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

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.

 

I've been disappointed also to not see any hybrid minivans on the market. I'd think that a Toyota hybrid minivan would be an instant success.

From about half of the automakers, yes. From the other half, the green was real. Good eye, though.

I think you're right. I think it was a Mondeo.

I'm not sure where you got this picture, and if that is in some way the same [production ready] Venza that I saw at the auto show, then the camera that took this pic must have been sitting on the ground. It is not a huge SUV. It's a crossover, built on the Camry chassis. Think of the Audi, Volkswagen, and Volvo cross-country cars. It's like that. I think it's going to sell like hot cakes. Although it isn't as lightweight as a Prius or Corolla, it will definitely get a lot better MPG than an SUV. And I agree with your comment that at least this will get people out of their SUVs. For those that are skeptical, you NEED to see this car in person before you knock it.

I think our resident spy was too captivated by the 550hp CTS-V to notice.
(on second thought, yes, it was there. I didn't consider it to be newsworthy though)

Excellent point. There were numerious companies selling hydrogen conversion kits, so it can't be that expensive. I'm not sure.

The Volt didn't look anywhere near like a production-ready car. Maybe it runs, but it looked like a one of a kind, and nothing near production ready.
I agree with you completely about wanting electric (PV on your house) before NGV, however, we NEED some type of transition to get free from foreign oil, and keep our dollars here at home in North America.

Then it's false advertising on Mitsubishi's part. The announcer on the microphone, over the loud speakers said "it's available for sale in Japan right now, and there are not plans to bring it to the U.S. yet."