to roll up their sleeves and volunteer in a number of capacities at the Virginia military base.

If Jeep is your brand of choice, you are able to support the efforts just by driving away in your own new 2013 Jeep Wrangler, Wrangle Unlimited or Patriot Freedom Edition Jeep. An automatic $250 donation from the sales of these vehicles goes to the USO to further support their efforts.

The video is shot at Fort Belvoir in Virginia and looks like a great time was had by all:

 

Source YouTube