2012 New York Auto Show Coverage Preview

New York City skyline

Our team of editors has only just recovered from this month’s 2012 Geneva Motor Show but soon they’ll be back on the road, this time heading to metro New York for the city’s annual auto show.

Mark your calendars, as the Motor Authority crew will be hitting up the Javits Center in New York on April 4 to bring you the latest details and live photos of all the hottest concept and production cars being unveiled.

There will be nearly 100 individual events, conferences, industry forums, symposiums, award ceremonies, roundtables, and parties taking place during the show's press preview week--in addition to the more than two dozen press conferences hosted by the automakers.

That means more sneak peeks, more brand new '12 and '13 production models and more concept vehicles than ever before. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect, and remember, you can get our latest updates direct from the show floor by staying glued to our dedicated show page.

Performance Cars

2013 SRT Viper teaser
2013 SRT Viper: One of the most anticipated cars of the year, if not the decade, the 2013 SRT Viper will finally be revealed in New York, ending years of speculation and helping establish the new standalone SRT brand. Not much is known about the car except that it will get a new Stryker logo, pack a V-10 engine and will no longer carry the “Dodge” name in its title, hence the new 2013 SRT Viper moniker. And if you’re interested in being one of the first to own one, better forget it unless you’re a loyal and dedicated long-term member of the Viper Club of America as only they will be eligible for the first batch of cars produced.

2012 Shelby 1000: If a lot of horsepower is good, then even more horsepower must be even better. That’s the theme behind the latest limited-edition creation from Shelby American, the 2012 Shelby 1000 based on Ford’s own Shelby Mustang GT500. Peak output is 950 horsepower when relying on regular pump gas but switch to race fuel and you’ll be looking at a Bugatti Veyron-rivaling 1,100 horsepower. The price tag for all this tire smoke starts at $149,995, plus your own donor Shelby GT500.

2013 Ford Explorer Sport

2013 Ford Explorer Sport: This particular performance-bred SUV from Ford will come with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 good for “more than 350 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque,” according to the automaker. The vehicle is also claimed to run from 0-60 mph a whole two seconds faster than a standard Explorer, which should put it in the mid six-second range. The best part is that the Explorer Sport doesn’t give up practicality, either, retaining the standard Explorer’s Terrain Management system and 5,000-pound towing capacity.
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
: Mercedes-Benz is out to prove that the era of V-12 powered sports cars is far from over with its 2013 SL65 AMG set to debut in New York. The car looks almost identical to the lesser SL63 AMG unveiled in Geneva though it packs a new twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12 dishing out 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. While those figures may not represent a monumental increase over the output of the previous model, thanks to several key refinements, namely the adoption of an all-aluminum body, the new car should deliver much better performance, refinement and overall fuel-efficiency.

2013 Porsche Boxster

2013 Porsche Boxster: Porsche’s latest Boxster heads to New York following its debut this month in Geneva. Once again the car comes in two different flavors, the standard Boxster and sportier Boxster S. Both are powered by flat-six engines with direct fuel injection, the efficiency of which is further enhanced by electrical system recuperation, thermal management and an engine start-stop function. Porsche promises the cars are roughly 15 percent more fuel-efficient than previous models. They arrive in showrooms just in time for summer and start from $49,500 plus $950 in destination charges.
2013 Subaru BRZ
: Subaru’s version of the Toyota GT 86 and Scion FR-S makes its U.S. debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show, at which point we should know how much the new rear-wheel drive sports car will cost. We’re expecting the pricetag to be very close to the $24,930 sticker of the FR-S, which will be quite impressive considering the level of engineering and standard equipment on offer. The BRZ, like the GT 86 and FR-S, will come with a 2.0-liter ‘Boxer’ four-cylinder engine, which thanks to direct-injection technology and a relatively high 12.5:1 compression ratio results in an impressive 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. That power will be transferred to the pavement via a standard Torsen limited-slip differential.

Hit the next page to see some of the luxury cars that will be on display at the 2012 New York Auto Show, and remember to follow our dedicated show page for all the latest updates.

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK Class

Luxury Cars

2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK Class: Mercedes-Benz is bringing an updated version of its GLK Class compact crossover, which not only offers fresh new styling but also a fuel-efficient diesel option. The regular GLK350 will still be on offer, and for 2013 is rated at 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. But the model we’re most interested in is the GLK250 BlueTEC, which Mercedes boasts is the world’s most powerful diesel-powered SUV equipped with a four-cylinder engine. It packs a 2.1-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel rated at 190 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.

2013 Acura RLX: Acura will be showing a concept version of its next-generation RL, which may be renamed the RLX to match the naming practice used on the rest of the automaker’s lineup. Two different versions of this new RLX are expected be offered to customers: a regular V-6 model and a gasoline-electric hybrid model packing a detuned version of the advanced drivetrain pegged for the new NSX supercar due in showrooms sometime in the next three years. The new RLX is expected to go on sale this fall as a 2013 model.

2013 BMW X1 facelift spy shots

2013 BMW X1: BMW is yet to confirm whether its X1, which is being facelifted for 2013, will be unveiled at the 2012 New York Auto Show, though it is likely as the vehicle is predicted to finally go on sale in the U.S. this fall. The X1 in the U.S. is expected to feature a sole powertrain option, the brilliant turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter TwinPower engine found in the 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i and 2012 BMW 328i. Peak output should come in at roughly 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Matched to this engine will be a six-speed manual as standard, with an eight-speed automatic remaining an option. All-wheel drive should also be fitted as standard.

2013 Lincoln MKZ: Lincoln will unveil the production version of its highly anticipated 2013 MKZ in New York, which the automaker confirmed earlier this week will debut a wide-opening panoramic glass roof. The latest MKZ is touted as the first of a new generation of Lincolns, designed under the guidance of Australian designer Max Wolff. It’s a make-or-break model for Lincoln and we can’t wait to see the covers come off.

Teaser sketch for Fisker Project Nina range-extended electric car

Fisker Project Nina: Californian electric car startup Fisker Automotive has released a teaser image for its next major product launch, the highly-anticipated Project Nina (only a code-name). The vehicle is expected to be a mid-size executive sedan designed to compete with rival electric cars like the Tesla Model S as well as popular conventionally-powered cars like the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C Class. Like Fisker’s current Karma luxury sedan, Project Nina will feature a range-extended electric drivetrain. Unlike the Karma, however, Project Nina will be built in the U.S. and will be significantly more affordable, though it still won’t be cheap.

2013 Buick Enclave: Buick will be launching a facelifted version of its Enclave luxury crossover at the 2012 New York Auto Show and has already released a teaser image of its interior. Buick won’t want to muck around with the successful formula of the existing Enclave so expect the changes to the vehicle to be minimal. Expect some minor changes to the exterior, including possible new bumper designs, revised lights, and new wheel patterns. Buick also promises that its 2013 Enclave will feature industry-exclusive safety technology as well as modern design updates.

Hit the next page to see what else will be on display at the 2012 New York Auto Show, and remember to follow our dedicated show page for all the latest updates.