During Hyundai's webcasted press conference for the Genesis Coupe, product chief John Krafcik was asked whether or not there was still a replacement for the Tiburon in the works. In response, he basically reiterated a statement he's made in the past.
There is still another coupe to come from Hyundai and it will be a smaller, front-wheel drive model based on the Elantra platform. The Veloster concept was a clue to the styling direction, but Hyundai is still up in the air whether or not it will be called Tiburon. In fact, Krafcik openly asked for input on the name, so if you like Tiburon let Hyundai know.
Official pricing details were released for the 2009 Nissan Cube today. The base model will run you $14,685 including destination while the top-of-the-line Krom version will go for $20,055.
For comparison, Scion's xB has a base price of $16,420 with destination charges.
The options list for the Cube includes $290 20-color interior accent lighting, a $180 rear cargo organizer and an $1,180 aero kit. A set of 16-inch gunmetal or silver alloy wheels will add another $790 to the bottom line.
Here it is: the first full test of the new 2009 Nissan 370Z. Fully redesigned from top to bottom, Nissan's other sportscar is now lighter, smaller and...well, different looking. See for yourself in our comprehensive road test of the redesigned Z.
Are you seeing those sidewalks? They look pretty desolate don't they? No big deal maybe, but that wasn't the case at last year's L.A. auto show. Just 12 months ago, those sidewalks were awash in protestors. They were holding up signs, throwing paint on Hummers and converting Priuses to full electric power right there in the parking lot across the street.
And this year? Nothing. No one. Zippo. OK, there were a few taxi drivers mulling around smoking cigarettes, but saving the environment wasn't the topic of discussion. What a difference a year makes huh?
Not to be outdone by the Porsche Experience, there was something similar in the Ford booth dubbed the "Mustang Garage". It showcased all the ways you could set up the new 2010 Ford Mustang. Sure, it wasn't nearly as dreamy as the Porsche hall, but at least we could imagine ourselves actually buying some of these parts someday.
One of the unique elements of the L.A. auto show is the Porsche display. Instead of occupying some corner of a big hall, Porsche always sets up shop in its own small venue just off the main corridor. You walk in one door, through the display, and out the other side, kind of like an amusement park ride. They call it the Porsche Experience, and it usually lives up to the name. Here's a quick tour of this year's setup.
We've already driven the 2009 BMW 750i and the redesigned 7 Series made its official debut in Paris. But we haven't yet driven the extended-wheelbase 2009 BMW 750Li, and BMW had one here at its booth in L.A.
The 750Li is pretty much what you'd expect: It rides on a 126.4-inch wheelbase (5.5 inches longer than the 750i's) and has 44.3 inches of rear legroom (an increase of 5.9 inches). With the extra room, chances a 750Li will have more humans (and likely heavier ones at that) riding in back, so BMW equips a self-leveling rear air suspension as standard on the LWB 7 Series.
We walked by the BMW outpost at least a half dozen times and at no point were all four outboard seats in the 750Li vacant for longer than 10 seconds. (The same was true of the 750i in the booth until it was confined behind a plexiglass wall.) People weren't taking photos, either. They were stretched out to the point of dozing off. We checked, and the car's rump didn't droop a bit under their weight.
I put in a good 20 minutes ogling the 2009 Nissan Cube this afternoon. I wasn't alone. The Super Silver GT-R on the other side of the stage wasn't getting nearly as much attention.
Finally, some employees of Scion walked up and when I saw their badges, I couldn't resist asking them what they thought.
"I don't like it," said one. "We build cars that are more uniform-looking, more, um..."
"Symmetrical?" I offered. (We were looking at the Cube's rump.)
"Yeah."
So what do you think? Can we allow the 2009 Nissan Cube to defy symmetry?
Sure, we're all at the L.A. auto show to see all the brand-spanking-new cars, but a few manufacturers chose to display some greats from their past. Here are some of the gems. My favorite is the Jag. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
The lights are out at Chrysler. No seriously, while every other manufacturer utilizes special additional lighting, the entire Chrysler stand just gets by with the high-up L.A. Convention Center lighting. I guess it can't afford the power bill. Compare this to Chrysler's next-door neighbors, Audi, whose stand you could probably perform surgery on. Next door to it is Volkswagen, who has an equal amount of lighting power and a white floor to boot -- it's like standing in Aspen on a sunny day.
The below video should give you an idea about the difference. My camera isn't sophisticated enough to change light levels mid-shot, so I could either have Chrysler all dark or Audi looking like the surface of the sun. I chose the former. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro was packed in a corner away from all the prominently placed fuel-efficient Chevy models (I missed it when I did my earlier GM blog). I hopped the little glass fence guarding the two Camaros on display to check out what the interiors look like. After another journalist was scolded by the on-hand Chevy girl when he tried to sit in the Camaro, I thought it best to just peer in and tap on stuff. To my surprise, the materials were rather disappointing. Although it scores high on style points (especially compared to the Challenger), everything I touched was hard and a little coarse in texture. Contrast that to the Challenger and the 2010 Mustang, both of which have squishy dashes and more pleasant materials. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe was also very disappointing. On the upside, the Camaro's bespoke switchgear (i.e., not parts bin) looked pretty special, as did the two-tone plastic dash trim. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
Everything substantive you'd like to know about the 2010 Kia Soul is in our first drive.
At today's official unveiling at the LA Auto Show, Kia indulged in a little self-effacing wackiness. At least a dozen Souls were in attendance, easily surpassing Ford's collection of Mustangs, lending a packed-in feel to the press conference.
As Tom Loveless, vice president of Kia Motors America, spoke, his apparently college-age twins appeared on web cam, LOL-ing and OMG-ing via IM as he told us the story of the Kia Soul. We don't need to tell you much about target demographics, then.
We were also touched by the metallic "SOUL" sculpture that inflated like Jiffy Pop (in the images below), as Loveless and Tom Kearns, chief of Kia's U.S. design team, closed out the conference. There's no functional need for this bit of installation art, but it reminded us of the giant Fiat 500 at this year's Geneva show. It's just fun and weird. That's all.
Now for the informative stuff: The U.S.-spec 2010 Kia Soul goes into production in January 2009 and will be at dealers by early spring.
Kia doesn't want to talk about pricing, yet -- other than to let you know that it will be "aggressively priced," Loveless said. We take that to mean that you'll be able to get into a decent one for about $15,000.
Annual sales numbers, too, are anybody's guess, but, says Loveless, "There are two ways to look at 2009. One way is doom and gloom, oh my gosh, it's a 13-million-unit market.
"But we don't think we're held by the industry. The Soul is going to change the way people think about us. And we're coming right behind that with the redesigned Spectra."
Do you really need to have a press conference to introduce a car that's already sold out for the next two years? Not really, but Ferrari had one anyway for its new California convertible. I mean, how could it not have a reveal for the California in...well, yeah.
GM didn't do a press conference this year, which is a shame because I heard they were going to feature Hawaiian fire dancers, three miniature blimps, foie gras hor d'oeuvres and Carmen Electra to introduce the Chevy Volt. Oh well. But there's still the usual massive GM showing at the show with a few cars of note. They've been showed elsewhere, but they're still worth checking out if you make it to the show this year. The Volt is here, too, I just didn't think to take a photo. The Cadillac CTS Wagon is stunning -- the best-looking wagon since the Alfa 156. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of its U.S. launch today at the L.A. auto show, Smart USA proudly reported that it's already delivered over 20,000 of the itty-bitty microcars in the States during the past 10 months.
Smart USA Chairman Roger Penske says that the U.S. is now the third-best selling country for Smart, garnering 18 percent of Smart's worldwide sales volume.
Continuing its economical assult on America's urban areas, Smart announced its new Brabus Fortwo model, due to arrive here early next year.
Available in both coupe and cabriolet models, the Brabus Smart Fortwo will use the same three-cylinder engine as the standard Fortwo, but will distinguish itself with an exterior body kit that includes a front spoiler, side skirts, 15-inch front wheels and 17-inchers in the back. A sport-tuned exhaust also includes dual chrome-plated exhaust tips that peek through a Brabus rear skirt.
Priced at $17,990 for the coupe and $20,990 for the cabriolet, Smart will begin allowing current Smart Fortwo reservation-holders to convert their order from a standard Fortwo to a Brabus Fortwo.
Already have a Fortwo? Smart USA will soon offer an array of Brabus accessories through its dealer network. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
One of the trends at this year's L.A. show was active fuel economy coaching. Honda showed its FC Sport fuel-cell prototype with its videogame-like eco assist system. The display shows your eco score with blossoming flowers. A similar system will be on the new Insight hybrid. Ford has its own coaching system on the 2010 Fusion/Mercury Milan hybrids with EcoGuide (shown below). So if you have to drive a boring fuel sipper, at least you can entertain yourself by making a game out of your hypermiling.
