LA Auto Show Draws Near

The major automakers starting to give us more hints about their debuts at next week's Los Angeles Auto Show. 

 Toyota releasing a "teaser" shot of its much anticipated electric RAV 4.  These photos don't show much, but they do create interest.   This year's LA show has more than fifty new vehicle debuts.

"Automakers are feeling a little more optomistic," says Brendan Flynn, the communications director for the LA Auto Show.   "We're seeing not only a significant increase in the number of debuts.  But, the displays themselves, and what they're bringing to the show, and the interactivity and the test drives, and everything they are bringing for the consumers is significantly ramped up as well."

The LA show kicks off the domestic auto show season, and serves as a great lead in to January's North American International Auto Show.  It's often seen as a showplace for both enviormentally friendly vehicles and for sporty vehicles.

Infiniti is planning to show of an electric vehicle in Los Angeles.  Honda will have a concept EV.  The show will mark the North American debut of Mitsubishi's small electric vehicle.  Journalists who cover the press preview days will have an opportunity to drive those vehicles.

WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert will be in Los Angeles all next week, for the press preview days (November 17 and 18) and for events leading up to the show.

WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert talks with Brendan Flynn of the LA Auto Show.

The night before the previews open, Chrysler and Fiat will hold a big coming out party for the new Fiat 500.

Just two years ago, Chrysler's exhibit had to be drastically scaled back, as the company was seeking government help.  Now it's new products are hitting the market, and this will be the first time most will be shown in one place.

"This is really their coming out party, now that this alliance with Fiat is really underway," says show spokesman Flynn.  "They have a lot of new products coming out.  As a matter of fact they have three press conferences."

That includes new minivans, new big cars and new mid-size cars.  Other eagerly awaited introductions include the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible and a convertible version of the Nissan Murano.

 California remains the nation's largest car market, and car makers are eager to do all they can to get their products some attention.  The LA Auto Show's Brendan Flynn is hoping that the attention to the green themes will translate to improved sales.

"We hope that some of this new green technology that's being unveiled is going to get people excited to get into showrooms." 

LA Auto Show coverage sponsored by Faurecia