5 Most Newsworthy Reveals from the 2014 LA Auto Show

Glitz, Glamour and Gearboxes: here are the most newsworthy cars from the 2014 LA Auto Show.

Coming into the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show (on now until November 30), the list of global debuts did not appear to be that impressive. Once the cars hit the stage, though, this year’s edition proved to be a stellar one. In every corner of every hall, there were cars for true enthusiasts to appreciate. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the highlights.

Best concept

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A tough competition this year saw top entries from a number of different manufacturers. The Audi Prologue Concept super-coupe is flat-out gorgeous and we can’t wait until this design ethic appears on the next generation of cars from Ingolstadt. The Lexus LF-C2 continued what seems like an 18-month streak for Lexus stealing thunder at car shows around the world—it’s just stunning. But the top prize goes to the Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Turismo (VGT). While this concept is intended only for Gran Turismo 6 gamers, it features so many revolutionary ideas—including the forward-facing driving position and a beamed-energy propulsion system inspired by space travel—it was impossible to look away.

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Best line extension

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When will Jaguar stop producing ever more drool-worthy versions of the F-Type? Never, we hope—or, at least, not until they catch up with Porsche and the 911 (now at 19 variations and counting.) In LA, the British builder launched two new versions—an AWD (which will be standard on all F-Type R models going forward) and a 6-speed manual (available on all V6 models with rear-wheel drive). We couldn’t get representatives from Jaguar to admit that the rear-wheel drive F-Type R was too much car for the average driver, but there are a series of tire marks near my house that suggest otherwise. Honourable mention goes to the final edition Audi R8 Competition and the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350.

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Best car for Canadians

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In LA, two compact crossovers debuted and both look to be a good bet to resonate with Canadians from coast to coast. The 2016 Mazda CX-3 is proof that the company’s strong design language works best on smaller vehicles—the stylized front grille, elongated hood and short overhangs combine to create a fresh look. Under the skin, the CX-3 will be powered by a Skyactiv 2.0L 4-cylinder and feature AWD as an option. The North American production version of the 2016 Honda HR-V should offer the Mazda some stiff competition. The cute HR-V utilizes the 1.8L 4-cylinder Honda engine and can be equipped with either FWD (and a 6-speed manual) or AWD.

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Biggest comeback

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This was a hotly contested category as well with a number of notable entries returning from obscurity to the spotlight in LA. The notables included the 2015 Mercedes-Maybach S 600, a comeback for the Maybach brand powered by a stretched version of the latest Mercedes S-Class, and the 2015 Saleen Tesla, a beautifully modified version of the Model S from Steve Saleen that would’ve taken top honours… except that it was unveiled a few months ago at Pebble Beach. Instead, the award goes to the 2015 Galpin-Fisker Rocket, a special-order, 725-hp version of the 2015 Ford Mustang. The brainchild of star designer Henrik Fisker, whose eponymous company produced the breathtaking Karma and then went bankrupt, the Rocket made the other new Mustang on display in LA, the Shelby GT350, look completely ordinary.

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Biggest surprise

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The fact that Cadillac decided to offer a performance version of its smallest car was no surprise at all. But the fact that the performance numbers for the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V, if proven accurate, would make the BMW M3/M4 seem leisurely by comparison is a major surprise. The Cadillac brand has been producing great cars for some years now—the ATS-V looks to be the greatest of them all.

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Author:
Mark Hacking
Mark Hackinghttps://www.markhacking.com/
Mark Hacking is an award-winning car, motorcycle and motorsports journalist whose work has appeared in Azure, enRoute, Intersection, NUVO and Toro, among many others. He is the former editor of Performance Racing News, the former managing editor of DRIVEN, and a member of both the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada and the Motor Press Guild of California. An avid racer, Mark is a three-time podium finisher at Targa Newfoundland and, this past season, raced in the VLN Series at the Nürburgring with the factory Aston Martin team. His motto in life: Drive fast, take chances.