Autoblog

2009 LA Auto Show Wrap Up

John Neff — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:58:00 EST

Did you miss our coverage of the 2009 LA Auto Show? Don't know where to look to find it? No worries. We've assembled the best parts for you below, and you can visit our LA Auto Show page to view every last piece of coverage we did.

THE CARS

Allard J2X MkII Gallery \| Post	Audi e-tron Gallery \| Post	Audi R8 Spyder Gallery \| Post
2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe Gallery \| Post	2011 Chevrolet Cruze Gallery \| Post	2011 Chevrolet Volt Gallery \| Post
2011 Dodge Viper Gallery \| Post	2011 Ford Fiesta Gallery \| Post	2011 Ford Mustang V6 Gallery \| Post
Honda P-NUT Concept Gallery \| Post	2011 Hyundai Sonata Gallery \| Post	2011 Hyundai Tucson Gallery \| Post
2011 Infiniti G Gallery \| Post	2011 Infiniti M Gallery \| Post	2011 Kia Sorento Gallery \| Post
2011 Mazda2 Gallery \| Post	2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder Gallery \| Post	2010 Range Rover Sport Autobiography Gallery \| Post
2010 Scion xB Release Series 7.0 Gallery \| Post	2010 Spyker Aileron C8 Spyder Gallery \| Post	2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition Gallery \| Post
Toyota Prius Plug-In Gallery \| Post	2011 Toyota Sienna Gallery \| Post	Toyota Billabong Venza Gallery \| Post
2011 VW Final Edition New Beetle Gallery \| Post	VW Up! Lite Concept Gallery \| Post

THE NEWS

	LA 2009: Maximum Bob, Maximum Live Blog We're here in the City of Angels to watch Fritz Henderson deliver GM's keynote address to all us media types here at LA Auto Show. Only thing is, Fritz resigned yesterday, and for some reason interim CEO Ed Whitacre will not be delivering the keynote. Which can only mean one thing -- GM's Vice Chairman of Marketing and Communications Bob Lutz will be delivering the opening address.
	LA 2009: Ford Taurus and Volvo XC60 named International Car and Truck of the Year Hold onto your hats folks, because while magazine award ceremonies appear to be just about finished, the auto show trophies are just starting to be handed out. This time, it's the International Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show, and we've got two winners from within the Ford empire. The Ford ...
	LA 2009: Audi A3 TDI named 2010 Green Car of the Year in diesel repeat At the LA Auto Show this morning, the Audi A3 TDI was crowned the 2010 Green Car of the Year, wresting the title away from last year's winner, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Even though three hybrids made this year's list of finalists, the A3's win marks the second year in a row that a TDI diesel car ...
	LA 2009: Lexus LFA wireframe cutaway wows us Wow. Lexus brought their new LFA supercar to the LA Auto Show this year. That might not seem particularly wow-worthy, but it definitely becomes more surprising when you hear that they actually brought an LFA and a half. While a white LFA was happily humming along, spinning slowly on a rotating ...
	"Viridian Joule" picked as winner of Chevy Volt Paint Color Contest The votes have been cast, the tallies tallied and the winner determined: Viridian Joule will be the official name of the silvery-green hue as seen on a slew of Chevrolet Volt marketing material for what seems like the last decade or so. So, um, what does Viridian Joule mean? We'll let the winner ...

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...

2009 LA Auto Show Wrap Up originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: Allard J2X MkII drops our jaw

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Classics, Convertible, Performance, Specialty

Allard J2X MkII - Click above for high-res image gallery

Tucked away into the nookiest cranny of the LA Auto Show and literally parked behind a Morgan sits the Allard J2X MkII, perhaps the most breathtaking car in the joint. You nerds out there might be saying, "They dragged an admittedly concours-condition J2X out to Los Angeles? Big deal." Which is precisely what we thought as we strolled right past the spiffy, spankin' Allard for nearly two days. But then we took a closer look. Why would someone fit humongous Wilwood brakes to a vintage car?

