AutoMobility LA has plenty to offer
In the recent past, car shows were a must for manufacturers, media and the general public. Getting to see new models at the start – or even middle – of a calendar year was the stuff of magic. Out with the old; in with the new.
Shortly after the century turn, things began to change and manufacturers decided to take their new model introductions directly to the media they thought they needed to address. Gatherings at far-away destinations became the norm and participation in even the largest auto shows, Detroit, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, began to dwindle.
That brings us to AutoMobility Los Angeles, which is what the formerly-named LA Auto Show is now called. Where it once took two days from dawn to dusk to cover all the reveals, AutoMobility’s “media” day now occupies less than a work-day, or about eight hours. And participants have dwindled as well: no sign of the more prestigious German auto makers (Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche) and Volvo was absent too. Even Vietnamese manufacturer Vinfast, which had a huge display just a couple of years ago, now has a single car in the atrium of the vast Los Angeles Convention Center to hawk its wares.
At the same time, there were introductions off-site for the few invitees. With the Detroit show returning to January, its customary date, even many media from the Detroit area stayed home, despite the warmth and sunshine offered by Los Angeles.
Even so, there was plenty to see, learn about and discover in Automobility this year. There was an outside display of commercial fleet vehicles, most of which had electric propulsion, and quite a few announcements, including the finalists for North American Car Of the Year, held in the plaza next to this venue. Ride-and-drives were available throughout the day, both outside and in the halls, with electric vehicles from both Stellantis (Jeeps of course) and Ford’s Bronco available to test inside. In addition, journalists – and consumers – are able to check out Volkswagen’s iconic iD.Buzz, a throwback to the beloved VW bus.
Volkswagen brought out its new Tiguan, the mid-size SUV that’s coming in next year. This vehicle is offered strictly in a gasoline-powered two-row configuration. Definitely lighter and with bolder looks than the outgoing model, the interior boasts infotainment screens up to 15 inches. The lighted logo on this new model tells the world what you’re driving, right from the start. Fuel efficiency on Tiguan has been greatly improved due to reduced overall weight. Only the top-line SEL model was shown.
The press conferences as usual, required running shoes, as competing South Korean car makers Hyundai and Kia were positioned in separate halls and were the first and second reveals of the day! Hyundai showed off its IONIQ 9 three-row electric SUV; this was followed by Kia’s EV9 GT and the updated EV6 GT all-electric models, together with the new Sportage, available in gas, hybrid, EV versions. The attention then turned to Ford, which took over nearly half of a hall, showing off its newer Expedition, the land yacht where one can see the curvature of the earth, together with its road-going GTD Mustang, which is not to be confused with the Dark Horse motorsports model, although externally they are similar.
Stellantis then showed several of its wares, including the Giorgio Armani-branded 500e, the electric pocket hatch adorned with the Italian clothing designer’s logo and interior design touches, and Armani-logo’d wheels, among other touches. Chrysler showed its Pacifica hybrid- and gas-powered minivans, Jeep took the stage with its Wagoneer, Dodge showed its updated and powerful gasoline-engined Charger. The local Downtown Porsche dealership took over a space that once belonged to Ferrari many years ago and showed off the electric Cayenne with plenty of accessories after lunchtime.
Among the more interesting items on display were two that had no wheels at all! Ampure showed off its portable EV charger with two different plug-in capabilities: levels 1 and 2 chargers come with the kit, which weighs less than 10 pounds and costs less than $500. Some manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, are including this product with their EVs and that’s a good move. Sparq showed off its diagnostics plug, for vehicles made after 2014 (they’re working on one for older vehicles) that allows the user to access an app to show them why their check engine light is on. This is a new item, as is Ampere’s charger.
The camper shown in these pics can fit into a garage and it, too, is new this year from Exodus Rigs. It was shown in three guises: fully open, halfway there and as towed behind a truck. The camper can sleep at least four and entertain both inside and out of the enclosure. The many ways to configure this collapsible rig is meant for those that value function and capability.
Because fewer manufacturers were on site, the convention center used an entire wall to showcase campers and other adventure rigs. Many different configurations were available to check out. And there were plenty of custom vehicles, as West Coast Customs produced a full house of custom cars in Petree Hall, once home to Porsche, while Monterey Motorsports Festival Councours brought some unique exhibits to an area that has long been home to new vehicles, manufacturers and unusual vehicles.
All-in-all an interesting show but not an exhilarating one. Worth the eight hours and many miles of walking around, looking at old, new, redesigned vehicles and new products available. The show continues through the first of December.
