Which Vehicles Will Debut at the LA Auto Show?

October 04, 2007

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LOS ANGELES — This year's Los Angeles Auto Show is slated to feature at least 14 world debuts and nearly 30 North American debuts during press days, Nov. 14 and 15.

According to officials, the show will kick-off with 28 press conferences featuring some never-before-seen vehicles, as well as many eagerly anticipated North American debuts.

The show opens to the public at the conclusion of the press days Friday, Nov. 16, and runs through Nov. 25, including Thanksgiving Day.

"The show's new fall dates now make Los Angeles the first major North American stop of the auto show season, and as anticipated, manufacturers have taken advantage of this earlier timing by making more world and North American debuts than in previous years," explained Andy Fuzesi, general manager of the LA Auto Show.

While most world debuts remain closely guarded until press days, a few manufacturers have announced their intentions, including Hyundai's world premiere of a new sports car concept, Nissan's all-new, mid-size Murano crossover and Volkswagen's new mini-car concept design, executives reported.

Other worldwide debuts are anticipated to include new hybrid editions and other advanced environmental technologies.

Among the vehicles making their first appearance on U.S. soil will be the completely new Jaguar XF luxury performance sedan and the entirely new BMW 1 Series coup, the show's planners said.

"Performance enthusiasts also anxiously await an in-person view of the U.S. unveiling of Mitsubishi's 10th-generation Lancer Evolution and Subaru's all-new WRX STI. And, finally arriving in the U.S. after much anticipation is Nissan's GT-R supercar," officials indicated.

Moreover, executives said the most expensive new vehicle to make its U.S. debut at the event will be the $1.4 million Lamborghini Reventon, hailed as the most powerful and expensive Lamborghini ever built.

Additionally, Ferrari will debut its new lightweight 430 Scuderia; Bentley will showcase its new and more powerful Continental GT Speed; and Porsche will debut its most powerful 911, the new GT2, according to officials.

The winner of the 2008 Green Car of the Year will be named during a press conference the morning of Nov. 15.

"The importance of this award is validated not only by the increase in consumer demand, but by the rapid growth of low emission and environmentally friendly new vehicles on the market," executives reported.

"More vehicle choices require greater public education and the Green Car Journal's annual award helps consumers each year by identifying the top picks from leading industry environmental and automotive experts," officials concluded.

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