Los Angeles Auto Show has gone green! ... and blue.

[Rybold]

The Los Angeles Auto Show has gone green! ... and blue.

I attended the LA Auto Show yesterday, and I observed that GREEN was clearly the trendy theme through the entire auto show. Almost every manufacturer (I think it was every manufacturer, but I'm saying "almost" just to be safe) had some type of hybrid, plug-in electric, fuel cell, diesel, or clearly boasting improved mpg. In all cases though, "green" was had an upfront presence. I took photos with my digital camera and uploaded them onto Flickr, where I typed captions on all of the pics. (you might need to login to your Yahoo account to see all of the pics).
Flickr: lkarrowhead26's Photostream

Summary:
-Ford Fusion Hybrid on display, 38mpg city, 47mpH electric-only, re-designed front end, will be on dealer lots this spring.
-BMW Active Hybrid (motor assist), and then BMW 36mpg diesels
-Interior photo of the Volt
-Audi Q5 SUV boasts 38.5mpg
-Chrysler HEMI Hybrids on display, sign says "coming Fall 2008"
-Mitsubishi Li-Ion All-electric plug-in vehicle, 100mile range, on sale in Japan now.
-Mercedes HYBRID S400 claims 30mpg, not on sale yet. Then BlueTec diesels available now.
-Honda displaying new Insight, signs say "Spring 2009," and then Honda CNG Civic and at-home CNG refill station available now.
-Land Rover diesel-hybrid concept vehicles (photos only)
-Ford Fiesta-looking car on display, the Ford representative said "Five Euro Fords arriving in 2010 and 2011."
-Ford SUV badged "Most Fuel Efficient SUV in America."
-Mercury Milan, based on Fusion, will also be available in Hybrid.
-Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid, New Toyota model, the VENZA, production versions on the floor for the public to "climb in," multiple Toyota hybrids, and large "going green" theme.
-Lexus LS600hL Hybrid ($109K!), Lexus RX450h Hybrid.
-Hyundai display that claims they are hard at work developing hybrids.
-Aftermarket hybrid-conversion companies displaying conversion kits.
-Lots of aftermarket kits and "tuners" for the Smart Car, including Lorinser and Brabus.
-A LOT of Automakers displaying Fuel Cell vehicles!
-Aftermarket hydrogen fuel cell conversion kits.
-Honda FCX Clarity.
-Altima Hybrid
-Jeep electric vehicles (an absolute joke).
-electric bicycles that claim 50 mile range if used as electric assist to pedaling.

Enjoy.

[Flying White Dutchman]

nice pics thx!

[Vincent]

Thanks for the recap; cant wait to see the 2010 Prius at the Detriot NAIAS.

[nyty-nyt]

Wow. Thanks for putting all that work into your pictures for us. It looks like it was an exciting auto show.
With all that green technology, and all the new announcements, I can't help wondering why Toyota is waiting until the Detroit show, a staid, aging auto show in a city without significant public transit, to show its new Prius.

In the interior shot of the Volt, am I seeing a high battery "fence" between the left and right seats? It looks to my eyes like it's camouflaged to look like a convenient console. If it's as high as I think it is, my desire to have one just plunged, but on the other hand it might keep the kids from fighting in the back seat.

[zenMachine]

Good job! Thanks!

I guess there were no hybrid minivans at the show, eh? Bummer...

[Rae Vynn]

I see lots of green-washing...

Great photos!
Thanks!

[priusuk2008]

Thanks Rybold, nice pics and soooooooo green there ! I'm not too sure, but that red Euro Ford looks like a Mondeo, however the Fiesta is also adopting that shape too.

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by Rybold

. . . New Toyota model, the VENZA, production versions on the floor for the public to "climb in," . . .

We saw the VENZA at the Georgetown KY plant in October and I wanted to ask the guide,

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING???"

It is a nice station wagon, no doubt, but a station wagon, an estate car? I'm sorry but someone has misread the USA market in a terrible way. Maybe it will sell like hot cakes some place else but really!

IMHO, the VENZA will be here for a while and soon enough fade in obscurity. I can't find one thing about it that says, "This is your new car."

Bob Wilson

[JSH]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

We saw the VENZA at the Georgetown KY plant in October and I wanted to ask the guide,

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING???"

It is a nice station wagon, no doubt, but a station wagon, an estate car? I'm sorry but someone has misread the USA market in a terrible way. Maybe it will sell like hot cakes some place else but really!

IMHO, the VENZA will be here for a while and soon enough fade in obscurity. I can't find one thing about it that says, "This is your new car."

Bob Wilson

The Venza looks more like a crossover than a wagon to me. 19 or 20 inch wheels, optional AWD, 8 inches of ground clearance. Kinda like the Nissan Rogue, Dodge Journey, Subaru Forester, Ford Edge / Flex, etc. If Toyota is getting it wrong than everyone is. I see this as the next big craze as SUV's die out.

Edit: A pic for those who haven't seen it.

[zenMachine]

BTW, I didn't see any photos of the Hybrid Escalade. Did our resident spy fail to spot it, or did GM decide not to show it off?