2008 Los Angeles Auto Show

When the Los Angeles Auto Show was moved from January (in the shadows of the Detroit Auto Show) to November a few years ago, it instantly became a more significant event that drew more debuts, concepts, and buzz.  And while that has helped to elevate the LA Show's status, this year's gathering is going to be marred by bad news.  The economy is in a tailspin, the Big 3 are in need of a bailout, half of Los Angeles is on fire, and the auto industry as a whole is coming off its worst October in 15 years. 

Still, the show must go on.  We are going to see some significant new technology and new sheet metal to help us escape from the realities of life in America today.  If you can make to downtown LA for the show, you might see some this industry's finest.

• Audi:  A6 gets a refresh with LED day-running lights and the Q5 debuts in diesel form. 
  
• BMW:  the 7-Series is all-new and restake its claim to the king of full-sized luxury sedans.
• Ferrari:  where else would you launch a model called the Ferrari California.
• Ford:  updated Fusion and Mustang, plus an all-new Fusion Hybrid that is supposed to surpass the Camry Hybrid's performance by 5MPG.
• Honda:  Honda is calling the Insight a concept, but we expect to see it as a showroom model soon.
• Hyundai:  the mid-sized Sonata gets a hybrid powerplant.
• Infiniti:  the G37 opens up via a retractable hard top to give us the G37 Convertible.
• Kia:  the Borrego gets powered by fuel cell technology, but it's only a concept and the Soul hopes to capture some of that Scion magic with younger buyers.
• Lexus:  the all-new RX is here, and it's bigger and better.  Both the RX350 and RX 450h hybrid will be introduced.  We also get our first look at the IS Convertible.
• Lincoln:  the MKZ is refreshed with a new face and rear.
• Mazda:  the Mazda 3 is redesigned, although we thought the old one was just fine.
• Mercury:  yes, Mercury is still a brand.  A refreshed Milan and all-new Milan Hybrid are here, even though this is just a re-badged Fusion.
• Mini:  the Mini E is an $800/month all electric car that is only available to lease.
• Nissan:  the all-new 370Z has some design cues that remind us of the 240Z, but the real news is the Nissan Cube - a B-Segment car that is right for the times.
• Porsche:  of course Porsche would pick the LA Show to launch the new Boxster and Cayman.
• Toyota:  a Natural Gas Camry hybrid appears in concept form.
• VW:  although the Touareg is not newsworthy, its V6 Turbo Diesel is.

After spending the last two days at the show, I'm going to rate it a B- because it lacked much of the luster of past performances.  Regardless, there were some highlights.

Nissan was the big dog of this show.  Not only did Carlos Ghosn deliver the keynote address, but his company also debuted the Nissan 370Z, Nissan Cube sub compact crossover, and the Infiniti G37 convertible.  The 370Z is leaner, meaner, lighter, smaller, and faster than the 350Z it replaced.  It looks good and we can't wait to drive it next month.  The Cube is a cool, sexy, sub-compact vehicle that should make a big splash with young shoppers.  And the G37 convertible is one impressive hard-top convertible that looks good up or down.

As for the rest of the show, Kia showed off its Soul in a reveal that featured 12 customized variations of this affordable Scion alternative.  We loved the Scion xB when it first came out, but when it became bloated and overweight in its current form, it lost its way.  The Soul should start at $12,000 and become the cool, affordable option over the xB.

We drove the Mini E electric vehicle which is a lot of fun, especially zipping in and out of traffic in downtown LA, but I'm not spending $800 each month just to say I'm driving an electric car with 2 seats.  BMW brought the all-new 7-series which is a work of art, and hopes to regain its position atop the full-size luxury sedans.

Another company that made a big splash is Honda with the Insight.  This 4-door hatchback hybrid should deliver 45+ MPG for around $20,000!  Now that's what I call value, and it looks great.  I was never a fan of the Prius, but I could see the Insight in my garage.

One of the real losers of the show may be Mazda.  Earlier this year when they replaced the 6, it was all good.  But the new 3 they showed in LA is down right ugly.  Hate to say it, but they should have left the 3 alone.  Most of us had a hard time figuring out why Mazda went with this styling when the old design is much more appealing.

The next gen Lexus RX350 and RX450h hybrid are better examples of taking an existing, popular model and making minor changes that only enhance existing styling.  It looks good and they'll sell every one of them.

Ford's refreshed Mustang and Fusion are OK, but not exactly newsworthy.  Porsche also debuted the refreshed Boxster and Cayman.  Nice, sleek, and sexy, but again, nothing that will shake the automotive world.