Motor Authority - blog Tag: Los Angeles Auto Show

• What is it? A lighter and more hardcore version of the Boxster S
• The basics: 10 extra horsepower and 176 less pounds
• On sale: February 2010, with a public showing at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show
• Price: $61,200

Looking back on some of the cars that made sport driving great, and built the legend that has become today's Porsche, you have to wonder how we ever got to 3,500 pounds, 500 horsepower twin-turbo monsters. The 356 Speedster, for example--considered by many to be one of the first modern sports cars--weighed a mere 1,670 pounds and managed just 40 horsepower in some guises.

It appears the Speedster has...

• What is it? A lighter and more hardcore version of the Boxster S • The basics: 10 extra horsepower and 176 less pounds • On sale: February 2010, with a public showing at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show • Price: $61,200 Looking back on some of the cars that made sport driving great, and built the legend that has become today's Porsche, you have to wonder how we ever got to 3,500 pounds, 500 horsepower twin-turbo monsters. The 356 Speedster, for example--considered by many to be one of the first modern sports cars--weighed a mere 1,670 pounds and managed just 40 horsepower in some guises. It appears the Speedster has made a return, although this time around Porsche has used its Boxster as the basis. The new car is called the 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder and it’s set to make its world debut next month at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show before going on sale in February 2010. The Spyder is based on the Boxster S but it gets a small bump in performance, with its 3.4-liter flat-six engine developing 320 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque--the same as the current Cayman S. Weighing in at just 2,811 pounds, the Spyder will be the lightest Porsche available--from a company already known for lightweight, proficient sports cars. Some of the techniques used to shed the pounds include the removal of the regular Boxster’s daytime running lights and fog lamps, as well as its automatic soft-top roof. Instead, the Spyder gets a manually-operated canopy-style roof and new rear deck. Inside, the weight saving theme continues with the removal of the air conditioner and stereo, as well as the regular Boxster’s seats, which have been replaced with lighter and more supportive bucket seats. The end result is a saving of 0.2 seconds off the Boxster S’ 0-62 mph time, with the Boxster Spyder doing it in just 4.8 seconds when equipped with Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch gearbox and Sport Chrono Plus package. The other benefit of the lighter kerb weight is a slight improvement in fuel economy though official numbers are yet to be released. The combination of more horsepower and 176 pounds less weight than the Boxster S, plus an all-new sport suspension that lowers the Boxster Spyder 20 mm, a lower center of gravity, a standard limited slip differential, and exclusive wheels provides the kind of driving dynamics that back up the unique look. Aluminum door skins and lightweight interior door panels from the 911 GT3 RS contribute to the weight reduction. This third Boxster model will join the Boxster and Boxster S and will make its world debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, December 2, 2009. First sales will start in February 2010, with prices starting at $61,200. Read More

The Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge is on again, this time getting designers from the Southern California area to transform the future of driving into a communicative experience.

Automobiles have always played an important role in young people's social lives, have acted as a means of self expression and more importantly a necessary tool for interacting with friends. Today, communication technology is changing how we connect and perhaps even the role the car plays in people's lives.

Southern California design studios will envision what a new generation of drivers, raised with cell phones, online communities and webcams will demand...

The Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge is on again, this time getting designers from the Southern California area to transform the future of driving into a communicative experience. Automobiles have always played an important role in young people's social lives, have acted as a means of self expression and more importantly a necessary tool for interacting with friends. Today, communication technology is changing how we connect and perhaps even the role the car plays in people's lives. Southern California design studios will envision what a new generation of drivers, raised with cell phones, online communities and webcams will demand from their vehicles in the year 2030. The design studios for Audi, GM, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota have all taken part, hoping to replicate Mazda’s winning performance at last year’s competition. Designs this year range from vehicles that incorporate human DNA allowing changes in the shape, color and materials to vehicles that link into a mass transit system where drivers not only share the commute but trade music and compare class schedules. Below are some of the highlights from this year’s competition. A final winner will be picked at next month’s 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. Audi eOra and eSpira: Like a downhill skier, the eOra carves the roadscape with precision by constantly adapting to the driver's movements and intentions. General Motors Car Hero: This concept turns driving into gaming and challenges the driver's skills against the car's autonomous system. Honda Helix: The concept incorporates human DNA with adaptive polymers that allow changes in the car's shape, color and materials. Tri-axis movement allows adaptation and reaction to specific environments and traffic patterns. Mazda Souga: The epitome of personal branding, the Souga allows owners to modify their vehicles on a virtual reality website. Nissan V2G: A eco-neutral commuter car for 2030, the V2G is an electric machine that can be modified to fit the needs and desires of its owner. Toyota LINK: This is a customizable, mass transit vehicle for students that seamlessly links onto a transportation social network. Wheels made of an electro-conductive material, convert friction into energy that recharges the batteries. Read More

Just over a month ago, McLaren Automotive announced its North American Regional Director would be Anthony Joseph. His main task: building a network of U.S. dealerships. That work is apparently going more slowly than expected, as reports out today say the U.S. launch of the McLaren MP4-12C has been delayed due to difficulties lining up dealers.

