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2009 Audi e-tron concept. Image by United Pictures.


2009 LA Auto Show. Image by United Pictures.

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2009 LA Auto Show

Although the LA Auto Show is nowhere near as significant as the major internationl motorshows it always throws up a few important debuts. The 2009 event was no different.

   
2009 LA Auto Show

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SHOW PHOTOGRAPHS BY MODEL
  Audi e-tron concept (9)
Cadillac CTS Coupé (16)
Capstone CMT-380 (5)
Chevrolet Cruze (US market) (16)
Chevrolet Volt (20)
Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR (6)
Dodge Viper SRT-10 Roadster (12)
Ford Fiesta (US model) (42)
Ford Mustang (7)
Green Car of the Year - won by Audi A3 TDI at the LA Auto Show (8)
Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) concept (25)
Hyundai Sonata (17)
Hyundai Tucson (US model) (2)
LA Auto Show (7)
Lexus LF-Ch concept (3)
Mazda2 - US model (8)
MINI Roadster concept (2)
Mitsubishi PX-MiEV concept (2)
Porsche Boxster Spyder (54)
Ram (4)
Renault Fluence Z.E. concept (3)
Renault Kangoo Van Z.E. concept (3)
Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept (3)
VW Amarok (6)
VW Up! Lite concept (48)
 
2009 Audi e-tron concept. Image by United Pictures.

2010 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Roadster. Image by United Pictures.

2010 Ford Fiesta (US model). Image by Newspress.

2009 Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) concept. Image by Honda.

2010 Hyundai Sonata. Image by Hyundai.

2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder. Image by United Pictures.

2009 VW Up! Lite concept. Image by United Pictures.
photographs

 

Motorshows homepage -> 2009 LA Auto Show

2009 LA Auto Show - Alisdair Suttie, Shane O' Donoghue, Kyle Fortune, Mark Nichol


There was a mood of cautious optimism at the LA Auto Show behind all the usual glitz and razzmatazz. While every launch and unveil was accompanied with the standard buzzwords of “class leading” and “world first”, the reality was an industry slowly rediscovering its confidence. The US market has taken a hammering over the past couple of years and many American car drivers are still in shock at the arrival of $4-a-gallon fuel. No wonder fuel efficiency featured large on many execs lips and in plenty of press releases - even the Ford Mustang has caught the economy bug.

Here's a quick rundown of what was on display. Click on the brand links to the left to access the full articles. The LA Design Challenge has its own dedicated page.

2009 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept.   BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

BMW's amazing hybrid sports car concept makes its Stateside debut in LA. The EfficientDynamics Concept uses a 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine and two electric motors to produce 163bhp, but with 214lb.ft of torque it's also good for 0-62mph in less than 5.0 seconds. All this and it still notches up 62.6mpg average economy.

2010 Cadillac CTS Coupé.   Cadillac CTS Coupé

Caddy gets back to doing coupés the right way with the sleek and, dare we say it, glamorous CTS Coupé. It's a sharp looker alright and the signs are good that it will also be a fine drive. There's also a CTS-V on the way in 2012 with a 556bhp supercharged V8.

2010 Chevrolet Cruze (US market).   Chevrolet Cruze

Strangely for an American brand, Chevrolet has launched the Cruze in the States after its European launch. It has come at the right time for Chevy though, as fuel economy becomes an every more important topic in the US and small cars are selling in every greater numbers.

2010 Chevrolet Volt.   Chevrolet Volt

One of the most talked about cars of the LA Auto Show, the Chevy Volt is here in final production form and it's already been driven on real roads. With a 149bhp electric motor and back-up generator to keep the batteries charged, the practical electric future of cars has arrived. Or it will soon...

2010 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Roadster.   Dodge Viper SRT10

The 8.4-litre V10-engined Viper soldiers on, though 2010 will be the final year of production for this model before a replacement is developed. To mark the occasion Dodge will sell just 500 more examples with plenty of new colour choices and a few limited editions to further tempt fans of the iconic all-American sportscar.

2010 Ford Fiesta (US model).   Ford Fiesta

One of Europe's favourite small cars heads west to find America waiting with open arms. The US version only comes with a 1.6-litre 118bhp petrol engine, but 40mpg will win it many friends and customers in the newly consumption-wary US. A dual-clutch gearbox is an option that should cross back over the pond to Europe.

2010 Ford Mustang.   Ford Mustang V6

A lightly restyled Mustang is almost a given for any big American motor show, but the real news is under the shapely bonnet of this 'Stang. It packs a new 3.7-litre V6 motor with 305bhp that is capable of 30mpg - and that's with a six-speed auto 'box. Pony cars have never looked so good.

2009 Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) concept.   Honda P-NUT concept

Honda handed a headline writing gift to us in its 'P-NUT' concept, but the show car should be taken more seriously. It's a highly attractive three-seat city car featuring rear-wheel drive and space for a variety of powerplants.

2010 Hyundai Sonata (US model).   Hyundai Sonata

The new Sonata was the surprise of LA, Hyundai borrowing more than a few styling cues from the Mercedes-Benz CLS to create a highly individual and, dare we say it, desirable, replacement for the dowdy four-door saloon. We expect the company to rename the car when it arrives in Europe.

2010 Hyundai Tucson (US model).   Hyundai Tucson

Hot on the heels of its world debut at Frankfurt, the Hyundai Tucson touches down in the US where it needs to be a sales hit. The latest Tucson is new from the ground up and US buyers can choose from 2.0- and 2.4-litre petrol engines, though European buyers will also be offered a 2.0-litre turbodiesel.

2009 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.   Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The monster Merc says hello to its biggest sales market for the first time at the LA Auto Show. It may not be brand new to car fans, but visitors to the LA event have given the SLS AMG a very warm welcome, which is just what Mercedes hoped for in a town where it will sell plenty of them.

2009 MINI Coupé concept.   MINI Coupé

Now confirmed for production, the MINI Coupé may be small but it's making a big impact in LA. Show goers love the looks and a 208bhp John Cooper Works engine should do the trick on the road. The MINI has been a huge sales success in the US and the Coupé should follow up in fine style.

2009 MINI Roadster concept.   MINI Roadster

An open-top sports car and LA sunshine - what could be a more appropriate match? MINI has got it spot on with the Roadster, which takes the Coupé's low-slung good looks and chops the top off. American MINI fans are already queuing up to lay down their deposits.

2009 Mitsubishi PX-MiEV concept.   Mitsubishi PX-MiEV

The fit, finish and styling of the PX-MiEV all point towards this car being a whole lot closer to production than Mitsubishi's men in suits are prepared to say. It uses two electric motors - one for each axle - and a 114bhp petrol engine to charge the batteries or power the wheels directly. Mitsubishi claims 117mpg is possible, which will appeal to America's SUV fans.

2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder.   Porsche Boxster Spyder

One of the undoubted stars of the LA Auto Show, Porsche knows its audience only too well and where better to launch a Speedster version of the evergreen Boxster than its spiritual home? The lightweight Porsche has a simple canvas roof that's more umbrella than all-weather hood, so Los Angeles is the perfect place for this stripped out machine.

2009 VW Up! Lite concept.   Volkswagen Up! Lite concept

VW's Up! concept grew for the LA Show, but it's still a tiny car by US standards. The latest iteration features seats for four in a long two-door shape reminiscent of the Audi A1. It's even closer to production than before too, as indicated by the "Final Edition" badges. We're not convinced that cameras will replace mirrors on the eventual showroom version.








 

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