la 2008


LA 2008: 2009 Audi Q5 makes its North American debut

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 ... Read more →

LA 2008: U.S. smart fortwo BRABUS is officially official Jeremy Korzeniewski

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 ...

LA 2008: Top 25 Desktop Wallpapers Drew Phillips

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 ...

LA 2008: Mazda takes top honors in Design Challenge Jeremy Korzeniewski

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 ...

LA 2008: PWM offers adult Erector Set to build work benches Frank Filipponio

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. ...

LA 2008: Restyled Maserati Quattroporte makes North American debut 11 months ago on Autoblog

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 ...

LA 2008: Two Gumperts are uglier than one 11 months ago on Autoblog

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 ...

LA 2008: Kia's Soul-ful debut 11 months ago on Autoblog

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 ...

LA 2008: VW Jetta TDI named Green Car of the Year 11 months ago on Autoblog

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 ...

LA 2008: Ferrari California comes home 11 months ago on Autoblog

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 ...

LA 2008: Honda shows off Insight's Eco Assist dashboard 11 months ago on Autoblog

There's more to driving green than just the car you choose. The way you pilot the vehicle makes a huge impact on your fuel mileage, and automakers are now beginning to endow their new wares with technology that teaches you how to drive green. Honda's upcoming Insight is a perfect example, with ...

LA 2008: Hyundai approves HED-5 i-Mode for production 11 months ago on Autoblog

We first saw Hyundai's rolling CUV shapeship, the HED-5 i-Mode, back in Geneva, but today at the LA Auto Show is the first time the Korean automaker has shown the car in the States. New to the crossover is a 2.0L gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine that Hyundai plans to roll out in ...

LA 2008: Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder unveiled LIVE 11 months ago on Autoblog

When we got word that Lamborghini was bringing a new model to the LA Auto Show, it wasn't hard to guess what it would be: the Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder. Sun-loving Californians would all drive convertibles if they could, making Los Angeles an ideal venue for the debut, and Lamborghini has a habit ...

LA 2008: VW Race Touareg 2 11 months ago on Autoblog

This is Volkswagens entrant in this weekend's Baja 1000: a spaceframe-chassis Touareg TDI with 75 cm of suspension travel competing in the top-dog Trophy Truck class and utilizing an oil-burning V12 with nearly 550 hp. That's a long way from the first VW win in 1967 that came courtesy of a VW ...

LA 2008: Toyota shows off Camry CNG Hybrid 11 months ago on Autoblog

Toyota isn't holding a press conference at the LA Auto Show this year, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have anything to show. The Prius purveyors have built a CNG-fueled Camry hybrid. According to Toyota spokesperson Jana Hartline, the purpose of the CNG hybrid is to demonstrate the ...

LA 2008: 2010 Mercury Milan stays out of the fray 11 months ago on Autoblog

It's almost hard to believe that a few months ago Mercury was headed for the River Styx. Now it's slated to live, although life is only slowly returning. The Mercury Milan sat up on its plinth at the LA Auto Show today and didn't do much – not even turn – but it didn't look too bad. ...

LA 2008: the 2010 Mustang colonizes the interwebs 11 months ago on Autoblog

There isn't much more to say about the 2010 Ford Mustang, so we'll keep this brief. The new coupe and convertible, as standard versions, will get some of the upscale Bullitt treatment from the current Mustang, so life should be even better for even more. We'll let the press release after the ...

LA 2008: 2010 Mazda3 shows its smiling face [w/VIDEO] 11 months ago on Autoblog

Mazda has unveiled its 2010 Mazda3 sedan here at the LA Auto Show and we managed to snap some nice shots off as it was spinning around on a huge rotating stand. It's a good looking car that Mazda says carries on its "family face" with stylish bulges and creases that attract the eyes, and we're ...

LA 2008: 2009 BMW 7 Series and Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid unveiled LIVE 11 months ago on Autoblog

We already knew pretty much everything there is to know about the U.S. 2009 7 Series, but BMW pulled the covers, both literally and symbolically, off its new range-topper right on schedule anyway. In person, the new 7 has much more presence than it appears to have in photos, with an ...

LA 2008: 2010 Lincoln MKZ unveiled 11 months ago on Autoblog

Lincoln's foray into the entry level luxury sedan market has gone through several changes over the past few years, starting with the introduction of the Zephyr in 2006 and evolving into the MKZ in 2007. In addition to the name change, Lincoln replaced the 3.0L V6 with a 3.5L unit, added a ...

LA 2008: Our Orange Crush is the Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 11 months ago on Autoblog

The Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85, which we'll call "Tiger," is officially out and about. Spyker has released more images of the Audi-engined, 400-hp, 6-speed manual Le Mans-inspired road car, and to our eyes it could be the best looking Spyker we've seen. The blacked-out mirrors do it a lot of ...

LA 2008: Nissan unleashes the slightly less cube-y Cube [w/VIDEO] 11 months ago on Autoblog

The Cube is ready for America, and it's coming in three flavors just to make sure it has all... sides... covered. Each of them gets the 1.8-liter engine good for 122 hp and 127 lb-ft., with trim levels being just 1.8, 1.8 S, and 1.8 SL. The little box with the slightly droopy rear end is packed ...

