Jonny Lieberman:
Best: This is a best-of-show blog, and the Camaro Z/28 was one of the only cars that didn’t leak out all over the Internet beforehand. Love that. Other OEMs should learn about the power of surprise. The Z/28 also wins because of that engine: It’s simply a boisterous, near-magical lump of anger. And frankly, the fact that Chevrolet ripped out the stereo and (unlike Porsche) speakers, but had to legally leave one in for the seatbelt chime is the single best thing about this year’s New York show.
Worst: Not many bad cars at this year’s New York auto show, but the Mitsubishi Mirage is bad. The Chevrolet Spark showed the world that A-segment cars can have bold personalities. The new, dowdy Mirage is somewhere between a wallflower and a shrinking violet. It reminds me of a 90s Suzuki — not good. Where’s the great-looking nose from the Lancer? Hope those 74 ponies make it drive great!
Scott Evans:
Best: Camaro Z/28. It’s true to the original Z/28 ethos, it’s a serious performance car, it keeps the stupendous LS7 engine alive and, best of all, it was a total surprise. Chevrolet stole the show with this one. Honorable mention to the Cadillac CTS, which would’ve been my winner otherwise. It has so much presence. It’s a great step forward for the model and the brand.
Worst: Kia Soul. I really liked the old Soul, and I don’t envy the designers who had to update it. Unfortunately, they missed the mark. The styling is more odd than endearing and the front and rear don’t match at all. Kia has been on a role lately in the styling department, but this one’s a stumble.
Christian Seabaugh:
Best: The Subaru WRX concept gets my vote for best-in-show. I’m just blown away by how good-looking it is. It’s not only fantastic to look at, but the little details are right on, too, like the newest take on WR Blue (which a source at Subaru tells me will be a factory color), to the fluorescent yellow badges and brake calipers. This thing is killer all around. Honorable mention: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. I’m not big on the current-gen Camaro but this thing is SO expletive-ing cool. Chevrolet nailed it with this car, and what a surprise.
Worst: Shelby Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Picking the Mitsubishi Mirage would be too easy (at least it’s an honest car). The Shelby Raptor is my pick for worst-in-show because of how un-original it is. It doesn’t bring anything new to the table. All Shelby did was bolt on a supercharger and exhaust, and slap on some stickers. The Shelby name used to mean innovation, and while I know the company has been this way for years, it’s just frustrating to see a storied name going through the motions.
Scott Burgess:
Best: The 2014 Mercedes Benz CLA45 AMG: What’s not great about this car? It shows that a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine can produce 355 horsepower. It has a stellar interior that proves luxury and sport can live in the same sheetmetal. And its starting price is below $50,000. Yeah, I want one. I want one bad.
Most impressive in a different kind of way: OK, the Honda Odyssey may just be a minivan, but it’s a really, really nice one and the HondaVac has been a coup for Honda. Everyone seems to want to vaccum up Gummi Bears and M&Ms. Never before have journalists been so enamored with cleaning things up and I’m curious to see if consumers react the same way. I have a feeling they will — day care centers around the country will begin hearing the question: Is that the one with the shop vac?
Least: I’ve always liked the Kia Soul and was glad to see it keep its iconic shape. However, I was disappointed that many of its hard edges were smoothed-out and it increased in size. Bigger is not always better, and taking away the attributes that make the Soul unique means this great little vehicle is becoming Soul-Less.
Mike Shaffer:
Best: Subaru WRX concept. When production-car versions of radical concepts are finally released for the street, they inevitably lose the coolest bits the designers implemented with no restraint. While it’s unclear whether the super-tiny side mirrors, or brightly colored WRX grille badge and tailpipe accents will make it to production, the sheetmetal’s shape won’t stray too far from this design, and that’s the best feature.
Worst: Anything Mansory. Wandering the deep recesses of the convention center basement, my lens cap stayed on walking past the Mansory booth. The few people making their way from the Mitsubishi booth to the Jeep stand rightfully ignored a 458 Italia uglied-up with a faux-Enzo nose and a Panamera we’ve featured online. I wouldn’t pass up the chance to drive them, but I’d have to close my eyes as I approach the driver’s seat.
Jason Udy
Best: GM impressed with the face-lifted 2014 Chevrolet Camaro and the hi-performance Z/28 model as well as the all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan. Of the two, the no-longer-an-in-betweener 2014 Cadillac CTS impressed me more with its grown up looks and new twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6 and eight-speed automatic transmission in Vsport guise.
Worst: While the Scion tC was due for a mid-cycle update, I expected more overall – as well as different styling – from the 2014 tC. The new front bumper is supposed to evoke the rear-drive FR-S stablemate, but instead the small upper grille makes the front end look more like the Toyota Avalon. Updates to the automatic transmission are always welcome, but a bump in power would be more appreciated.
Frank Markus:
Best: General Motors. I’m ganging the Cadillac CTS and the Camaro Z/28 together for my best-of — the former for making a quantum leap improvement in style and substance to take on the E Class head-on; the latter for being the show’s best-kept secret (none of us saw it coming), and for channeling the magic of the original ’67 (big power, light weight, low production).
Worst: Mitsubishi’s pitifully homely Mirage was the fizzle of the show — a high-fiber, eat-your-oatmeal, bland-but-good-for-you gas mileage champ that will best suit third-shift workers who drive it exclusively in the dark.
