The
Los Angeles Auto Show has the rare distinction of being recognized
by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles
(OICA), one of only two in the U.S.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo, Kelly Rosales and Steven Valline will be filing
reports from the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show
•
Nov. 22 - Dec. 1, 2013 • Los Angeles Convention Center •
With
a new leadership team in place, the Los Angeles Auto Show
(LA Auto Show®), known as the first major North American
auto show of the season each year, announced today that it
expects more than 50 vehicle debuts to be unveiled in front
of a global audience during its Press Days, November 20-21,
2013. The debut line-up this year promises a mix of cutting-edge
trends and innovations in today’s competitive automotive
market. BMW has confirmed seven to eight debuts, including
a yet-to-be-named global premiere. MINI will also present
a strong showing with the long-awaited global introduction
of its brand-new MINI automobile.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo spoke one-on-one with David Barnas, General
Motors' Group Manager of Global Design for U.S. Auto Shows.
In this great video, find out what GM has planned for the
2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. How many concept cars and production
models will be displayed? Will the displays for Buick, Cadillac,
Chevrolet and GMC be in the same location on the floor plan?
Will their displays be the same size as last year or larger?
What can the media expect for press days? How about for the
public days? Will there be more interactive displays? How
many GM vehicles will participate in the ride-and-drive? Get
those questions answered in this video.
General
Motors has BIG plans for the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. A
yet-to-be-announced new vehicle for Chevrolet will be revealed
in Detroit on Nov. 11 ahead of its world debut in southern
California. It is expected to make front page news for the
bowtie brand. However, we can confirm that the Cadillac El
Miraj concept, 2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD and the 2014 Chevrolet
Corvette C7 Stingray will be on the show floor. "The
L.A. Auto Show is incredibly important for GM and all four
of our brands," said David Barnas, GM's Group Manager
of Global Design for U.S. Auto Shows. "The California
market is obviously the largest in the United States."
Green
Car Journal has identified its five finalists for the magazine's
high-profile 2014 Green Car of the Year® program. The
five 2014 models include the Audi A6 TDI, BMW 328d, Honda
Accord, Mazda3, and Toyota Corolla. These five finalists are
also honored as Green Car Journal's "Top 5 Green Cars
for 2014" and earn the magazine's "Green Car Product
of Excellence" honors. An increasing number of vehicle
models are considered for the Green Car of the Year® program
each year, a reflection of the auto industry's expanding efforts
in offering new vehicles with higher efficiency and improved
environmental impact. Green Car Journal has been honoring
the most important "green" vehicles every year at
the LA Auto Show, since its inaugural award announced at the
show in 2005.
AmericaJR.com
has teamed up with the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers
Association to give you the chance to win a pair of tickets
to the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show public show days. It returns
to the Los Angeles Convention Center from November 22 until
December 1. These tickets are valid for any day during the
run of the show. Some of this year's world debuts include
the 2015 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, 2014 BMW 4 Series
Convertible, 2015 MINI Cooper, 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo/Turbo
S Cabriolet, 2014 Porsche Macan and the 2014 Range Rover Long
Wheelbase. North American debuts will include the 2014 Kia
K900, 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63
AMG and the BMW Concept X4. These tickets are valid for admission
to the show floor, manufacturer test drives, tuners and aftermarket
and much more!
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo spoke one-on-one with Brendan Flynn, senior
director of communications and marketing, for the 2013 Los
Angeles Auto Show. It opens to the media on Nov. 19 and then
opens to the public on Nov. 22. Find out how this year's L.A.
Auto Show will be different from last year. Learn more about
the new events for this year: The Connected Car Expo, Motor
Press Guild's MPG Motoring Invitational, Aftermarket NewsCruise
& Reception and more. What are some of this year's concept
cars and production models that will be on display? Find out
how the Charity Preview Night will be different this year.
Get all of those questions answered plus more in this great
interview.
The
2013 Los Angeles Auto Show opens to the media on Nov. 19 and
then to the public on Nov. 22. It runs everyday through Dec.
1, including Thanksgiving Day, at the L.A. Convention Center.
This year’s world debuts will include the 2015 Acura
RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, 2015 Jaguar
F-Type Coupe, 2015 MINI Cooper, 2015 Subaru WRX and the Honda
FCEV Concept, among many others. Over the last few years,
the L.A. Auto Show has grown into the second largest show
in the country only behind Detroit. Some of this year’s
North American debuts are expected to include the BMW Concept
X4, 2015 KIA K900, 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA Class, 2015 Volkswagen
e-Golf, 2014 BMW 4 Series, 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, and
many others yet to be announced.