Because this puppy ain't vintage. See that "MkII" suffix hanging off the end of the title there? This Allard is all new. As in a modern, hand-built continuation of the original Allard. Not only does the Allard Registry recognize the roadster and issue each one its own continuation serial number, but the president of Allard Motor Works is named Roger Allard - though he's not a descendant of founder Sydney Allard. But even if it wasn't a bang-on recreation of the hugely successful 1951-1954 J2X race car, this car would tickle us you know where.

Why? So many reasons.

Besides the usual "Just look at it!" bloviation, the frame is built from tubular steel with double roll bars covering the cowl and fuel tank. And inboard rear-brakes. Then there's the absolutely stunning, jewelery-like hand-fitted instruments and aluminum dash. And the red leather. And the leather hood straps. And the (functional) portholes. The knock-off hubs. The twin side-pipes. And on and on and on. And on.

Then there's the little (or not so little) matter of what's under the hood. In this particular car, it's a 5.7-liter Chrysler Hemi V8 with a massive throttle body and a lot of other reworked jazz that's good for around 500 horsepower. You want a 600-hp 6.1-liter Hemi? Not a problem. You can also opt for a Chevy 350, Caddy Northstar or Ford 351. The sprint from zero to 60 happens in about 4.5 seconds and, depending on the motor, you could pop off a quarter-mile in the low 12 seconds at 110 mph.

Currently the Allard J2X is being built in two places (Montreal and Upstate New York), although there are plans to move to a single factory soon. Roger Allard plans on keeping the new Allard pretty exclusive, limiting its numbers to just one hundred per year. Oddly, about a quarter of that total is slated for Australia. Or maybe not so oddly, as when we shut our eyes we can totally picture ourselves blasting across the Outback in a J2X MkII, bugs in our teeth and roos bouncing off the nerf bars. Cost of entry? The new Allard starts at $138,500.

Gallery: LA 2009: Allard J2X MkII

[Source: Allard]

LA 2009: Allard J2X MkII drops our jaw originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder proves the devil is in the details

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Spyker, Luxury

Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

Where to even start? Oh right - that interior! With the possible exception of a couple of British-ish cars (BMW-owned Rolls-Royce Phantom, Volkswagen-owned Bentley Mulsanne, Tata-owned Jaguar XJ), no interior even comes close. And frankly, being honest, those luxo-barges just pale in comparison to the blinged out old-world splendor of a Spyker cockpit. And the C8 Aileron Spyder ups that already pricey ante. And get this - all C8s are now built in Coventry, England, shaving about $9,000 off the asking price, which is somewhere ~~south~~ north of $200,000 depending on ~~baubles~~ options.

Normally, photographing cars at auto shows feels like a strange, exotic form of torture, at least for us writerly types. The bright lights, the bumrush, the awkward positions (you try crawling on your hands and knees between a posing CEO's knees to get a shot of a wheel) - it's not fun. But when photographing this car, we were overcome with a rush of (let's just say) endorphins. We could imagine ourselves winding up the California coast, fondling that leather-wrapped aluminum gear shifter for hundreds of breezy, dreamy miles. And get this - it's an automatic... and we don't care!

For you number junkies who choose to hastily look past the incredible innards, the C8 drop top is powered by a 4.2-liter Audi V8 good for 400 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. That medium-amount of gumption is routed to the rear-wheels via a 6-speed slushbox. Top speed is 187 mph and 0-60 happens in 4.5 seconds. Spyker claims that the car's strength is in the frame (stouter than a Ferrari F430, so they say) and therefor chopping off the roof has limited negative structural impact. Want more tech details? See our post from Monterey.