Albert Austria, Senior Vehicle Evaluation Engineer
There are quite a few modified and aftermarket special editions strewn about on the floor here at the 2008 L.A. Auto Show, but this Ford Flex was particularly impressive. All those graffiti body graphics seem to have been painted on with incredible detail. It carries over into the interior with graphics on the doors as well as inside the wheels, which are highly sculpted DUB spinners. Inside the trunk there's a full DJ turntable setup and a humongous subwoofer thing that looks like it's removed from a nuclear reactor. Sadly, the third-row seat disappears, making it impossible to carry all your kids and spin some jams from the back of your Flex at the same time. Bummer, dude. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
Buried in the back of GM's display was this 2010 Pontiac G8 ST pickup, which is a made-over Holden Utility. If you want your modern-day El Camino, here you go. Considering the current economic climate, who knows if this will ever see the light of day. So if you like it, you might want to let GM know about your interest.
Today's press conference for the 2009 Bentley Azure T at the L.A. Convention Center was like no other we've ever heard from a top-end manufacturer. With no warmup, Stuart McCullough, member of the board for sales and marketing, started in:
"We expect the year-over-year decline to continue. Every company is affected and Bentley is no exception. We've moved swiftly to adjust production."
After the conference, we asked McCullough to elaborate: "Right now I think worldwide we're probably anticipating a similar level of fall for 2009 with the market not bottoming out until at least 2010," he offered.
"It's new model introductions that are driving what little growth there is to be had at the top of the luxury car segment."
The Brooklands has been a help for Bentley in this regard, he said, and the company is hoping for the same from the 2009 Azure T, a higher-performance version of the company's classic four-place convertible. Bentley decided to unveil the Azure T in L.A., said McCullough, as California typically accounts for about 10 percent of worldwide Azure sales.
As we reported in an earlier news story, the 2009 Bentley Azure T should be suitably frightening to drive, despite the fact that it's still a big, heavy, old-money convertible at heart. Twin turbos help its 6.75-liter V8 deliver 500 hp at 4,200 rpm and 738 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm. A 5.2-second 0-to-60-mph estimate might sound tame, but hitting the 179-mph top speed in this yacht would undoubtedly be memorable.
The Azure T's cross-drilled brake rotors are appropriately enormous (16.5 inches across up front, 14 in back). Its 20-inch two-piece wheels are wrapped in 255/40ZR20 Pirelli PZeros -- a little on the skinny side for such a powerful car, but big, sloppy burnouts are what you want in an Azure T, not outright grip.
We didn't learn much about the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series at today's press conference that we didn't know already. There will be only 175 of them shipped to the U.S., it gives new meaning to the term "fender flares" and we'll never, ever be able to afford it. Mercedes-Benz helped us out on the last part by announcing the official base price of the SL65 AMG Black Series: $299,000.
After last night's official introduction of the 2010 Ford Mustang, we were less than impressed. Except for a few obvious design changes, it looked too much like the current model. Judging by the number of e-mails we received on the subject, there's plenty of disagreement.
With that in mind, we sent our photographer out to capture a few more angles of the new 2010 Mustang. There are various colors, body styles and trim levels represented here, so if you can't make up your mind with this set of pictures, you probably never will. Still, the question remains: Is the 2010 Ford Mustang different enough to be called "all new," or is it nothing more than an overhyped minor face-lift?
Before and after the wraps were removed from Volkswagen's SCORE Baja 1000 Trophy Truck, the diesel-powered Touareg you'll soon be able to buy sat unloved right next door.
The 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI, as they're calling it, will reportedly be available as early as January 2009. Some dealers have already received order guides listing the starting price at $43,490, including destination charges. That's about $3,500 more than the 3.6-liter gasoline V6.
No one at the show could confirm whether or not the 19-inch wheels and tires on the display car would be standard on the TDI, but if they are, the effective price difference shrinks by $1,200 -- the cost of that option on the 3.6-liter V6 gasoline model.
Sometime in the spring of 2009, the beloved Lexus RX 400h will become the 2010 Lexus RX 450h. Like the 2010 RX 350, the hybrid RX is redesigned (though the basic platform architecture carries over).
Key to its new name is the installation of Toyota's 3.5-liter V6. As this is a hybrid application, the V6 is running on the Atkinson cycle (whereby the intake valves remain open during part of the compression stroke). The cumulative output of the 3.5-liter V6 and the RX's front-drive electric motor is 295 horsepower -- up from 268 on the RX 400h.
However, the hybrid RX has put on some weight, so it probably won't be any quicker than its predecessor. "We prioritized mpg, so we didn't push for a much lower 0-60-mph time," said Ben Mitchell, a product planner for the Lexus RX.
Fuel economy is up by 8 percent, says Lexus. Considering that the 2009 RX 400h has a combined EPA rating of 25.1 mpg, that translates to 27.1 mpg.
Otherwise, the news on the 2010 Lexus RX 450h is in-cabin technology. In addition to the new hard-drive-based navigation system with Remote Touch controller, the RX picks up nav traffic, nav weather, iPod integration and a sideview monitor. Of course, Mark Levinson is still around, too. The airbag count is up to 10, as both the driver and front passenger now get knee bags.
Audi, which presumably didn't have any crucial product news to discuss today, proudly announced that despite the current state of the world economy, its global sales were up 7 percent in October and that November is looking promising. In fact, the company says it will sell 1 million cars this year. Nothing like a little corporate back patting at an event where many companies are lucky to even attend.
Presenters went on to tout the benefits of Audi's clean diesel engines and its commitment to using this technology in lieu of electric or hybrid-powered cars and trucks. We also heard all about the Audi Mileage Marathon in which journalists drove a fleet of TDI-powered cars and SUVs from New York to Los Angeles in a grossly consumptive effort to promote diesel power.
Audi claims its diesel engines, as a whole, consume 30 percent less fuel than gasoline engines of equal power. This claim is supported by the fact that on the Mileage Marathon the Audi Q7 TDI produced an impressive 33.1 mile per gallon peak.
Diesels might not be as popular with the green crowd as hybrids and electrics, but there are two simple, undeniable facts about diesel fuel which can't be ignored: (1) It doesn't pass the power-producing buck down to coal or nuclear power and (2) the infrastructure to deliver the fuel already exists.
"Find the gearshift by starlight," Nissan said as the 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible's retractable hardtop opened to the L.A. Convention Center's, uh, starry, starry rafters.
The new G convertible gets 325 horsepower from its 3.7-liter V6, mated to a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission.
Full pricing has not yet been announced, but the limited-run G37 Convertible Premier Edition sold exclusively through Bloomingdale's annual holiday catalog is priced just under $60,000.
Infiniti's first convertible in nearly two decades goes on sale next spring. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
Los Angeles was the North American debut of the Hyundai HED-5 i-Mode, the weirdly named concept powered by Hyundai's new 2.0-liter Theta GDI turbocharged four-cylinder. The HED-5 is a three-row, six-passenger crossover concept that foreshadows a near-future production version. I saw what looked to be some of the production test mules under camouflage at Hyundai-Kia's Namyang proving grounds on my Kia Soul journey to South Korea. If that was indeed the production version, they looked a lot larger than this concept version, which seems to be smaller than a Dodge Journey. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
With the Internet bursting with ugly tales of GT-R launch control abuse, broken transaxles and void warranties, a nasty rumor began; that the 2010 Nissan GT-R won't have launch control.
Could it be? Really?
So we asked and asked and asked. We asked three Nissan employees: one from the public relations department, one from engineering and one high-ranking executive. The first two confirmed its removal was being considered seriously, but the decision had not yet been made. Then the high-ranking executive confirmed the bad news.
"It's gone," he said when asked if launch control would return in 2010. "We just don't want to deal with the warranty nightmare anymore. It'll make the 2009 GT-R really special. It'll be the only R35 with launch control." -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
They usually give cool stuff away at auto shows, although this year there has understandably been a notable swag drop. However, today's His and Hers Swag of the Day Awards go to Mazda and Ford.
On the left is the Sprinkles cupcake Mazda gave away for the Mazda 3 debut. Being the generous guy I am, I brought it back to the media room. Here's how the scene went.
"If there's one thing I've learned over the years is that girls love cupcakes."
Upon which Erin Riches and Kelly Toepke perked up as I placed the boxed chocolate red velvet cupcake with white icing in between them. Despite Erin's initial attempts to avoid confirming my stereotype, she quickly ran off to get a knife. I've rarely seen Miss Riches so happy. Apparently it was delicious.
