Subaru's ended all "speculation" about its next move.
With the turnstiles now open to the public at the Big Apple’s Jacob Javits convention center, the New York Auto Show marks the end of the U.S. car show season – but that doesn’t mean automakers will wait until autumn, when the next round of shows begins, to start teasing their next round of product innovations.
Indeed, several makers are already announcing big news today, while others have decided not to deny rumors and reports about still more big developments.
“Subaru Surrenders,” the maker declared in an e-mail to TheDetroitBureau.com, confirming what almost everyone in the media had suspected. “Bowing to continued media and internet speculation, Subaru of America has confirmed that it will launch an AWD Twin-Turbo Convertible two-seater Diesel Hybrid BRZ for sale in 2015. The new model essentially takes all of the media and internet rumors surrounding the highly successful BRZ sports car and delivers them in one fell swoop,” its news release begins. A spokesman for the company added, “Having just launched the current model to widespread critical acclaim, we are tired of fighting off the constant speculation about what’s ‘next’ and so we are just giving in and delivering on all the speculation in one vehicle.”
The big surprise is that the maker will not deliver a 75-mile-range plug-in version, which was supposed to share a new unobtanium-metal battery and I-2 version of the Subaru boxer engine. However, that unnamed – and soon to be unemployed – spokesman did reveal that the AWD Turbo Convertible two-seater Diesel Hybrid BRZ will come in a single color, noseeum black and will be hand-produced at Subaru’s Brigadoon facility.
TheDetroitBureau.com, meanwhile, is waiting for the official confirmation from Ford that it will formally unveil the next-generation Mustang in New York in April 2014. But rather than doing the eagerly awaited event at the next NY International Auto Show, the event will be staged at a complete recreation of the maker’s old pavilion from the 1964 New York World’s Fair, where the original Mustang was unveiled 50 years before.
“You got us there,” said a Ford spokesman, who said he had to get official permission to release his name and salary.
He revealed – on complete background – that the new Mustang will not only adopt a first-ever independent rear suspension, but also will swap out the traditional convertible body variant for an all-glass roof similar to what is now offered on the Lincoln MKZ. Except the glass roof will feature built-in racing stripes. The system will use a new electrochromic technology that will allow a user to change the color of the stripes.
The spokesman denied recent reports in TheDetroitBureau.com that Ford had considered that, with the extensive changes planned, the Mustang name be dropped and instead be dubbed the Ford Probe.
Among other makers planning to make typical, end-of-auto-show season announcements today, Honda revealed that it will offer a string of accessories that are designed to work with the HondaVAC vacuum cleaner it last week said will be offered on the 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite minivan. The first Honda Genuine Accessory will be the new HondaHAIR grooming tool.
According to the maker, “By simply snapping the HondaHAIR into place on the Odyssey Touring Elite’s standard HondaVAC vacuum, the powerful suction can fashion the perfect bob, pixie or buzz cut. Capable of creating any style cut, the HondaHAIR offers affordability and convenience and transforms the cargo space into a virtual salon on wheels — eliminating the need to trek to the stylist or barber.
“We recognize that our Odyssey drivers are busier than ever, which is why we’ve packed the car with so many conveniences, including this HondaHAIR forward-thinking technology,” added Parsley Thyme, head of Public Relations at American Honda.
Honda explained that it wants to take advantage of the so-called mobile haircut movement, “which can be seen on more than 6,500 Pinterest boards, 100 Facebook groups and thousands of YouTube videos.”
TheDetroitBureau.com plans to offer continuing coverage of all the April 1 announcements expected to continue through to the midnight deadline.