Let's get back to that interior. If you're into fancy cars (hi mom!) you've no doubt heard of special leather coming from "free range" cows raised without barbwire so as to ensure the leather is flawless. Well get this, the leather in the Aileron Spyder comes from a Dutch tannery that works with free range cold weather cows. Why cold weather? No mosquito bites. No, really. And you can get that interior in any of fourteen colors, most of which are (hopefully) equally eye-searing. Finally, anyone else as in love with the tonneau cover-mounted quilted leather briefcase as we are?

Gallery: LA 2009: 2010 Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder

LA 2009: Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder proves the devil is in the details originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: Custom "Mazdaspeed2" tops the fun-per-pound charts in LA

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:02:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Motorsports, Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Mazda

Mazdaspeed2 Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

As cool as some of those custom Ford Fiestas are at the LA Auto Show, these even tidier Mazda2 customs really jumped out at us. Okay, maybe not all of the concepts so much as the "Mazdaspeed2" you see above. The Active2 Surf and Active2 Snow barely registered when we saw this green and grey fun machine. Dubbed the 2Evil Special and not really an official Mazdaspeed2 at all, this concept blends weekend track car with urban commuter in just the right proportions.

The other two concepts aren't quite as eye-catching as the 2Evil, but are fun nonetheless. The Active2 Surf has a slightly restyled exterior, 17-inch wheels, an H&R coil over suspension and was painted a bright green with MINI-like white wheels and mirror caps. We really dug the carbon fiber surfboard in the Thule roof rack, too. The Active2 Snow gets similar bodywork tweaks, along with the 17-inch wheels and the H&R setup with another Thule roof rack sporting matching snowboards.. Both cars also wear Active2 graphics. These two cars look like they are going to be easily duplicated by accessing the Mazda Accessories catalog.

Meanwhile, the 2Evil sits even lower thanks to its H&R coil-over setup, and is visually lowered even more courtesy of the aggressive body kit with its curb-scraping front lip and deep side skirts. The 2Evil also includes a new diffuser and spoiler in the back, limo-black windows, Le Mans-winning Mazda 787B tribute graphics, 17-inch wheels wrapped in Yokahama Advan tires, and a Magna performance exhaust system. The green highlights really bring the whole thing together to make it look like a spec series racer. Now if Mazda could just shoehorn in the Mazdaspeed3 turbo mill, they'd really be onto something. We can just imagine Grand-Am adding a CC (commuter car) class for fun little runabouts like this Mazda2, the MINI Cooper, Fiesta, Fiat 500, Honda Fit and the like.

Gallery: LA 2009: Custom Mazda2 Concepts

Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Mazda]

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LA 2009: Hands-on with Hughes and Mercedes-Benz's new telematics apps

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Etc., Technology, Mercedes-Benz

Hughes Telematics recently announced its partnership with Mercedes-Benz on the automaker's new line of "mbrace" mobile telematics solutions. The system, which connects mbrace-equipped vehicles with an app installed on the user's Apple iPhone or RIM Blackberry, allows people to lock and unlock their doors, contact roadside assistance, get in touch with a local dealer or find their vehicle in a crowded parking lot. It's a relatively trick technology that we spent some time with at the LA Auto Show, and there's plenty of potential on the horizon.

Continue reading LA 2009: Hands-on with Hughes and Mercedes-Benz's new telematics apps

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LA 2009: Galpin Motors makes up for Aston Martin no-show, brings the whole lineup

Drew Phillips — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, Aston Martin

Galpin Aston Martin at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show - Click above for a high-res image gallery

It's been a meager LA Auto Show this year for exotic cars. Many didn't even show up, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Bentley. Aston Martin wasn't on the list as well, but to our surprise their full line of cars was on display. Apparently Galpin Motors decided to pick up the slack and brought a decent selection of the inventory from the Van Nuys, CA showroom. We generally don't think of Aston Martin when we hear about Galpin, but the world's largest Ford dealer also has an impressive showroom for the British marque. In fact, it's where we were able to get up close and personal with the Aston Martin One-77.

