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Autos

Thanksgiving special: L.A. Auto Show’s top 10 turkeys

The L.A. Auto Show runs through Thanksgiving weekend, which seems appropriate, because there is a lot of turkey on the show’s menu. From Honda’s hydrogen-powered hypercar – I guess that’s tofurkey, of a sort – to a huge, steroid- infused, poultry-yellow Rolls Royce that is lacking only a wattle, the show’s collection of large, flightless birds is certainly worth a, um, gander. I know, I know. You’re stuffed. You’ve loosened your belt, maybe even undone your trousers … ahhh. But perhaps there’s room for one … more … tiny … morsel? -- Dan Neil, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer 2009 Ferrari California You’ve got to hand it to Ferrari. When they shoot themselves in the foot they fire both barrels and then reload. This silly, swoopy red confection, with a face like Pokemon and a keister like Tom Arnold in a thong, is probably the single least desirable Ferrari ever made. I didn’t like this car when it was called the Maserati 4200 and I like it less now. They will sell thousands. More in Autos: • Up to Speed blog: Share your thoughts on this gallery • L.A. Auto Show coverage • 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Production cars • 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Concept cars • 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Green cars • Cars with the best resale value for 2009

The L.A. Auto Show runs through Thanksgiving weekend, which seems appropriate, because there is a lot of turkey on the show’s menu. From Honda’s hydrogen-powered hypercar – I guess that’s tofurkey, of a sort – to a huge, steroid- infused, poultry-yellow Rolls Royce that is lacking only a wattle, the show’s collection of large, flightless birds is certainly worth a, um, gander.

I know, I know. You’re stuffed. You’ve loosened your belt, maybe even undone your trousers … ahhh. But perhaps there’s room for one … more … tiny … morsel?

-- Dan Neil, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

2009 Ferrari California
You’ve got to hand it to Ferrari. When they shoot themselves in the foot they fire both barrels and then reload. This silly, swoopy red confection, with a face like Pokemon and a keister like Tom Arnold in a thong, is probably the single least desirable Ferrari ever made. I didn’t like this car when it was called the Maserati 4200 and I like it less now. They will sell thousands.

More in Autos:
• Up to Speed blog: Share your thoughts on this gallery
• L.A. Auto Show coverage
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Production cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Concept cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Green cars
• Cars with the best resale value for 2009
  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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The L.A. Auto Show runs through Thanksgiving weekend, which seems appropriate, because there is a lot of turkey on the show’s menu.

Honda FC Sport fuel cell concept car

Honda FC Sport Concept
Looking less like a sports car than a wall-socket adapter for an iPod, the Honda FC Sport demonstrates, so sayeth the press material, the design flexibility and packaging advantages of fuel cell (“FC”) technology. Uh-huh. It demonstrates to me that Honda designers need a guide dog and a white cane. This thing puts the “butt” in butt ugly.

More in Autos:
• Up to Speed blog: Share your thoughts on this gallery
• L.A. Auto Show coverage
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Production cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Concept cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Green cars
• Cars with the best resale value for 2009
  (Gabriel Bouys / AFP/Getty Images)

Mini E electric car

Mini E Concept
This is like digging into a luscious Thanksgiving bird to discover it’s stuffed with floor sweepings and sawdust. The electric Mini is, in fact, a crude and rude retrofit of the existing British bumblebee, with a 28-kWh battery lump stuffed into the space where the back seat used to be. Then BMW’s engineers carpeted the area over as if you wouldn’t notice the missing seats. An electric Mini is an awesome idea, though. Can’t wait for the company to try again.

More in Autos:
• Up to Speed blog: Share your thoughts on this gallery
• L.A. Auto Show coverage
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Production cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Concept cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Green cars
• Cars with the best resale value for 2009
  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Smart Fortwo Brabus edition

Brabus edition Smart Fortwo
A slammed Smart Fortwo? Awesome. I guess. I suppose. Brabus, the famed German tuner of sports machines, supplies an “aero” kit for the Fortwo (chin spoiler, side skirts), though considering that the Smart won’t go over about 70 mph, its aerodynamics are purely theoretical. The kit also includes 15-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels (which do look nice). My favorite touch: the dual chrome-plated exhaust tips, the better to hear it wheeze. Price: $17,990 for the coupe and $20,990 for the cabriolet. For those who prefer Cornish game hen to turkey.

More in Autos:
• Up to Speed blog: Share your thoughts on this gallery
• L.A. Auto Show coverage
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Production cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Concept cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Green cars
• Cars with the best resale value for 2009
  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, in antacid yellow
My friend in high school had a car this color. It was a ’68 Camaro that had been left in his yard on cinderblocks for seven winters. I’m all for carmakers thinking outside the Crayola box, but this is one tragic hue, less English custard than Jell-O pudding pop. And so much of it. Who wants coffee?

More in Autos:
• Up to Speed blog: Share your thoughts on this gallery
• L.A. Auto Show coverage
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Production cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Concept cars
• 2008 L.A. Auto Show: Green cars
• Cars with the best resale value for 2009
  (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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