New York International Auto Show
Javits Convention Center - April 22 - 30, 2000New York City :
The New York Auto Show 2000 had a limited amount of electric, hybrid , and fuel cell vehicles. The only fuel cell vehicle was Honda’s FCV.
The actual information on this “Concept” was a illuminated display describing how a fuel cell works.
The car itself was another 'drastically curved box' with a futuristic design akin to some up-coming unknown sci-fi movie.
The detail inside was lavishly paneled and digitally consoled from the front seat to the back.
HONDA INSIGHT HYBRID / ELECTRIC:
The "Insight" hybrid electric by Honda was the first available hybrid in the USA.
It too is small, and similar to a 2000 Civic with the rear wheels covered by a panel.
When I was at the booth, there was no representitives in the near vinicity. I took no photos because the better pictures are on the press CD ( which only showed the car, and the front panel of the engine, and none of the dynamics of the hybrid system ).
Here is a link to the web for the: Honda Insight
Editor note: There were many displays being created while the press were attending this event. Some were more finished than others, and I did not attend the public exhibition during April 22-30.BMW HYDROGEN IC:
The most practical "Car of the Future” is possibly BMW’s hydrogen fueled internal combustion sedan, with a a small fuel cell air conditioning unit in the passenger side of the trunk.
A great concept, depending on the fueling station(s) and the storage tank. I believe that BMW did a lot of research on hydrogen to this 'very realistic' consumer automobile.
BMW had no press kits on this car, and their display was half-hidden underneath a giant wall of paneled BMW media ( I found it by accident after several circles around the show ) so I added the image directly from their web site.
The BMW was displayed half on it's side , with a small plexiglas window to see the United Technologies Fuel Cell.The display included the solar-hydrogen concept, with a whole kiosk of little round mirrors concentrating the display illumination to a etched circle on the front glass.
Another display had an animated engine that traded off three intake manifolds of regular-gas / natural gas / hydrogen gas.
All these displays were technically limited, visually quite boring, and over engineered without showing any new advancements in hydrogen technology.TOYOTA PRIUS
My favorite car was the Toyota Prius Hybrid Electric.
A sub compact makes it possibly unappealing to anyone tall. toyota had a nice cutaway display of the engine / generator / drivetrain shows what happens when one accelerates / cruises / and then brakes with a one-button illuminated display.
It could have been more animated, but it was the “Best-of-Show” for a hybrid display ( It was the only one too! ) I didn’t photograph the display because it was placed in a dark, out of the way place for the media lunch party sponsored by Toyota ( a burger, chips, and a brownie ).Honorable Mention: VW "Dune" Here's a photo of the new VW Dune. It has no advanced drivetrain or power system. I thought it deserves an honorable mention for the "Not too overdesigned for 2000", to which the rest of this year's showcars are entirely too guilty of. VW Bug / Dune Convertibles are said to be available by 2002.
The Batmobile:
OnStar sponsored the Batmobile, of which we have seen in many prime time commercials recently.
I was disappointed to get turned away from a OnStar Analysis meeting, which I wanted to visit to learn more about this system.
The CD in the press kit had a lot of simple graphics, and no info. The press kit was very informative: The dealer installed 3-button system is $695, with a additional sevice charge of $199 to $399 per year, depending on your choice of options.
OnStar claims to have 100,000 factory installed systems...WOW!
Could you imagine, your own "Alfred" connected to a one button cellular phone in your vehicle.
I have been studying voice-recognition software for my iBook, and most 'VR' reviews point out that it is hard to clearly speak commands, and in most cases, commands have to be repeated to correctly make actions happen. This is with the software I have been working with.
The human interface operator that answers your call is the link between automated voice recognition and manual human translation.
I am clueless if OnStar's capabilities are hardware, software, or both, and which is harder to update with better personal voice algorhythms.
I am only guessing, but the speculation of OnStar voice recognition performance in the real world may be too optimistic for spoken commands.
Even though it isn't real, the Batmobile was cool!
Editor's note:
For several years, the automotive manufacturers have been slowly introducing alternative vehicle concepts, such as electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and hybrid vehicles.
At the same time, lobbyists hired by these same manufacturers have been in successfully stalling the Clean Air Act in California, exclaiming that these goals are unreasonable, and unattainable.
Currently these alternative vehicle programs are at a all time low, especially at this year’s New York Auto Show ( April 22-30 ) with only four vehicles in this category.
An auto show survey poll conducted by Polk: www.polk.com which tabulates auto show attendee's "best of the show" choices did not even list any of these vehicles, or a catagory for electric, hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles.
I visited their show headquarters to enlighten them upon this, and recieved no comment. For Polk, my comment is... " Very Unprofessional."
