The 10 Best Cars Of The 2011 New York Auto Show

The New York International Auto Show traditionally marks the

end of the manufacturer show season. With summer around the corner, it’s time

for some of the concepts and creations we’ve been continuously teased with to

start entering production. And though 2011’s NYIAS didn’t really hit us with

any sucker punches or surprises, there were still some solid, exciting debuts

and announcements. Here are the best, separated from all of the rest.

By the time y’all read this, rumor has it that the first

shipment of these stylish subcompacts will be en route to dealers. Though it

only has an output of 101 horses, the drop-top Fiat will pull 38mpg on the

highway; enough distance for you to push back the rag-top and catch a decent

tan .

Longer, lower, faster, meaner. With its flattened roof,

200hp turbocharged engine and lack of a flower vase, the Beetle attempts to no longer be just a chicks car. Kudos to VW

for really changing up an image that drastically needed changing.

Though the signature center tailpipes are gone, the Jeep

SRT8 is back with 465 horsepower, 465 lb.-ft. of torque, and something it

didn’t really have before – true towing capabilities. With its gobs of raw

power, it is a bit disappointing to hear the speed governor is set at 155mph,

but Jeep President and CEO Mike Manley did say the engineers “May know a guy."

Kia is still on that can’t-stop-won’t-stop hustlenomics. The

latest family member to get proper treatment from the brand’s new

design-centric movement is the Rio. What was once a car that barely got a first

look—never mind a second—now sits poised to command some serious attention

on the streets. Now, a ride worthy of the hot-hatch term, will also be

available for the first time in sedan form. And that one doesn’t look bad

either.

The boys at Benz do a lot of things right, and many better

than anyone else. Building small cars, however, hasn’t traditionally been one

of them. But now after the reveal of the Concept A-Class, a hatch the brand

fully intends to release as a world car, the brand could make up for lost time. Rumored

to be developed around a 210hp 2.0-liter, the edgy compact just might be enough

to make us forget all about the C230.

Are you one of the so-called “purists” still hating on the

four-door Porsche? You need to give it up. Hitting dealerships this Spring is a

550 horsepower Turbo S version of the polarizing Porsche, which incidentally

will be the world’s quickest production sedan. Get behind the wheel and try to

keep up that mean muggin’.

Look at the new Malibu. Nice, right? Look closer, because

it’s not right away that you see all the obvious Camaro influence that’s

permeated into its four-door little brother. We liked the last model, but we

think we’re going to love this one.

While not the first time in the public eye, the Audi A7

five-door is an absolutely striking automobile to see in person. Just be

careful when hitting the dealer. The $59,250 starting point might almost sound

doable, but options and other configurations can easily have you over $80K in a

hurry. Still worth it, though.

So much more than a mid-cycle design refresh, the XKR-S

shows that Jaguar is just as serious as ever about performance. Despite its

thundering 550hp, 502 lb.-ft. V8 that’ll rocket you from 0-60 in 4.2 seconds,

the aerodynamically worked and trimmed XKR-S is equally as impressive at a dead

standstill.

Previously dubbed the Toyota FT-86 II concept, the FR-S

concept stands for “front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport”. Yeah, you read that

right—the world is finally about to get a RWD Scion. Slated to first arrive

with a 2.0 boxer engine, don’t expect horsepower figures to be through the

roof, but expect this close-to-production concept extraordinaire to quickly

have huge aftermarket support, especially with its newly-designated Scion

badging.