| The Shrinking SUV; Wagons Are Back At the 2001 New York International Automobile Show |
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Shrinking SUVs and a major makeover for wagons are two new trends to look out for at this year's New York International Automobile Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from Friday, April 13 to Sunday, April 22. "Mixing two or more vehicle categories to create a new one has become increasingly popular among vehicle manufacturers in recent years," said Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, the organization which owns and operates the Show. "By mixing the car-like dimensions of a conventional wagon with the off-road capabilities and versatility of an SUV, automakers have created an appealing new vehicle type." "This new category has spawned some of the most stylish, rugged, sporty, versatile and roomy vehicles on the market today," continued Schienberg. Many of the world's manufacturers have introduced new production or concept wagons that fit into this new category. They include: the Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix, VW Jetta Wagon, Mercedes C-Class Wagon, Lexus IS300 Sport Cross, Mazda Protege Sport Wagon, Audi allroad Quattro and Volvo's Adventure Car Concept. Subaru, the pioneer of the all-wheel-drive wagons is expected to introduce an all-new "wagon" model at this year's show. <b>Another growing trend is the shrinking SUV.</b> Toyota, Ford, Honda, Chevrolet, Suzuki, Hyundai, and others are responding to the consumer demand for the versatility and visibility that comes with an SUV along with the economical and handling attributes of a compact sedan as they continue to roll out smaller SUVs. Land Rover will unveil its new off-roader, the Freelander, to the North American market, and Jeep will show its new Liberty at the Show.       |
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