Having often vied for the attention of the world’s automakers with its great rival, the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the LA Auto Show has experienced somewhat of a renaissance in recent years, thanks to a change in dates, which now sees it pushed forward several months ahead of the latter.
As a result, there’s been growing number of vehicles that are selected to make their North American and world debuts in the City of Angels, and the 2011 event, which ran from November 18-27, was no exception.
This year, Canadian auto dealer was on hand to witness some of the newest vehicles to be launched into the North American auto market, ranging from the likes of frugal city cars to monster muscle machines and high-end luxury and exotic automobiles. Here’s a look at some of the vehicles that made their world debuts in LA.
Chrysler
Performance was very much the emphasis for Detroit’s number three automaker at this year’s LA Auto Show. A limited production Dodge Charger SRT-8, the Super Bee, made its world debut. It’ll be offered in either Stinger Yellow or Stealth Black with special graphics and Super Bee logos
2012 Dodge Charger Super Bee
Powered by the 6.4-litre 470 hp Hemi V8, just 1,000 examples will be built, finding their way into showrooms in the first quarter of 2012. Another special edition muscle machine was the Dodge Challenger Yellow Jacket, named after a 1970 show car that curiously, was actually painted gold. This one follows a similar theme to the Super Bee, being based on the SRT 392 model and finished in special Stinger Yellow paint with unique touches. It’s also slated to be introduced in the first quarter of 2012.
Ford Motor Company
Things were rather busy on the Ford stand in LA. Most noticeable was the debut of the 2013 Mustang models, V6, GT plus the specialty Boss 302 and Shelby GT500 models. All Mustangs get a facelift for 2013, with new HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlights and LED taillights.
2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302
GT models get a slight increase in power to 420 hp on the 5.0-litre V8, while the Boss 302 gets a new exterior colour, School Bus Yellow, revised (now reflective) stripe package and standard SYNC voice activated info/entertainment system. The Shelby gets aerodynamic upgrades of its own and a new engine in the shape of a monster 5.8-litre supercharged V8 that cranks out an astonishing 630 hp. This results in the first factory built production Mustang capable of reaching 320 km/h (200 mph).
2013 Ford Escape
The other big news was the launch of the new 2013 Ford Escape, expected to be a volume seller here in Canada. It very much follows Ford’s current design language and features a standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine along with optional 1.6 and 2.0-litre direct injection, turbocharged EcoBoost motors, which combined with a standard six-speed automatic transmission are said to deliver top fuel economy for the segment.
Other features such as park assist, curve control (which automatically slows the vehicle through corners if it’s going too fast) and a hands-free liftgate are among the more interesting aspects. The 2013 Escape will arrive in dealerships during the summer of 2012. Ford also displayed its updated 2013 Flex crossover, which sports a revised front end treatment, revamped interior and an upgraded SYNC/MyFord Touch info entertainment system. LA also saw the North American debut of the spicy Focus ST along with it’s racing counterpart, the ST-R and also a Fiesta ST, which although looking very close to production form was still billed as a concept. On the Lincoln side, updated versions of the Lincoln MKS sedan and MKT crossover also made their world debuts, boasting revised front sheetmetal, improved interiors and upgraded driving dynamics.
General Motors
The biggest news here was the world debut of the 580 horsepower Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 convertible, which will join its coupe counterpart. Using parts from the Corvette ZR1, including a version of its 6.2-litre supercharged V8, six-speed manual gearbox and Magneto selective ride suspension, the ZL1 promises to be the best performing factory Camaro ever built.
Chevrolet Vice President Global Marketing and Strategy Chris Perry reacts as the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible is unveiled. (Photo by Steve Fecht for Chevrolet)
At the other end of the spectrum, Chevrolet also unveiled the 2013 Spark city car, powered by a 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine. The Spark will be offered in a variety of different high impact colours and is aimed at first time buyers and young, urban dwellers. An available 7-inch in-dash info entertainment screen marks a first for the segment. The Spark goes on sale in the US and Canada during summer 2012.
2013 Chevy Spark
On the Cadillac stand, was the new front/all-wheel drive XTS, a full-size replacement for the aged front-drive DTS. Slotting in above the CTS, the XTS is amongst the roomiest cars in its class. Powered by a 3.6-litre V6 with direct injection and featuring a Cadillac User Interface in the interior centre stack, the XTS will be built in Oshawa, Ontario and available in dealerships from spring 2012
Honda
One of the most widely anticipated unveilings in LA was the fourth generation CR-V crossover utility. Clearly evolutionary, despite a major sheetmetal and interior revamp, the 2012 model is said to boast better fuel economy despite a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and five-speed automatic transmission that are essentially carried over from its predecessor.
2012 Honda CR-V
The biggest improvements are in the areas of refinement and standard equipment, for example all CR-Vs now come with Bluetooth capability and a rear back up camera. The 2012 CR-V will be built at Honda’s Alliston, Ontario plant and is scheduled to hit Canadian showrooms in January 2012. Honda also debuted an electric version of its Fit subcompact, though initially availability will be restricted to parts of California, Oregon and the US North East.
Hyundai
Looking very much like a scaled up Sonata, the 2012 Hyundai Azera made it’s world debut at the LA Show. Designed to take on the likes of other full-size sedans in North America, such as the Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus and Toyota Avalon, the second generation Azera has been designed to make a bigger impact on the segment than the first.
