The automotive industry’s eyes turn this week to Los Angeles for the LA Auto Show. This year’s show, set to feature over 30 global vehicle debuts, comes at an interesting time; US economists – and indeed economists around the world – once again await Janet Yellen’s decision in early December, a matter of weeks after the show, on whether or not to raise interest rates. However Yellen decides to play it, her decision will impact US vehicle sales. The US market is heading towards a 2015 total of 17.3 million new cars and light trucks, according to Steven Szakaly, Chief Economist at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). And for 2016, Szakaly is expecting the market to peak at 17.71 million units in the absence of heavy OEM incentives.
Despite being a home show in the national sense, LA is for obvious reasons not one that the big domestic OEMs use to display their newest metal; although present at LA, and with launches planned, Ford and GM will wait until January and use their ‘local’ show for their key product announcements. FCA, on the other hand, is using the LA show to unveil the first fruit of its roadster partnership with Mazda, although that’s a partnership that involves only the OEM’s European arm.
Talking of European OEMs, we’ve become somewhat accustomed, in recent years, to US motor shows featuring a VW executive presenting an SUV concept, reaffirming the OEM’s commitment to the US market, reminding us of the company’s 800,000 upa target and emphasising the importance of its diesel strategy. We can be fairly sure that LA 2015 will break that cycle, coming as it does two months to the date since the EPA served the OEM with a Notice of Violation for the use of defeat devices on its diesel engines. The VW Group’s presence at the show is expected to be suitably muted this year, with just one VW launch (the Beetle Dune) confirmed, and limited exposure for Porsche and Audi.
Ahead of the 2015 LA Auto Show, Kia made a series of announcements about its future powertrain strategy, including confirmation of hybrid technology for the new Optima and a dedicated C-segment hybrid car called the Niro; Hyundai also had news, confirming plans to launch the Genesis marque as a full premium brand. Neither the Niro or anything new from Genesis is expected at LA, but the announcements were a clear show of strength for each brand, and a shot across the bows for the other big global OEMs.
Here, Automotive World provides coverage of the major new model launches and concept cars at the 2015 LA Auto Show.
NEW MODEL LAUNCHES
DAIMLER
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
The beginning of 2016 will see the start of customer orders for the Mercedes-Benz SL which will be available from April 2016. The LA show line-up also includes the SL63 and SL65 AMG. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Mercedes-Benz GLS
The GLS is successor to the GL. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES (FCA)
Alfa Romeo Giulia
First unveiled in June and officially launched at the 2015 IAA, the importance of the Giulia’s presence at a US motor show is clear – the brand’s full return to the US market has stalled several times, most recently due to the slowing Chinese market.
Fiat 124 Spider
Fiat’s new roadster, the 124 Spider based on the Mazda MX-5, has been unveiled at the show. The original 124 Spider was Fiat’s best-selling car in North America, and the new car is the fruit of the January 2013 agreement between the two OEMs, under which Mazda would produce an open-top, two-seater sports car for – at the time – Alfa Romeo. Sergio Marchionne has since confirmed that Alfa Romeo cars will only be built in Italy; since the cars will be built at Mazda’s manufacturing plant in Hiroshima, Japan, another brand was needed for the FCA vehicle, and so it became a Fiat roadster. The Mazda and Fiat group roadsters will, according to the agreement, be “differentiated, distinctly styled and brand-specific”. And importantly, it’s a new Fiat line – a Fiat for the American market without any reference to “500”. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Night
The 2015 LA Auto Show will see FCA’s Jeep brand launch two new special edition models – the 2016 Grand Cherokee SRT Night and the 2016 Wrangler Back Country. This edition of the Grand Cherokee features a premium black appearance by way of a black roof, rear spoiler, front grille bezels, B and C pillars and side window surrounds, as well as black lightweight performance wheels. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Jeep Wrangler Back Country
The Wrangler Backcountry, meanwhile, is based on the Wrangler Sahara model. This model highlights a winter capability theme. While the Backcountry goes on sale later this month, the SRT Night will go on sale in the first quarter of next year. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
GENERAL MOTORS
Buick LaCrosse
The all-new Buick LaCrosse will be launched in mid-2016 as a 2017 model year car. Built on an all-new architecture, the 2017 LaCrosse features many design cues inspired by the Avenir concept. Most strikingly, the new car features a grille design which puts a new face on the brand. The design was introduced on the Avenir concept and was inspired by the 1954 Wildcat II concept. It’s a face all Buick models will adopt by 2018. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Cadillac XT5 (Crossover Touring)
The 2017 Cadillac XT5 makes its US debut after being unveiled earlier this month at the Dubai auto show; the XT5, which replaces the SRX, is scheduled to enter production in the US and China in spring 2016. According to the OEM, this is a comprehensively upgraded luxury crossover, which is the cornerstone of a new series of crossovers in the brand’s ongoing expansion. This completely new vehicle has been built on a unique chassis and structure. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
