2006 New York Auto Show Coverage by TCC Team
(4/10/2006)

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Lexus Rolls Out V-8 Hybrid LS

2007 Lexus LS600h
Lexus continued to redefine the hybrid on Wednesday, as it
rolled out the LS600h, the world’s first V-8 gasoline-electric vehicle. The
sedan starts with a 5.0-liter V-8 mated to the newly-renamed
Lexus Hybrid Drive
system. With its two-stage torque converter and CVT, the package pumps power to
all four wheels. A new, larger battery pack will store more energy than prior
Lexus models, which should improve both performance and mileage. Boasting more
than 430 horsepower out of its dual powertrain, the LS600h “will deliver power
and performance on par with a V-12, while also delivering fuel economy on a par
with the best V-8s,” declared the division’s general manager, Bob Carter. While
precise specifications have yet to be finalized, Lexus tech specialist David
Hermance hinted that the sedan will launch from 0-60 in “the low fives,”
compared to the high-five-second range for the “base” LS460.
Carter called the hybrid
LS Lexus’ “ultimate flagship.” That means it will be heavily loaded up with
features such as LED headlamps —
an industry first —
and the
Advanced Pre-Collision System. The technology uses a mix of radar sensors and
two forward-facing cameras to detect an imminent collision. A third camera
mounted on the steering wheel watches to see if the driver is aware of the
situation. Pre-Collision can, among other things, sound a warning, automatically
apply the brakes, and adjust steering settings to make it easier to avoid a
collision. The LS600h will also offer a system that can automatically park the
sedan, with minimal driver intervention. Only the long-wheelbase version of the
hybrid will be sold in the
U.S.
, providing rear passengers with
an extra five inches of legroom and even an optional massaging footrest. Sales
should launch by early spring 2007, and Carter said he expects the LS600h to
account for about 10 to 15 percent of overall LS-series
sales.
Ford Takes
Three-Pronged Approach to Performance

Mark Fields
Ford
plans to beef up its performance portfolio, Mark Fields, the automaker’s
President of the
Americas
, told a New York Auto Show
audience on Wednesday. Central to the strategy is a renewed emphasis on the SVT
line, which had been neglected in recent years. “The plan is to offer one
performance car and one truck, going forward,” Fields explained, with the pair
likely to generate from 5000 to 10,000 annual sales. A version of the Mustang
and another SVT makeover of the F-Series pickup will be the latest offerings.
Then there’ll be “personalized performance,” allowing customers to buy from a
broad catalog of performance parts and accessories. The third leg of Ford’s
performance strategy is the Ford Racing unit.
Ford Revives
Hertz-Edition Mustang

2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350-H
To mark the 40th anniversary of the classic
Shelby
rent-a-car, Ford
announced the limited rollout of the Mustang Shelby GT-H. The 1965-66 muscle
car produced by Ford and Carroll Shelby was offered through Hertz rental outlets
for $17 a day and 17 cents a mile. Today, surviving models are among the most
prized classics from the muscle car era. Clearly, Ford hopes history will repeat
itself with the 500 GT-H coupes that
Shelby plans
to customize out of his plant near
Las Vegas
. The Hertz-branded Mustang boasts 325 horsepower,
compared to the original
Shelby
rental’s 306. It will feature a special
scoop hood, side scoops, custom fascia, and the black body will be offset by gold
Hertz stripes. Ford officials hope the GT-H will continue building momentum for
the already popular Mustang, and possibly blaze the path for other
limited-production Mustangs. According to
Shelby
, the concept for the pony car spinoff
was conceived and executed in a rapid-fire 90 days.
Infiniti Morphs
G35

2007 Infiniti G35
It’s
already the most popular model in the Infiniti lineup, and Nissan’s luxury
division is expecting to gain even more ground with the roll-out of the 2007 G35
sports sedan. “The design of the original G signaled the design direction for
the Infiniti models that followed,” explained Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. Expect
the new G to continue blazing a path. The ’07 features an upgraded, engine
expected to pump out at least 300 horsepower. It will be offered with an
automatic, though an optional six-speed manual will be available as well, along
with “intelligent” all-wheel drive. The 2007 G35 will boast a variety of new
features, including Active Cruise Control and XM with a built-in navigation
system capable of warning about traffic jams. Expect the new car to well exceed
the 40,000 sales the G35 logged last year, suggested Infiniti General Manager
Mark Igo. And he believes all the new features should increase the car’s appeal
to women, in particular.
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