Calling All Auto Mechanic College Students: 3 Must-See Cars from the New York Auto Show
Now in its 116th year, The New York International Auto Show is one of the longest standing dates on the auto industry calendar. This year’s event kicked off at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan last week, and will wrap up on April 3rd.
With the 2015 show playing host to a number of notable world debuts, including the Chevrolet Spark, the Porsche Boxster Spyder and the Range Rover Autobiography, this year’s event has a lot to live up to. So far, though, it has been up to the task, with a number of automakers providing early glimpses of what their most popular production models will look like in 2017.
What cars should auto mechanic college students be checking out? Read on to find out.
Mazda Miata RF: A Welcome Surprise for Auto Mechanic College Students
While it was known that Mazda was planning to unveil a new convertible Miata in New York, most expected something closer to the automaker’s previous soft top model. What they got instead was radically different. The new Miata RF boasts a folding hard top similar to the Porsche 911Targa, as well as a retractable rear window system.
Impressively, Mazda has managed to make the new design work without sacrificing any of the trunk space of the previous model. Auto mechanic college students can also expect similar levels of performance, with the RF using the 155hp 2.0-liter SkyActive engine, although Mazda has yet to reveal whether the new roof system will add to the curb weight of the vehicle.
Check out the new RF here:
A Primer on the Toyota Prius Prime for Auto Mechanic College Students
The current low gas prices and the rise of zero emissions vehicles such as the Tesla Model S have stalled the momentum of hybrids recently, but Toyota is continuing to invest in the technology. The 2017 Prius Prime is the company’s most advanced hybrid yet, with an improved powertrain capable of travelling 35km on electricity alone. While the 1.8-litre gas engine is unchanged from the previous edition, Toyota’s engineers used a new one way clutch system to boost the amount of power coming from the twin electric motors to the wheels. As a result, the Prime’s top speed in electric mode is an impressive 135km—auto mechanic apprenticeship students know that this is a massive improvement from the first generation model.
2017 Toyota Corolla: Auto Industry Mainstay Marks 50th Anniversary in Style
Toyota also chose the New York Auto Show to unveil a 50th Anniversary Special Edition of the Toyota Corolla, one of the best-selling cars of all time. While the Corolla isn’t traditionally one of the flashiest cars on the road, there’s plenty about the new model for auto enthusiasts to appreciate, including two-tone, 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlamps.
The upgraded interior includes a 7-inch touch screen and an Entune Audio Plus infotainment system, as well as sleek black upholstery with red trim. While production is limited to just 8,000 units, the Japanese automaker is certainly celebrating the birthday of one of its most reliable mainstays in style.
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