(As I wrote this, automotive editor Laura Burstein received a text message and exclaimed "Wait, Mazda gave away Sprinkles cupcakes!?!" She's no longer here.)
Not to be outdone, Ford gave away a Hot Wheels model of its redesigned 2010 Ford Mustang. I kept this one for myself. I've rarely been so happy at an auto show. This should up the model car count on my desk to 13. For Ford, that's 99 cents well spent -- I will, of course, never say a bad thing about them. -- James Riswick, Automotive Editor
You already know that the Lambo Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder has a 560-hp V10 and all-wheel drive. But what you didn't know is that this car has matte paint. And it's not a showcar -- this paint finish will be available in production.
I've been waiting for a manufacturer to production-ize matte-finish paint since Dave Coleman spray painted his Silvia flat black. -- Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
Cast aside in the corner, the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid sure played second fiddle to its Ford Fusion Hybrid sibling today during the Blue Oval's L.A. show press conference.
Jim Farley, Ford's group VP of marketing and communications, confidently said, "With Fusion and Milan, Ford will become the number-one producer of hybrids in America."
That's all the love the Milan Hybrid received as the spotlight shone brightly on the Fusion. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
There hasn't been a lot of wow news or wow production numbers at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, but a little bit of both were on display at the Hyundai show stand. Amid a flutter of dancers flouncing about with white sheets, Hyundai Blue Drive was unveiled, the company's new short- and long-term strategy for environmentally friendly and fuel-saving technologies.
On the eve of the LA Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz demonstrated an in-car Internet system called myCOMAND in the company's ConceptFASCINATION vehicle. Unlike current in-car Internet applications, which have grown in the past few months from none to about a half dozen, Mercedes plans to use MyCOMAND to provide access to media, communications and navigation functions -- and dump the hardware traditionally associated with those technologies.
Instead of CDs or even an iPod, music would be accessed from an online library. Instead of using a mobile phone, calls would be made via VOIP. Instead of directions and information from an outdated in-dash or portable nav system, drivers would use Google Maps. And instead of a DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system, passengers would watch videos on YouTube.
MyCOMAND would also bring all of the power and function of the Internet into the car, including searches for everything from gas to garage sales, reviews and rating for restaurants and other services and the ability to find parking spaces, the cheapest gas, movie show times or almost anything else that can be done on the Web.
Mercedes has no immediate plans to make the system available in production vehicles. Dr. Ralph Guido Merrtwich, director of infotainment and telematics research and advanced engineering for Mercedes, said at the unveiling that myCOMAND won't be ready until cellular networks literally get up to speed, which he predicted will be "rolled out starting in 2012."
That's eons in the fast-paced world of technology.
After all the talk about the Boxster's connection with Porsche history, the Cayman barely got a mention. It didn't really need much explanation anyway. It gets the same pair of upgraded engines as the Boxster, along with a few minor styling tweaks and slightly wider wheels to accommodate larger brakes.
At the Q&A session following the press conference, Porsche executives were asked if they have considered hybrid power for the Cayman. The emphatic answer was "No, it adds too much weight for a sports car." Confirmation of a Panamera hybrid was given, though, and Porsche still sees a future for the Cayenne Hybrid. Then again, they said that last year, too.
Ford formally unveiled its first hybrid sedan at the L.A. show today, the 2010 Fusion Hybrid. Billing the Fusion Hybrid as "America's most fuel-efficient sedan," Ford says the new hybrid can go 700 city miles on a single tank of gas.
The Fusion Hybrid will also run up to 47 mph on battery power alone. That means you might actually make it out of a parking garage before the gas engine comes to life.
With a 39 mpg city EPA rating, the Ford now trumps the Toyota Camry Hybrid's 34 mpg average. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
The big story about the 2010 Lexus RX 350 is that there's nothing big about it. Due to its wider track, it's slightly broader across the shoulders than the 2009 RX 350, but otherwise it has the same overall footprint. Its 107.9-inch wheelbase is only an inch longer than before, but there's still no third-row seat. RX owners, we're told, still don't want one.
"Keeping the right size was something we heard a lot of, because we certainly studied whether we wanted to add a third row," Ben Mitchell, an RX product planner, told us. "The majority of RX owners prioritize space in back, room for luggage."
To that end, the 2010 RX 350 has a more compact double-wishbone rear suspension, and after inspecting the cargo bay, we can attest that it intrudes less than the previous strut arrangement.
The previous RX's 3.5-liter V6 carries over but makes 275 horsepower this year (an increase of 5), and last year's five-speed automatic gives way to Toyota's six-speed unit with a manual-shift mode. The RX 350 gained some weight in the redesign (same basic platform architecture but more luxury gadgets), but we're told 0-60 times won't be affected much.
Electric power steering assist is new this year, but based on our recent experience with the Toyota Venza, we don't think this is a bad thing for the RX. "Owners asked for a little bit tighter response in the steering," said Mitchell, and we think we've delivered that without compromising comfort."
Probably the biggest change on the 2010 Lexus RX 350 is that it no longer has a touchscreen-style navigation system. Really. You now have to use a console controller called Remote Touch. We're told you can adjust the controller's sensitivity much like a computer mouse. To ease the transition, Lexus has a couple hands-on tutorials set up in the convention center that you can play with if you go to the show.
The 2010 Lexus RX 350 goes on sale in February 2009.
Porsche brought out the big guns when it came time to introduce the 2009 Boxster. And no, we're not talking about Jerry Seinfeld, who happened to be sitting in the front row, or the numerous executives and racing legends who sat on either side of him. Porsche actually went one bigger -- it bought out numero uno, as in the very first Porsche ever built.
Next to the 2009 Boxster, the silver 356 looked, well...gorgeous. Simple in its lines and purpose. Porsche executives rambled on for several minutes about how it set the tone for all Porsches after it. Strangely, they did not go into detail about how that philosphy was applied to the Cayenne.
As for the Boxster, it looks about the same as it did for 2008. New headlights, a few extra LEDs and different wheel designs are the only changes on the outside. There are new engines and a dual clutch transmission, too. You can read about all the details on the 2009 Porsche Boxster here.
Only minor tweaks exist under the skin of the new Mazda3. But the new sedan -- despite being 3.3 inches longer -- looks more aggressive than the car it replaces. The big news is the car's styling. To our eyes the current sedan never looked as sharp as the five-door -- subtle differences to every panel added up to a much different-looking machine.
For the first time in a few years, top Ford exec Mark Fields took the stage in Los Angeles to introduce Ford's revised midsize sedans to the automotive media.
Fields says 60 percent of Ford's production is now cars and 40 percent trucks, compared to a few years ago when the F-150 was King and cars totaled just 30 percent of the mix.
With every Ford product now scheduled for a three-year refresh, it was the 2010 Fusion's turn to go under the knife. The result includes expanded powertrain offerings, including a 2.5-liter inline-4 rated at 33 mpg, a flex-fuel 3.0-liter V6, and a 3.5-liter V6 for the new Fusion Sport, which Fields says will run from zero to 60 mph in 7 seconds.
There's also a new Fusion Hybrid, but more on that later. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
Since they have about $1.38 in available cash these days, Ford passed on doing separate press conferences for Lincoln, Mercury and the Blue Oval. Instead, they did one all together -- problem was, they weren't all on the same stage. As we sat there staring at the enormous Ford stage, this disembodied voice started speaking. We could see the teleprompter, but no promptee. Ford had called the auto show equivalent of an audible and started its 2010 Lincoln MKZ press conference over the gathered media's right shoulder at the Lincoln area (which moments earlier was the hors d'oeuvres station).
Anyway, I managed to get over there in time to hear the presentation and snap a few photos. The refreshed 2010 Lincoln MKZ now looks much less like a rebadged Fusion taking multiple design cues from the MKS (customers have apparently identified the split grille as "Lincolnesque"). In particular, the tail doesn't seem to be as high, lending a sleeker appearance. The interior is much richer-looking than the outgoing retro cabin and is a spitting image of the MKS.
There wasn't much mention of Mercury at the press conference, just the new Milan Hybrid sadly sitting in a corner. -- James Riswick, Edmunds.com Automotive Editor
Volkswagen pulled the wraps off its TDI diesel-powered VW Touareg Trophy Truck this morning. Not content with a mere class win, VW's Trophy Truck leaves no doubt that nothing less than an overall win in the Baja 1000 and other SCORE off-road events will suffice.
SCORE President Sal Fish (above) was on hand with drivers Ryan Arciero and Mark Miller for the announcement.
