Although we've already seen the Audi Q5 in a variety of forms after its initial unveiling in Beijing this past July, the four-ringers decided to finally show off their cute 'ute in North America for the first time at the LA Auto Show. The compact(ish) CUV is packing the award-winning 2.0-liter TFSI gasoline engine putting out 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque through the seven-speed, dual-clutch S tronic transmission, and Audi is quick to point out that with a drag coefficient of just 0.33 and a turbocharged four, the Q5 will be one of the most fuel-efficient offerings in its class. Check the galleries below for more and see our previous post for all the details.

The BRABUS edition of smart's diminutive little fortwo is, as we like to say, officially official as of yesterday when the brand pulled the wraps off the new-for-USA model. Unlike the Europeans who have had access to BRABUS smarts for the last few years, we won't be getting the force-fed 112-horsepower three-cylinder engine here in the States, but that means we get to keep the 41 miles per gallon efficiency of the standard smart fortwo. You win some, you lose some, right? It's a nice package that definitely stands apart from other fortwo models thanks to its unique alloy wheels, monochromatic paint in either black or silver and numerous BRABUS emblems inside and out. Want one? It'll cost you $17,990 for the coupe or $20,990 for the cabriolet, which initially strikes us as a fairly steep sum considering it comes with the same 70 horsepower engine of the standard smart. As of right now, only those with fortwo reservations are eligible for the new BRABUS, but that seems likely to change in the near future if the model continues to prove as popular as smart claims it has.


Photos Copyright ©2008 Sebastian Blanco and Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above for a super high-res gallery of the 2008 L.A. Auto Show

When the press conferences have died down and most of the cars have made their debuts, we like to roam the halls of the convention center and simply enjoy the cars. This also gives us a chance to take photos of the cars away from the crowds of journalists, and we've put together the 25 best shots of the past few days in a super-high-res gallery meant specifically to adorn the background of your desktop. The photos are available at 1,920 pixels wide to accommodate even the largest of screens (they'll download at that size and can be viewed in the gallery at that size by clicking the "Hi-res" button). Enjoy!

Live photos copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

It wasn't the number one pick of our readers (earning the silver medal in your voting), but Mazda managed to take the top honors at the LA Design Challenge with its KAAN concept. The design itself is a fanciful look into a future where all the roads in California are paved with... um, sub-level electro-conductive polymer (m'kay), which provides juice to the electronic tires that allow the KAAN to reach speeds of up to 250 mph. Up to 30 KAANs would travel together in formations that would cheat the wind, so MAZDA designed the vehicles so that they could fit tightly together in the peloton.

The theme of the competition was to depict what motorsports would be like in 2025. Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles, said that the choice was made because Mazda's entry was "the most innovative and artistic design," and that the KAAN "ultimately brought unique styling back to motorsports." Unique? That seems like a major understatement to us. See all of the contenders after the break


[Source: LA Auto Show]

Click above for high-res image gallery of the American Modular Tooling by PWM

While heading out to our first press conference of the morning here at the LA Auto Show, we spotted this... this... thing. It sort of looks like a car, but is actually an adult Erector Set of sorts. Paul W. Marino Gages (PWM) offers this line of customizable shop benches and tools known as American Modular Tooling. The pieces can be put together in virtually any configuration allowing workers to hold any part in just about any position. It's a pretty cool line and allows shops to build the bench they need for the job, then tear it down and build something different for the next one. It should also help businesses cut down on space and expenses by giving workers a sizable bag of building blocks to work from rather than requiring they buy a new bench or holder for each task. To show off their goods at this year's auto show, they did the natural thing and built what looked like a car out of their parts. If you're interested in this type of equipment (and frankly who isn't?), check out their website and our gallery of high-res images that show their demonstration "car" from different angles.


Live photos copyright ©2008 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Maserati Quattroporte S

The updated Maserati Quattroporte made its debut at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year, but us Yanks are getting our first look at the LA Auto Show this week. The most noticeable new feature is the front grille that mimics the GranTurismo's vertical slat design. Both front and rear lights have also been updated with LEDs. Inside, the center console has been reorganized and a new Maserati Multimedia System features an upgraded navigation system. The Quattroporte S also benefits from a new 4.7L V8 with 430 horsepower mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission found in the standard model, as well. We've included the original press release after the jump, and added more live photos of the world's most gorgeous four-door in the high-res gallery below.

Live photos copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Gumpert Apollos

In case you hadn't noticed, the Gumpert Apollo isn't the prettiest car. Its garish and over-emphasized styling make it look cartoonish, but what it lacks in the visual department is made up with one of the most capable chassis and motor combinations ever produced. In fact, a pair of Apollos were tucked away in one of the connecting halls at the LA Auto Show, and as far as we know they are the only two examples in the country. We've seen the black one tackling speed bumps and taking on the Gumball 3000, and Streetfire featured the orange one a few months back. We're always up for new photos of interesting cars, so behold the gallery of high-res photos below.

Live photos copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Kia put on quite a show today, prancing out a slew of new Souls at the LA Auto Show. Expected to drop as an early 2010 model in late '09, the new boxy Soul will go head-to-head with the equally-new Nissan Cube for the affections of ex-xB buyers here in the States. While the Cube really goes after the square-edged look, Kia has softened the Soul. The box's rising beltline starts lower in the front and gradually sweeps skyward at the rear, adding a unique look to the little crossover. A standard 1.6L four banger pushes roughly 120 horses through a five-speed manual tranny and an optional 2.0L unit with about 140 horsepower can be mated with either the stick or a four-speed automatic on uplevel models. Each should exceed 30 mpg on the highway.

The Korean automaker promises that there will be an abundant number of customization possibilities for its new Soul and there will be three separate Soul models in addition to the base kit, including the Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport. We think that they may be trying a bit too hard to be young and hip with these odd model designations, but standard auxiliary and USB input jacks in the center console with full iPod control through the steering wheel audio controls strike us as an excellent idea for its target demographic. Details on what each model gets are in the press release pasted after the break.



Live Photos Copyright ©2008 Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.

There are a few standouts in the emerging green sector of the U.S. auto market that are hitting the market in 2009. BMW's first clean diesel in the United States, the 335d, is one such vehicle that has torque-loving enthusiasts salivating, and General Motors' upcoming Saturn Vue is the first application of the 2-Mode hybrid system in a front-wheel drive vehicle. No green car discussion is complete without a mention of the smart fortwo, which sports the best mileage of any non-hybrid car available. Of course, the new Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid from Ford are shaping up to be real contenders in the green mid-size sedan sweepstakes and they may take a chunk out of Camry hybrid sales when it finally debuts. Still, there is one '09 car that seems to offer the best of all worlds, with a relatively low starting price, excellent fuel economy and refined driving dynamics: The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. For these reasons, the oil-burner from Germany has been selected by Green Car Journal as the 2009 Green Car of the Year. We're not arguing with the decision, but you are, of course, free to make your voice heard in the comments section.



Photos Copyright ©2008 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Ferrari California

The Ferrari California delves into new territory for Ferrari, both in theme and design. Many faithful to the marque may be against its styling, but the true test will be sales numbers. As Porsche has proved over the last few years, the addition of successful new models can be a valuable asset to a company's finances, and we're all in favor of Ferrari's increased capability to improve the breed. The LA Auto Show is the first time we've seen the car in its namesake state, and we took the chance to give it another close inspection after our recent first encounter with the Ferrari California in Sicily. The style is definitely growing on us, and we dearly loved the car in Azzurro Blue. Still on the fence? Check out the gallery below and see if you can make up your mind.

Live photos copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.