2012 Hyundai Azera
It boasts a capacious interior and a long list of standard equipment, including 9 airbags and in the US at least, standard leather seating, dual climate control, 12-speaker sound system, built-in rear sunshades and a 10-way power driver’s seat. Just one engine and transmission combination is offered, a 3.3-litre direct injection V6 teamed with a six-speed automatic.
Infiniti
Crossover utility vehicles with three-row seating are becoming increasingly popular and Infiniti aims to fill the void with the 2013 JX, which made its world debut in LA. More conventional than the existing FX, the JX takes aim at the likes of Acura’s MDX and Lincoln MKT.
2013 Infiniti JX
Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 and offering intelligent all-wheel-drive, it has a unique seat entry system, allowing the third row to be accessed while a child seat is still placed in the second row. It also boasts a collision back up system that applies the brakes when reversing should sensors detect approaching objects. Sales are slated to begin in spring 2012. Also making its world debut in LA was a convertible version of the G37 IPL (Infiniti Performance Line) coupe, which features special aerodynamic aids, upgraded performance suspension over the regular G37, standard 19-inch wheels and tires, tuned 3.7-litre V6 delivering 343 hp (an increase of 18 hp over the regular 3.7 motor) and low restriction exhaust. Deliveries will begin in the spring of 2012.
Jaguar
Los Angeles is probably the perfect place for Jaguar to introduce a new model to North America and the company elected to do just that with its 2012 XKR-S convertible.
2012 Jaguar XKR-S convertible
Following on from its brutally fast coupe counterpart, the convertible features the same hardware, namely the 550 horsepower 5.0-litre supercharged V8 and performance tuned suspension and will do the 0-96 km/h (0-60 mph) dash in 4.2 seconds and top out at 298 km/h (186 mph). However, Jaguar says it will only allocate 25 examples for North America in 2012.
Mercedes-Benz
Making its world debut at the LA Show was perhaps the quintessential vehicle for tooling around nearby Beverly Hills and Bel Air, the next generation Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG.
2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG
Combining performance with a certain level of practicality, the ML63, despite its name, sports a 5.5-litre direct injected twin-turbo V8 developing a whopping 518 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, plus Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive system as standard. Special AMG body extensions and interior upgrades, including the seats and steering wheel are also found.
Mitsubishi
Despite falling sales and a product portfolio that’s being trimmed back, Mitsubishi nevertheless chose LA as the place to unveil its latest iteration of its bread and butter Lancer compact sedan.
2012 Mitsubishi Lancer SE AWC
The SE AMC is essentially a cut-price version of the Lancer Ralliart (with a 2.4 litre normally aspirated I-4 engine and CVT transmission in place of the 2.0-litre turbo four and dual-clutch unit), sporting the company’s Super All Wheel Control system that employs three different settings, four-wheel drive automatic, four-wheel drive lock and two-wheel drive in order to maximize grip on tarmac, gravel or snow covered surfaces. The Lancer SE AWC comes with a decent list of standard equipment, including heated front seats, heated side mirrors, 160-watt sound system, 16-inch alloy wheels and 7 standard airbags. In Canada, the Lancer SE will sticker for under $25,000.
Porsche
Hot on the heels from releasing its latest 911 in Frankfurt (which also made its North American debut in LA); Porsche announced the world debut of its Panamera GTS sedan in the City of Angels.
2012 Panamera GTS sedan
A high performance derivative of the existing 4S, it features a 4.8-litre V8 with an extra 30 hp (for a total of 430 horsepower), coupled with Porsche’s 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. The GTS also boasts a lowered ride height and tweaked air suspension with PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) technology to optimize cornering, plus a sound symposer that via a button, transmits additional engine sound into the cabin on demand. The AWD Panamera GTS can sprint from 0-96 km/h (0-60 mph) in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 285 km/h (178 mph). No word on Canadian pricing or availability just yet.
Subaru
Although still billed as a concept, there’s no hiding the fact that Subaru’s highly anticipated rear-drive sports car, developed with Toyota, was a major highlight of the show.
2012 Subaru BRZ concept
The BRZ Concept STI, sports a 2.0-litre Boxer four with Toyota direct injection technology, six-speed manual gearbox, standard Brembo brakes, 18-inch STI wheels, tuned suspension and a carbon-fibre roof panel. Finished in traditional STI rally colours of WR Blue with gold wheels, the concept is stunning to say the least. Sales of the production version are scheduled to begin sometime in spring 2012.
Volkswagen
The big news here was the unveiling of the latest CC sedan, which Volkswagen labels a four-door coupe.
2013 VW CC
Major changes on the 2013 model include revamped front and rear styling with Bi-Xenon headlights and LED tail lamps, an updated wheel design, newly available exterior colours (Black Oak Brown and Fortuna Red), plus a revised interior with a more practical rear bench seat, in place of the previous individual buckets and centre console arrangement. The 2013 CC goes on sale in spring 2012.
Volvo
Although not a huge amount was new on the Volvo stand in LA, a limited edition C70 cabrio the “Inscription” model, made its world debut.
2012 Volvo C70 Inscription
Offered in two exterior colours, Black Sapphire or Ice White, it features unique 18-inch alloy wheels, special interior fixtures, including a leather covered dash panel and Inscription logos on the seats, plus aluminum accents. Just 500 examples are earmarked for North America, with the first ones rolling out the door in late 2011.