Powering this purpose-built two-wheel-drive machine is a 5.0-liter TDI diesel V12 engine that VW officials at the launch said makes "550 horsepower and nearly unlimited torque." Presumably the limit is whatever the custom-made driveline components can stand for 1,000 miles of abuse.
When Honda lifted the cover from their FC Sport concept, someone behind me let out an involuntary "whoa!" We weren't expecting anything as extreme as this when Honda veep Dan Bonawitz teased the concept's unveiling as "something to think about and hope for."
This sports car exercise by Honda's Southern California design center was spearheaded by designer Jason Wilbur, who claims inspiration from "hexagonal cellular structures" superimposed on a more organic form. The result is stunning -- the FC Sport is radical, like a Civic Si Transformer whose robot form is a stormtrooper.
Pictures don't do this concept justice, but I snapped a bunch of them so that your mind can try to get around it.
BMW's 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged diesel straight-6 has earned much critical acclaim in Europe, and now the company will really and truly offer it in the U.S. Show up at your BMW dealer in December and you'll be able to buy both the 2009 BMW 335d and 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d. And that's it in all 50 states. Both meet the BIN 5 standard using a pair of AdBlue urea tanks.
AdBlue injection systems aren't cheap, of course, so we're not surprised the $44,725 335d costs about $4 grand more than a manual-shift 335i while offering similar performance -- BMW's 0-60 claim for the diesel 3 Series is 6 seconds flat. EPA stats are 23/36. That's all with a six-speed automatic, the only transmission available on the 335d.
The 2009 X5 xDrive35d, er, diesel X5, comes in at $52,025, but since the base X5 lacks the company's twin-turbo gasoline inline-6, the price jump is easier to swallow. BMW says the diesel X5 will hit 60 mph in 6.8 seconds -- as quick as the V8 X5. Rated at 19 city/26 highway, it's vastly more efficient than any other BMW X5 past or present. Additionally, as Auto Observer reported last week, both diesels qualify for a tax credit.
Save for a couple guys diving under the X5's hood to spot the AdBlue tanks, the cutely electric Mini E and redesigned 7 Series got most of the attention at the BMW booth. But we're much more interested in the diesel Bimmers. Like BMW's gasoline twin-turbo six, the 2,993cc engine in these cars uses both a small and a large turbocharger to create a vast spread of torque, peaking at 425 lb-ft from 1,750-2,250 rpm.
Now that it's 50-state-certified, the remaining question mark is sales volume. As the quickest (probably) and most efficient member of the X5 family, the X5 xDrive35d is an easy sell. But given how good the 335i is, the pricier 335d might not be.
It wasn't that long ago that a vehicle like the 2009 Nissan Cube would have been a mere afterthought at a major U.S. press conference. Tucked away in a dark corner as a novelty, it would have received only a token line somewhere between yearly sales numbers and a reminder that smoothies would be served immediately following the press conference.
Not today, though. No, today the Nissan Cube shared the spotlight with the 370Z up on the main stage. Even with falling gas prices, the prospect of an ultra-efficient and strangely stylish econobox hasn't lost its luster. And after the press conference, the crowds around the Cube were just as deep as those hovering over the 370Z sports car. Its success is far from guaranteed, but judging by the interest shown today, the Cube has a good chance of stealing whatever interest is left in Scion's xB. Pricing will be announced at the Chicago auto show in February.
Nissan kept it short and sweet this morning when it came time to introduce the 2009 370Z. Sure, there was a little smoke and a minute or two of loud music, but after that it was all business. In fact, Al Castignetti, Nissan's vice president of sales, got right to it and announced the base price of the 370Z -- just $29,930 when it goes on sale early next year. Not bad for 332 horsepower.
After weeks of annoyingly frequent teaser shots, we finally got a chance to see the 2010 Ford Mustang firsthand. It was introduced at an event here in Santa Monica that included a little drifting, a who's-who of Ford racing legends and of course, ol' Shel himself.
It was a good show, but when all the fanfare was over and we got a closer look at the 2010 Mustang, it wasn't all that impressive. Ford says that nearly all the exterior sheet metal is new, but you would be hard-pressed to spot the differences. Most of the interior has been revamped, too, but again, it only looks better if you're intimately familiar with the current cabin.
Who knows? Maybe it will look that much better on the road. We'll know early next year as it's scheduled to go on sale just in time to do battle with the Chevrolet Camaro.
Oh, and one more thing, Ford executive Mark Fields said to keep an eye out for more Mustang news at the Detroit auto show in January. So yeah, it's not even on sale yet and Ford is already rolling out the derivatives.
Though the official 2008 L.A. Auto Show unveiling happens tomorrow at the convention center, 100-odd journalists from the U.S. and Europe had a meet-and-greet with the Mini E today on the second floor rooftop of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. We're told a crane was used to hoist the showcar up here. Probably it was a rather sturdy crane, too, as the Mini E is a fatty at 3,229 pounds -- a normal Mini Cooper S lists at under 2,700 pounds.
As we reported in the IL news today, Mini will lease the car to real-live customers in early 2009. The 450 lessees will get to keep the car for 12 months, paying $850 per month. That figure has nothing to do with the actual cost of the car, which packs 5,088 laptop-grade, lithium-ion cells (housed in 48 modules and packed into 3 storage boxes in the hatch area). That monthly payment includes all service visits (every 3,000 miles), insurance and the installation of a 220-volt box in the customer's home -- allowing 2-to-3-hour recharges of the 35-kilowatt-hour battery pack.
The lessee selection process promises much competition and disappointment, as the Mini Es will be doled out to both businesses and private individuals and only to those living in greater Los Angeles and the NY-NJ-CT tri-state area.
Mini officials are keen to emphasize that this is merely a field trial -- and that putting electric drive components in a Mini is a marriage of convenience, rather than an idealized packaging scenario. All drivetrain components (201-hp electric motor, batteries) are sourced from California-based AC Propulsion and then shipped to Munich, where they are installed in a Mini Cooper shipped from Oxford.
"A conversion is always a bad compromise," one BMW engineer told us. "The ideal architecture would be purpose-built. If I had the chance to build an electric car from scratch, to create a car with some performance, I would go for rear-axle-drive."
Later, we got a chance to drive the Mini E. We'll tell you all about it in an upcoming first drive.
VW will show their new Touareg off-road racer that will compete in the upcoming Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 desert race.
It will be powered by a 5.5L V12 turbo clean diesel, which puts out 550 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. In addition it will be equipped with a trick suspension that offers 25 inches of wheel travel.
We mentioned that GM had canceled any and all announcements at the LA auto show. Porsche has passed on the Detroit show, as will Suzuki. Now word is out that Ferrari, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce have backed out of the Detroit show. Wow...
You know things are tough when the General won't air-freight Bob Lutz to a major auto show, and in addition, cancels all their scheduled press events. Yep, you can thank the dire situation at GM for this latest turn of events.
Oh, the new vehicles will be on display, but there won't be any fancy happenings pertaining them. One particularly noteworthy press cancelation is that of the Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid convertible concept.
What: Edmunds' Inside Line and Nissan celebrate the all-new 370Z with a private preview party five days before its official world premiere at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. Bring a new or old Z if you have one, and come see and touch the new version with fellow enthusiasts.
When: Saturday, November 15, 2008
4:00-8:00 P.M. PST
Where: TBWA/Chiat Day
5353 Grosvenor Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Cost: Admission is free and Edmunds' Inside Line will provide food and giveaways.
Details: Edmunds' Inside Line and Nissan are proud to announce a special roll-out of the all-new 2009 Nissan 370Z. This will be the first unveiling of the 370Z on U.S. soil. There will be three fully functioning 370Zs at the event, including two production vehicles and one test mule. And yes, you'll be able to sit in the car and poke around under the hood. Bring your new or old Nissan to display at the event if you have one or just bring yourself. Check out Inside Line's unveiling of the Nissan GT-R to see what this event is all about.
If you have any questions, please contact Inside Line Editor-in-Chief Scott Oldham at soldham@edmunds.com.
An image from the brochure of the next-gen Lexus RX CUV has made its way up on to the Net. The car will officially debut at the LA auto show shortly. It's expected that the car will retain the 3.5L V6, but may get a power bump to around 280 hp. There is also a possibility that the new RX may be offered with seven-passenger seating. The car should hit showrooms in the first quarter of next year.
Yep. She's a real looker, for sure. Nissan has taken the wraps off the new 370Z coupe, which will officially debut at the LA auto show. Besides the larger 3.7L engine, expect a choice of a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed automatic to be offered.