The
Lincoln Motor Company’s reinvention takes a major step
forward today with the unveiling of the all-new 2015 Lincoln
MKC small premium utility vehicle. The Lincoln MKC is a unique
creation from the ground up with an assortment of first-in-class
features. Its all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine offers
excellent performance while its ingeniously implemented wraparound
liftgate is an example of masterful customer convenience.
The luxurious interior embraces driver and passengers alike,
and its new and innovative technology personalizes the MKC
ownership experience. Lincoln MKC follows the MKZ sedan to
become the second all-new Lincoln in as many years as the
brand continues its reinvention.
Celebrating
the 57th anniversary of the original 1957 "Nuova"
Cinquecento (New 500), the new 2014 Fiat 500 "1957 Edition"
combines iconic Italian design with engaging driving dynamics
and vintage styling appointments – all for a limited-edition
model enthusiasts are sure to love. "The 1957 Edition
celebrates the Cinquecento, the icon of our brand, and its
unique cachet of Italian style, efficiency and engaging road
manners," said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand for
North America, Chrysler Group LLC. "Created for Italian
car and design fans who want an added sense of the historic
Cinquecento's spirit, the ‘1957 Edition’ features
unique styling elements, material finishes and, of course,
a manual transmission and sport-tuned suspension."
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo reports from inside the Los Angeles Convention
Center for the 2013 L.A. Auto Show. Watch as Ford reveals
its new Edge Concept. You'll hear from Joe Hinrichs, Ford's
Executive Vice President of The Americas and Raj Nair, Ford's
Group Vice President of Global Product Development. The automaker
also announced that it will unveil the 2015 Mustang at a special
event on Dec. 5. Hinrichs said Ford's sales of the Fusion
are up 20 percent so far this year and that the automaker
has increased its profits and market share in states on both
U.S. coasts. Los Angeles is the Ford Edge's biggest market
so it made sense to hold the big reveal there.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo, Kelly Rosales and Steven Valline were LIVE
at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the 2013 L.A. Auto
Show. Look for hundreds of clear, digital photos of all the
new concept cars and production models that were revealed
over the two press days. You'll see the Ford Edge Concept,
2014 Porsche Macan, Honda FCEV Concept, Hyundai Tucson Fuel
Cell, Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe, 2014 MINI Cooper, 2015 KIA
K900, 2015 Chevrolet Colorado, 2014 Fiat 500 "1957 Edition"
and much more! Check back for more new photos each day...
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo reports from inside the Los Angeles Convention
Center for the 2013 L.A. Auto Show. Watch as Honda shows off
its new FCEV Concept. You'll hear remarks from Tetsuo Iwamura,
President & CEO of American Honda Motor Co. and from Mike
Accavitti, Senior V.P. of Automotive Operations for American
Honda Motor Co. The FCEV Concept is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
with a driving range of more than 300 miles. It features a
60 percent improvement from the FCX Clarity that is currently
being offered by Honda. The automaker also mentioned the California
Fuel Cell Partnership and the H2USA Federal Program to highlight
the growth in infrastructure.
Last
year, Dearborn-based Ford Motor Co. held a big event outside
the STAPLES Center with Rally driver Ken Block to introduce
the 2014 Ford Fiesta and smoke was going everywhere. This
year, the automaker scaled down its press conference at this
year’s 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. It introduced the
Ford Edge Concept to the media inside the convention center.
"Nationwide, Edge is outpacing its best and first full
year of sales," said Joe Hinrichs, Ford Motor Co.'s Executive
Vice President of The Americas. "Ford already offers
more vehicles with automated technologies than any other manufacturer
with features such as adaptive cruise control, park assist
and a lane-keeping system."
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo reports from inside the Los Angeles Convention
Center for the 2013 L.A. Auto Show. You'll hear remarks from
Bob Carter, Toyota's Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations
and Chuck Gulash, Director of Toyota's Collaborative Research
Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. The automaker took a different
approach during its press conference. They talked about teen
driving safety instead of revealing a new vehicle. One in
10 fatal accidents in 2012 were driver distraction affected,
according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA). Most members of the media were expecting to see Toyota's
new Fuel Cell Vehicle, the FCV Concept, but that didn't happen.
