Posts Tagged ‘Leaf’

I was fortunate enough to attend the New York Auto Show last week.

I love attending Auto Shows…not just because of the shiny new cars, but because you can really see people get excited about designs, features, and how it feels to sit in a certain vehicle.

Although the New York Auto Show is smaller than the Detroit International Auto Show (NAIAS), there was much to see.

2010 New York International Auto Show

Here are some of my thoughts as I walked through the show:

1) Ford Focus: I have seen this vehicle many times before, but every time I see it in person, I am amazed at how beautiful it is.

Ford Focus

2) Ford Transit: It is cool to me that a commercial-type vehicle like the Ford Transit is the 2010 Truck of the Year, and I wonder if we will see any families adopt this vehicle as an unconventional way to drive their family around?I think it would be fun to drive one, just to be different.

Ford Transit

3) Ford Taurus: For a sedan, I was blown away by the enormous trunk.

Ford Taurus trunk is huge!

4) Volvo XC90: I think this is a sharp vehicle and hope more vehicles will bring back the SUV “Tailgate”. It is such a classic and classy look.

Volvo XC90 Tailgate

5) Chevy Aveo: Smart gets a lot of attention, but there are a lot of other low priced options.

Chevrolet Aveo

6) Chevy Volt: Wow! I think GM did a great job with this design and it’s such an exciting direction for them.

Chevy Volt Side View

Chevy Volt Hatchback

Chevy Volt See-Through Rear

7) Chevrolet Corvette: It was fun to watch the crowds swarm the Corvette. People were taking turns sitting inside while their friends and family look photos and told them how great they looked. Little kids flock to this vehicle too. So much energy!

Corvette crowd at NY Auto Show

8 ) Cadillac: The Caddies definitely were definitely flaunting the grills… and New Yorkers were loving them.

Cadillac luxury grill

Cadillac tough grill

9) Acura ZDX: I think the Acura ZDX is beautiful, especially from the rear…and it reminds me a bit of my dream car, the BMW X6. After sitting inside, I learned that it was difficult to get in and out of the backseats.

Acura ZDX Rear

Acura ZDX Rear Headroom

10) MINI: MINI is still so cool and fun…and people get so emotional when they see them.  I loved their display and I think people do think of MINI’s as their little pets. I liked their cardboard box idea too…so clever.

"Please do not feed the MINI"

11) VW Routan: There were lots of families looking at the Routan, including these 2 cute kids. I wonder if it will be a contender?

VW Routan Minivan

VW Routan Cute Kids in Seatbelts

12) Nissan Leaf: I hope Nissan’s Electric Vehicle, the Leaf, does change the world !

Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle

Nissan Leaf Rear Design

13) Hyundai: Kudos to Hyundai’s designers. The vehicles are looking good and are reflective of what US and European customers are buying today.

Hyundai Sonata front view

Hyundai Sonata side view

Hyundai Sonata rear view

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

14) Land Rover: How can you not love this vehicle?

Beautiful Range Rover

15) BMW: The new 5-Series is slammin! I am a big fan of the Gran Turismo package too.

BMW 5-Series

Hope you enjoyed the photos. Would love to hear your thoughts/comments or see your photos, which are undoubtedly better than mine.

Eager to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle but don’t want to go through the hassle of test driving one at the dealership?  Don’t fret (cue trumpet fanfare) because Hertz is coming to the rescue!

Nissan and Renault have announced a partnership in which electric vehicles, like the soon-to-launch Nissan Leaf, will be available for rent at Hertz agencies in the United Sates and Europe.  This partnership is an interesting move for the two automakers because it takes the EV out of the laboratory and allows the public to experience – and judge – these zero emission vehicles in the real world.

On the one hand, the public will now be exposed to the many joys of owning an electric vehicle, like buttery-smooth acceleration and complete lack of emissions from driving.  On the other, Nissan and Renault risk exposing customers to unpleasant “range anxiety” and fear over not being able to find a public charging station.

It’s a double-edged sword for Hertz, too.  The media attention and boost to their green image will be weighed against scary new logistical challenges.  Notably: what happens if a customer runs out of juice and is unable to find a place to charge?

I welcome this move because of its transparency.  Nissan and Renault are, in effect, expressing their confidence in EV technology by making these cars as widely available as possible.  Rather than rely on a handful of early adopters to get the word out, now anyone can take an extended spin and see for themselves.  It’s a bold move, for sure, but I think that it will do far more good than harm.

The Nissan Leaf goes on sale in select markets in late-2010 with wider availability in 2012.  So for all of you EV curious folks planning travel in the coming months, be sure to reserve a Leaf.  Try it out for yourself and let us know what you think.

And even if you’re not an early adopter; you can at least pretend to be one for a few days.