The LA Auto Show started this week and New Atlas spent a few days speed-walking the floor to get the scoop on new cars, trucks, urban transporters and auto technology. On the cars side, there are numerous concept and production car debuts, exotics, classics, green technologies, customs and more. We've put together an overflowing gallery of the best of the best for your viewing pleasure.
A few highlights worth a mention ...
Jaguar of all trades
The Jaguar I-Pace makes a very convincing argument for the title of best concept of show. Not only does it sport a potent 395-hp electric powertrain, but it features segment-bending packaging that "tears up the rulebook." It's certainly not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but it'll make you take a sip or two to decide whether or not it suits your tastes.
Jaguar fancies it part high-tech electric, part family five-seater, part performance sports car and part sports utility vehicle. And it has the specs that such a combination would warrant ... 311+ miles (500+ km) of total range, 0-60 mph in four seconds and 530 liters of cargo space in the luggage compartment, to name a few. How closely the planned 2018 production car follows the form and spec sheet remains to be seen, but Jaguar makes a bold opening statement with this concept.
Spyker C8 Preliator family planning
The Jaguar I-Pace may be the flashiest concept car of the show, but there are also some pretty flashy production cars. The Spyker C8 Preliator is among the most memorable, even more so than at its debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, where it was but one vessel in a sea of supercars. At the Spyker press conference, CEO Victor Muller stressed the importance of the US market, saying that 38 of the 50 planned C8 Preliators will make their way to the States. Muller also discussed plans for a C8 Preliator family, which will include a 100-example Spider model to debut at next year's Geneva show and a high-performance model with an engine of alternative make and manufacture worth 610 hp+. The standard Preliator relies on a 525-hp supercharged Audi V8.
Divergent automotive 3D printing
Technology is always a cornerstone of the LA show, and in the gallery you'll find electric vehicles like the I-Pace and e-Golf, autonomous exploratory vehicles like Hyundai's IONIQ concept, hybrids, fuel cells and other examples of the latest auto tech. One true standout in the high-tech pack is the Divergent Blade supercar and its 3D-printed chassis. When we first covered the Blade in 2015, the potential for it turning out to be vaporware felt rather high, but fast-forward 16 months and Divergent has signed a deal with PSA Group (Peugeot) and is at LA showing its chassis, the Blade in a beautiful shade of deep purple, and a new motorcycle put together with its 3D printing tech. We'll be looking more closely at the nuts and bolts of the tech and vehicles in a full article next week, but we'd feel remiss if we didn't give Divergent a mention here.
There are plenty more highlights (and maybe a few low lights) to see in our full LA Auto Show photo gallery.
Do try and keep up Mercedes.