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"The 2011 New York Auto Show features everything from fuel-sipping small cars to tire-smoking Hemi engines, and even an electric car that looks ready to lap Le Mans. Efficiency is the main theme, even if some of the vehicles on display have 465 bhp and tailpipes that could double as bazookas. As the final auto show of the season, New York lives up to its Broadway-worthy billing. Whether you&amp;#039;re in the market for a more masculine VW Beetle or a rear-drive Scion with supercar styling, there is plenty to tempt car fans in NYC.   2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8           The Grand Cherokee SRT8 seemed a little out of place, given the show&amp;#039;s emphasis on efficiency and fuel economy. Power is provided by a 465-bhp 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, coupled to a 5-speed automatic (with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles). There is permanent 4-wheel drive and a tow rating of 5000 lb. Capable of circling the skidpad at 0.90g, the new Cherokee SRT8 is the &amp;quot;best handling Jeep ever,&amp;quot; says Jeep. A more aggressive front and rear fascia help differentiate the SRT8 from lesser Grand Cherokees. So do the enormous 4-in. tailpipes and the pair of extremely cool-looking (and functional) hood scoops.   2013 Chevrolet Malibu           The 2013 Malibu is significantly changed, now based on the new front-drive chassis of the Buick Regal. That&amp;#039;s a good thing. The wheelbase has shrunk a bit but the overall size of the car is about the same, and both the trunk and cabin are larger. What&amp;#039;s more, there are plenty of smart and stylish features in Chevy&amp;#039;s new sedan. Exterior styling is safe and inoffensive\u2014not a bad thing in this segment of the automotive market. Inside, the cabin has ice-blue lighting and a hidden compartment behind the 7.0-inch radio interface or optional navigation screen. Chevy surprised us with the &amp;quot;Eco&amp;quot; model, which features an eAssist micro hybrid drive system. Power comes from a 180-bhp 2.4-liter inline-4 that&amp;#039;s augmented by a 15-hp electric motor. The non-Eco Malibu will receive a new 2.5-liter inline-4, making the Malibu a 4-cylinder-only proposition (much like the Hyundai Sonata).   Scion FR-S Concept           If you really wanted this car to wear a Toyota badge, well, we&amp;#039;re sorry to disappoint you. It seems the Japanese automaker has officially decided to bestow its youth-oriented Scion brand with the FR-S (Front engine, Rear wheel drive, Sport) coupe. A flat-4 engine, shared with Subaru, is nestled up front and sends power to the rear wheels. The Scion FR-S Concept shown at New York was built by Five Axis, a show car and customization house in Southern California. This means some exaggerated details\u2014like 20-in. wheels and massive 18-in. carbon-ceramic disc brakes\u2014won&amp;#039;t make it to production. Yet the otherwise perfectly proportioned body is proof that the market for sporty, rear-wheel-drive coupes is about to get a very worthy addition.   2012 Kia Rio           The classy shape of the Optima sedan has been transferred to Kia&amp;#039;s entry-level model, the new Rio sedan and 5-door hatchback. These look to be some of the sexiest economy cars we&amp;#039;ve seen in a long time. And really, when was the last time you used &amp;quot;economy car&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;sexy&amp;quot; in the same sentence? Under the hood is an efficient 138-bhp 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, coupled to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Highway fuel mileage should hit the magic 40-mpg mark. The Rio 5-door arrives this summer with a starting price of $12,990. The sedan goes on sale sometime in autumn.   2012 Jaguar XKR-S           The white XKR-S shown in New York is the car many people said they&amp;#039;d like to take home\u2014or at least substitute for another bumpy ride in a taxicab. This is an utterly stunning car and, judging from the specs, should be even more thrilling to drive. The XKR-S comes equipped with the latest iteration of Jaguar&amp;#039;s V-8, complete with a twin Roots-type vortex supercharger and two intercoolers. Maximum output is 550 bhp and 502 lb.-ft. of torque. According to Jaguar, this super cat sprints to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and can reach a top speed of 186 mph. The XKR-S, which starts at $132,000, arrives at dealers in the fall.   2012 VW Beetle           On sale since 1998, the original New Beetle was well past its prime. Behold, VW has given us a longer, wider, lower and more masculine version, complete with a sporty turbo and diesel-powered variant. The bud vase is officially gone\u2014although a VW rep hinted that one might be offered as a dealer accessory. In the U.S., the 2012 Beetle will be offered with three engine choices: a 170-bhp 2.5-liter 5-cylinder gasoline, a 140-bhp 2.0-liter TDI diesel, and a 200-bhp 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged gasoline. A 6-speed manual or 6-speed dual-clutch transmission can be ordered on the turbo and diesel models. For many folks at the show, the toughened-up 2012 Beetle was the star of New York.   Nissan Leaf Nismo RC           An electric race car may seem a bit strange, but that&amp;#039;s exactly what the Leaf Nismo RC shown in New York is. This is a carbon-chassis rear-wheel-drive race car that just happens to have the same name as the Japanese automaker&amp;#039;s zero-emission Leaf. Even if the idea of a race held in EV silence doesn&amp;#039;t sound too appealing, credit Nissan for making this lightweight Leaf racing machine. Our only wish is that it had more power\u2014the rear-mounted electric powertrain propels the Leaf RC to a top speed of only 93 mph. The range for the Leaf RC is not given in miles. Rather, Nissan say it can compete on the track for 20 minutes before the lithium-ion batteries need recharging.   Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept           The A-Class presently sold in Europe is functional, but hardly the sleek-looking 2-door hatchback shown in New York. The Concept A-Class loses the mini-minivan design of the current model for the stance of a sports hatchback. A turbocharged and direct-injected 210-bhp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine powers the Concept A-Class, coupled with a new dual-clutch transmission. Mercedes-Benz promises that this BlueEfficiency-labeled engine will offer high performance with &amp;quot;minimal emissions.&amp;quot; The new chassis beneath the A-Class Concept chassis is designed to accommodate front- or all-wheel-drive powertrains. 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<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/new-york-auto-show/news/a17176/best-in-show/>