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2004 New York Auto Show
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| Breakfast at the Auto Show |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:44:32 |
| Rating |
 16 ( -2 -12.5% ) | | Author | Brian Chee |
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Description:
The high-octane automotive world slowed down over eggs and bacon this morning, as the 2004 New York International Auto Show began with talk of worldwide road safety and the need to reduce fatalities through vehicle safety improvements and driver education.
This is not fast talk about horsepower and torque, as is often the case when it comes to Auto Shows. Given the showcase, shout and stomp nature of the typical Auto Show, these events are more apt to shine a light on the more exciting and aggressive aspects of vehicular fun - think sunshine, tight corners and speed - and not the other kind of vehicular visualization that can follow such fun at the hands of an inexperienced driver.
Features
Debuts
Vehicles
introduced
2004 North American Car
and Truck
Ford
F-150
Toyota
Prius
The Lucky Three
Our Best Bets
for Success
Chicago
Debuts and
Features
Detroit
Debuts and
Features
Los Angeles
Debuts and Features
New York
GM's Small Car Comeback
The Art of Car Design
Concept Vehicles
Saab Q&A
BMW Q&A
What's New, What's Hot
New York Auto Show News
Breakfast at the Show
2005 Acura RL
2005 Audi A6, 2005 Audi A8 4.2, Audi RSQ Concept
2005 Cadillac STS
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford Mustang GT-R Concept
Kid Rock and the Ford Mustang GT-R Concept
2005 Jaguar XK8, 2005 Jaguar XJ8 Long Wheelbase, Jaguar Concept Eight
Jeep Grand Cherokee
MINI Cooper Convertible
2005 Nissan Xterra
Saab 9-7x
2005 Infiniti Q45, Infiniti M45 Concept
2005 Kia Spectra5
2005 Land Rover LR3
2006 Lincoln Zephyr
Lexus LF-C Concept
Suzuki Forenza Wagon
In New York, the Show started with the somber fact that, according to US Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, road accidents will become the third largest killer in the world by the year 2020. In a satellite link-up from Paris, France, Dr. Jeffrey Runge, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that 1.2 million people die every year as a result of road accidents. Runge, along with Mineta, were in France as part of World Health Day (WHO). This year's focus is on improving road safety around the world, and to that end, Runge cited the cooperative efforts between NHTSA, automakers and dealers as a reason for recent vehicle safety improvements. According to Runge, though vehicle seatbelt use is up to 79% in America, and today's cars are safer than ever, more work needs to be done to reduce the number of fatalities.
The speech was an effort to publicize World Health Day and the ensuing "global" initiative to address the "growing problem of road traffic safety." But it was far from a frank discussion on the type of auto industry initiatives needed to improve accident survival rates in the United States. Missing was a call to make safety features more readily available on lower-priced vehicles, or a discussion on recent technology, such as Infiniti's new Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system, which alerts drivers of unintended movement out of a designated traffic lane. The new system, which utilizes a small camera, speed sensor, an indicator and an audible warning buzzer, will be offered this fall on 2005 models of Infiniti's FX crossover sport utility vehicle. The LDW system will also be available on the next generation M45 performance luxury sedan, which is scheduled to go on sale in spring 2005 as a 2006 model. Several speakers did cite the benefit of side airbags, but there was no discussion about the difference between side body airbags and side curtain airbags - the type that protects the head in the case of a side impact accident. Brian O'Neil, president of the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, has said that side airbags are important -- but that what's even more critical is the type of airbag, because the point of side airbags is to protect the head.
2004 Auto Show Gallery
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