Lamborghini introduced a rear-wheel-drive version of its Huracán Spyder at this week's 2016 Los Angeles auto show. The car’s arrival also marks a change in the Italian brand’s naming strategy, with the traditional alphanumeric portion of its cars’ titles to be replaced with something more descriptive. So instead of the rear-wheel-drive Huracán coupe’s LP 580-2 descriptor, the open-top car is referred to simply as the Huracán Rear-Wheel Drive Spyder.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show
Another Italian proved to be the star of the show. We are, of course, talking about Alfa Romeo’s new Stelvio. The SUV was presented in high-performance Quadrifoglio trim, which means it was packing a 505-horsepower engine. The standard Stelvio won’t be a slouch either as it will still offer a handy 280 hp. Expect the Stelvio to become Alfa Romeo’s most popular model, just as the similar F-Pace SUV is now the most popular Jaguar.
2017 Mazda CX-5
A mainstream SUV that looks just as good as the Stelvio, if not better, is Mazda’s second-generation CX-5. The redesigned model features a revamped body and interior, though it carries over the outgoing model’s powertrains. That won’t be the case for long, though, as Mazda has confirmed that a turbocharged 2.2-liter diesel engine will be offered in the CX-5 by the end of 2017.
2017 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
Mercedes-AMG’s new E63 made its world debut in L.A. The car follows a similar formula to the outgoing model, albeit with everything turned up a notch. Under the hood is the Affalterbach tuner’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, which delivers 563 hp in the standard E63 and 603 hp in the E63 S. The latter is said to sprint to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. That’s still off the pace of the Tesla [NSDQ:TSLA] Model S P100D, which this week CEO Elon Musk said will be able to hit 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds thanks to a software update.
2017 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Executive
Another performance sedan in L.A. was Porsche’s Panamera, which saw its range expanded with a base model as well as the long-wheelbase Executives. The latter sees the wheelbase grow 5.9 inches, with most of this benefiting those sitting in the back. The executive option is only available on all-wheel-drive versions of the Panamera, like the 4 E-Hybrid shown here.
Subaru Viziv-7 concept, 2016 Los Angeles auto show
There were some concepts, too. One of these was Subaru’s Viziv-7. It previews the automaker’s Tribeca replacement coming onto the market in early 2018. Rather than being a preview of the design of its new SUV, Subaru says the concept is more an indication of the vehicle’s size. The concept measures 204 inches in length, suggesting that the production version to follow will be one of the biggest vehicles in the three-row mainstream SUV segment.
Acura Precision Cockpit concept, 2016 Los Angeles auto show
Acura didn’t have a concept car but it did have a concept interior. It’s called the Precision Cockpit and is meant to be a preview of the Japanese brand’s future dashboard. It includes a digital instrument cluster, a touchpad, and a large infotainment screen. We hear that the first vehicle to feature it might be an updated version of the NSX supercar.
2017 Nissan Sentra Nismo
Nissan’s new Sentra Nismo was a bit of a letdown as there’s no extra power compared to the SR Turbo on which it is based. Where Nismo engineers have attempted to enhance the performance is via aerodynamics, body reinforcements and suspension tuning. They’ve also added some interior appointments to add to the sporty feel.
2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, 2016 Los Angeles auto show
One of the big surprises was Chevrolet’s new Colorado ZR2. It’s a mid-size pickup truck aimed at off-roading and comes with some innovative technologies, including the first off-road application of Multimatic’s Dynamic Suspensions Spool Valve (DSSV) damper technology. As far as we can tell, Multimatic's dampers are superior to the Fox shocks used on the Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] F-150 Raptor, which remains one of the most capable trucks off-road.
Panthermobile built for ‘Pink Panther Show’ restored by Galpin Restorations
And finally we have to make mention of the Panthermobile, which was originally built as a promotional tool for The Pink Panther animated series in the 1960s. The oddball car has just completed a five-year restoration by Galpin Auto Sports' restoration department.
There was much, much more in L.A. As always, you’ll find our complete coverage on the show over at our dedicated hub.
