Cheap Car for Drag Racing
The 2017 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) opens to media on 12 April. In this report, IHS Markit looks at the expected car introductions, from the drag-racing Dodge Challenger SRT Demon to the zero-emission Honda Clarity BEV.
IHS Markit Perspective:
- Significance: The 2017 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) opens to the media on 12 April 2017. New car introductions lean to mid-cycle updates, including updated Acura TLX and Hyundai Sonata. The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is likely to be an auto show hit.
- Implications: As typical for this show, it largely follows on from the trends of recent major auto shows. Breaking from the expo's tendency towards premium vehicle introductions, new cars will tend towards standard brands.
- Outlook: Car introductions at NYIAS 2017 span a wider range of size and price class, with Buick showing how cars can improve cargo hauling utility. Updates from Hyundai and Acura illustrate the difficulties in mid-size car sales and the importance of design to sales performance.
The 2017 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) introductions appear set to be dominated by utility vehicles again, with a slant towards premium makes and a healthy dash of high-performance options. Programme specifics remain under wraps, and there may be a few surprises, but IHS Markit has this overview of expected introductions.
The only all-new car being introduced at NYIAS is the Buick Regal. Others are mid-cycle updates or product line extensions. The Regal is coming in a new generation as the fast-roof Sportback hatchback and TourX wagon. The new Regal variants bring smart cargo solutions, addressing one of the reasons buyers give for the shift to a sport utility vehicle (SUV). The new Regal formula is meant to provide the more rewarding driving characteristics of a car but with increased cargo flexibility. In addition to offering a better cargo management system, vehicles from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have demonstrated that the long, fast roof of this type of hatchback can be leveraged as a premium design element.
Aside from the Regal, mid-cycle updates for the Hyundai Sonata and Acura TLX improve styling to stem sales slides. In the case of the Hyundai Sonata, the first generation was launched to critical acclaim and sales success in no small part because of its expressive design. The first Sonata was fresh and completely unexpected from Hyundai. The second generation seemed, by comparison, to get more conservative and did not take a notable leap. It has struggled in showrooms. The updates to the Sonata look to address the styling issues; the vehicle was revealed on the South Korean market in March. The current Sonata was launched in the United States in 2014. Sales in the first quarter of 2017 are down 38% year on year.
The TLX has a similar story, in terms of disappointing sales and an effort to update styling. In a statement announcing the New York reveal, vice-president of Acura Jon Ikeda said, "The 2018 TLX will receive new styling elements that ratchet up its emotion and reflect Acura's focus on Precision Crafted Performance. Acura customers embraced the MDX when we raised its game with bold new styling, and we're pumped to show how we're elevating the TLX experience."