I
really enjoyed the Honda press conference at the 2013 Los
Angeles Auto Show. Someone accidentally pulled the covers
off the new FCEV Concept before they were supposed to. It
began with water falling from the ceiling to signify that
H2O is the only byproduct of a hydrogen fuel cell electric
vehicle. Then, a song started playing with the words, "It's
a New Beginning, It's a Brand New Day." American Honda
Motor Co. President and CEO Tetsuo Iwamura later joked, "Ladies
and Gentlemen, I'm pleased to introduce the official grand
debut of the Honda FCEV Concept." It is going to have
a driving range of 300 miles, a 60 percent improvement from
the FCX Clarity that Honda currently offers.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo reports from inside the Los Angeles Convention
Center for the 2013 L.A. Auto Show. Watch as Hyundai reveals
its 2015 Tucson FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle) and its
Veloster Turbo R Spec. You'll hear from John Krafcik, President
and CEO of Hyundai Motor America; Mike O'Brien, Vice President
of Product and Corporate Planning; and Scott Margason, Director
of Product Planning. The new Tucson FCEV will be available
for lease with $2,999 down and a $499 per month payment. It
will come with unlimited free hydrogen refueling and at your
service valet maintenance. Look for the 2015 Tucson FCEV to
hit Hyundai showrooms in Spring 2014.
The
big news out of the Los Angeles Auto Show was going to be
the fact that three automakers showed off hydrogen fuel cell
vehicles--Honda, Hyundai and Toyota. That all went according
to plan until the Toyota press conference. Many of us in the
media were expecting to see their new FCV Concept, but that
didn't happen here. It was no where to be found. Apparently,
there was only one prototype made and it was shown at the
Tokyo Motor Show, which was going on simultaneously. Instead,
the automaker chose to devote its 25-minute press conference
to talking about teen driving safety.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo reports from inside the Los Angeles Convention
Center for the 2013 L.A. Auto Show. Watch as Green Car Journal's
Ron Cogan announces the winner of the 2014 Green Car of the
Year Award. This year's finalists included the 2014 Audi A6
TDI, 2014 BMW 328d, 2014 Honda Accord, 2014 Mazda3, and the
2014 Toyota Corolla. Finalists are selected for their achievements
in raising the bar in environmental performance. Availability
to the mass market is a factor to ensure honored models have
the potential to make a real difference in environmental impact,
and finalists must be available for sale by January 1st of
the award year. You'll also hear the introduction from Brendan
Flynn, Senior Communications Director of the Los Angeles Auto
Show.
The
2014 Honda Accord was named the winner of the 2014 Green Car
of the Year Award by the Green Car Journal. The announcement
was made by Ron Cogan, the magazine's editor and publisher,
on the second press day of the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The 2014 Accord also comes in a hybrid model achieving 50
mpg highway and a plug-in model reaching 115 MPGe, the highest
of any mid-size hybrid sedan in the country. It surpassed
the other four finalists for the award: the Audi A6 TDI, BMW
328d, Mazda3 and the Toyota Corolla. All models must be on
sale by Jan. 1 to be eligible for the award.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo reports from inside the Los Angeles Convention
Center for the 2013 L.A. Auto Show. Watch as Infiniti shows
off its new Q30 Concept. You'll hear from Michael Bartsch,
Vice President of Infiniti Americas. He also discussed the
Infinti Q50, which features the world's first direct adaptive
steering. It also features Infiniti's InTouch System, Predictive
Forward Warning System, and the Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid
System. By 2018, the automaker hopes to compete in 80 percent
of vehicle segments. Infiniti plans on growing their line-up
by 60 percent in the next five years. Bartsch added that the
automaker will double the number of its manufacturing plants.
Honda
was the first to show its FCEV Concept sedan at the 2013 Los
Angeles Auto Show, which will be coming to the U.S. in 2015.
Then, Hyundai Motor America was the second automaker to reveal
a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle at the auto show. The
automaker debuted its Tucson FCEV crossover, which will be
in U.S. showrooms this Spring. It is expected to have a driving
range of 300 miles. A hydrogen vehicle can be refueled in
two or three minutes just like a gasoline-powered vehicle.
