L.A. Auto Show: Production Vehicles

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 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)

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)

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 Infiniti JX is displayed 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)

The Chevrolet Corvette 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)

Cars from previous L.A. Auto Shows: As the economy stumbles along in recovery, bargains continue to define the marketplace, whether it’s dinner at McDonald’s, refreshing a winter wardrobe at Target or buying an affordable car.

Take the Chevrolet Cruze, a compact sedan that advances the economically induced ideology of building fuel-efficient cars that customers might actually want. Read more >>   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Chevrolet Cruze  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The new Elantra features Hyundai’s fluidic sculpture design first seen on the Sonata sedan and Tucson compact SUV. Check out our review.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Ford F2X truck  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Subcompact shoppers are typically concerned with two things: price and fuel economy. But increasingly, they are also looking for style.

Enter the Fiat 500, a sleek subcompact that will start at $15,500 and achieve fuel economy in the high 30s for highway driving and low 30s in the city, according to a Chrysler spokesman. Read our review here.   (Damian Dovargan / Associated Press)

The Durango revises the nameplate after a two-year absence. It’s built on the same unibody platform as the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, though the Dodge has a wheelbase that’s 5 inches longer and an overall length that’s 10 inches longer. This allows room for a third row seat, something the Grand Cherokee lacks. Here’s our review  (David Undercoffler / Los Angeles Times)

Porsche Carrera GTS  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Audi R8  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Audi R8 GT  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Following the same lighter/more powerful philosophy that created the Boxster Spyder from the common Boxster, the Cayman R sheds 121 pounds from the Cayman S and sees a 10-horsepower boost for a total of 330. Read our first drive of the car here.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The 2011 Nissan Quest on display at the 2010 L.A. Auto Show. Here’s our full review.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

To help celebrate its 40th anniversary -- an anniversary that coincided with production of its 1-millionth vehicle earlier this month -- British automaker Range Rover unveiled its new Evoque Wednesday. Read more >>  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)