Beau Boeckmann, Vice President of Galpin Motors, told us that they considered the show important enough for their Aston Martin sales to make the investment. This makes us wonder how the absence of Ferrari, Lamborghini and the like will impact local dealers. If so, we can see many following Galpin's lead and bringing cars next year like many of the regional shows. Only time will tell, but we can't imagine the exotic car manufacturers staying away from the auto show in one of their most important markets for too long.

Gallery: LA 2009: Galpin Aston Martin

LA 2009: Galpin Motors makes up for Aston Martin no-show, brings the whole lineup originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: Audi A3 TDI named 2010 Green Car of the Year in diesel repeat

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:41:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hatchback, Audi, Diesel

Audi A3 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

At the LA Auto Show this morning, the Audi A3 TDI was crowned the 2010 Green Car of the Year, wresting the title away from last year's winner, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Even though three hybrids made this year's list of finalists, the A3's win marks the second year in a row that a TDI diesel car took top honors in the Green Car Journal competition.

The judges selection kind of meshes with AutoblogGreen readers, who overwhelmingly picked the VW Golf TDI from the list of five finalists. The other contenders were the Honda Insight, the Mercury Milan Hybrid (we still don't get why this car beat out the better-selling and nearly identical Ford Fusion Hybrid) and the Toyota Prius.

Each year, Green Car Journal picks the five finalists and then hands over selection duties to celebrity jurors (Jay Leno, Carroll Shelby, and the Sierra Club's Carl Pope, to name a few). During the award ceremony, Green Car Journal editor Ron Cogan said that the five finalists are notable because they are all mainstream vehicles that are available today. They exist because that's what the market is asking for. Whaddya think? Is the A3 TDI this year's rightful Green Car of the Year?

Gallery: Audi A3 TDI - 2010 Green Car of the Year

[Source: Green Car Journal]

Continue reading LA 2009: Audi A3 TDI named 2010 Green Car of the Year in diesel repeat

LA 2009: Audi A3 TDI named 2010 Green Car of the Year in diesel repeat originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: Bye-bye boxy, hello 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:19:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Hyundai

2010 Hyundai Tucson - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai just took the wraps off their all new 2010 Tucson CUV. A right-sized (i.e. compact) crossover designed in Frankfurt, Germany - as opposed to the California designed Sonata we saw yesterday - but still uses Hyundai's new design language, the oddly named Fluidic Sculpture. Like the Sonata, the new bigger-yet-lighter Tuscon (61 pounds, to be precise) has been designed to convey a sense of motion. Of course, whether they succeeded or not is up to the beholder's eye.

Hyundai feels that the compact CUV market is growing (as does the rest of the industry), however the small crossover buyer is changing. Used to be that when people shopped for say a Tucson, it was because they couldn't afford an Excursion. No more. The new small CUV buyer expects a higher level of comfort and refinement from their little truck-like rides. If what Hyundai's peddling proves true, the Tucson's impressive list of standard bells and/or whistles fits this projected market to a tee (see the press release for the full lowdown).

The most impressive Tuscon attribute is in likelihood its frugal MPG rating. 23 miles per gallon in the city, 31 at highway speeds. In addition to the slight weight reduction, the Tucson achieves these numbers via innovations such as a switch away from parasitic hydraulic power-steering in favor of an electric system. There's also an all new six-speed automatic that uses 62 fewer parts than the outgoing five-speed. Interestingly, the new slusher is built fully in house by Hyundai.

The engine of course contributes to the good-for-a-CUV mileage. The new Tucson comes with a 2.4-liter Theta II four-cylinder that produces 176 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. You will notice that the Tucson does not come with the more powerful Gasoline Direct-Injection (GDI) Theta II that ships with the new Sonata. We asked Hyundai if a future iteration of the Tucson (say the 2011) would in fact receive the GDI motor. "That's a logical conclusion."

