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The 10-day run of Los Angeles’ annual auto show, Automobility LA just ended this past Sunday, November 28th. To say that this show, with a single media day of reveals and press conferences, was different than any before it would be appropriate.
Gone were many of the foreign, primarily European manufacturers. Sure, Porsche took over Petree Hall (which it renamed Porsche Hall) where it traditionally houses its road and race cars, along with a media-day-only inside restaurant. Prior to the show, the German sports car maker introduced its new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport. With its 500bhp engine, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and max power produced 800rpm higher than the previous model, the new GT4 RS Clubsport can be raced in SRO competition without modification.
Toyota had a massive display in the halls, showing off current offerings, race cars and its newest all-electric vehicle, whose chassis is based on the RAV4 crossover. The bZ4X is the start of a global series of battery-electric vehicles for Toyota, all to be named using “Toyota bZ” branding. There was no press conference at Automobility LA; rather, some were feted earlier in the week. The new bZ4X will have a range, estimated by Toyota of up to 250 miles for front-wheel-drive XLE models.
Because Automobility LA is now dedicated to the belief that electric and fuel cell vehicles are the wave of the future, it allowed test drives inside the vast Los Angeles Convention Center of cars and trucks that emit few if any particulates.
RAM, the Stellantis (formerly FiatChrysler) truck-dedicated brand, had a large area set up for driving trucks through an obstacle course in the convention center’s West Hall. Ford’s Bronco was on display outside and allowing rides on its own obstacle course, while inside both Stellantis and Ford had large displays of its current cars, both fossil fuel-powered and electrified vehicles available for current sale. Stellantis, in fact, took over an entire wall of the West Hall for static displays of its Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, RAM and Alfa-Romeo vehicles.
Ford’s display included rides in the electric Mustang Mach-E and views of other proposed electric vehicles, including trucks, in the same West Hall. (We especially liked the 2022 Ford F-100 Eluminator EV concept pickup truck, based on a 1978 F-100). The balance of that West Hall space was taken over by Kia, introducing its all-electric EV6 and Subaru, showing off its newest electric vehicle, the 2023 Solterra, that’s co-produced with Toyota, with whom Subaru also shares its BR-Z (to Toyota’s 86) and the new Toyota bZ4X. The Subaru, hands down, has the better name.
While the convention center’s West Hall had outsize displays from mostly large manufacturers, the South Hall was dedicated, primarily to smaller vehicle builders, Toyota - and Lexus - being the outliers in this area. Chevrolet, too, had a large display, not really acknowledging much in terms of future, electric or fuel cell vehicles. Chevy celebrated the Corvette, of course, because Los Angeles is a prime market for America’s sports car, but Chevy was on-hand to celebrate big trucks and big engines for them. Kind of stuck in a past that’s, well, past its prime.
Hyundai featured two diverse vehicles: a fuel-cell-powered tractor that can haul cross-country and its Seven Concept, on the E-GMP platform. Hyundai, as well as fellow Korean constructor Kia, has produced all-electric and PHEV products for the last few years, with Hyundai using its Ioniq sub-brand to show off its climate change readiness. The Seven Concept is production-ready, with the same powertrain seen in the Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6. The Seven Concept is sized similar to Hyundai’s Palisade SUV.
As one entered the South Hall, the first vehicle on display was the Fisker Ocean, for the first time seen in production form. Henrik Fisker showed off his latest all-electric production vehicle, expected to go on sale in 2023 and made, primarily with recycled materials and handsomely styled. The roof of the Ocean features a full-length SolarSky, which will support the SUV’s battery-powered motor and, in the best of conditions, could produce as much as 1,500 emissions-free miles each year. The interior of the Ocean is vegan, with details made from recycled plastic bottles, repurposed rubber waste, worn-out t-shirts, and abandoned fishing nets.
Henrik Fisker is not investing in factories; rather, he is using subcontractors from around the world to make his vehicles. And they won’t all be nose-bleed expensive, either. The Fisker Ocean Sport FWD has a starting price of $37,499 and offers 250 miles of range. Choose the Fisker Ocean Ultra ($49,999), Extreme ($68,999) or One at the same price, and one gets dual motors in AWD trim and range of up to 350 miles. Deliveries are scheduled for next fall, he said.
Also in the South Hall were Jaguar/Rover with their current fuel and electric offerings, as well as Nissan, which was showing both the new Z sports car and the new, 2023 Ariya electric vehicle. Ariya has already been revealed at various places, but Nissan is in selling mode for this FWD crossover. In three different guises = Premiere, Venture+ and Evolve+, Ariya in Venture+ form is expected to deliver up to 300 miles range, while the two other models are rated to 285 miles. Ariya will be available for purchase in the fall of 2022, Nissan said.
There was a display from local mega-dealer Galpin, which had its own hall for many of its custom vehicles, including race cars. Galpin also showed off a few Mazda, Honda and Volvo models in the South Hall, but where were Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW-Mini and others? Perhaps waiting for the COVID era to end?
Start-ups owned the rest of South Hall, and one very large display was for Vietnam’s VinFast, which plans two electric SUVs for the United States, starting in late 2022. In operation only since 20187, VinFast now has a factory on Cat Hai Island, Vietnam and used this platform as the global launch for its VF e35 and VF e36 SUVs. The company already produces car models in Vietnam, along with e-scooters, also for the Vietnamese market.
Mullen was another start-up that showed its pre-production vehicles to the U.S. market at this show. It was easy to see this was the first time the SUV had been shown; the presentation was a bit choppy. While Mullen claims its Mullen Five will be quick, less than 3.5 seconds 0-60 and have good range of 325 miles, with a level 3 charge to 80% in less than 20 minutes, it’s unclear whether this vehicle will come to fruition. The Mullen Five, which will be made in the US, does have dual motors and a single speed transmission. Its launch model is intending to sell for $55,000 and the Touring model will fetch $75,000.
One of the stranger start-ups was EdisonFuture, which has nothing to do with the utility company of the same name in California. This company showed both a pickup and van at the show, both prototypes for possible build-ups. The pickup truck can be had with a bevy of solar panels that will augment electric power. The pickup can be made to emulate an SUV, the company says, but at this point, there’s a van and a truck on display and not much more.
Around the halls there were opportunities for adults and kids to test their virtual driving skills, including the ability to beat Sam Bird’s 2021 New York fastest lap in a Jaguar Formula E car. Or try one’s hand at driving a Bryan Herta Autosport N Elantra racecar - at least virtually.
Talking with paying customers during the week, I discovered many were there to check out electric and hybrid electric vehicles for their next purchase. And some, as usual, were there to kick tires and look at cars and trucks they can own brochures for, if not the vehicle itself. Even brochures were at a premium during this show, as manufacturers cut back on over-using paper products. Many new and concept vehicles are being produced with recyclable and recycled interiors, as well.
Was the show a success? That will be determined in the purchasing power of local buyers and, perhaps, in the ability of the start-ups to gain clients for their new machines.
(All Photos: Anne Proffit.
Vehicle Shown here: Fisker Ocean)
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