The exotic Italian automaker Maserati was well represented in the Collection’s corner of the 2009 Miami Auto Show. Offering up high performance transportation solutions in both two and four door variants. Starting off with a beautiful white Quattroporte sport sedan powered by a 400 HP V8 that accelerates the luxury sedan from 0 to 60 MPH in just 5.5 seconds. The high end luxury car retailers also had a pair of sporty Gran Turismo coupes flanking the more accommodating Maserati. Not only was there the standard version of the sharp nosed sports car, but also a high performance Gran Turismo S that makes use of a 440 HP 4.7 Liter screaming V8 to go along with the Italian sports car’s sleek body style.
America’s favorite sports car was well represented at the 2009 Miami Auto Show, aside from the Stingray concept car, Chevrolet had plenty of Corvettes on display. There were a pair of the new Grand Sport models with their wide body stance, gills in the front fenders and bespoke rolling stock; giving Corvette enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy the finer points of the lineup at a fraction of the price. The 505 HP Z06 model was also on hand, wearing a new set of ten spoke rims for this year to go along with the 427 cubic inch fuel injected LS7. The only thing better than a 7.0 Liter Corvette C6 with its carbon fiber body work and hyrdro formed chassis according to GM’s design department is even more carbon fiber and an acrylic window in the hood. The window lets onlookers admire the ZR-1’s intercooler that sits on top of the supercharged 6.2 Liter LS9 small block that delivers a maximum output of 620 HP and 595 lb-ft of torque and 200+ MPH.
Resting in the shadows of the award winning Converj concept car, Cadillac was showing off a piece of their production car finest, another award winner, the Cadillac CTS-V. The dark grey super sedan took Top Speed’s car of the year award last year thanks to its practical four door layout and ability to take up to five from 0 to 60 MPH in 3.9 seconds because of the 556 HP 6.2 Liter supercharged V8 sitting under the power bulge in the hood. The mid size sport sedan will be defending the honor of General Motors later on this week at New York state’s Monticello Motor Club as GM’s knight in shining armor because of King Lutz’s challenge.
Hyundai turned a few heads at the Miami Auto Show by displaying the all new Equus luxury limousine on the turntable in the center of their booth. While this was actually a Korean spec Equus, it still managed to impress the judges at the show. The new Hyundai is scheduled to go on sale sometime next year for close to $50,000; and while Hyundai only expects to sell 20,000 units per, after sitting in the passenger’s seat we think they shouldn’t have a problem. The car could get toned down for the U.S. Market, after all Korean’s are crazy for chrome, but we just hope the hood ornament stays. It looks like they cut they head off of one of Rolls Royce’s flying ladies and then streamlined her physique in order for it to guide Korean executives as they recline in comfort in the spacious back seat, catch up on some work with the wood tray table or simply relax by watching the fold out television monitor. The Equus is an elegant vehicle from Hyundai and is the next logical step for a company who has just enjoyed so much success with the current award winning Genesis sedan.
Jaguar showed off their 2010 XJ at the 2009 Miami Auto Show. Although they had already unveiled the new Jag in London with our favorite late night funny man Jay Leno and super model Claudia Schiffer to take wraps off the new cat, the new XJ was just as stunning in South Florida. This particular model was the very first of the special edition XJs built for Neiman Marcus and quite possibly put the car over the top with its wraparound wood interior and cat claw inspired rear tail lamps. The 2010 XJ is the first Jaguar model to be built using Jaguar’s aerospace-inspired aluminum body technology and will be available with a stretched wheelbase option as well as a choice of new ultra-efficient Gen III classification petrol and diesel engines consisting of a 3.0 Liter diesel V6, a 5.0 Liter naturally aspirated V8 as well as the almighty 5.0 Liter supercharged 8 cylinder power plant.
