The Los Angeles Auto Show unofficially marks the beginning of the car show season and packs some very important announcements, not just for North America, but global ones, too. No less than 26 cars, SUVs, trucks and concepts debuted at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show, which will be important to future car buyers everywhere.
This year’s show had a little bit everything, from supercars, to 400 horsepower luxury sedans, to a concept that idealizes the future of driving, to a 2-seat roadster that epitomizes a true sports car.
One of the early debuts before the official press day previews was the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe. The new design isn’t too far off from the Civic concept introduced earlier this year featuring a fastback silhouette and cab-rearward proportions that are associated with cars with more of a sporting and aggressive nature.
The powertrain for the Civic Coupe is identical to the sedan, which includes a 2.0-liter four-cylinder for the base models and a 1.5-liter turbocharged four with the upper trim levels. This is the first time a turbocharged engine has been offered with the Civic in the U.S.
The Fiat 124 Spider may share its underpinnings with the Mazda MX-5 Miata, but it’s Italian flair is much more sexier.
The 2017 Ford Escape may be an important volume sales leader for the Dearborn company, but the 2017 Lincoln MKZ was the surprise that blew us away. The flagship sedan from Lincoln boasts a new signature grille that was inspired by the Continental concept. The big news is a new twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.
The subcompact crossover segment is hot, and Toyota doesn’t have a player at the moment. That will soon change with the Scion C-HR concept preceding its re-entry. Toyota’s Scion division won’t settle for a boring entry into the field. Instead, it looks like it has come up with something that is bold in style.
One of the most striking cars appearing at the show is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. This rear-wheel drive beauty packs a 505 horsepower punch that can dash to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds and continue to a top speed of nearly 200 miles per hour. The Giulia’s impressive power comes from a biturbo, 90-degree angled V6 derived from a Ferrari design.
If you fall in love with the design but are comfortable with a modest power output, a 276 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder is available A short-shifting 6-speed manual and all-wheel drive versions are available when it reaches our shores late 2016.
The Infiniti QX30 made its world debut and is ready to enter the heavily contested luxury compact class. The design of the QX30 looks virtually identical to the Q30, featuring a fluid design that combines the sleek lines of a coupe with the commanding seat position of a crossover.
Powertrain details were not announced, but expect the QX30 to match the Q30. In the United States, the sole option is likely to be a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder delivering the maximum 208 hp. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive will be standard.
The new Cadillac XT5 replaces the old SRX SUV and is part of a production overhaul currently in progress. The XT5, made in the U.S. and China, is the first of four new generation Cadillac crossover models to be given the XT designation. An entirely new platform serves as the chassis and is more than 278 pounds lighter than the outgoing SRX. Power comes the same powerplant found in the ATS and CTS models – a 3.6 liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower. An eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard. A new twin-clutch all-wheel drive system is optional.
The new Caddy will take on the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Lexus RX and Acura RDX.
Check out the TFLcar Top 5 video from LA for another take on the most significant car debut from this year’s show.
