New York Motor Show 2014: key model launches

The 2014 New York International Auto Show runs from April 16th to April 27th and Auto Express will be roaming the halls bringing you the pick of the new car unveils.

There’s a string of new car and concept car unveils scheduled for the New York Motor Show this year, with the highlights including Land Rover’s Discovery Vision concept, the new BMW M4 Convertible and Subaru’s new Outback SUV.

We’ll be bringing you full details of these and the other big model launches at the New York Show as they happen but in the meantime, this preview will fill you in on what we know now.

Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept

The Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept will “showcase Land Rover’s design vision for a family of Discovery vehicles”, including both a Freelander replacement likely to be badged Discovery Sport, and the full-size Discovery 5.

Based on the solitary official image and preview video, we’ve managed to build up reasonable idea of what this means. In terms of appearance, the trademark kinked-roof returns, while the inverted C-pillar suggests a more streamlined profile. 

Interior features include seven individual seats that can be configured in a 2-3-2 formation, which can be transformed into a 2-2-1-2 layout by sliding the central seat backwards. According to Land Rover, “pioneering technology from Jaguar Land Rover’s Advanced Research unit” will be previewed for the first time by the concept.

BMW M4 Convertible

The lid may already be off the new BMW M4 Convertible, but that doesn’t make us any less excited to see it in the metal next week.

Based on the M4 Coupe, it features the same three-piece folding metal roof as the 4 Series Convertible, which stows away in 20 seconds at the flick of a switch.

Prices will start from £60,730 when it goes on sale in September, a £4,000 increase on Coupe, with which it shares a 425bhp 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine.

The folding roof has naturally affected performances as well as price – the extra 250kg it carries means the six-speed manual will manage 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, while the £2,645 seven-speed auto shaves this down to 4.4. seconds. Both times are down on the M4 Coupe by 0.3 seconds.

BMW X4

BMW revealed the X4 in March but decided against showing it at the Geneva Motor Show in order to focus attention on its new three-cylinder engines and the 2 Series Active Tourer.

The new 4x4 will start from £36,590 for the base xDrive20d model when it goes on sale in July, and will feature a six-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel drive as standard. BMW’s eight-speed automatic transmission is an optional extra, although only diesel engines will be available from launch.

Based on the same platform as the X3, the X4 is longer and lower to the ground than its sibling, gaining larger air intakes and new inset fog lights on the front bumper to distinguish the sportier SUV.

Mercedes S63 AMG Coupe

Built as a replacement for the CL63 AMG, the S63 AMG Coupe gets its power from the same 577bhp 5.5-litre twin-turbo found in its saloon sibling, developing 900Nm of torque.

As well as more power than its predecessor, it also benefits from being 65kg lighter, weighing in at 1,995kg. Fitted with Mercedes’ seven-speed Speedshift automatic box, the rear-drive Coupe will take 4.3 seconds from 0-62mph, while the optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive system can cut that time to 3.9 seconds.

The S63 AMG Coupe is also the first production car offered with an innovative curve tilting function, which Mercedes claims allows the car to ‘lean into bends in a manner similar to a motorcyclist of skier’ for a more comfortable driving experience.

Official pricing has yet to be confirmed, although the S63 AMG will become the most expensive model in the line-up, priced at around £110,000.

Subaru Outback

The new Subaru Outback won’t arrive in the UK until early 2015, and will debut at the New York Motor Show in US specifications, before going on sale in America this summer.

Subaru is promising its flagship crossover will blend “car-like handling and SUV capability,” although we’ll have to wait and see as there’s no official word regarding what engines and trim levels will be offered.

Prices will also be announced nearer to launch, although expect the Outback to reach showrooms with a starting price of approximately £30,000.

Nissan Murano

Not much is known about the forthcoming Nissan Murano SUV, least of all whether the third-generation will even make it to UK shores, with Nissan currently evaluating the market.

From the short teaser video seen here, the sweptback headlights and slight kink at the waist in front of the C-pillar appear to have been borrowed from the recently launched Qashqai.

The Japanese-based manufacturer isn’t giving very much away about its latest model, although it has said that along with an innovative design, “the all-new 2015 Nissan Murano features a spacious, premium interior and advanced, purposeful safety and connective technology.

Kia Sedona

Unlike the Nissan Murano, we can confirm the new Kia Sedona won’t be available in the UK, as it’s not even coming to Europe. It’ll only be sold in the US, and will probably feature a 3.3-litre V6 GDi petrol engine with around 290bhp and 342Nm of torque, with a range of diesel CRDi engines also likely to be offered.

In terms of design, the Korean manufacturer has focused on standing out from the opposition. We’ll have to wait for the full reveal to know for certain, but the mid-size MPV does feature a gaping front grille that feeds into sweeping headlights.

Mazda MX-5

It’s probably a bit early for a full reveal of the all-new Mazda MX-5, although there are rumours Mazda has something lined-up for New York that concerns the 2015 roadster. We suspect this could mean a chassis display, featuring a range of the technology likely to underpin the upcoming fourth-generation MX-5.

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