We also asked if the turbocharged GDI motor would make it into the Tuscon. "It would fit." We then asked if we'll see a hybrid version as the new Sonata will eventually show up in gas-electric guise. "No comment." Then after a pause, "We all have to get to 35.5 mpg." Finally, we asked if we'd see an all-electric version of the Tucson. We received another "No comment," but Hyundai North America President and CEO John Krafcik did state that they will be selling an electric car in the States. As to when, "Not next year." Read the press release, after the jump.

Gallery: LA 2009: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

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Best Buy Geek Squads to start testing Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Specialty, Electric

Mitsubishi Geek Squad i-MiEV - Click above for high-res image gallery

While Mitsubishi didn't unveil any new vehicles at the LA Auto Show today, company president Osamu Masuko did announce the latest step in his company's plan to bring plug-in vehicles to North America. The vehicle - well, one of them - is an all-electric i-MiEV plastered with Best Buy's Geek Squad logo. The electronics giant will start using them in January (after they're shown off at CES) at some Geek Squad locations in California. Details have not yet been totally worked out, but the Geek EVs will start with a fleet of four vehicles and then expand and rotate to other stores over the course of three years. Most likely, the i-MiEVs will be doled out in pairs and the probable early cities where these vehicles will make house calls include Chicago, New York, Portland and San Francisco.

Best Buy plans to use the i-MiEVs just like any other fleet car, with the exception that they will be right-hand drive. Best Buy's Senior Vice President of emerging business, Rick Rommel, told AutoblogGreen that the idea is to learn "how these will fit into a Geek's daily life." The plug-in vehicle tests with Geek Squad are unrelated to how select West Coast Best Buy stores are selling electric bikes. That said, Rommel admits that the key thing is that Best Buy likes to conduct new experiments, and these EVs fit into that general concept.

Gallery: Best Buy Geek Squad i-MIEV

Continue reading Best Buy Geek Squads to start testing Mitsubishi i-MiEV

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LA 2009: Land Rover brings Autobiography package to 2010 Range Rover Sport

Drew Phillips — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, SUV, Land Rover

2010 Range Rover Sport Autobiography - Click above for high-res image gallery

We can't figure out exactly what the name Autobiography is supposed to convey, but Land Rover seems to think it's a fitting name to put on its top-of-the-line Range Rover models. Last year, they pulled the wraps off the Range Rover Autobiography at the British Motor Show, and this week at the LA Auto Show the Range Rover Sport Autobiography has just made its official debut.

Most of the appeal of the package is inside. All of the seating surfaces are covered in beautiful two-tone leather, and the Autobiography logo can be found in the wood door inserts and the embossed headrests. The exterior gets a few special touches as well, including body-colored lower door panels, an extended roof spoiler, and special 20-inch alloy wheels.

Just 250 examples of the Range Rover Sport Autobiography will be built, all in Santorini Black with the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 as standard. Pricing is listed as an imposing $88,545, but we can see that in its exclusive circle, enough Land Rover buyers will likely be willing to cough up a $14,000 premium to have their own Autobiography, even if it's only a leather, wheel, and trim package. Hit the jump for full details, or check out our high-res gallery of live shots below.

Gallery: 2010 Range Rover Sport Autobiography

Continue reading LA 2009: Land Rover brings Autobiography package to 2010 Range Rover Sport

LA 2009: Land Rover brings Autobiography package to 2010 Range Rover Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Hyundai Tucson makes the drive to America

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Hyundai

2010 Hyundai Tucson - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai's second big unveiling for the LA Auto Show is its next-generation Tucson, its compact crossover. Like the Sonata sedan, we've actually already seen the Tucson for some time now, as it previously debuted South Korea and Europe badged as the ix35 or Tucson ix. We actually first saw this shape as the ix-onic concept at Geneva last March and the production model is only mildly toned down.