HONDA MOTOR COMPANY
Honda Civic Coupe
Honda unveils its all-new 2016 Civic Coupe at the show, on the tenth generation Civic platform. The coupe is, of course, built on the same platform that underpins the 2016 Civic Sedan that went on sale recently. The Coupe will feature sportier lines, high-tech interior and powertrain options, in line with Honda’s focus on launching what it calls “the sportiest and most expansive” Civic lineup in brand history. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Honda Clarity Fuel Cell
Honda’s Clarity Fuel Cell makes its North American debut as well, ahead of its sales launch in the US next year. As announced by the OEM in Tokyo, the Clarity is the world’s first production fuel cell sedan to house the entire fuel cell stack and drivetrain system in the front engine compartment. A fuel cell car at a car show in California? The Clarity’s appearance at the LA Auto Show is more than just a space-filler on the Honda stand. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai has taken the wraps off its sixth-generation Elantra, ahead of a spring 2016 sales launch. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
CX-9 Crossover
Mazda’s entry for the 2015 LA Auto Show is its all-new CX-9 three-row midsize crossover SUV, which incorporates the OEM’s latest SKYACTIV technologies. The OEM has positioned this new offering as a high-end model in its new-generation lineup. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
MITSUBISHI MOTORS
2016 Outlander Sport and 2017 Mirage
Mitsubishi’s dual world debut comprises its 2016 Outlander Sport and the 2017 Mirage. According to the OEM, these vehicles feature new designs which bring a unified look to the Mitsubishi lineup.
NISSAN MOTOR CORPORATION
Infiniti QX30
The 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show played host to one leg of the dual-location launch of Infiniti’s all-new premium active crossover, the QX30: as well as launching at the LA Show, the car was unveiled at the Guangzhou show. Production of the Q30 begins officially at Nissan’s Sunderland, UK factory on 3 December, with QX30 production scheduled to begin six months later. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
TATA MOTORS
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible
The new Evoque Convertible was revealed on 9 November at an event in London ahead of its motor show debut at the LA show. Land Rover believes the variant will widen its appeal and expects it to account for 10% of all Evoque sales. LINK TO ARTICLE
VOLKSWAGEN GROUP
Audi R8, RS 7 performance and S8 plus
The LA show played host to the unveiling of a trio of Audi Sport and performance models. The US debutants comprise Audi’s R8, RS 7 performance and the S8 plus. The 2017 R8, Audi says, is the fastest and most powerful Audi of all time. With more horsepower, the 2016 RS 7 improves the current offering, while the S8 plus features a more powerful engine which pushes it past 600hp. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Lamborghini Huracan
Lamborghini’s appearance at LA came in the form of the rear-wheel drive Lamborghini Huracán LP 580-2. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport
Porsche’s Cayman GT4 Clubsport is a racing version of the car meant solely for the track. This model is based on the lightweight Cayman GT4 introduced earlier this year. The racing version features a Porsche double clutch transmission with shift paddles on the steering wheel and a mechanical rear-axle locking differential. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
Volkswagen Beetle Dune
VW’s muted presence at the 2015 LA Auto Show comes in the form of the new Beetle Dune, a crossover which the OEM says is reminiscent of the legendary Baja California dune buggies. Offered in coupe and convertible variants, the Beetle Dune can be ordered from German Volkswagen partners beginning Thursday 19 November. Prices begin at €23,625 for the Coupe and € 27,800 for the Cabriolet. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
CONCEPT CARS AT THE 2015 LA AUTO SHOW
ELIO MOTORS
P5
Elio Motors will introduce its P5 publicly for the first time at the LA auto show. This version will be Elio’s first model to feature its prototype engine. The IAV engine is a 0.9-litre, three-cylinder engine capable of pushing the P5 to 100 mph. The vehicle has been going through its final prep at IAV’s facility in suburban Detroit.
FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, said at the unveiling of the Impreza Sedan Concept that the design concept car previews the next-generation Impreza; that car will be the first of Subaru’s next-generation strategic vehicles envisioned in FHI’s Mid-Term Management Vision “Prominence 2020″ announced in May 2014. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
GEELY
Volvo Concept 26
The Volvo Concept 26 is named after the average daily commute to work of 26 minutes (which Volvo says is based on research of the average commute time in the US) – time that Volvo says could be spent doing something more meaningful than sitting in stop-start traffic. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Scion C-HR Concept
Following the introduction of the iM hatchback and the iA sedan, Scion has unveiled a third all-new vehicle, the C-HR concept. Toyota’s youth-oriented Scion subsidiary says the four-door C-HR concept is named for its Compact size and High Ride height. LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