The only thing I question is the rear quarter window. Yeah, it helps the profile's styling, but why even bother as it's absolutely useless in terms of being able to see out of.
...Oh, final comment: Why couldn't the GT-R have looked half this good? Or better yet: Why couldn't Nissan just have developed a GT-R version of this new 370Z?
For Mazda3 fans, the upcoming LA show is both good news and bad news. The good is that the all-new Mazda3 will debut. The bad news is the all-new Mazdaspeed3 will be MIA.
Not sure exactly when the new Speed3 will debut (could be next year?), so in the meantime some teaser spy photos will just have to do.
It's well known that racing has contributed heavily to the design and engineering of vehicles that you and I drive. With that thought in mind the LA Auto Show will feature a display of what future race cars might be like in 2025, what they may offer in terms of technology and safety; and ultimately, how that might be applied to ordinary cars sometime in the future.
The designs are part of the fifth annual Los Angeles Auto Show's Design Challenge, where studios including Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen are pitted against each other to showcase their talents and further explore new ideas in automotive design.
Mini will offer 500 electric-powered Minis to those folks living in California, New York and New Jersey. The car will be targeted at corporate buyers, as well as private buyers.
The car features a lithium-ion battery pack and a 201-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels through a single-stage helical gearbox. The motor will produce peak torque of 162 pound-feet and will enable the car to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 8.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 95 mph, and the car can travel up to 150 miles on a single charge.In order to make this conversion, the standard Mini was made into a two-seater to fit the battery pack, which can be recharged from any standard power outlet. The Mini E will also come with a special "wallbox" charging unit that will enable the batteries to fully charge in 2.5 hours.Here's Inside Line's take: 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show: Mini E
The Toyota Smart-fighter, the iQ, will be on display at the LA auto show. There is some speculation that it could be sold here under the Scion banner, and could come in under $15K.
The iQ is scheduled to go on sale in Europe and Japan in 2010. If it does come here the current 3-cylinder engine might be replaced with a more powerful 4-cylinder unit.Full story here.
Interesting. It looks like Mazda has discovered the happy face (as opposed to Mitsubishi's angry face) as the new look for their cars. We saw it first on the facelifted Miata, and now again on the 2010 Mazda 3. The new car will debut at the LA auto show, and will be available with both 2.0L and 2.5L engines.
Set to debut at the LA auto show, images of a lightly camouflaged Nissan 370Z have been posted up on the Net. While similar in look to the current 350Z, closer examination indicates a more substantial change from that model. The fenders seem to be much more pronounced and the roof appears to have a more severe rake to it.
The hardtop-convertible battle is going to heat up shortly, as the American and European luxury carmakers will shortly also have Lexus and Infiniti to contend with. Actually the new Infiniti G37 convertible (2008 Los Angeles Auto Show: Infiniti G37 Convertible) and the Lexus IS 250/350 (2008 Paris Auto Show: 2010 Lexus IS 250/350C) will likely do battle among themselves first, with the other entries being secondary targets. Even so, that's not good news for BMW, Saab, etc.
Both these new hard-droptops will go on sale this spring.Also of note is that Infiniti will be offering AWD on their 2009 fixed-roof G37 coupe (Infiniti Adds All-Wheel-Drive Coupe to 2009 G37 Lineup), thereby making it a G37x coupe. Also interesting to note that 40 percent of all G37 sedan buyers opt for AWD, and Infiniti is expecting the percentage for the AWD coupe will be between 30 and 40 percent of their total coupe sales.
Mitsubishi Motors is participating in this year's Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, which pits Southern California-based OE design studios against one another for ultimate bragging rights. This year's theme is: Motorsports in 2025.
States David O'Connell, Chief Designer, Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America:
"This year's Motorsport 2025 project is just the sort of assignment the designers at Mitsubishi Motors dream of. It's rooted it the reality of automotive competition that our company is so successful at, but lets us look way out on the horizon as to where technology may take us. We all loved hearing the words, 'design a race car,' but really smiled when we learned it was a race car for the year 2025. That combined with linking the car to some of the fabulous racing heritage that's taken place here in California makes it indeed one of the most exciting projects we've ever worked on. My dream would be to actually build and drive this car on the course it was designed for."
Infiniti released a photo of their upcoming G37 convertible at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The actual car, which has the now-obligatory folding hardtop, will debut at the LA auto show in November.
The Infiniti G37 lineup consists of perhaps some of the best looking and most desirable cars ever to come from the Land of the Rising Sun. This is even more true of the G37 Coupe, a vehicle that's so good looking that it makes the Nissan GT-R look like the morning after of a night of too much sake.
So news that there will be an AWD version of the G37 Coupe has me a just bit giddy. Better still, Inifiniti is planning on doing a folding hardtop version as well, but likely in RWD. The hardtop-convertible will debut at the LA auto show in November, and will arrive in the first quarter of next year.
Also coming for all 2009 G models is a new 7-speed automatic that will replace the current 6-speed unit, plus an uprated brake package and new 18" rims.
LeftLaneNews is reporting that a possible new mid-engine sportscar from VW may be in the works, and may be displayed at the LA auto show. If true, this would be a 'halo' car for the VW brand. Even more intrieging is that Audi and Porsche may also get versions.
Think of this as being a modern-day VW/Porsche 914. Also think Lotus Elise-fighter, but cheaper; well the VW version will be cheaper. A couple of engine could be used, all based on a four inline four-cylinder format set in front of the rear axles. As to specifics, a gasoline 1.4-liter turbo engine making 168 horsepower and a new 1.6-liter diesel with 125hp are under consideration. Either engine will likely use a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Audi version would likely use the 211hp 2.0TFSI engine, with the option of a twin-turbo 2.0-liter TDI good for 204hp. Porsche may even revive the 914 nameplate for their model.
Also expected is an aluminum spaceframe. If true, the car would weigh in at under 2,200lbs, which would mean great performance as well as fuel economy.
Carscoop lived up to their name by scooping an image of the upcoming Nissan 370Z. The image was taken by someone with a camera phone at a recent Nissan event.
As you might expect the new Z will be powered by a 3.7L V6 with horsepower well north of 300. It is expected to debut at the next LA auto show next fall...
This past Saturday Edmunds' Inside Line and Nissan teamed up to throw a GT-R party. If you were there you got to hear and touch the year's most anticipated car. If you missed it, well, you'll just have to wait and read all about it on Inside Line. We shot so many photos and so much video you'll get to feel like you were there even if you weren't...
The LA Auto show is the latest target of the Freedom from Oil folks, as they are staging demonstrations at the show entrance. The activists plan to show up automakers by converting a traditional hybrid to 100-mpg plug-in electric hybrid at the LA Auto Show.
The Porsche exhibit was light on excitement this week, except of course for the basic fact it was filled with Porsches. Unlike all the other manufacturers, Porsche had its own large exhibit hall to itself including a pretty nifty entry way. Instead of describing it to you, though, here is the final Martin Scorcese short from the 2007 LA Auto Show. I think Marty outdid himself on this one...
I don't know how they did it and there were no displays I could see explaining it, but this Volvo C30 2.0's windows have been replaced by video screens displaying snowboarding scenes. I thought it was one of the cooler displays at the show. Considering Pimp My Ride once put a 30-inch plasma screen UNDER a 4Runner, it's only a matter of time before they try something like this. Why do I need to see the road when I can better spend my time watching the Flying Tomato?..
Given its roughly $1.4 million price tag, you wouldn’t think the Lamborghini Reventon would travel much. Well, one made the trip to LA for today’s press conference, and there was a good reason according to Stefan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini. California is the single biggest market in the U.S., and the U.S. is the single biggest market in the world...
Tired of the usual this and that, I wandered down into the bowels of the 2007 LA Auto Show in search of something interesting. I found it in Kentia Hall. Essentially, the basement of Los Angeles Convention Center, Kentia Hall is where the show organizers put all the weird, the wacky and the aftermarket. It's a mini SEMA Show down there, from wheels to funny cars to helicopters. No, I'm not kidding. Here's what I found. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
The sign caught my eye so I wandered into the American Roadster booth at the 2007 LA Auto Show. Mistake. Built by Eco-Fueler of Oregon (www.eco-fueler.com) the Roadster is a three-wheeler that runs on compressed natural gas. It also might be the ugliest thing this side of a pancreas...
We wouldn't be surprised if the crowd that was circling the Ferrari stand had been following the 2008 430 Scuderia since it made its worldwide debut at the Frankfurt auto show. It's just that kind of car.
At 2,975 pounds, the 430 Scuderia cranks 503 horsepower from its 4.3-liter V8.
