(10 Apr 1998) English/Nat
The New York International Auto Show opened on Friday in Manhattan with more than one thousand cars on display.
There visitors will be able to feast their eyes on concept cars, world debuts, and international unveilings.
But the biggest attraction for manufacturers is the thousands of potential car buyers that will attend the show over the coming days.
Car dealers are looking to make a killing.
The prestigious 1998 New York International Automobile Show opened to the public on Friday.
Much work had gone into preparing the stands used to display manufacturers' latest cars, trucks, and concept vehicles.
Perennial American favourites from the "Big Three" manufacturers are featured, as well as international brands like Saab, Volkswagen, Honda, and Toyota.
Crazy concept cars, sedate family cars, and vans big enough to hold even the largest families are all on display.
It seems as fast as car makers can produce them, the press and public gobble up the new auto-spectacles.
Nine cars and mini-vans will make their world debut, with Chevrolet, Suzuki, Subaru, Rolls Royce, and Hyundai all proudly unveiling their latest creations.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Honda came out with their new Mini-van, Lincoln came out with their new automobile the LS-8, it's just an automobile dynamite car."
SUPER CAPTION: Gary Schimmerling, Greater New York Auto Dealer's Association
But nothing can top the fuss being made over an old favourite.
The new Volkswagen Beetle, the original "people's car" is back... with a vengeance.
Dealers say orders are backing up, and that the company is working overtime to meet demand.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"People walk up to the Volkswagen, the new Beetle, the first thing they do is they smile, and then they have to go over and touch it, they have to connect with the car, it's absolutely astounding how the reaction is."
SUPER CAPTION: Doug Callahan, Car Dealer
The new Beetle combines 60's retro with a 90's look.
Its engine is now firmly parked up front, with water-cooling it, as opposed to the air-cooled engines of old.
But just in case baby-boomers begin to grow nostalgic about the old days, designers have included a vase near the steering wheel to give the Beetle the flower-power it needs.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The greatest thing is that everyone has a Beetle story, they want to spend 15, 20 minutes, a half hour to tell you about their Beetle story, whether it's the 18 year old person who bought one in the early 70's, or somebody in their fifties, like I am, who had a Beetle in the 1960's and that was their transportation."
SUPER CAPTION: Doug Callahan, Dealer
Organisers of the Auto Show say they expect more than a (m) million visitors this week, and more than half of those are expected to buy a new car within the next year.
For a country where a car is the second biggest purchase in their lives after their house, the people attending this show look like big spenders to dealers.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
