The 2010 New York International Auto Show is in full swing and both big and small automakers trotted out their latest production vehicles for an eager audience. We found some winners, some losers, some big cars and some tiny little things. Add them all up and you’ve got a gallery of photos and vehicles that nod toward a high-tech future for cars, some new trends in design, loads of hybrids and, well, a few love-‘em-or-hate-‘em rides.
Buckle in and take a look.
2011 Nissan Juke
We’ll start with the car that elicited the strongest reactions in its North American debut: the 2011 Nissan Juke. We heard everything from “I like the styling” to “They should have called it the Nissan Joke” as people milled past this little hatch. And it is little. Not as small as the 2011 Scion iQ or the smart fortwo (view photos), but still a very small car for these United States. It’s closest in size to the Kia Soul (view photos).
When your design is compared to the Pontiac Aztec, a car that is universally loathed as one of the ten ugliest cars ever built, that can’t be a good sign. But Nissan handlers don’t appear to be too nervous, assuming that there is a real and growing market for a mini crossover.
You read that right: the Juke is a mini crossover.
Design opinions aside, here are some interesting bits that should entice prospective Juke drivers:
- The 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine will be available with all-wheel drive, which instantly makes the Juke more attractive to drivers in snowy climes.
- That engine will offer 180 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque.
- The Juke will be available with a manual transmission in a few trims that should make driving this small machine even more fun.
- Pricing will start at “just under $20,000.” That makes the Juke a fairly affordable ride for those who are compelled vs. repelled by its unique design.