Instead of simply storing energy like the Chevrolet Volt or
the Nissan Leaf, a fuel cell vehicle uses the hydrogen to
make energy onboard.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo was LIVE at the Figueroa Hotel in downtown
Los Angeles for the Hyundai party following the end of the
first press day of the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. Ziggy Marley
entertained guests at this invitation-only event. He is a
Jamaican musician and leader of the band, Ziggy Marley and
the Melody Makers. He is the oldest son of reggae legend Bob
Marley. Ziggy sang all of his hits for the crowd. Real life
mermaids swam in the pool throughout the evening. Hyundai
Motor America President & CEO John Krafcik served as the
emcee.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo reports from inside the Los Angeles Convention
Center for the 2013 L.A. Auto Show. Watch as Volvo shows off
its new 2015 Volvo V60 sportswagon. You'll hear from Tony
Nicolosi, President and CEO of Volvo Cars North America. The
new V60 comes with a twin-turbo, four-cylinder engine producing
less emissions than a V6 engine. Volvo also introduced its
new Drive-E powertrains at the auto show. The 2015 Volvo V60
will be available for sales this January in U.S. showrooms.
Only 4,000 of these will be made initially. Production will
be expanded thereafter.
Infiniti
America introduced its Q30 Concept to the media during its
press conference at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. This new
crossover vehicle features carbon fiber and 20-inch wheels
with violet accents. It looks very futuristic in design with
deep uppercuts and intersections to create Infiniti's "dual
wave" effect. The Q30 Concept was designed by Formula
One Champion Sebastian Vettel. The interior features a two-tone
mix of crème and bronze leather. This new crossover
was inspired by Infiniti’s Etherea, Essence, and Emerge-e
concept vehicles.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo spoke one-on-one with Otie McKinley, Chevrolet
Assistant Communication Manager. The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
is redesigned from the ground up. The Detroit-based automaker
returns to the midsize truck segment after abandoning it in
August 2012. The 2015 Colorado comes with a choice of three
different powertrains: 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder; 3.6-liter, V6;
and a 2.8-liter, turbo diesel. This new truck was designed
to be the fuel economy leader, however exact figures were
not given. Pricing has not yet been announced either.
While
some automakers showed off beefier engines with more horsepower
and torque, Volvo introduced a new line of four-cylinder,
Drive-E powertrains at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. They
will produce less emissions than a V6 or V8 engine. The 2015
Volvo V60 will come with one of those 2.0-liter, Drive-E engines
producing 240 hp and 258 lb-ft. of torque. It will go from
zero to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds. The new V60 sportswagon
will achieve a combined 29 mpg, according to Volvo. This vehicle
has been very popular in Europe and now it's headed for America
for the first time in January.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo spoke one-on-one with Orth Hendrick, Executive
Director of Product Planning at Kia Motors America. The 2015
KIA K900 is a brand new sedan built from the ground up to
bring KIA into the luxury market. It will come with a 3.8-liter,
V6 engine producing 311 hp or a 5.0-liter, V8 motor producing
420 hp. The V8 model comes with LED headlamps and a 12.3-inch
color display in the instrument panel. Navigation, radio and
other features are located inside another 9.2-inch HD screen
in the center console and are controlled by a rotary knob.
The K900 features three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport
shift settings.
The
cat's out of the bag. Chevrolet's big announcement for the
2013 Los Angeles Auto Show was the introduction of the 2015
Colorado midsize pickup truck. It was teased as a linchpin
for the Detroit-based automaker. The new Colorado will come
with a choice of three engine types: a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder;
a 3.6-liter, V6 motor; and a 2.8-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel
(in its second year). New features include a standard CornerStep
rear bumper, EZ lift-and-lower tailgate, 13 standard tie-down
locations, standard bed rail and tailgate protectors and factory-installed
spray-in bed liner.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo spoke one-on-one with Chris Potgieter, MINI
USA Product Manager. The 2014 MINI Cooper comes with a new
turbocharged 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine producing 134
hp and 162 lb.-ft. of torque. In addition, it comes with three
driving modes: Mid, Sport and Green. New features include
LED headlamps, adaptive light distribution, push-button start,
heated front seats, a rain sensor and light control plus a
Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system. Upgradeable options include
comfort access, park distance control, roof rails, heated
and folding exterior mirrors and an anti-dazzle function.
Up
until now, the KIA brand has been known for its affordable
vehicles that run well. For the first time ever, it is targeting
luxury buyers who are driving the likes of BMW, Audi, and
Porsche. The 2015 K900 is built on the same platform as the
Hyundai Genesis and the Equus, because Hyundai owns nearly
33 percent of KIA Motors. This new luxury sedan will come
with a 3.8-liter, V6 engine producing 311 hp or a 5.0-liter,
V8 motor producing 420 hp. KIA is celebring its 20th anniversary
in America and what a way to do so.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo spoke one-on-one with Jim Morrison, Director
of Jeep Product Marketing. The 2014 Cherokee comes with a
2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 184 hp and 171 ft.-lb.
of torque. It achieves 22 mpg city and 31 mpg on the highway.
