2011 L.A. Auto Show

Visitors take a look at the 2012 Hyundai Azera at the L.A. Auto Show.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

At the L.A. Auto Show, an attendant dusts a Rolls-Royce Phantom drophead coupe. The paint color is called ethereal white pearl.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Carlos Varela and Juan Lopez talk about a Ford truck engine at the L.A. Auto Show. They’re both auto technical students at Cal State Long Beach.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

A couple of visitors crank up the stereo in a new car at the L.A. Auto Show.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Visitors to the Kia pavilion at the L.A. Auto Show.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Gina Nguyen-Denton, right, lets out a scream as Hector Bacallao loses control on the Cruden 3CTR racing simulator at the Ford pavilion at the L.A. Auto Show.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

A visitor to the L.A. Auto Show sprints up a concourse stairway that’s decorated with a supergraphic depicting a Yokohama tire.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Cheri Mullen of Wichita, Kan., takes a snapshot of her son Clayton in front of a car he’d like to own someday -- a Chrysler 300.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

It’s all red and shiny at the Honda pavilion at the L.A. Auto Show.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Young visitors look at the Kia GT at the L.A. Auto Show.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Gaylord E. Eckles inspects the suspension of a Honda CBR1000R motorcycle at the Honda pavilion. Eckles is a transportation design instructor at the Art Center College of Design.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Dan Fahey of Mercedes-Benz positions a 2012 AMG Driving Academy Mercedes-Benz C63 coupe for display during media days at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Media members view some of the latest cars on the market during media days at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Doking XD electric concept vehicle on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A Mexican-made Mastretta MXT is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Media members view the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Spirit, part of the Ecstasy Centenary Collection, at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Aston Martin One-77 is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with the 2012 Honda Civic CNG-powered car, which has been named 2012 green car of the year at the L.A. Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“Mission Impossible” actress Paula Patton waves to the crowd after introducing the new BMW I8 concept vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Media members view the new Chevrolet supercharged convertible Camaro ZL 1 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The new Chrysler 300 is shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., conducts the global debut of the Fit EV.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Jaguar C-X16 is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The “Green” car 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels edition is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Cadillac XTS is unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Land Rover DC100 is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Chevrolet Corvette is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Infiniti JX is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The Land Rover DC100 Sport is displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Media members gather around the new Mazda CX-5 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Detlev von Platen, CEO of Porsche America, left, and Wolfgang Hatz from Porsche Research and Development introduce the 430 horsepower Porsche Panamera GTS at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  (Michael Nelson / EPA)