During the press conference, Maurizio Parlato, president and CEO of Ferrari North America, boasted that Ferrari's production volume is now at a whopping 6,000 cars per year worldwide, with many thanks going to the wealthy auto aficionados in the Far and Middle East...
Think the 2007 LA Auto Show is all about subcompacts and supercars? Think again. We went looking for something interesting and found this. It's the Hoss Fly V8-powered barstool and I'm thinking it would be a nice addition to our long-term test fleet...
Maserati may not be a high-volume automaker today, but who knows what the future holds. As announced during the L.A. Auto Show, Quattroporte numbers are up 49 percent this year, and all 2007s are officially sold out. The company is already taking orders for 2008, so if you want your bespoke Italian exotic break out those order guides and fire up your checkbook...
At the beginning of yesterday's unveil of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe Concept, John Krafcik, Hyundai's product chief, discussed the company's succession plans for the current Tiburon coupe. He said Hyundai was well aware of the Tiburon's fan base and it wasn't about to force them into the bigger and more expensive Genesis coupe. According to Krafcik there's another coupe in the works. It will slot below the Genesis coupe and use a smaller, front-wheel-drive platform...
Please write your own caption of our awesome scowling Governator and Al Weverstad, GM executive director of environment and safety policy.
California Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger stopped by the L.A. Auto Show today (and was a half-hour late bumping back the day's car intros) to share his views on reducing fossil fuels, lowering emissions, how great a car culture Caleeforneea is, yada yada yada. His requisite acting career reference was "I haven't seen this much technology since my Terminator movies." Hahaha, LOL. I'm still in hysterics...
Something funny happened on the way to the auto show...well, not so funny if you're Kia.
En route to the LA show the Kia Kee concept smashed its face inside the car carrier, leaving the Kia KND-4 concept as the solo North American debut. The compact SUV concept made its worldwide debut at the Seoul auto show in April.
Newly promoted Kia president and CEO Len Hunt says the KND-4 is "a vital vehicle because it showcases dynamic and sophisticated styling cues that are strongly indicative of future Kia SUV models."
The KND-4 is powered by a 2.2-liter Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) diesel engine with Kia's Active Torque Transfer (ATT) system...
No big surprises at the North American debut of the 2008 Subaru WRX STI. The announced specs of the 2.5-liter version are no different than the Japanese 2.0-liter shown in Tokyo. It still has 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque, although the horsepower peaks at 6,000 rpm while max torque is delivered at just 4,000 rpm. Like the Japanese version, Subaru claims the WRX STI will go from zero to 60 in just 4.9 seconds...
We've seen the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution before. You've seen the Evo before. Your Grandma Jean and her friend Esther have probably seen it, too. On Day 1 of the show, Mitsubishi didn't even bother covering it up with black sheets...
In addition to rolling out its Malibu, Silverado and Tahoe hybrids at the LA Auto Show, Chevrolet also used the occasion to announce production of the Beat minicar concept. It won out in an online poll that pitted three minicar concepts against each other in a virtual popularity contest. GM's South Korean design center came up with the design and Chevrolet plans to put it into production by mid-2009. Don't get too excited though, as it's intended for markets outside the U.S...
Most auto execs at the show understandably use one or more teleprompters during their lengthy presentations to the media. Sometimes, as in the case of Ford/Lincoln's Mark Fields, the teleprompter can't help pronunciation. So, I must give major kudos to Mini USA Vice President Jim McDowell who memorized his entire six-page speech and vehicle presentation. He certainly didn't nail it verbatim (they actually handed out the speech), but we got the gist and he managed to come across as something other than an audio animatronic in a suit.
See the two partial videos below for most of his Clubman presentation, and note the lack of teleprompter. I especially like in video 2 when McDowell describes how he'll be up until midnight opening and closing the tailgates just because it's so much fun to see them open around the taillights. You just get the idea he really loves these cars.
Also, check out the man's shoes. If those don't say "I'm a Mini executive" I don't know what does. I was going to ask him about them, but somehow I felt silly asking about black and gray Velcro shoes in lieu of the shiny blue Mini Clubman sitting next to him. I'll let you know tomorrow if I see Bob Lutz cruising around the show in Skechers. -- James Riswick, Associate Editor
Make sure your teen keeps his/her eyes open for this SAT anagram. Pork: The Other White Meat :: Clubman: The Other Mini
Mini chose Los Angeles for the North American introduction of its new Clubman. This is the third Mini model, with a larger crossoverlike vehicle to come, and a further step in "moving Mini from a cult car to culture." I just love auto show slogans. Pricing for the base Cooper Clubman was announced as $20,600 and $24,100 for the Cooper S Clubman, both including 3-year free maintenance...
After showing off the all-new 2008 Volvo V70, President Anne E. Belec announced pricing at $32,465. This is a 6 percent increase over the previous V70's price, but as you might expect it comes loaded with the latest safety features, including Lane-Departure Warning, Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Driver Alert Control. No word yet on the rumored "Unruly Kid Control" option (frequently requested during Volvo's focus group testing)...
“When it hits the market in early 2009, we aim to deliver a driving experience that challenges cars like Infiniti G37, at prices more like Mitsubishi Eclipse.” A bold claim from a company that seems hell bent on bringing a new crossover vehicle to market every couple of months.
Although the car shown today at the 2007 LA Auto show was nothing more than a shell, Hyundai product chief John Krafcik made some big promises to back up Hyundai’s claim. He glossed right over the turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s expected to power base models and went right to the top-of-the-line 3.8-liter V6. “We plan to offer the most affordable 300-hp coupe on the market,” Krafcik boasted.
The all-aluminum engine will also have more than 250 pound-feet of torque and continuously variable valve timing. Hyundai also said that the new rear-wheel-drive coupe will go from zero to 60 in less than 6 seconds. Other notable performance parts include a six-speed manual transmission, Brembo brakes and a limited-slip differential.
This coupe is often described as Hyundai’s Mustang, and its dimensions are pretty close to Ford’s pony car. Both cars are the same height, but the Hyundai is nearly an inch wider and 4 inches shorter in overall length. The wheels on the Hyundai must be pushed to the corners, however, as it rides on a wheelbase that's 4 inches longer than the Mustang.
If a big rear-wheel-drive coupe with 300 hp doesn’t interest you for some reason, Krafcik told the audience that Hyundai is also working on a smaller, front-wheel-drive replacement for the current Tiburon. He said to look to the Veloster concept for an idea of what the company has in mind. – Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
BMW announced pricing for the 2008 1 Series Coupe this afternoon at the 2007 LA Auto Show. When the coupe hits dealerships in the spring of '08, expect the 128i to start at $29,375 and 135i at $35,675. Tom Purves, chairman and CEO of BMW also announced that a 1 Series convertible will be shown at the Detroit auto show.
Purves, with the new M3 sedan and coupe in the background, ended the presentation by revealing that the concept BMW CS will be built...
With the green theme adopted in most automakers' press conferences, it was no shocker that the decidedly antisocial 2008 Dodge Viper ACR got the shaft. Not a word was mentioned about it during Chrysler's SUV festival. Instead, the 600-hp Viper ACR sat awkwardly on stage left, looking like a guy who accidentally showed up at an Amish village wearing only banana sling underwear and a ski mask.
Two hours after Nissan's press conference ended, the turntable which displayed the 2009 Nissan GT-R was still mobbed. That is, until Carlos Ghosn returned to the stand. Like a parting of the Red Sea, the highly diverse crowd (I swear I saw Snoop Dogg) fell back and Ghosn posed with the car (again).
Finally I was in position to get a clear blog shot of the 473-hp GT-R supercar on American soil...
The Rubik's Cube theme in the background represents The Total Package. You see, a Rubik's Cube has six sides, and there are six things a vehicle needs to excel at in order to... excel? Ah, forget it. The 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid twins are significant, however.
Probably the most interesting figure stated during the Porsche press conference related to the company's history in fuel efficiency. According to Peter Schwarzenbauer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, the brand's model lineup has averaged a 2 percent gain in fuel mileage, year-over-year, during the past 20 years. Two percent may not sound like much, but compare that to most automakers' history of fuel mileage over the past two decades. Porsche reps were also quick to point out that Ferdinand Porsche created his first all-electric car at the age of 23 and displayed it at the Paris auto show in 1900.
As for the future of "green" Porsches, you can expect not only a Cayenne Hybrid (capable of speeds up to 75 mph on pure electricity!) by the end of this decade, but a Panamera Hybrid to follow the sedan's 2009 launch.
To see how the status of the LA auto show has changed due to the change to a November date, all you need to do is look at the quality of the manufacturer displays.
