LA Auto Show: flash, concepts, new oldies
The 115th Los Angeles Auto Show will be held Nov. 18-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Charge Cars, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, ElectraMeccanica, Fiat, Genesis, GMC, Hummer, Hyundai, INDI EV, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru, Supernal (Advanced Air Mobility), Volkswagen and Volvo will have all exhibits.
The Los Angeles Auto Show has lots of bright lights and bling, concept cars and customized cruisers. It’s the annual first major international industry showcase uniquely held near the end of the calendar year.
Global debuts of the newest Aston Martin, Hummer and Porsche are fine. Concept cars are great, although many may never be made for consumers. The latest electric vehicle innovations are the industry’s future. But much was made of the Bollinger, Byton, Canoo and Elio and none have been manufactured.
The 115th Los Angeles Auto Show will be held Nov. 18-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Charge Cars, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, ElectraMeccanica, Fiat, Genesis, GMC, Hummer, Hyundai, INDI EV, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru, Supernal (Advanced Air Mobility), Volkswagen and Volvo will have all exhibits.
But arguably the best bets, the most consistent, the cars for the Every Person, are presented every year. New models from the top 10 best-selling vehicles from 2021 will all be presented.
Ford continued its dominance with the F-Series pickups accounting for 726,004 sales. The Ram pickup (569,388), Chevrolet Silverado (519,774), Toyota RAV-4 (407,739), Honda CR-V (361,271), Toyota Camry (313,795), Nissan Rogue (285,602), Jeep Cherokee (264,444), Toyota Highlander (264,128) and Honda Civic (263,787) completed the top-10.
Despite the continuing chip shortage and Covid-19 ramifications, only the Chevrolet Silverado (down 13 percent), Ford F-Series pickup trucks (8 percent) and Toyota RAV4 (5 percent) had lower sales tallies in 2021 than in 2020.
Manufacturers aren’t required to detail what vehicles will be shown at the LA Auto Show. Some new offerings have been announced, others will be unveiled as late as the week of the show.
Honda recently announced the public availability of the 315-horsepower 2023 Civic Type R. It’s the most powerful production vehicle the manufacturer has ever made, and it will have a starting MSRP of $42,895.
Toyota has eliminated the V6 Highlander, replacing it for 2023 with a 2.4-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder. The new model will also feature new multimedia dashboard-area screens and a new exterior paint choice, Cypress Green.
Charge cars is a new addition to the show. It will convert 500 1967 Ford Mustangs fastback models. The restoration and electrification will include an electric drivetrain comprised of four motors, producing 536 horsepower and 1,120 lb-ft of torque.
The customized Mustangs are touted to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds. The top speed is 150 miles per hour. The electric range is predicted at 150 mph.
One interesting concept, with a manufacturer’s “promise” of public availability in 2023, is the Ram Revolution. The new full-size trucks will measure 220 to 244 inches long and have 159-200+ kWh battery packs for about 500 miles of range.
VinFast, promoted as the first Vietnamese manufacturer to offer vehicles in the United States, debuted last year at the show, with a lavish presentation. It will return as the company continues its financing and manufacturing plans.
According to its marketing, VinFast in Vietnamese stands for “Style, Safety, Creativity, Pioneer.” Its vehicles are touted as “the product of our inspiration to launch a distinctive, world-class automotive brand with Vietnam and demonstrates the ability of the Vietnamese people to skillfully implement cutting-edge technology.”
The LA Auto Show will have public test drives and ride alongs of new vehicles indoors and outdoors. Beyond cars and trucks, urban air mobility, electric scooters and electric bikes will also be showcased.
Tickets will be cashless, with a variety of individual, family, group, military, first responders and VIP packages available online and at on-site kiosks. For additional information, visit: www.laautoshow.com.
James Raia, a syndicated columnist in Sacramento, publishes a free weekly automotive podcast and electronic newsletter. Sign-ups are available on his website, theweeklydriver.com. He can be reached via email: james@jamesraia.com.