We asked executives in town for the LA Auto Show a few questions about cars, driving and the future of the automotive industry.
Here’s what Kia Motors’ product planning vice president, Orth Hedrick, told us:
What’s your daily driver, and how long is your average commute?
I have been a longtime Rio owner, and I love it. I have a fairly long commute (35 miles), so the Rio’s great MPG really pays off.
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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)
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Times staff writer Charles Fleming test drives a Acrimoto SRK.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Entry doors at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show. The event opens to the public Friday.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Inside the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The West Hall at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Ford GT
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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Acura NSX GT3 Carbon
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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Toyota FT-AC concept
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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Subaru Crosstrek
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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Mazda Vision Coupe concept
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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Nissan Rogue in Star Wars livery
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
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Tesla Model 3
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Tesla Model 3
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The falcon wing doors on the Tesla Model X.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Attendees in the Porche area of the auto show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Porche Carrera T
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Porche 911
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Porche Panamera Hybrid
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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BMW i8 Roadster
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Volkswagen ID Buzz concept
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Volkswagen ID Buzz concept
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Volkswagen ID Buzz concept
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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At the Chevrolet booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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At the Toyota booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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At the Chevrolet booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Sarah Gao poses for a picture beneath a Ford GT.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Two attendees view a virtual reality movie, “The Future of Tomorrow.”
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Girls’ Pit Stop in the Garage at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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A man walks around the Burning Rubber store area in the Garage at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The Prestone custom car display in the Garage.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Custom cars on display in the Garage.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Lance Chikasawa walks past the Prestone custom car display in the Garage.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Bicycles on display at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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GMC Sierra all-mountain concept
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The new Kia Sorento
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Kia unveils the 2019 Sorento.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Honda Clarity
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The Mitsubishi booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Jesus Gonzalez details cars in the Galpin Hall of Customs.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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Cars on display at the Kia booth.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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A Ford racing driver made out of Lego blocks.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The Volvo booth
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The Chevrolet Corvette ZR01.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The Chevrolet Corvette ZR01.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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What’s your favorite weekend or summer holiday drive?
Living in Southern California means I have access to some wonderful driving roads, including Ortega Highway, Angeles Crest Highway and some of the back roads from San Diego to Palm Springs. And since I also have access to the new Stinger, I can sample those roads in a very capable performance sedan.
In what country, or in what area of this country, are the best roads for driving?
I’ve got family in New Mexico, and there are some amazing roads to be found in that neck of the woods.
What’s the top speed you’ve ever traveled in a car, and where did that take place?
160 mph in Japan (Skyline GTR while working at Nissan).
What’s the most exciting change currently at work in the automotive industry?
Charles Fleming writes about automobiles and motorcycles for the Los Angeles Times’ Business section. He also writes the urban hiking column LA Walks. A former staff writer for Newsweek, Variety and the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, he is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller “High Concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess,” the New York Times bestseller “My Lobotomy,” and “Secret Stairs, A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles” and its sequel, “Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles.”