When Ford was faced with the option of producing another tire shredding SVT Lightning or something completely different, they opted for plan b; and we are just glad that they brought it down to Miami. Instead of a supercharged work truck that can blow the doors off of most sports cars in a straight line, the SVT group chose to build an off road version of the F-150 that would be competitive in the Baja 1000 right out of the showroom, and actually ended up earning a spot on the podium. What they came up with is the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. The new truck combines extreme off road capabilities with an aggressive on road package that should only get better in 2010 when Ford puts the more powerful 6.2 Liter V8 version on sale at the beginning of next year. and we are eagerly awaiting its arrival.
The Japanese automaker Nissan was on hand at the 2009 Miami Auto Show, and although they unveiled the new Rogue Krom crossover, it was a pearl white Nissan GT-R that caught our eyes as the centerpiece of their booth. Although this particular GT-R is nothing more than your run of the mill $80,000 super car killer, the hamburger logo did announce some new specs for the 2011 model that includes the highly anticipated Spec V model that takes Godzilla’s on track antics to new heights, and an even quicker lap time around the Nurburgring.
One particular highlight of the 2009 Miami Auto show was the HKS Hyundai Genesis Coupe that was built specially for the 2008 SEMA show. Now while Hyundai is stepping up their game for this year’s show with a mid mounted Tau V8 powered Genesis Coupe being prepared by none other than Rhys Millen himself, and while the new car is supposed to be a bit of a sleeper, the HKS creation is anything but such a thing.
The Tskuba Red coupe wears a Kenstyle bodykit that gives the Korean car an aggressive blend of Japanese style without going over the top in the traditional ricer fashion. Devoid of big wings and way too much camber; like most high end creations it is the details that you don’t see that makes the HKS creation so nice. For instance the hood mounted front spoiler goes almost unnoticed, just like the ghosted in graphic that identifies this car as an HKS creation. The grille opening has been enlarged and the front bumper opens up wider, framing the Mobis front mount intercooler nicely and making the new Coupe seem much more stable. Out back the oversized quartet of tailpipes look like it could have been lifted straight off of a Nissan GT-R, while the new rear end compliments the front end nicely, making the Genesis Coupe look much more planted on the ground.
The HKS Genesis Coupe rides on a set of 19 inch Volk Racing rims, some of the finest aftermarket wheels available anywhere. Housed inside of the upgraded rolling stock are a set of multi piston Brembo brake calipers that are ready to bring the Coupe to a hasty halt. That is because thanks to every part from the HKS catalog that ranges from the HKS GT Turbo upgrade to HKS Hipermax III fully adjustable coil over suspension is made to make this tuned Hyundai Genesis Coupe go as good as it looks.
Fox Marketing and Artisan Performance teamed up to create this subtle yet aggressive Lexus IS-F for last year’s SEMA show, and almost a year later the Sunset Orange Pearl paint on this wide body IS is still shining brightly. The subtle part involves the numerous bodywork modifications that enhance rather than rethink the lines of the V8 powered factory tuned sedan, making it look even more muscular in the process. The aggressive aspect is applied to the eight cylinder engine we mentioned earlier that gets upgraded with a full blown twin turbo kit that the tuners expect to be good for over 600 HP. No matter which angle you look at this Lexus IS-F from you can’t help but be overwhelmed with the subtle details that set this IS apart from ordinary four door luxury cars.
The Subaru WRX STi is always a nice sight to see, and the Japanese automaker had one such example sitting front and center at their exhibit at the 2009 Miami Auto Show. Although Mitsubishi had one of their latest sleeper EVOs on hand at the show, Subaru was displaying the standard version of their high performance in house tuned hatchback. The STi tuned Impreza is highlighted for its 300 HP turbocharged 2.5 Liter flat four cylinder engine and symmetrical all wheel drivetrain that earned the car multiple World Rally Championship titles. After speaking with some Subaru representatives earlier on this year, we learned that they have accepted their fair share of criticism for numbing the 2008 model and promise that the 2009 STi is as razor sharp as ever. There is also the issue with the new STi’s hatchback only body style, but rest assured fans of the traditional four door sport compact version, the car will be making a comeback very soon.
