Currently reading: 2017 New York motor show: report and gallery

All the star cars of the New York motor show have made their respective debuts; catch all of them here in our show report and roundup

Despite New York’s nickname of Empire City, it’s never been the empire of the automotive industry in America. That recognition goes to hardy Detroit where, to this day, the main players reside in the suburbs of Deaborn.

Nonetheless, the New York show has had some major global reveals – last year, it showcased the F-Type SVR, the MX-5 RF and the R8 Spyder to name a few.

This year was more subdued, at least in the way of new car reveals. The major reference points for the UK were the new GLC 63 and GLC 63 Coupe, the latest models from Mercedes’ flourishing AMG performance brand, and a new entry-level F-Type which uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol, built by Jaguar Land Rover at its plant in Wolverhampton, far far away from the bright lights of New York.

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It’s fair to say that reveals are largely to do with timing – both AMG boss Tobias Moers and Jaguar sports car chief engineer Erol Mustafa admitted that their respective reveals fitted with programme timings.

But Moers also noted the obvious – that America is the most important market for AMG, not least with SUVs. And for the F-Type, it is the second largest market after our little island across the pond.

The other notable reveal was the bonnet-heavy Genesis GV80 concept. With Genesis currently a petrol-only saloon brand, the production version of this SUV is set to catapult Hyundai’s luxury arm into the UK market – eventually - so we’ll be watching closely to see what Genesis does next.

But really, this show was for the home crowd. If the LA motor show in November was all about electric SUVS – with its star car the Jaguar I-Pace, the New York show was all about sheer brutish American metal.

It felt made for a Trump-esque landscape of rolled-back carbon standards. Still, Trump was conspicuous by his absence. At Detroit in January, there was an anxious atmosphere of what Trump’s term would bring and quiet buzz about his possible visit to the show, which didn’t transpire.

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But New Yorkers are cooler than that. There was no talk of Trump, just a mood of defiance and potential. Any questions I did pose to car execs about Trump were batted off with mutters of ‘no speculation’. It’s clearly still an unknown for car makers, but for now, it’s business as usual.

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The Dodge SRT Challenger Demon was one of my favourites with all its 840bhp of might and some absurd Guinness World record. And then there was the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which lays claim to being the fastest production SUV in the world. There was every expectation that the Trackhawk would look like any other muscley American SUV, but under the showlights and in an unusual shade of red paint, it was a damn fine-looking thing, despite its angular lines and silly name.

The Civic Si, an American only Honda which sits between the standard Honda Civic and the Type R also looked good in coupe form. Overheard were several cries of ‘why can’t we have this in the UK?’ And there’s certainly an argument for a softer hot hatch than the Type R, which could put keen drivers off with its aggressive aesthetics.

There were a couple of unforgettable beasts too. The Lincoln Navigator – finally replaced after a decade – wasn’t exactly a stunner but was a notable improvement on last year’s concept. And there was the gargantuan Infiniti QX80 Monograph concept in gold which looked as if it could be lifted straight off the stand and into a showroom in Dubai, where it would be snapped up immediately. In reality, it has been created to portray the brand’s vision of luxury styling.

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But stray away from the only main hall – a delight after years of the Frankfurt motor show marathon – and you find a smaller wonderland of carefully modified classics, garish pick-ups and stunning heritage vehicles, including a historic collection from the New York police department.

These included a thirties Mack, a ’51 Plymouth Concord and something a little akin to a Ghostbusters-style car – but not - all in tip-top condition.

Check out all of the more quirky cars that were at the New York show here

In another corner was a JCB GT – admittedly it has little relevance to any car buyers today, yet when the doors open to the public, kids and adults alike will be flocking to look at the beefy digger.

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Then there was the aptly named Big Power Racing, where friendly owner Chris showed us around his eclectic collection of modified models. There was a pimped Jeep Cherokee, Ford Mustang, Viper but the most exquisite, by far, was a ’69 Camaro with ludicrous rims, metallic burnt orange paint and a price tag of a humble $200,000.

And so, New York evidently wasn’t an epicentre for global car reveals this year, but with plenty for the US market and plenty more with heart, the show displayed something not easily achieved. Soul. Not only the soul of the far-reaching automotive industry but also the beloved city in which it is based.

