2012 New York International Auto Show Day Two Recap

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ay two of the New York International Auto Show has been much quieter than day one, and for journalists tired from working so hard (read: hungover from partying too hard), that's been a godsend. In this case, however, quiet doesn't mean boring, as several automakers broke news this morning.

2013 Subaru Tribeca Crosstrek

Subaru: Subie started the day with a quick look at its refreshed Legacy and Outback, and it also announced that the forthcoming BRZ sports car will have a base price of just over $25K. But the big news is the XC Crosstrek crossover. Powered by a 2.0-liter boxer horizontally opposed four-cylinder that makes 148 horsepower, the XV has all-wheel drive and either a five-speed manual transmission or continuously-variable automatic transmission (CVT). Subaru is promising fuel efficiency of up to 33 miles per gallon. Our take: The XC Crosstrek looks sharp, and it's a true Subaru underneath, but did the brand that already makes the Forester and Outback need a compact crossover that's essentially a taller Outback? That remains to be seen.

2013 Toyota Avalon

Toyota: The Avalon has been dissed as the soft-riding sedan of choice for the retirement crowd, and more than a few journalists have compared the Avalon to Ambien. Well, now we can stop hitting the snooze button, since the new Avalon actually has style. More details are forthcoming, but we do know one thing. After teasing journalists for half an hour, Toyota finally confirmed that the car would keep its name. Let's hope it doesn't keep the old Avalon's driving dynamics. Our take: This stylish sedan looks like it won't put us to sleep, but we want to drive it for confirmation.

2013 Ram 1500

Ram: It looks almost the same as before, but the 2013 Ram 1500 has a whole bunch of changes underneath. A base 3.6-liter V-6 that pairs to an eight-speed automatic transmission makes the big news, along with a new dashboard mounted shifter that uses a knob in place of a traditional column shifter or floor shifter. Other changes include an active air suspension and a bunch of tech that's meant to boost fuel economy. The eight-speed auto will also be available with the Hemi V-8. Our Take: The Ram doesn't look much different, but looks only go so far--this truck has changed. And it looks like that change is for the better.

A part of Port Imperial Boulevard.

Infiniti: The company debuted its LE Concept, which is an electric-powered mid-size sedan. It's a looker, and the company plans to bring it to market sooner rather than later, but we wonder about its 100-mile range. Our take: Nissan and Infiniti are serious about electric power, and this car proves it. We'd also like to see this styling applied to some of the gas-powered models in the lineup.