Even toned down, though, this is a major departure from the outgoing Tucson. Like the Sonata, that model was a competent but utterly invisible CUV. The new Tucson was created by Hyundai's Frankfurt-based European design studio and features the same "Fluidic Sculpture" surface language used on the Sonata. Like the sedan, the look is attractive, if not entirely original, as the form seems to draw quite a bit inspiration from the Nissan Murano, especially in the rear. Either way, with its bulging fenders and a multitude of curves and creases, the new style is likely to draw a lot more second glances than its predecessor. Wherever the ideas came from, the Tucson appears to be well-executed overall. Follow the jump to learn more Hyundai's latest CUV.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

[Source: Hyundai]

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LA 2009: Audi R8 Spyder is shown again, this time in red

Michael Harley — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:27:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Audi

2010 Audi R8 Spyder - Click above for high-res image gallery

This isn't the first time we've seen the drop-top Audi R8 Spyder. Images were leaked in early September, and we were there in Frankfurt for its official debut. That said, its unveiling at the LA Auto Show was less than climactic... other than the fact the Spyder was sporting a flashy bright-red bodywork.

New hue aside, the new convertible variant is a looker from its carbon-fiber mirrors to polished aluminum wheels. The blades are gone and it has gained 476 pounds in the transformation, but the standard Lambo-derived 525-hp V10 will still rip it to 60 mph in about four seconds flat. For the details (again), we've posted the press release after the jump.

Gallery: LA 2009: 2011 Audi R8 Spyder

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading LA 2009: Audi R8 Spyder is shown again, this time in red

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LA 2009: Audi e-tron, orange you terribly sad it was repainted

Michael Harley — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Coupe, Audi, Electric

Audi e-tron concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

We weren't exactly electrified by Audi's e-tron concept when it debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in blazing red paint this past September, but we did like the color. So, when the e-tron reappeared at the LA Auto Show this week wearing orange... bummer.

As a refresh, the e-tron concept uses four electric motors with a combined output of 313 horsepower (and a mind-boggling 3,319 lb-ft of torque) to move its 3,527-pound mass to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds. More impressive is its rolling acceleration from 37-75 mph in just 4.1 seconds. The top speed is electronically-limited to 124 mph. According to Audi, we'll see a production version in 2012.

Gallery: LA 2009: Orange Audi e-tron

[Source: Audi]

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LA 2009: Honda P-NUT concept gets cracked open

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:21:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Honda, Electric

Honda P-NUT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Turns out that the Honda P-NUT is not some sort of twist on the UX-3 unicycle thing we saw in Tokyo recently. Instead, the concept vehicle is a three-seat thing enclosed in lots of glass and angular lines. Honda says the P-NUT is ready for one of three possible powertrains: an efficient gas engine, a gas-electric hybrid, or a pure electric set up. There's not a whole lot of room for any of these powerplants up front because the driver's leg room extends almost all the way to the front of the concept. Good thing the power source is intended to be mounted in the rear.

Let's be clear, this is a pure concept car. There are no side mirrors (but there is a back-up camera). Bumpers? Bah, Honda barely put headlights on this thing. Still, the Honda 'Personal-Neo Urban Transport' could make for a pretty sweet ride through a city, with lots of sight lines for the three inhabitants (a driver in the front middle, two passengers arranged behind and to either side) to see out of. The P-NUT does succeed in Honda's stated goal to get the most space out of a small footprint, and we wouldn't mind some sort of production version BEV someday. Chances are, though, that this is the last we'll ever see of it.

Gallery: LA 2009: Honda P-NUT

Gallery: Honda P-NUT

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LA 2009: Honda P-NUT concept gets cracked open originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: 2011 Ford Mustang V6 on show floor with little fanfare

Drew Phillips — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford

2011 Ford Mustang V6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

You would think that with all of the new powertrain improvements to the 2011 Mustang V6 that Ford would be making a big deal about the car here at the LA Auto Show. Not so. While the Fiesta display took up nearly a third of the West hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, a sole V6-powered Mustang sat alone on the show floor. We can understand why Ford would want to turn the spotlight on its new B-segment small car, but thought that its legendary pony car deserved a little more love.

