This is a pretty SUV, about the size of an average mid-size SUV. Its really a nice proprtioned trucklet crossover thingy that carry's the Alfa design language quite nicely. The fact it packs a 500+ horsepower drivetran good for sub 4 second 0-60 runs is impressive. Totally useless in gridlocked DTLA, but impressive if you get to go on a Vegas Run and put it to good use.
And select folks may get to sign it during press days!
Mazda Miata #1,000,000, photo courtesy MAZDA USA
This is a cool milestone for Mazda and its lovely little roadster the Miata aka MX5. One million cars since its introduction is an accomplishment. Number 1 million is touring the world and select folks get to sign their name to it prior to its permanent enshrinement in the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima. Who get's to sign...interested journalists (me!) during Press Days of the L. A Auto Show next week.
For the full press release you need to make the jump.
Get your tickets now to attend this years Los Angeles Auto Show. As usual it will be at the Convention Center and this year promises big changes that will make it bigger and better than before. This year’s press days promises over 50 World and North American premiere’s for the show goers to ooh and ah over.
The really big news is that Kenetia Hall is going to be better organized and renamed “The Garage” to really showcase custom rides and tricks to upgrade your own car.
Press Days this year have been renamed to be more descriptive of the 4 days prior to public opening. Now called AutoMobility it focuses on the future of transportation beyond just the automobile but how solutions now are being worked on for denser populated cities of the future. These exhibits will be open to the public as “Go-Movement” during public days…you just miss on the actual press presentation.
Tickets range in price from $5-12 and can be bought in advance HERE. I STRONGLY recommend buying tickets in advance, especially for weekends as the lines can be hours long at the door.
Parking is pricey $20 for the day so be prepared to pay the price of admission. Traffic around the convention center is circus like during the show and I again have a recommendation to work around that problem. Use the Expo or Blue line and exit at the Pico station for a quick 2 block walk to the convention center.
Mazda, the Japanese car company that goes its own way making drivers oriented cars plans on debuting an updated and new for 2017 CX-5 compact cross over. Details are slim in advance of the Press Days debut but the teaser pic reveals more sculpting to the body, longer lower roof line and a much longer hood with less slope than the prior model More SUV like than ultra-minivan in appearance. Should help boost its sales considerably. If they keep its drivers orientation, offers up a manual tranny this could be a really viable option over the Honda HRV.
The Los Angeles Autoshow is morphing and growing. Yes the 10 day spectacular show open to the public will remain, What's new is the following act to the Connected Car Expo is the introduction of the open to the trade only Automobility show that preceeds Press Days and Public Days to the L.A. Autoshow. This event is looking at the entire mobility picture including cars, trucks, public transpo and things like bikes and pedestrian modes and how they all interact.
If you are an app developer and thing your app has the chops to be one of the top 10 mobility apps Automobility is running a contest. Prizes...there are a few, perks to the winners there are many. For the criteria to enter and entry blank follow this LINK
For the full press release you need to make the jump.
Audi started its press conference different than others, different than others with problems with recalls and associated turmoil. They hit it head on at the beginning of their press conference. Rather than ignore the pink elephant in the room the addressed it. They apologized for violating their customers trust with the clean diesel and what has now been determined to be a deliberate effort to foil emissions testing with programming that senses when a car is in test mode to run its cleanest. They said they will make their customers whole and resolve the problem. They promised to win their customers respect and loyalty back.
They discussed the A3 e-tron which was one of the Green Car of the Year nominees. Its really a nice A3 that just so happens to have been electrified as a plug in hybrid. Making a total 204hp and 243 ft lbs of torque this compact hybrid tops its competition in terms of power and performance yet returns up to 30 miles in EV mode and EPA tests at 87MPe in EV mode and 39 MPG combined in gas mode. Certainly not prius numbers, but its not a prius. Its an Audi and it gives up nothing in terms of performance, luxury or build quality. Its an Audi dammit and you don't compromise the experience. Its worth the slightly lower number from a prius for an Audi in my not so humble.
The big news however was the E-tron Quatrro concept and its North American debut. It promises to be a competitively priced (with what...Tesla Model x?) full sized all electric EV with a range of 300 miles. Enough for a non-stop Vegas run something no EV today can claim. Creature comforts and performance of an Audi are promised in the production model when it releases in a couple of years. Unlike other manufacturers releasing EVs, this won't be a CA release only, it will be national.
To ensure range anxiety will be a thing of the past with this car Audi is partnering with a few others to build a fast charge network across the country. Making it possible to drive cross country, across multiple states, not just a few established interstate routes that we see now. These fast charging stations promise to charge the E-tron Quattro for 200 miles in 30 minutes. Not gas fast, but an improvement in mobility with an EV.
More pics from Press Days at the L.A Auto Show in a flickr album
Honda revealed its next home run knocking the socks of its meager competition in the class. Arguably better built, its a Honda after all, but better technology packages than either the Mazda and Nissan its closest competition.
The HRV crossover is based on the Fit platform and is powered by a traditional gas engine and backed up with the utility and practicality you expect (demand?) from Honda. It has all the latest gizmos Honda has to offer.
