Once upon a time an American Motor Show would have little relevance for European buyers, but increasing homogenisation of models means that what’s launched Stateside can be the car we’ll shortly be driving in Ireland. Fleet Car’s North American Correspondent Kathleen M. Mangan reports from the recent LA Auto Show.
People are angling and elbowing to squeeze through the crowd up to the railing for a full view of the new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS in Guards Red offset against a dramatic black backdrop and spinning slowly on a turntable. Camera flashes are popping off as people shoot this beauty from every angle.
Over at the debut of the new Ford F-150 pickup truck, the best-selling vehicle in America, people in the crowd around the stage are peppering the sales people with questions on torque and hauling capacity. Nearby is the premiere of the Shelby GT350 Mustang, the 50th anniversary tribute model of Carroll Shelby’s first, where the talk is all about horsepower (over 500!) while people walk around the revolving car.
The LA Auto Show is first event in the North American auto show season, held at the end of November, and the recent show featured 66 new model debuts, half of them world premieres. These never-before-seen vehicles included offerings from Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, Hyundai and more. That means lights, coloured smoke, billowing covers, models in high heels and announcements. Sprinkle into the mix creative concept cars from Nissan, VW, Scion, Chevrolet, MINI and Infinity, and there were wows uttered across the convention center.
Nearly 1,000 vehicles were on display at the 10-day show for people to gawk at and sit in, plus a large selection for short test drives. Since this is LA, there were appearances by celebrity athletes from the city’s basketball, hockey and soccer teams, plus cheerleading squads. There was a celebrity classic and exotic car show, a preview party benefiting the Grammy Museum and industry awards announced with fanfare.
The two Innovation Vehicles of the Year selected by the Motor Press Guild are the Ford F-150 in the under $30,000 category and the BMW i8 in the over $30,000 category. The F-150 is the first all-aluminum bodied model, which saves 700 pounds of weight, and enhances fuel economy, acceleration and braking. The i8 is BMW’s first plug-in hybrid sports car with an electric motor powering the front wheels and a turbocharged 1.5-liter gas engine connected to the rear wheels enabling zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds. It has a lightweight carbon fiber interior.
The BMW i3 was named the 2015 Green Car of the Year, the auto industry’s most important environmental accolade. Award criteria include fuel economy, air pollution scores, greenhouse gas emissions, petroleum displacement and safety ratings, as determined by editors at Green Car Journal. The i3 has a lightweight carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body on an aluminum frame powered by an all-electric drive with optional internal combustion range extender.
Road & Travel Magazine named the Kia K900 as its International Car of the Year. It’s Kia’s first V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan and features 420 hp. “The car is stunning and affordable, making upscale style and performance attainable to mid-America,” says Courtney Caldwell, editor-in-chief. This is the third win in a row for the Kia brand.
One spotted trend is the proliferation of compact SUVs/crossovers. Model debuts include the Mazda CX-3, a fun, angular-design vehicle at an affordable price, and the Honda HR-V with unmatched interior spaciousness and cabin versatility. Other debuts in this category include Land Rover, Fiat, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo models.
More show highlights:
The new 725-hp Rocket based on the 2015 Ford Mustang is billed as “the ultimate American muscle car.” The low-volume car designed by Henrik Fisker features handmade carbon-fiber bodywork with sculpted hood, plus huge air intakes to cool the engine and brakes and provide high-speed downforce.
Alpha Romeo returns to North America with the all-new 2015 4C coupe, a supercar with Formula 1 racing technology like carbon fiber monocoque, aluminum chassis and composite body shell powered by an aluminum 1750 cc turbocharged engine with paddle-shift controls.
Porsche unveiled seven global debuts, including the 911 Carrera GTS Coupe, Panamera Exclusive Series and Cayenne GTS.
The 2016 Toyota Mirai will be the first production vehicle with a hydrogen fuel cell to hit the market as hydrogen fueling stations start becoming available.
Concept car highlights:
None of Audi’s debuts provided as much buzz as its Prologue concept car, which points to the company’s future styling direction from the new design chief. The technology highlight is all-wheel steering with rear wheel steering angles up to five degrees that enhance agility, turning, handling, stability and parking. The instrument panel is a large touch display.
Maserati celebrates its 100th anniversary with the debut of the Alfieri 2+2 concept car, named for one of the original Maserati brothers. It takes styling cues from vintage racecars of the 1950s.
MINI presented the Superleggera Vision concept, a classic British roadster with traditional craftsmanship.
“Los Angeles is where what’s next always comes first,” says Lisa Kaz, president of the LA Auto Show. 2015 dates are November 20-29.
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