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Tuesday, 16 November, 2010 10:27 AM

2010 Los Angeles Auto Show to kick-off the global auto show season

Press Preview: Nov. 17 and 18; Charity night: Nov. 18; Public days: Nov. 19 - 28

LOS ANGELES -- The 2010 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show will open to the media on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 17 and 18. More than 50 new vehicle debuts will take place over press days. The charity sneak preview will take place on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. Proceeds will benefit Homeless Health Care Los Angeles and One Voice LA. The LA Auto Show officially opens to the public on Nov. 19 and runs through the 28. It will be open on Thanksgiving Day as well. It all takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, located at 1201 S. Figueroa Street.

The LA Auto Show is the first major auto show of the 2010-2011 season. It continues with the North American International Auto Show (Detroit) in January, the Chicago Auto Show in February, the Toronto Auto Show in February, the Geneva Auto Show in March and the New York Auto Show in April. The Shanghai Auto Show, which takes place every other year, will also be held in April 2011.

"As the auto industry is getting back on it's feet, we're seeing great new products, we're seeing more space being taken by the exhibitors, some new exhibitors and 50 new product debuts," said Brendan Flynn, communications director of the LA Auto Show. "It should be an amazing year. We're going to have at least 15 concept cars on display."

Some of the new product reveals include the Audi Quattro, Mazda Shinari concept, BMW 6 series concept, all-electric Kia Pop, Jaguar C-X75, Nissan Ellure sedan concept, Saab 9-3 Epower and the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.

"Southern California is home to 13 or 14 design studios of the major manufacturers," the communications director explained. "For the past six years, we've been having a designer's conference. This year the designer's conference is really going to focus on a contest, the Design Challenge. We have nine studios this year participating in the Design Challenge. The test was to see if they can come up with a 1,000-pound vehicle, lightweight, fuel-efficient vehicle that was up to all of the safety requirements. We expect over 1,000 designers at the auto show."

The Designer's Night party is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 18 at The Conga Room at LA Live, right across the street from the Staples Center. It begins at 6 p.m. and runs through 10 p.m. The winning studio will be announced at 7 p.m.

"We have 13 brands participating," Flynn said of the ride-and-drive event for the press days. "Audi is going to have an A3 TDI that's running on a synthetic diesel fuel. BMW is going to have their MINI E and their ActiveHybrid 7. CODA Automotive has their new electric sedan. That's going to be an opportunity for people to get behind the wheel and haven't had a chance to before. Of course, the Chevy Volt and the Nissan LEAF will be participating. Those are both in the running for Green Car of the Year as well."

He added: "The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is also participating. Mercedes-Benz is going to have their B-Series F-Cell, their electric fuel cell. Mitsubishi is going to have their new i-MiEV. Porsche is going to have their Cayenne S Hybrid. Volvo's going to have their C30 Electric. Volkswagen's going to have their Golf Blue eMotion and also their TDI. Wheego, which is a start-up manufacturer that makes exclusively electric vehicles is going to have their first freeway capable electric vehicle."

The LA Auto Show will serve as the unofficial beginning of the electric car area. It is the first time that many production-ready electric vehicles are on display at the show and buy them at dealers. The Volt and the LEAF will both be displayed and auto enthusiasts will be able to purchase one at their nearest dealer immediately after attending the LA Auto Show.

"Representatives from Southern California Edison and the Electric Drive Transportation Association to help educate consumers about what they need to do, how they get a charging permit station in their home, way to calculate what their charging rates are going to be," Flynn said. "A lot of that real practical information about owning and operating an EV is going to be available throughout the run of the show."

What would like others to know who are attending the LA Auto Show for the first time?

"There's a lot of options for consumers coming to the LA Auto Show," the communications director explained. "It gets crowded on the weekends. If you could come on a weekday or during the evenings, we're open until 10 o'clock at night. There's also the new LA Live complex down there. You can come early, park, go to the show, have lunch and catch a movie. Lots of things to do downtown that weren't an option before. Downtown is really becoming a bit of an entertainment hub. There's a bunch of reasons to come to the LA Auto Show in addition to seeing the cars."

For more information on the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, visit www.laautoshow.com.