By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

At this year’s New York auto show, spanking-new, gasoline-electric hybrids are still popping up on a regular basis. But as an alterative for automakers to meet ever-tightening fuel economy standards, good old-fashion diesels seem to making a comeback.

While Europeans long ago jumped on the diesel bandwagon (I mean who wouldn’t want a powerplant that offers a longer driving range, 25 to 30 per cent better fuel economy in the city and on the highway and more torque than a gas engine), North Americans (for various reasons, from General Motors’ dreadful diesels in the 1980s to the lack of availability at gas pumps) have been more reluctant.

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos

Among the annual “big” international auto shows, stereotypically, the Los Angeles gig is about “green” cars, the Detroit circus is about “power”, the Geneva salon is about “exotics” and the New York event focuses on “traditional American luxury.” And while both Cadillac (with its new 2014 CTS) and Buick (with its refreshed Regal and LaCrosse) will be showing off new versions of their traditional American luxury sedans, the relatively fresh genre of crossovers will dominate the debuts during this week's Big Apple media days.

Join us as MSN.ca Autos hits the auto show floor in New York, March 27 and 28, during the media preview day. Get expert updates and opinions on vehicle announcements throughout the day. You can also submit comments and questions on what cars and technologies you'd like to see and share your thoughts with us!

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

When the latest SRT Viper debuted a year ago at the New York Auto Show, it garnered plenty of attention for its more civilized interior and convenience toys. Those toys must have bothered some hardcore Viper fans since the only concessions to comfort found in the first two generations were a lousy radio and air conditioning...

Now, a year later and SRT has an answer to all the critics who called the new Viper compromised and unfinished. The Viper TA - or Time Attack - is a factory-designed performance machine bred exclusively for on-track work. Think of it like a Porsche 911 GT3 or Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca compared with their 'regular' road-biased siblings. 

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

Less than a year after introducing its seven-seat JX35 crossover to the world, Infiniti has already announced it's building a hybridized version that'll debut at the New York Auto Show in late March.

Now, before we get too far along, the vehicle will no longer be known as JX; according to Infiniti's Q-heavy naming scheme, the JX35 will now be the QX60. (The other Infiniti SUVs are: EX37 = QX50, FX = QX 70, QX56 = QX80.) So the QX60 hybrid will join the current M Hybrid (soon to be known as the Q70 Hybrid) and the upcoming G Sedan replacement, the Q50 Hybrid, in electrifying Infiniti's refreshed lineup.

The QX60 Hybrid uses a rather unique 2.5-litre supercharged engine (although we're not sure of cylinder count since the company has access to both), paired with a 15 kW electric motor. Total system power is quoted as around 250 horsepower, not far off the 265 horses found in the regular JX35/QX60. It uses a CVT and we'd guess has all-wheel drive, and Infiniti claims the usual "six-cylinder power with four-cylinder fuel economy." The lithium-ion battery is packaged under the trunk, so leaves access to the third row unchanged.

Infiniti figures the Hybrid will cost around $3,000 US more than the gasoline version. In Canadian terms, the regular JX35/QX60 runs just under $45,000, so you can do the math...

I spent about a week with the 'old' JX35 and found it to be really comfortable, spacious and luxurious. There were a few moments when it seemed like the CVT had become possessed - lots of rev-flaring with only steady throttle at while cruising, and a couple other instances. I'd hope those are simply bugs that'll get ironed out with future software updates.

 

By Autoweek

The redesigned Land Rover Range Rover Sport luxury SUV is headed for a world debut at the New York auto show on March 26. On Monday Land Rover provided a first look — albeit blurry — at the new SUV.

The new Range Rover Sport will likely weigh less than the current model as it adopts the aluminum chassis used by the redesigned 2013 Range Rover, which debuted at the 2012 Paris motor show in September. The platform, known as Premium Lightweight Architecture (PLA), uses bonding and riveting to join the frame components. The PLA platform is also used by sister company Jaguar for the XJ sedan.

The blurred teaser photo provides clues that the Range Rover Sport will carry a least a hint of styling cues from the popular Range Rover Evoque, including a windshield that wraps around to the A-pillars, a roofline that slopes downward toward the hatch and blacked-out pillars above the beltline.

 

 

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos

Fiat’s Jeep division didn’t intentionally want to peeve-off their traditional buyers. But that’s the reaction they got when images of the new 2014 Cherokee (seen above) were leaked (then officially released) last week ahead of the compact crossover’s official debut at next month’s New York auto show.

By Mark Rechtin, AutoWeek

Lexus introduced the redesigned 2013 ES 350 and ES 300h hybrid sedans on Wednesday at the New York auto show, comparing the ES favorably in size, engine and equipment to the more expensive Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

The redesigned ES sedan is based on the Toyota Camry platform and uses much of its underpinnings and powertrain., But it has the same length, wheelbase and engine displacement as the Mercedes E class, said Mark Templin, Lexus Division general manager.

The ES is Lexus' top-selling car, with U.S. sales of 40,873 in 2011, down 16 percent.

By Greg Migliore, AutoWeek

Fisker Automotive is spreading the Karma's genetics into a smaller sedan, called the Atlantic, which fittingly debuts in prototype guise at the New York auto show.

Near the shores of the ocean that bears its name, the Atlantic was unveiled at a preview event the night before the show.

The Atlantic previously was known under the codename Nina and is about the size of an Audi A5. Specifics weren't released, but the Atlantic is a plug-in hybrid with a BMW-sourced four-cylinder engine that acts as a generator to extend range.

By Greg Migliore, AutoWeek

There are a lot of ways to describe today's Chevrolet Impala — venerable, long-running and cop car all come to mind. Contemporary? It's anything but.

That all changes early next year when the 10th generation of one of the most recognizable names on the road arrives as a 2014 model. It's being revealed Wednesday at the New York auto show.

Does it carry the attitude of the 1963 or even the 1996 SS? Not particularly. Rather, this Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon fighter gets heavily sculptured, upscale-intending styling and some of General Motors' latest ecologically friendly technology, including the eAssist light-electrification system that promises at least 35 mpg on the highway. There are two four-cylinder engines estimated to make 182 hp and 195 hp, and the top-end 3.6-liter V6 pushes out 303 hp. All are paired with six-speed automatic transmissions.