Virgin Vehicles
Among the big draws at any auto show are its debuts — vehicles that are being publicly and exclusively unveiled for the very first time. The 2013 L.A. Auto Show boasts a total of 49 such vehicles: 22 world debuts, 19 North American debuts and eight other cars never before shown at a North American motor show.
We took a look at some of the newbies that are sure to have crowds gathering and cameras clicking at the Convention Center.
Audi A3 E-Tron Sportback
It sounds like the ultimate marriage of practicality and pleasure: a five-door, five-seater premium plug-in hybrid that achieves more than 155 miles per gallon, has a total driving range close to 600 miles and can reach 138 miles per hour. First spotted at the Geneva Motor Show in May and making its North American debut here in L.A., Audi’s A3 E-Tron Sportback is expected in stateside dealerships early in 2015, following a European launch next year. Official stateside pricing is yet to be announced, but back home in Germany, this lightweight, planet-friendly compact wagon costs the rough equivalent of 50,000 U.S. dollars.
BMW i8
Another German plug-in hybrid making its North American debut at the L.A. show, BMW’s i8 is living proof that performance (0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds) and fuel efficiency (94 mpg) can coexist in a truly stunning sports package. Due on sale in the U.S. in the spring of 2014 for $135,700, this gorgeous groundbreaker is a low-slung two-plus-two with swan-wing doors and a weight-saving aluminum chassis. Using a BMW i charging station, this sexy-yet-sustainable gas-sipper will juice up in just an hour and a half — three and a half hours with a standard 110-volt outlet — and boasts a number of BMW’s ConnectedDrive features, from Park Distance Control to the Intelligent Emergency Call function.
Chevrolet Colorado
Chevrolet’s all-new Colorado mid-size pickup truck makes its world debut at the show before going on sale as a 2015 model. Although the second-gen Colorado was unveiled as early as 2011 and has been available overseas for some time, the U.S.-spec version is expected to differ considerably from the global model, taking styling cues from Chevy’s 2014 full-size Silverado pickup. General Motors’ North America president Mark Reuss said back in April that the Colorado would “attack the West Coast with a lifestyle truck that’s really beautiful and fun.” At least one diesel engine is expected to be offered in the Colorado’s U.S. lineup.
Jaguar F-Type Coupe
Following the British (now Indian-owned) marque’s introduction of its F-Type convertible in Paris last year, the hardtop version of Jaguar’s latest muscular sports car takes its global bow here in L.A. this week. Billed as a belated successor to the legendary 1961 Jaguar E-Type, the F-Type shows more than a passing resemblance to Jaguar’s contemporary XK Grand Tourer and is based on a shortened XK platform, although its uncluttered lines do in fact do justice to the E-Type’s sleek aesthetic ethos. Specifics are scarce on the coupe, but we do know that the F-Type convertible starts at $69,000 and is available with both V-6 and V-8 mills.
Kia K900
Kia’s first rear-wheel-drive stateside sedan, the K900 makes its world debut at this year’s show. This sophisticated premium ride has been described by Don Hobden, chairman of Kia’s national dealer council, as “a (BMW) 7-series value for a 5-series price.” And with a predicted base MSRP between $50,000 and $70,000, the K900 confirms Kia’s aspirations to continue up the luxury ladder. The car is expected in U.S. showrooms early next year, and it’s likely to be the subject of an advertising blitz during the 2014 Super Bowl telecast.
Land Rover Long-Wheelbase Range Rover
For Range Rover lovers who actually use their rear seats, the world debut of the iconic SUV’s long-wheelbase incarnation should be reason enough to hit the L.A. Auto Show. With an additional 5.5 inches of rear-seat legroom compared with standard-wheelbase models, this gently stretched Rover — the first such variant in 20 years — should be firmly in the sites of well-to-do soccer moms, chic couples with kids and the chauffeur-driven few. The extra eight inches of wheelbase will be offered on Vogue, Vogue SE, Autobiography and Autobiography Black trims in the first quarter of 2014, with an elongated Range Rover Hybrid due later in the year.
Mini Third-Generation Hardtop
The third generation of hardtop siblings in the seemingly ever-expanding Mini family will be shown off for the first time in North America at the show. While details remained closely guarded at the time of publication, fans of the BMW-owned Brit brand can anticipate a new three-cylinder as well as four-cylinder engine, a better-appointed cabin and available high-tech driver-assist features. Ultimately, eight to 10 fresh Mini models, based on an all-new flexible front-drive platform, are in the offing, with stateside sales expected to start in the spring.
Porsche Macan
Following the runaway (and widely unexpected) success of Porsche’s mid-size Cayenne crossover, the world debut of its compact Macan kin at the L.A. show should induce mass neck-craning. Porsche prefers to not even call the Macan a crossover, instead referring to it as a “sports car with five doors and five seats.” Such a declaration speaks directly to its target demographic: drivers who crave Porsche’s signature sportiness and prestige but who have a family or stuff to move around. Technical details are scant, but both four- and six-cylinder engines seem likely, as does a range-topping Macan Turbo.
—Paul Rogers, Brand Publishing Writer