What's the big deal, you ask? For starters, the new 3.7-liter V6 is putting out 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft torque, a significant improvement over the aging 4.0-liter engine that it replaces. As a bonus, the new engine will net an expected 30 mpg on the highway thanks in part to new 6-speed transmissions, available in both manual or automatic. The updates were a long time coming, and we fully expect them to put the Mustang back in the lead of the pony car sales war.

Hit the jump for full details about the 2011 Ford Mustang V6, or check out both official and live photos in the high-res galleries below.

Gallery: LA 2009: 2011 Ford Mustang V6

Gallery: 2011 Ford Mustang 3.7-liter V6

Continue reading LA 2009: 2011 Ford Mustang V6 on show floor with little fanfare

LA 2009: 2011 Ford Mustang V6 on show floor with little fanfare originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: 2011 Ford Fiesta unveiled by agents of the Movement

Drew Phillips — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:38:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Budget, Hatchback, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've been hearing about the 2011 Ford Fiesta for so long that it's hard to imagine that the U.S. version of the car was just officially unveiled today. We gave you all of the official details and photos late last night, but we can now give you our first live impressions of the North American-spec version. Ford's own Mark Fields officially introduced the car along with numerous Fiesta agents on hand who helped pull the sheets off the various Fiestas on the show floor.

Although just 60 percent of the parts on the U.S.-spec Fiesta are common with the European version, it seems that most of the charm of the car remains. Up front the grille has been revised to include the three-bar design (at least on the sedan), and the fog lights have been replaced by LED light strips surrounded by chrome. The interior design is relatively the same as well, although it's been tweaked to conform with U.S. crash standards and features soft touch materials, a four-inch LCD display, and available SYNC, auto climate control, leather seats, moon roof and more. Power comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder putting out a respectable 119 horsepower and 109 lb-ft torque. A 5-speed manual or new 6-speed PowerShift electronic dual clutch automatic will be the transmissions of choice, though the automatic goes without any manual controls.

There's plenty of more details in the multitude of press releases after the jump, and we've included all of our live shots of the 2011 Fiesta in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: LA 2009: 2011 Ford Fiesta

Gallery: 2011 Ford Fiesta

Continue reading LA 2009: 2011 Ford Fiesta unveiled by agents of the Movement

LA 2009: 2011 Ford Fiesta unveiled by agents of the Movement originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Event Alert: December Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Misc. Auto Shows, Event Alert

As we slowly emerge from our Thanksgiving food comas, we can start gearing up for more holiday food, family, and fun in December, with an automotive twist. We can also look forward to the real beginning of the auto show season with the first major American show, the LA Auto Show. There are also some smaller shows like the New England Auto Show in Boston, and the conclusion of the San Francisco International Auto Show at the Moscone Center.

All of the major motorsports seasons have concluded, but there will be plenty of silly season news to cover. There are small concours and special events going on in December as well -- The 2nd Spirit of Competition Awards Dinner at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, East Coast Indoor Nationals at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, Gulf Coast Motor Sports Holiday Cruisin Southern Style, 8th Annual Kustom Kulture Show in Anaheim, CA, and the 4th Annual Family Picnic and carnival at The Petersen Automotive Museum in LA,

There will also be a slew of Toys for Tots-type charity car shows as we head into the Holidays. We'll be returning to two of our favorites, the 6th Annual Motor4Toys event, and the 6th Annual Toys for Tots Drive hosted by the Schnuerer family in Huntington Beach, CA, but there are many more such events going on all around the country. Check your local paper for more and if you come across any, feel free to post details and links in the comments.

If none of those events appeal to you, check out our Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. And please use the comments section to add or modify listings.