During a media lunch today, Ed Peper, general manager of the Chevrolet division, announced pricing for the 2008 Tahoe Hybrid. The two-mode hybrid is set at $50,490 for the two-wheel-drive Tahoe, and $53,295 for the four-wheel model. Prices include delivery.
Chevy was eager to point out that both hybrids come with leather and navigation standard, yet are still priced below a loaded gas-guzzling Tahoe LTZ at $55,580...
As gasoline passes $3.50 per gallon, seemingly headed to $4, Toyota unveiled a full makeover of its 2008 Sequoia, a full-size SUV that has gone unchanged since it was first introduced in 2001. Toyota Division Group Vice President Bob Carter put it this way: "People who buy a full-size SUV typically need a full-size SUV." About half of them live in our neighborhood, Bob, but we get your point.
Volkswagen broke out the big guns for the introduction of its Space Up! Blue fuel cell vehicle. Surrounded by basketball-dribbling guys in Lakers jerseys, the tiny compact car rolled out of what looked like a gigantic Pringles can with former NBA player John Salley riding shotgun. After some inane banter with a VW executive who asked what Salley thought of the car, the co-host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period disappeared. Didn't really get the connection. So come to think of it, maybe they weren't such big guns.
Anyway, Volkswagen's Space Up! concept was shown in Tokyo, but the Blue version features VW's new high-temperature fuel cell (HT-FC). Featuring an electric motor capable of producing 45 KW, this subcompact can reach a theoretical top speed of 75 mph and can go from zero to 62 mph in a "dynamic" 13.7 seconds. Yes, very dynamic. The batteries have a range of 65 miles and with the hydrogen fuel cell, range is estimated to be 220 miles.
The Germans' odd fascination with minor American celebrities continued today with the introduction of the Audi Cross Cabriolet Concept. None other than Peter Greenberg, the travel reporter for The Today Show (we did say minor), hosted today's press conference and it was about as exciting as you might expect. He started out by shelling Rupert Stadler, chairman of Audi AG, with questions about the shock of having to pay $3 for a gallon of gas in the U.S. Apparently Mr...
If you think the control interface shown in the video below looks familiar, Volkswagen's designers agree. However, VW's new prototype touchscreen interface was developed completely separate from the iPhone. According to VW interface designer Gustav Hofmann, those on the design team were quite surprised when iPhone advertisements showed up with a touchscreen interface and carousel menus eerily similar to those found in the Space Up! Blue concept vehicle shown here in Los Angeles.
The 2009 Silverado Hybrid made its debut this morning at the 2007 LA Auto Show. By applying GM's two-mode hybrid system and electronically variable transmission to the existing 6.0-liter V8 in the Silverado, the hybrid version becomes the most fuel-efficient full-size truck around.
Chevrolet also announced its intentions to aggressively promote fuel-saving technologies within the brand's current and future lineups. One way to start the promotion is by driving all of your "green" vehicles on stage at once...
If there's one good sign that Chevrolet is serious about hybrids these days, the introduction of the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is a pretty good indicator. You see, at the GM press conference today at the LA Auto Show, the Malibu barely got a mention. A couple years of ago, it would have been given its very own press conference, but today it was just one of seven alternative powertrain vehicles that crowded the stage. In fact, Ed Peper, general manager of Chevrolet, seemed far more excited about the Silverado Hybrid and the Equinox fuel-cell vehicle...
Honda pulled the wraps off of the customer version of the sleek-looking 2008 FCX hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle at the LA auto show this morning and gave it a name – FCX Clarity. Honda President Tetsuo Iwamura said that Clarity is “a name that speaks to Honda’s clear view of the future.” This future becomes available to the public in the summer of 2008.
The prototype we drove last year looked quite stunning, as most concepts do. We’re happy to report that the production version we’re looking at today, while slightly tweaked in the headlamp and taillamp areas, looks every bit as attractive. OK, the tires are now skinnier 215/60R16 low rolling resistance units, but it still looks good. Who said green cars had to look dorky? And in a welcome break from alt-fuel vehicle rollout tradition, this one’s painted a deep red.
Referring to the clean-technology revolution getting underway, GM's Bob Lutz called this "as big a shift as a century ago, when the horse and carriage became the horseLESS carriage."
He talked about Project Driveway, the program that will put 100 fuel-cell Equinoxes in use (including 10 with the Walt Disney Company), and announced the corporation's commitment to make Chevrolet the world's fuel-solutions leader.
As the keynote speaker kicking off LA show press days, Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally circled back to the phrase "enabling technology" time and again. Energy efficiency and sustainability needs lots of new and improved technologies, which in turn enable progress on all fronts.
Alan's best laugh came from an anecdote about the importance of fuel efficiency in aviation, the industry he came from. "When you're taking 300 people to 40,000 feet and flying them to Honolulu, baggage claim is messy if you land short."
GM held a pre-L.A. auto show dinner last night hosted by Bob Lutz, vice chairman of product development. Among his many notable quotes were a few choice words he had to say about the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. Apparently, the concept vehicle shown in Detroit isn't quite as aerodynamic as it looked, a factor that will result in significant changes to the production design...
No stop-the-presses announcements at Ford's reception/dinner tonight, but some notable quotes, maybe. Alan Mullaly, Mark Fields, Peter Horbury and Jim Farley spoke to topics raised in a one-question-each, once around the table format, with about 30 journalists.
On the subject of the weakening dollar, which I raised as requested, they admitted it was a critical issue (they're bringing over B and C cars from Europe, and of course continuing with Volvo), but wouldn't be drawn into "what if it gets real bad" scenarios. Alan said: "We'll always take that into account in engineering and production, but right now, our plants and plans are well positioned for where the currency rates are."
He got a laugh when someone asked about a recent press report quoting him as saying, "Stick to the goddam plan." He said, "I must have said it, because I believe all the shit I read in the papers."
To a question about fuel savings and the environment, he said, "The basic principles are always alternative fuels, vehicle technology, volume and affordability."
Asked whether Ford would eventually need a partner to survive, Alan said, "Absolutely not...
Well it is La-La Land, right? So what do you expect?
From the Press Release:
Freedom From Oil Campaign to Expose Auto Industry’s Eco-Hypocrisy at Los Angeles Auto Show Automakers touting eco-friendly concepts while fighting pollution regulations in California and elsewhere
LOS ANGELES – This week, the Los Angeles Auto Show will kick off to great eco fanfare as the auto industry rolls out a series of concept cars in an effort to deflect building criticism from environmental advocates. Meanwhile, automakers are blocking tougher emissions standards in the courts, where they are locked in a longstanding legal fight to block laws passed by California and 11 other states that would regulate global warming pollution from tailpipe emissions.
Later this week, environmental and human rights advocates will hold a series of creative actions outside the Los Angeles Convention Center, calling attention to the wide gap between the auto industry’s words and actions. Members of the Freedom From Oil Campaign will call on automakers to mass produce pollution-free, petroleum-free vehicles and will prove the viability of such technologies by performing a one-day, rapid conversion of a traditional gasoline-electric hybrid to a 100 mpg plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
Thanks to our very own Edmunds in-house Subie guru, Loren, we have some images of the all-new US-spec Subaru STI taken at Laguna Seca Raceway. The new STl will be introduced at the LA auto show in a few days.
And in somewhat related news, the STI's arch rival, the all-new Mitsubishi Evo has hit a snag with its Dual Clutch transmission. It turns out that some last-minute glitches have turned up, and Mitsubishi wisely decided to postpone that option for a few months until the gremlins have been worked out...
Poor Kia has just given real meaning to the phrase "damage control," as their new Kee concept was damaged on the way to its North American debut at the LA auto show. The vehicle somehow worked its way loose of its cargo restraints inside the car transporter, and, well, was... damaged.
So, it's back to Italy to fix its broken nose, and thus will be M.I.A...
Looks like the Hyundai enthusiasts over at www.newtiburon.com have acquired some photos of what looks like the production version of the Hyundai Genesis coupe. The concept version will be shown next week at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, but who cares about the concept when you can see the real thing?
According to the post, the information and photos were gleaned from a marketing presentation several months ago which seems plausible given the Mustang coupe on hand for comparison. They were told there would be two engines: a 2.0-liter 215hp turbo four-cylinder and a 300hp 3.8-liter V6...
Long suspected, it has now been revealed that Subaru will debut the US-spec STI at the LA auto show. A Subaru dealer over at NASIOC is reporting having received an e-mail from SOA confirming the news.
It’s set for an official debut in about two weeks at the L.A. auto show, but here’s an early peek at the 2009 Nissan Murano. We weren’t expecting big changes from Nissan’s midsize crossover and this prototype doesn’t appear that far removed from the current model. The overall shape and size is the same as the current model and even the wheels look familiar...
