The Auto Writer

No, I’m not actually at this year’s New York Auto Show, scheduled to run from March 21-30. Instead, I’ll be “viewing” the show online just like so many of you. At one point I considered attending the show, but with Easter arriving early this year and other projects in the fire, I decided against that.

New York is an important event on the auto show calendar, getting the attention that show-goers in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Chicago receive at those shows. The automakers, therefore, save some of their important releases for New York, so if you are planning on attending you’ll get the first glimpse of the following:

• Pontiac will be introducing its Solstice coupe, a nice-looking vehicle (pictured above) that will complement the current convertible. Let’s hope that GM doesn’t go nuts with badge-engineering and introduce a Sky coupe next!

• If you like the very limited edition 2008 Dodge Challenger, then you’ll enjoy the 2009 models which will be introduced at the show. Currently, the SRT8 is the only model for 2008, but for 2009 the SE and R/T will be added.

• The production version of the Hyundai Genesis coupe will make its debut. Surprise, surprise: the car will feature a turbocharged four cylinder engine.

• Other showstoppers will include: Nissan’s all-new for 2009 Maxima sedan, a concept Pontiac version of the Chevy El Camino (pictured below) which GM says will go into production next year (yes!), and a redesigned Acura TSX sedan which is slated to go on sale this fall.

That’s it for now — I’ll post whatever breaking information and pictures I can get my hands on as the show unfolds.