2017 New York motor show: the cars

Acura TLX

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We don’t get the TLX (or Honda's upmarket Acura brand) in the UK, but the posh saloon’s new look, which is heavily influenced by the sharply-styled Precision Concept of last year's Detroit motor show, made it a standout car among the stands.

Read more: Acura Precision concept unveiled in Detroit

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

The Dodge Challenger Hellcat’s 707bhp clearly wasn’t enough for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, so they’ve boosted it and added numerous upgrades to make the SRT Demon. It promises to be one of the most extreme muscle cars on the road, although, like the Hellcat, is unlikely to make it to the UK.

Read more: Right-hand-drive Chevrolet Corvettes on sale in the UK

Ford GT

We’ve seen the GT numerous times, but the show’s choice to put it centre stage on its video poster shows how highly regarded the GT is, even two years after its initial debut.

Read more: Ford GT advertised in Europe for €200k over retail price

Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan

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Ford will launch the first hybrid police car for the New York Police Department. Called the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, the model is based on a Fusion - the American version of the Ford Mondeo - and comes after the firm announced it would add hybrid power to the Mustang, Transit and an SUV.

Infiniti QX80

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Infiniti’s enormous QX80 flagship SUV got a new look at New York, three years after it was initially revealed. It’s another that’s not destined for the UK, but as the brand continues to grow, it may only be a matter of time before Infiniti bosses consider its viability on these shores.

Read more: Nissan chief designer Shiro Nakamura to retire

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

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Not happy with one Hellcat derivative at New York, FCA has brought the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk to the show. It’ll get the same engine as the Dodge Hellcat, which makes it the fastest fossil-fuelled SUV in the world.

Read more: Next Jeep Grand Cherokee to be based on Alfa Romeo platform

Lincoln Navigator

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Lincoln's Navigator SUV looks set to give the Cadillac Escalade a run for its money. It's launched in New York with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 450bhp.

Read more: Lincoln Navigator large SUV concept revealed in New York

Nissan 370Z Heritage Edition

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The Nissan 370Z Heritage Edition also previews the facelifted 370Z, and will be the first look at the new car we'll get. The tweaks applied to the 2018 model year car include the standard raft of interior and exterior improvements, as well as revisions to the front and rear light clusters. There’s also a new high-performance clutch from aftermarket parts supplier Exedy for manual models.

Read more: Subaru BRZ vs Nissan 370Z vs Mazda MX-5

Nissan GT-R Track Edition

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We've already got the GT-R Track Edition in the UK, but the model gets an outing at the New York motor show ahead of sales commencing in the US. 

Read more: 203mph Litchfield LM20 Nissan GT-R launched - full specs confirmed

Range Rover Velar

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Land Rover’s newest Range Rover model made a splash at the Geneva motor show, and gets its American debut at the New York motor show.

Read more: Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern on the new Range Rover Velar

Mercedes-AMG GLC 63

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The GLC 63 range - SUV and SUV coupé - has just been revealed, but will make their motor show debut at the New York motor show. Both get 469bhp in standard guise, or 503bhp in AMG 63 S guise. 

Read more: 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT spotted undisguised

Subaru Outback

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Subaru's rugged SUV-estate will be presented at New York, with new tech, including Apple Carplay, improved comfort and more safety features. There's a choice of 2.5-litre or 3.6-litre petrol engines. 

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Read more: Subaru Levorg long-term test review: final report

Toyota FT-4X

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Toyota has given us a glimpse of its vision for the future of its SUVs; it's on the more rugged end of the SUV scale, suggesting that it could be a replacement for the Hummer-esque FJ Cruiser.

Read more: Toyota schedules first connected car trial for 2018

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Clive Goldthorp 13 April 2017

Just a quick point of information...

I believe that the last word in first paragraph of this article should be 'Dearborn'
thesecretdriver 10 April 2017

Is Jaguar going to bother

Is Jaguar going to bother launching the new XF Sportbrake? (despite having been revealed at the Geneva motor show, according to Steve Cropley)
wmb 4 April 2017

Next RLX?!

I thought the redesign of the last RLX caming before the latest TLX? So wouldn't that mean the RLX would be updated first? While the MDX is the brands money maker, I do understand that the next most important model is the TLX, but, IMHO, it is the RLX that needs the greatest HELP in the looks department! Redesigning the RLX into a carbon copy of the stunning Precision concept, is a no brainer and would almost immediately raise the interest and emotional stock of Hondas luxury brand!