The front grille looks very modern in design. Interior features
include 12-volt front and cargo area power outlet, Bluetooth
wireless capability, cargo tie downs, and one-touch power
windows. Sales of this new Cherokee were up 30 percent in
November, its best sales month since 2007. This new model
replaces the Liberty in the Jeep lineup.
Early
rumors indicated that the 2015 MINI Cooper would be revealed
at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. However, that didn't turn
out to be the case. The 2014 edition of the MINI Cooper made
its debut during the automaker's press conference. It comes
with a new turbocharged 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine producing
134 hp and 162 lb.-ft. of torque. In addition, it comes with
three driving modes: Mid, Sport and Green. New features include
LED headlamps, adaptive light distribution, push-button start,
heated front seats, a rain sensor and light control plus a
Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system. Look for the new MINI
Cooper and Cooper S this March in U.S. showrooms.
AmericaJR.com's
Jason Rzucidlo spoke one-on-one with Jose Guerrero, Product
Manager of BMW i U.S.A. The 2015 BMW i3 is known as the world's
first mass-produced premium electric vehicle. It features
a 22-kWh lithium ion battery that produces a driving range
of 80 to 100 miles. The BMW i3 can be recharged in just three
hours with a 240-volt power cord or up to 80 percent capacity
in just 30 minutes with a DC fast charge cord. A 34-hp, two-cylinder
gasoline range extender is available for an extra charge.
That will double the i3's range to between 150 and 190 miles.
Three driving modes are available: Comfort, ECO PRO, and ECO
PRO+.
While
Jeep did not hold a press conference at the 2013 Los Angeles
Auto Show, it still had some product news to share. The 2014
Cherokee will be replacing the Liberty in the Jeep portfolio.
It will be based on a platform from Alfa Romeo, thanks to
Chrysler's partnership with Fiat S.p.A. There are four models
of the all-new Cherokee: Sport, Latitude and Limited plus
a Trailhawk. They come with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine
producing 184 hp and 171 ft.-lb. of torque or 3.6-liter, V6
engine with a towing capability of 4,000 pounds. It achieves
22 mpg city and 31 mpg on the highway. The front grille looks
very modern in design.
I
had the rare opportunity to test drive a 2015 BMW i3 during
the press days of the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. This modernistic
electric sedan was definitely turning heads on the streets
of downtown Los Angeles. I really like the new BMW i3 electric
sedan for many reasons. First, the design inside and out.
Secondly, the drive is smooth and quick to accelerate. Third,
it reduces our footprint on foreign oil since it is an EV.
However, if you take your foot off the gas pedal, the vehicle
automatically begins to slow down and regenerate power. Coasting
is not possible in the BMW i3 like you would be able to do
in a gasoline-powered vehicle.
I
really enjoyed this year's press preview of the 2013 Los Angeles
Auto Show. When Senior Communications Director Brendan Flynn
told me the organizers changed everything, I didn't know what
to expect. I would like to give the entire L.A. Auto Show
team a high five for an outstanding job. First, I liked how
virtually every square inch of the convention center was used
to display vehicles. There were cars in places I never thought
a car could fit. Second, I liked how all of the press conferences
were grouped--the first half of the day in the South Hall,
with the rest in the West Hall. Finally, I enjoyed all of
the new parties that were offered for the media.
Auto
Show season is officially in full swing, and results from
the Foresight Research Los Angeles Auto Show research report
reveal that the shows are a lot more than an entertainment
venue for gearheads and car buffs. In fact, it is a life-sized,
animated brochure for new car and truck buyers. According
to the Los Angeles Auto Show study, experts at Foresight Research
(www.foresightresearch.com) say that over one-quarter of the
people who went to the Los Angeles show last year purchased
a car since then.
The
Original Pink's Hot Dogs
:
: A Hollywood Legend Since 1939 : :
709
N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA •
(323) 931-7594
2014
SRT Viper GTS GTS Anodized Carbon Special Edition
2015
Subaru WRX
2014
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
2014
Volkswagen e-Golf
"Thank
you and the sponsor, AmericaJR, for the prize of a pair of
unlimited passes to the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. Every
year, it's a treat to go to the show with my nephew Evan and
brother John." -Michael
A. Chee (Burbank, CA)