
2004 Ford auto show logo
2004
New York Auto Show Index (4/5/04)
Caddy introduces new flagship
sedanCadillac added yet another letter car to its stable
today as it showed its all-new STS luxury sedan. It's the first vehicle in the

2005 Cadillac STS
originalSeville series to feature
rear-wheel-drive in 25 years. For Snowbelt buyers nervous about that layout, the
STS will be offered with an optional all-wheel-drive package, as well. Built on
GM's Sigma architecture —
the same platform used for the smaller CTS sedan —
STS features a 3.6-liter V-6 with
variable valve timing, producing 255 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque; or an optional
4.6-liter V-8 putting out 320 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 times for the V-8
will be less than six seconds. With a notably more refined look, with an
upgraded intervior and a host of standard features, Cadillac is targeting such
tough competitors as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW’s 5-Series with the new
STS. Base price will be $40,995 for the V-6; $47,495 for the V-8. (Al
Vinikour)
Subaru teams with L.L.
Bean
Subaru underscored its relationship with one of
America’s most
popular outdoor outfitters with the introduction of the 2005 Forester

Subaru Forester LL Bean
2.5 XM L.L. Bean Edition. The new spin-off expands
the Forester line-up to four models. After the Outback, the Forester is the
second vehicle that is offered as L.L.Bean Edition as part of the marketing
partnership between Subaru of America and the renowned retailer of active lifestyle
clothing and equipment. The special edition is based on the 2.5 XS and adds, among
other things, a four-speed electronic direct control automatic transmission,
ten-spoke aluminium wheels, leather trimmed upholstery with perforated bolsters and
the L.L. Bean logo embossed into the front seats, bumpers and body
cladding, power moonroof, self-leveling rear suspension, security system, and a water-resistant
hard surface of the cargo floor and the rear seatback. (
Henny Hemmes)
Audi A6 gets a makeover
You’re bound to
recognize the basic shape of the all-new Audi A6, but the most noticeable part
of the German sedan’s makeover is its 
2005 Audi A6
all-new face,
influenced by the Nuvolari concept car of a few years back. The A6 debuted in
Geneva earlier this year, and is now making its way over to the key U.S. market.
The new car grows in almost every critical dimension: the wheelbase is over
three inches longer, the overall length is stretched nearly five, and it's about
two inches longer. What surprised some observers was the decision to retain a
steel, rather than lightweight aluminum, body. Many observers had expected Audi
to copy the aluminum spaceframe construction of the flagship A8. There are a
variety of new, high-tech features on the A6, including xenon daytime running
lights, as well as active cornering lights. Audi also adds its MMI control
system.
Audi on the Silver
Screen

Audi RSQ
It may have to take second billing to silver screen star Will
Smith, but Audi hopes to win over moviegoers with its performance in the
upcoming sci-fi adventure, “I Robot.” Based on the classic Isaac Asimov novel, the
film features a custom-made concept vehicle, which Audi has dubbed the RSQ. It
was specially designed in cooperation with director Alex Poroyas, explained
Audi’s Tim Miksche, who handles relations with the movie industry. (Most
automakers seek out attractive “placement” opportunities to show off their products
on film.) Poroyas is himself an Audi owner and decided to approach Audi
after seeing last year’s Nuvolari concept car. While the film depicts a future
in which cars are controlled by an automated grid, star Smith chooses to
drive himself, and that, said Miksche, “makes a brand statement for us.” It took
just ten weeks to go from sketch to drivable vehicle, three running versions of the
RSQ being built. One was purposely crashed for the film, another used for
interior shots. The third will be used for join promotional efforts sponsored by
Audi and Warner Brothers in advance of the debut of “I, Robot,” later this year.
(TCC Team)
Mini goes open-airAt least for the moment, Mini appears to be
the only automaker on the American market not offering incentives, yet dealer
inventories 
2005 Mini Cooper convertible
are down to a
meager five-day supply, says Jack Pitney, the U.S. General Manager of the British brand.
And the Mini team intends to keep it that way by developing a steady stream
of new spin-offs. The latest is the Mini convertible, the smallest ragtop sold
in America. During a New York preview, Pitney suggested the vehicle would more
aptly be described as "the world's first street-legal go-kart." With the top down it even
has the same view as a go-kart. What possessed Mini to develop a convertible is a
golden opportunity to enter a global market that has grown four-fold in the past
four years, 60 percent of convertible sales coming in the U.S. Mini’s
open-air model features a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine and a host of safety
features, including disc brakes all around, and ABS. According to Pitney, the vehicle
can be "You-ified," with a choice of eleven exterior colors (with matching dash and door
panels) and several leather and fabric selections. The top is available in blue,
green, or black. It's the first convertible to feature both a heated rear window
glass and a 16" sunroof built into the convertible top. The Mini convertible
will be introduced in September of this year in both the Cooper, and Cooper S
models. It will carry a price of approximately $22,000, about $5000 more than
the hardtop model. (Al Vinikour)
What gas crisis?
While rising
fuel prices may make for anxious headlines, “We’ve yet to see any impact on
purchases,” said Ford Vice President Mike O’Driscoll. The polls show that the
cost of gasoline is perhaps the single biggest issue to motorists, yet
O’Driscoll told TheCarConnection it is not showing up as a factor at the
showroom, where “interest in big luxury cars and big SUVs continues like never
before.” O’Driscoll said he is confident there won’t be any shift in purchase
patterns, but if it did, there are some ways the industry could compensate. InEurope,
diesels are becoming one of the most popular options for luxury motorists.
Several manufacturers are exploring interest in diesels here in the States,
including Mercedes-Benz, which is just launching the diesel version of its
E-Class line. But O’Driscoll cautioned it would be “two to three years” before
luxury makers could shift to diesels on a large scale for the
U.S. (TCC Team)
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