TimeOut

Sneak Peek At the Los Angeles Auto Show

 

It's time for my annual pilgrimage to Los Angeles for the International Auto Show. I go on the Press Days as I have business to do, so these photos are snapped in between chores.

Here's the biggest stand Lotus has (have) ever managed in the US. We will come back to them later.

Big Lexus hybrids pumped up and slammed low - they called it the darker side of green

New Mini 4x4 looked a bit gawky to me. What's that goofy thing on the side, a handle for a tilt-front? No.

But they have plenty of the regular ones strewn around in various postures

New Camaro ragtop introduced for the first time

Bimmer 6 coupe was very nice

Every Purists' mobile GTG-wagon: the back of the Maybach

Perfect light for comparing the faded lume on those elderly Rolex dials ...

Oh yes, Jeeves, could you run down and pick up a couple minute repeaters for me? With the change from the 1/2 million Euro for the car you could get one Grand Seiko.

Changing now to the best concept car in the show - a Cadillac with all the high-tech edges, but done in a rational size. This car was stunning!

2-door, 4-seater

Same Cadillac face. No word on whether they will make a "V" version of it (or make it at all). I talked to one of the designers; he said it was a hoot to do

Well cared for too, by this very nice lady; shown here carefully scissors-vaulting the tiny glass wall

Then I got diverted off the cars. I forget where this gal worked - maybe VW? Ouch, slap my hand for not writing it down.

Jag had a nice line-up with Range Rover was at the far end. Lots of nice cars in here and their sales are picking up. I'll come back to them in a moment, but I got distracted again.

Apparently Fisker in the booth next door needed to resort to age-old marketing tricks to draw people

Jag showed their new CX75 hybrid concept, driven by electric motors, recharged by two tiny turbines. Yahoo - Chrysler Turbine meets Jetsons for 0-60 in 3 seconds and 200 mph

Nice lines too, plus voice-over by Gerry McGovern & Ian Callum

And this chick whose name I missed. But whose legs you just couldn't miss. Apparently an English style/fashion person working in LA

Went on down the aisle to Mercedes-Benz where we saw a fuel cell B-Class and some AMG stuff.

Then this champion motorcycle rider (the Stig?) came out on the M-B stage in a Ducati and as the Brits might say, "blew smoke up our arses"

Sorry for the action shot blur - he took us all by surprise! Ducati and AMG are doing a collaboration on marketing, sales and maybe some hardware! (stay tuned, bike fans)





Then to Porsche to see an all-new model. Yep, looks just like the last one. Except costs more. $103,000 to be exact. No drum solo this year. Girls instead! Yay

New Speedster too, but Heartache! because it's $240,000 and I think they are already all pre-sold

New Cayman R is lighter, faster, more expensive than the old one 

Girls were pretty and all over 6 feet tall. One for each of the 6 decades Porsche has been in the USA. I didn't have enough lens to catch them all as I was dashing for the buffet line ...

New Honda CRZ showed this pumped-up concept snow plow hybrid. The regular one is too boring but this was nice. For a Honda Hybrid

I NEVER thought I would see this again - a FIAT being launched in the USA. One bad move - they had an original 500 and it was cuter than these. To me.

Apparently all new interior for the USA. Seven (7) airbags. Bluetooth. And other stuff, including 3 years service and 5 year warranty.

It's going to be a big hit with the ladies - we couldn't get these two to get out so we could do some serious work!

Snarky face on the Subaru Impreza concept car

Where am I going next? I forget. Better look at the schedule...

Oh yes, Aston Martin booth. Why are these noses SO good looking? Don't they have to have bumpers or be crash-tested??

If you can tell them apart, you're a better Aston-spotter than I am. You might be an Aston Anorak.

And they always get parked up against the barricades. Back them up boys, and let us see the beauty!

On and on it goes

Somehow I missed getting a nose shot on this - oh right, I got into the stand and meandered around for a while and got distracted from my mission again.





Shifted over to Lotus now in time for their press hoopla.

New Roger Becker model Exige.  Not a tennis player, but a 44-yr Lotus man.
Roger is one hell of a nice guy and forgot more about good-handling suspensions than any of the rest of us will ever learn.
We had a long conversation at the Lotus factory in Hethel about 20 years ago.
He said "Park it over there" and I said, "Okay. Are you THE Roger Becker? You direct parking too?" 
He was chuffed and so we spoke about Lotus the car company, the products, the customers, etc.
At the time he'd been on medical leave because he was going around the test track with a corporate customer, who rolled his brand's vehicle and was killed. Roger escaped with moderate injuries.
I didn't ask him to ride with me, I was in awe going around the Lotus track in an Elan with the guy who created it!

This is an MB AMG

Bentley

Rolls

Rolls

Rolls. I finally jumped the queue and got into this one. What a beauty! No, I didn't steal the hidden-in-the-door jamb umbrella either. But I pulled it out to have a look.

Just like watches, hard to photograph without getting yourself reflected in something!





Now it's time for CELEBRITY SPOTTING

Lotus had some celebs pull covers off the 5 new models they introduced (first at Paris) in LA today. This lady pulled the first one.
The Lotus CEO made a giant faux pas when he said "I was 12 when Basic Instinct came out and your performance inspired me."
Everyone gasped in horror. However, it must be said she wears those years well. She's been to the spa a few times.

I don't really know much about this guy but I do know his name. And I'm not telling, you will have to guess.

And this fella, minus his make-up, what's he called? Hint - his girlfriends have included Cher, Diana Ross and Shannon Tweed, among others

And finally THE MAN HIMSELF, retired from GM and making a few thou on the side to keep his F16 in the air

Want to impress women? Don't tell them you collect watches, tell them you design cars for a living. "OMG" they say! "What kind of cars?"

"Errr, umm, uh, Honda?" he said. At least the pony-tailed look is out, I didn't see a single designer wearing one.

I did spot the infamouse Gerry "The Vector will be available for sale next year" Weigert, minus his flight jumpsuit.

The End





CAZALEA







This message has been edited by DRMW on 2010-11-17 20:38:33