We asked executives in town for the L.A. Auto Show to share some thoughts about cars, driving and the future of mobility. Here’s what we learned from Toyota North America Vice President Lisa Materazzo.
What historic car or truck do you wish you owned?
A 1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 coupe.
What’s your favorite weekend or summer holiday drive?
Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
If the future offered flawless autonomous driving, would you still keep a car for weekend driving?
Absolutely! For me, driving is a transformative experience that’s about more than the destination. It’s about freedom, independence and excitement.
1/49
The Bollinger Motors B1, an all-electric utility truck, on display outside the 2017 L.A. Auto Show at the L.A. Convention Center.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 2/49
Times staff writer Charles Fleming test drives a Acrimoto SRK.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 3/49
Entry doors at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show. The event opens to the public Friday.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 4/49
Inside the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 5/49
The West Hall at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 6/49
Ford GT
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 7/49
Acura NSX GT3 Carbon
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 8/49
Toyota FT-AC concept
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 9/49
Subaru Crosstrek
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 10/49
Mazda Vision Coupe concept
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 11/49
Nissan Rogue in Star Wars livery
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 12/49
Tesla Model 3
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 13/49
Tesla Model 3
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 14/49
The falcon wing doors on the Tesla Model X.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 15/49
Attendees in the Porche area of the auto show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 16/49
Porche Carrera T
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 17/49
Porche 911
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 18/49
Porche Panamera Hybrid
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 19/49
BMW i8 Roadster
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 20/49
Volkswagen ID Buzz concept
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 21/49
Volkswagen ID Buzz concept
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 22/49
Volkswagen ID Buzz concept
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 23/49
At the Chevrolet booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 24/49
At the Toyota booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 25/49
At the Chevrolet booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 26/49
Sarah Gao poses for a picture beneath a Ford GT.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 27/49
Two attendees view a virtual reality movie, “The Future of Tomorrow.”
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 28/49
Girls’ Pit Stop in the Garage at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 29/49
A man walks around the Burning Rubber store area in the Garage at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 30/49
The Prestone custom car display in the Garage.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 31/49
Custom cars on display in the Garage.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 32/49
Lance Chikasawa walks past the Prestone custom car display in the Garage.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 33/49
Bicycles on display at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 34/49
GMC Sierra all-mountain concept
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 35/49
The new Kia Sorento
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 36/49
Kia unveils the 2019 Sorento.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 37/49
Honda Clarity
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 38/49
The Mitsubishi booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 39/49
Jesus Gonzalez details cars in the Galpin Hall of Customs.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 40/49
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 41/49
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 42/49
Cars on display at the Kia booth.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 43/49
A Ford racing driver made out of Lego blocks.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 44/49
The Volvo booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 45/49
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR01.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 46/49
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR01.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 47/49
The 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 48/49
The 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 49/49
The 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) What’s the top speed you’ve ever traveled in a car, and where did that take place?
About 170 mph in a NASCAR ride-along at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
What’s the most exciting change currently at work in the automotive industry?
Advancements in connected technologies that make driving safer, more convenient and seamless.
What current motorized vehicle (made by some other company than your own) do you particularly admire?
The iconic Vespa.
The L.A. Auto Show runs Dec. 1-10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Times coverage is at latimes.com/autos.
charles.fleming@latimes.com
@misterfleming
