The top-of-the-line Grand Touring 350Z starts at $36,100, so the price bump to $38,070 doesn’t seem that bad. Dealers are taking orders as of today. Let us know if you’re one of the people heading in to put your name to paper for one of these, and why.
Related
2007 Nissan 350Z Expert Review (Cars.com)
2007 Nissan Nismo 350Z Photo Gallery (KickingTires)
2007 New York Auto Show: Nismo 350Z (Cars.com)
If you haven’t been checking our auto show coverage as maniacally as you should have been, you might’ve missed the two videos we posted over the past 24 hours.
One features an up-close look at the three Chevy minicar concepts, while the other is a feature on a new kind of taxi making its debut in the land of the yellow cab.
Check them both out here.
Another auto show is now under our belts, and that means it’s time for us to determine the big winners and losers among the new production and concept cars that debuted in New York. Mike Hanley, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder break down this year’s field.
Ford Flex
DT: Loser
I wanted this to be all things and it wasn’t. What it seems to be is a low-riding crossover with some small resemblance to classic woody station wagons, with a little Range Rover mixed in. In the end, it’s actually just a stylized minivan without sliding doors.
MH: Loser
Arguably the most significant debut of the media preview, the three-row Flex crossover was a bit of a letdown. Sure, it's distinctive, but the interior doesn't raise the bar like others in the segment have, and its surf wagon appearance might have trouble gaining broad appeal. Ford needs another smash hit like the Mustang. This just isn't it.
JW: Loser
Lots of dittos. This is such an important introduction for Ford, in a vehicle class that's growing in both buyer appeal and number of models. I'm enthusiastic about the Edge, and the Flex might prove as engaging to drive, but I don't think its styling is going to be a draw.
Ford’s new Flex crossover brings the box-on-wheels design to
the masses – or at least to masses of seven. The Flex is reminiscent of the
Scion xB but has three rows of seats, leaving plenty of room for all your
friends to travel in conspicuous comfort. We snagged the guy who designed the
Flex, Peter Horbury, and asked him a few questions about the latest in Ford’s
ever-growing lineup of SUVs and crossovers. A video of the chat, including a
look at some of the Flex’s features, is live now on our New York auto show
page.
Well, the roaming and blogging that took place yesterday seemed to be a hit, even though we didn’t get a ton of comments. Today, I’ll be back on the floor with my trusty Samsung Blackjack (not a paid-for endorsement) and don’t have any direction.
If there’s something you want me to track down on the show floor, just add a comment below. I’ll post a link to today’s photo gallery when I head out to the floor. For now, check out what happened yesterday.
Live From New York: Day 1
A little earlier, we dispensed full details on the redesigned Subaru Impreza 2.5i and its turbocharged WRX twin. Both cars were on display last night at a Subaru reception a few blocks from the auto show, and I had a chance to poke around inside.
The seats are a big step forward. I only wish there were a way to get the sporty seats in the WRX with the fabric from the 2.5i. The latter model has rich, well-cushioned upholstery that could satisfy me for the long haul. Not the case with the WRX; its high bolsters are sure to keep drivers fastened in tight corners, but the woven texture isn’t the sort of stuff I’d escape to the parking garage to take a lunchtime snooze on. (Not that I’ve ever done that…)
Following on the surprise success of the SX4 hatchback, Suzuki is bringing a sedan version of the vehicle to market this fall. It features the same peppy 143-hp engine, but unlike the hatchback, it doesn’t offer all-wheel drive. No mileage figures were released but we expect it to be significantly higher than the SX4 hatchback.
Suzuki is aiming at delivering a lot of standard equipment. We were impressed with the hatchback’s low base price, above-par interior and its long list of standard features, and that doesn’t change with the sedan. However, stability control is not being offered on the SX4 sedan. There are standard disc brakes on all four wheels and ABS. There are also front seat mounted side airbags as well as side curtain airbags for all passengers.
No prices were announced but the sedan should be expected to start for less than the $14,999 hatchback because of the lack of AWD, a costly upgrade. We’d guess the price will end up at least $1,000 less. Updated: New photos can be found below.
Our feet are tired, our cell phone batteries are depleted, we’re wet (or soon will be) from the rain and we’re ready to go home. Yet we’ll be back with another day of auto show coverage tomorrow. Until then, check out all the full reports and live photo galleries of the vehicles that debuted today, on the main Cars.com auto show page.
Concept Cars
Production Cars
We’re reporting news for the next few days from the media room here at the 2007 New York Auto Show, but most of the action is happening on the show floor. Instead of hustling back up to the media room to post my thoughts, I’ll be blogging live via a smart phone. You can check out the constantly updated photo gallery here. Please forgive all typos. The keyboard is quite small. Also, if you right-click “View Image” you’ll get an even larger, clearer photo.
This post will appear at the top of the blog page whenever I’m down on the show floor. There is still a ton of news you might’ve missed, so don’t forget to scroll.
Updated (again): Live From New York Gallery
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