New York International Auto show - part 1

It was always a dream to visit one of the auto shows in my life. It came true yesteray, 22-apr-2006 in NYC, one of my favorite cities in the world. It was a bit gloomy in the morning and google said it is going to lightly drizzle. But the fact that it would end tomorrow just pushed me out of the house. Luckily we (myself and Anirban, my colleague) did not get drenched when we entered. This place was Jacobits convention centre in 34th street, 11th Ave. Official website is www.autoshowny.com

So we reached there at 1pm, thinking it is late. But that was not the case. We were quite right on time, in the sense we got to see whatever we wanted to see. All the latest cars, the concept cars like this one below from Toyota.

This is called "Fine 7". A very compact, yet a spacious car. The speciality of this car as I observed is that its rear wheels also can be turned. Imagine how easy it is to parallel park this car. Just stop the car right in front of your parking space. Turn to left (or right) both your front and rear wheels, and just reverse. You can even do a bumper to bumper to parking without wasting time to do a full turn, move 1 inch, then reverse the stearing wheel untill it stops and reverse and repeat the whole process untill you start sweating, coming out on the road with a phew.. Hats off to innovation, which decorates these Japs.

Want to see the interiors of this car? Well, here it is. I initially felt it looks very similar to an ultra luxury rest room with ivory handles for wash basin and clean white shining slabs of porcelain. This is a hybrid of a video gaming console and porcelain art. Were they trying to drive home the fact that future of car driving will be a kids' play? Well could be. Only time can tell that.

Notice the other speciality of this car? The seats, not sure if driver's too, can be turned on their axis. If you are going through a nice terrain or if you are angry with your hubby, just turn the seat to the other side and enjoy the beauty or trouble him with your nakhras.. :)...

God knows what else was in store in this car? There was no one explaining this when we were there. We also saw another concept car from Toyota. I call it a lounge car. Why? here's why.. T


The seats are all arranged in the form of a semicircle and the room window actually as two LCD screens which can be moved around as per the him of the user, all around its periphery. Driver's seat also can be turned and there are no gear panels anywhere near his stearing wheel. There is a small LCD screen near the wheels and I guess thats where the driver will have control over the vehicle, break, accelerate, reverse.. fly?.. :)...

This one is as big as Sienna or Innova in India or may be slightly bigger, but very elegant. Need to tell my manager to get this for my commute from Bannerghatta Road to Electronics City. I'm sure the honks will not be heard from inside.. :).

Mention of Japs and I dont mention Honda? That will be cheating. Though they did not have any concept cars (or I did not see them?.. i dont know).. They did exhibit their latest Acura. Never bothered to venture around Civics or CRVs.. :). I was in a fantasy world.


These were about the Japanese cars. More of the cars from Europe, Americas and the luxury ones later on. Watchout!