LA 2008: Porsche to debut freshened Boxster and Cayman with PDK 11 months ago on Autoblog

Porsche is going to unveil its newly freshened Boxster and Cayman models at the LA Auto Show today. As you can see in the galleries below, their noses and tails have been redone with a touch of Carrera GT, but each car now has a unique look. More importantly, the engines and transmissions have ...

LA 2008: Twin-turbo V8 slated for BMW 7 Series 11 months ago on Autoblog

BMW is launching its latest 7 Series flagship in the United States here at the LA Auto Show and has decided to whet our appetites a bit before the official unveiling by releasing an early press release about its latest offerings. As expected, the new 7 is equipped with a direct-injected ...

LA 2008: Lamborghini unveiling Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder 11 months ago on Autoblog

While Lamoborghini's press conference at the LA Auto Show today doesn't begin until later this afternoon, we can at least show you what the Italians will have on display. Meet the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder, a natural evolution of the closed-top, mid-engine car with a soft-top mechanism to keep ...

LA 2008: 2010 Mustang officially unveiled LIVE 11 months ago on Autoblog

The doors have yet to open to the LA Auto Show, but that doesn't mean the unveilings haven't started. Last night Ford rented out a hangar at the Santa Monica airport and invited dozens of Mustang club members to come out for the 2010 Mustang's official introduction. For those of us that didn't get ...

Let the customizing begin! LA Auto Show visitors can digitally accessorize the 2010 Mustang 11 months ago on Autoblog

Ford is wasting no time in allowing its customers to modify the new 2010 Mustang. In fact, they are so anxious to get started that visitors to the LA Auto Show will be able to digitally customize their own version of the pony car right on the show floor. A total of 43 accessories will be ...

LA 2008: Mercury debuts 2010 Milan 11 months ago on Autoblog

We'll spare you from going over the laundry list of changes for the new 2010 Mercury Milan since you've already read about them in the post above on the 2010 Ford Fusion. Both cars share a lot in common, so instead we'll tell you what's different between them. The 2010 Milan gets its own ...

LA 2008: Live reveal of the MINI E in Beverly Hills 11 months ago on Autoblog

BMW board member Dr. Friederich Eichiner unveiled the first MINI E this afternoon at a press event in Beverly Hills, California. The company has built 500 of the battery-powered cars that will be leased to customers in Southern California and the New York City area starting in January. Each car ...

2009.5 Pontiac G6 Sedan, Coupe and Convertible get facelift, GXP remains horrifying 11 months ago on Autoblog

There's not a whole lot going on for General Motors at the LA Auto Show, but the company's making some minor announcements via press release before the shindig in la-la land gets underway tomorrow. The Pontiac G6 receives a minor facelift as a 2009½ model, with updated front and rear ...

Ford to unveil 2010 Mustang live on SPEED TV 11 months ago on Autoblog

Can't make it out to the L.A. Auto Show to see Ford's new pony car? No worries! The Blue Oval and SPEED TV have teamed up to provide live coverage of the 2010 Mustang's unveiling next week. The cameras will be rolling next Tuesday at 11:00 p.m. EST, so either put it on your schedule or set your ...

LA Preview: VW to unveil diesel-powered Touareg TDI Trophy Truck 12 months ago on Autoblog

If Formula 1 is the pinnacle of on-road motorsports, competitive off-roading hits its apogee with the Baja Trophy Truck series. With vehicles sporting over 20 inches of suspension travel both front and rear, along with massive power provided by V8 engines, these trucks travel over the worst ...

LA Preview: Bentley Azure T to debut in city of angels 12 months ago on Autoblog

The current Bentley Arnage family's farewell tour culminates with this. We've already seen the Brooklands coupe and the Arnage Final Series sedan, and now with the L.A. Auto Show, the Azure droptop gets its opportunity to take a curtain call. Say hi to the 2010 Bentley Azure T, which gets the ...

Volkswagen mid-engine roadster coming to Detroit, not LA 12 months ago on Autoblog

Automotive News is reporting that Volkswagen has moved the debut of its mid-engine roadster from this month at the LA Auto Show to January at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The only reason given for the move is that VW expects there to be more interest for the concept ...

Inside Line sees Nissan 370Z in person, official photos coming Oct. 29 1 year ago on Autoblog

Inside Line was given a thorough peek at and allowed to drive the coming Nissan 370Z, and appears to like what it has seen. Many of their findings have been previously guessed at based on spy photos of the car, but their viewing seems to prove that it all fits together well enough in person. ...

Conflicting details: Volkswagen's LA-bound mid-engine coupe 1 year ago on Autoblog

CAR and Autoweek have tapped their sources within Volkswagen to get the scoop on a rumored mid-engine Elise-fighter that may debut at next month's LA Auto Show. But when working with unnamed insiders, information tends to get jumbled in the process and differing reports emerge that suggest it's all ...

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Autoblog Podcast #151: With Car and Driver's Eddie Alterman

Eddie Alterman wades in with Sam, Chris, Dan, and Jonny to talk about SEMA and other recent events.

 
 

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