Continue reading Event Alert: December Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: December Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, mass-market potential has four doors

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

2011 Chevrolet Cruze - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is finally coming Stateside and during a private event held earlier this evening ahead of the LA Auto Show, General Motors - 20 minutes after announcing the departure of Fritz Henderson as CEO - unveiled the U.S.-spec version of its Cobalt replacement and Toyota Corolla competitor.

Sharing much of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt's architecture, the Cruze has the potential to be a massive leap forward for Chevy in the mid-size/compact segment. Larger than the Cobalt in almost every dimension and packing a choice of either a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder putting out 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque or a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-pot, fuel economy and efficiency take center stage. However, "driving enjoyment" was mentioned more than once during the presentation, so to aid both its fuel consumption (an estimated 40 mpg with the turbo'd four) and enhance the experience, buyers will be able to choose between a manual or automatic six-speed gearbox.

Although we've seen the Cruze in person before (it's been on sale in Europe and other markets for over six months), its sharp lines, taut headlamps and enlarged grille play Dr. Jekyll to it's rather staid, Mr. Hyde rump. Inside, the two-tone brown and black leather interior is a tremendous improvement over the model it replaces, with an artfully sculpted dash and center stack surrounded by soft touch materials, brushed fauxluminum and a smattering of chrome. Back seat passengers should be equally pleased with the appointments and a 60/40 split bench ups the ante for usability.

The Cruze's arrival late next year couldn't be better timed, as Ford is readying the next generation Focus and Honda is toiling away on a reworked Civic. We're expecting to get some seat time in the coming months, and for the first time in recent memory, we're looking forward to sampling a new mid-size product from the General. Full details in the press release below the fold and check out the gallery of live images below.

Gallery: LA 2009: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Continue reading LA 2009: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, mass-market potential has four doors

LA 2009: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, mass-market potential has four doors originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2009: Cadillac CTS Coupe vogues, dazzles

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:24:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Cadillac, Luxury

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Cadillac invited us down to a dance hall south of downtown Los Angeles and the convention center for a little lunch and a lot of talk concerning their new CTS Coupe. In fact, they brought a CTS Coupe along with 'em. A production CTS Coupe we should point out. The exact same car you'll be able to purchase from Cadillac in just a few short months (most likely May 2010 as a 2011 model).

First thing is first and WOW - what a fabulously stunning automobile. Those of you in the LA area owe it to yourself to schlep down to the Staples Center just to see this here Caddy Coupe live in the flesh. Yes, it is another in a long lined-trend of modern vehicle that looks ten times better in person than in photos. For reals, this Caddy Coupe is a knockout. Make the jump to continue reading.

Gallery: Live: 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe

Continue reading LA 2009: Cadillac CTS Coupe vogues, dazzles

LA 2009: Cadillac CTS Coupe vogues, dazzles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini not attending LA Auto Show

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Lamborghini, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Spyker, Fisker, Luxury

The closest we'll get to the Ferrari 458 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Here's an unsurprising stat for you: 60 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. that cost over $100,000 find homes in New York, Florida and California. The majority of which are parked in garages in Manhattan, Miami and Los Angeles, respectively. So the revelation that Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini won't be attending next month's LA Auto Show is -- at the very least -- surprising.

According to a spokesperson speaking with The Detroit Bureau, Bentley has decided to skip the So. Cal. show, adding that the automaker is looking for "a better use of our resources." Ferrari and its sister marque Maserati are out as well, with an unnamed source telling the industry pub, "It's just the economy. We're cutting back on a lot of things."

Given the global economic climate and its affect on high-end automotive sales, the choice to scale back isn't such a shock, but for automakers that rely on the Southern California market, it's a disturbing sign of the times. As for the rest of the LA exhibitors, the luxury market's Big Three (Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz) will be in attendance, although it looks like the lower hall will only house Aston Martin, Spyker, Fisker and -- we'd assume -- Rolls-Royce.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Ferrari 458 Italia

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

REPORT: Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini not attending LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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