The Ford Mustang Bullitt™ is back for 2008, making its first public showing at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on Nov. 13. Blending the best Mustang ever with the latest Ford Racing technology, this modern classic lives up to the magic of the movie “Bullitt” by delivering a new-generation Mustang Bullitt with the perfect balance of power, performance and a look of quiet intensity. Bullitt screams into dealerships early next year...
Honda has announced that they will use the LA auto show to debut their first "production" fuel-cell car. The announcement was made by Honda's president and CEO Takeo Fukui. The car is expected to go on sale in both the U.S. and Japan next year sometime...
General Motors will introduce the 2009 Pontiac Vibe at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show in November. All-new, but still retaining the original's blend of style, performance and versatility, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe also signals the return of the popular all-wheel drive and performance-oriented GT models (shown here). The new Vibe will debut at the LA auto show and will be available at Pontiac dealerships in early 2008.
Okay all you would-be car designers, here's your chance to see if you got what it takes. Mazda is giving you an opportunity to design a future Mazda3. The winning selection will be shown at the upcoming LA auto show.
The LA auto show has moved its date up roughly two weeks to November 16-25. Why, you ask? Apparently the date they wanted was already booked by another group: the Finger of God Good News Ministries’ “Set Up the Standard Crusade,” Ski Dazzle and T. Harv Eker’s Millionaire Mind Intensive Seminar...
It's no secret that the Detroit auto show leaves something to be desired. Cobo Hall is old—and more important is really showing its age. The area hotels and restaurants could be better, as well. Auto journalists and industry types have complained about this for some time now. And most recently Porsche stated that they would no longer display at the Detroit show, as they sell few vehicle in Michigan.
Other factors coming into play are the other major U.S. auto shows, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, are making headway in terms of prestige. Each of these other shows out-Detroit in any number of ways. Even so, Detroit seems to holding its own, at least for the short term.
It doesn't reveal much, but this spy photo of the 2009 Ford Mustang does indicate there's an overhaul in progress for the Blue Oval's pony car. With competition looming from the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, the Mustang is going to need a little refresh to stay competitive. Although the front end of this prototype bears a few similarities to the Giugiaro designed concept shown at the L.A. auto show this year, we would be surprised if the final version looks anything like the Italian stallion...
As you may be aware, this Hummer 02 concept won the LA Auto Show's
Challenge. Here's a follow-up on the this design concept. It's pretty
wild, to say the least.
The big reason for LA to change their show dates this year was to get out from under the shadow of the Detroit Auto Show. The feeling was that the LA show suffered from being scheduled so close to the NAIAS, and that by moving the dates up, it would attract more world and US new model debuts, both production and concept.
I raise this question because, frankly, I wasn't that impressed. I was expecting more—and I'm not the only one, as there was an editorial in Automotive News by staff writer Mark Rechtin stating pretty much the same thing...
In the exotic car side hall of the 2007 LA Auto show, Dutch boutique super-carmaker and recently-minted bottom-feeder F1 team owner Spyker displayed their D12 Peking to Paris. You read that right, that is the name of this SUV-ish... thing. And it has a foot-long name badge running along the back to prove it.
Some pretty neat stuff here being shown at the LA Auto Show Design Challenge. The winner this year is this wild intergalactic-looking Hummer 02, a hydrogen-powered, half plant, half SUV of the future, with a phototropic body shell that produces oxygen—like leaves—shape-shifting tires that adapt to the driving environment and hydraulic motors built into each wheel.
Kia also showed us the 2007 Kia Amanti. The body has had a mild, and welcome face lift, but there is really much more going on than that.
The old, and heavy, 3.5-liter Mitsubishi-derived engine is gone, replaced by a 3.8-liter aluminum V6 that puts out 264 horsepower, a 32% increase over last year. New suspension and 17-inch tires and wheels - up from 16-inchers - reportedly help handling and ride...
We saw the shortened Kia Sedona earlier this year in Paris, and so were not surprised to see it here on the Kia stand here at the LA Auto Show.
While the wheelbase is just over 5 inches shorter, overall length shrinks by over 12 inches due to additional trimming to the rear overhang.
Unlike the one we saw in Paris, the shorty Sedona shown in LA had center-row captain's chairs and 7-passenger seating capacity. Because of the all the shortening, the third-row seat no longer folds into the floor. It goes on sale in January, alongside the current Sedona, which we now have to refer to as the long wheelbase version. - Dan Edmunds
Mitsubishi had this Lancer Evolution IX in their booth, which itself is not news. However, this one, turned out by Vishnu Tuning of northern California, has dual fuel capability. It consumes either normal premium unleaded or E85 ethanol. Sure, GM's been all about going yellow for months. But do any of their E85 offerings produce 420 horsepower on the stuff like this one?
Art imitates life? When I first spotted this mangled Porsche Carrera GT, I assumed it was the one that committed seppuku into a telephone pole a few days ago. Instead, it's a prop used in the movie Red Line, which looks to be an unholy union of The Fast and the Furious and the Dupont Registry.
Porsche is one of the few exhibits at the LA Auto Show to occupy its own private space, and if you make time to visit Petree Hall, you won't be disappointed. Officially, this morning's press conference was the North American debut of the 2007 Porsche 911 Targa, which goes on sale this weekend, but with Bob Varsha on hand as the main presenter, there was plenty of other stuff to see as well.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 550 Spyder's 1956 Targa Florio win, and Porsche's press conference lead with a cool video rich with Porsche's racing heritage.
As the horde of press migrating through the LA Auto Show listened to the American debut of the Ferrari 599 Fiorano, we slipped away and checked out the rest of the Ferrari display. Here's what we found.
Hidden in the back of the Ferrari display is this beautiful Fly Yellow 1967 275 GTB. Notice the barrage of monitors above the car...
We already drove the 2008 Land Rover LR2 and it's a pretty impressive compact SUV. It got a much needed boost in power, a more upscale, functional interior and slick styling. Today at the L.A. auto show, Land Rover announced a base price of $34,700...
No huge news on the 2008 Volvo C30 which we've already covered in depth at this year's Paris Auto Show. Volvo execs dodged the usual cost questions admitting only that the C30 will be competitively priced in the same range as the VW GTI, MINI Cooper and Audi A3. They did, however, admit that Volvo will make a line of roofs racks and performance and appearance accessories available for the C30.
California Governor and some-time actor Arnold Schwarzeneger had a ceremonial appearance to make here to open the second press day of the LA show. He was late arriving and has put the entire press-conference schedule behind by half an hour. Worse, I can't even offer a catchy quote from his speech since the thing was so completely canned. Ah well...
The tape BMW ran at the X5's unveiling could be—and might be—a commercial. You see a fast paced lap of the 12.9-mile Nurburgring, from point-of-view. You see the track rushing at you and hear a singing exhaust note. You pass motorcycles and sports cars, suggesting this vehicle you're in must be a serious performance machine...
I'm not so sure about this new Chrysler Sebring convertible. At first when I first saw the pictures (with the roof down), it looked pretty good. When I found out it was the first modern-day American 4-place convertible with a folding hardtop—now that really caught my attention.
Not all the new vehicles have been revealed yet, but I bet when all the debuts are over, this Acura Advanced Sedan concept will be a strong contender for the LA auto show's "Most Startling" award.
Having a design background, I'm often reluctant to dis radical new designs, regardless of how far the designers may have gone. One thing to keep in mind is that concept cars almost always take new design directions to an extreme, so this is Acura is nothing new in that respect.
In any event, I will take my time and study this car, as it surely hints at some future design direction that Acura is considering...
Unfortunately, there was little news following the dramatic (re)unveiling of the 2008 LR2 in a trendy L.A. club/restaurant. The announcement that Geoff Upex, design director of Land Rover, would be leaving the company was news in August. The MSRP of the Freelander replacement will be announced tomorrow, Nov...
Tonight, in Beverly Hills, Audi hosted yet another unveiling of its new R8 supercar, this time for dealers, customers and celebrities. The party took place on Rodeo Drive, the swankiest shopping street in the world. There, directly in front of the Porsche Design store, we sipped bubbly and watched former 90210 star Ian Ziering check out Audi's new supercar. When that got boring we spoke to Johan de Nysschen the head of Audi in North America...
In the runup to the keynote speech kicking off the Los Angeles auto show, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa invited GM Chairman Rick Wagoner to move his company to this city. When Mr. Wagoner got to the podium, the first thing he said was that he has to trim back all the complimentary things he was going to say about LA, because in light of the mayor's invitation, those statements could "imply more than I want to speak to at this point."