Along with news of the delayed launch comes word that the car won't be shown at the December L.A. Auto Show either. The reasoning there is presumably to save the media hype for a time frame closer to when dealers will be prepared to take orders

The MP4-12C's U.S. debut now appears to be pushed back to...

Just over a month ago, McLaren Automotive announced its North American Regional Director would be Anthony Joseph. His main task: building a network of U.S. dealerships. That work is apparently going more slowly than expected, as reports out today say the U.S. launch of the McLaren MP4-12C has been delayed due to difficulties lining up dealers. Along with news of the delayed launch comes word that the car won't be shown at the December L.A. Auto Show either. The reasoning there is presumably to save the media hype for a time frame closer to when dealers will be prepared to take orders The MP4-12C's U.S. debut now appears to be pushed back to mid-2010, possibly around the time of the New York Auto Show. Whatever the timing, retail sales aren't expected anywhere in the world until early 2011. A Spider variant could follow shortly thereafter. Only 4,500 of the cars are expected to be built, so pre-orders will likely play a dominant role in the car's early sales period. That may end up being a good thing, as the extended time frame will give more time for the economy to rebound, as early indicators say it is already doing, meaning more wealthy buyers will be back in the market for a new supercar. And the MP4-12C will certainly be on many short-lists: rated at a brutal 600 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 engine, the car is expected to deliver radical performance. An 8,500 rpm redline, seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and carbon fiber monocoque structure will all play into the car's tremendous capability. [Edmunds] Read More

If you're not a regular at the Fox Car Report, live every Thursday at 5 p.m. Eastern, you're missing out. Our own John Voelcker is a frequent guest there, and yesterday, he and Autoblog's Alex Nunez were on alongside Ford global product development vice president Derrick Kuzak and host Gary Gastelu. After the show, Voelcker and Nunez came across some interesting info: Ford plans to unveil the powertrain for the 2011 Ford Mustang at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show.

The LA show is typically a big show for most carmakers, though recent budget cutbacks have led some carmakers to draw down their presence. Nevertheless, Ford continues to bring...

If you're not a regular at the Fox Car Report, live every Thursday at 5 p.m. Eastern, you're missing out. Our own John Voelcker is a frequent guest there, and yesterday, he and Autoblog's Alex Nunez were on alongside Ford global product development vice president Derrick Kuzak and host Gary Gastelu. After the show, Voelcker and Nunez came across some interesting info: Ford plans to unveil the powertrain for the 2011 Ford Mustang at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. The LA show is typically a big show for most carmakers, though recent budget cutbacks have led some carmakers to draw down their presence. Nevertheless, Ford continues to bring out important new models there, including the Fusion, Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ. Last year's show also saw the world debut of the 2010 Ford Mustang, and this year we'll learn the official plans for the 2011 Ford Mustang's powertrain. We've already heard that the 2011 Mustang is expected to get a pair of new engines--a 3.7-liter Duratec V-6 engine to replace the existing 4.0-liter unit in the current base Mustang. Power is expected to go up despite the drop in displacement, from 210 horsepower to a whopping 315 horsepower. That's about even witth the curren't 4.6-liter V-8's output in the Mustang GT, so Ford is upping the performance there, too, with the new 5.0-liter Coyote V-8, rated at 400 horsepower. Joining it is also a rumored twin-turbocharged, aluminum-block "Road Runner" version of the engine that could rate as high as 600 horsepower for the next GT500. We'll have to wait until December to find out for sure what Ford will be packing into the next Mustang, but if it's anything like the rumors, it's sure to be exciting. Other major upgrades to the 2011 Mustang include an even more focused Track Pack, with a sharper suspension, bigger brakes and grippy Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires, plus the return of the "5.0" badge. For the lowdown on the latest super-hot Mustang special, check out our review of the 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible. Read More

With the industry clawing its way back out of the pit of 2009, the Los Angeles Auto Show provides an early look at the cars that will hit the streets in 2010--cars the manufacturers hope will help jump-start the market back into growth. There won't be any shortage of new vehicles, either, with nearly 30 world or North American debuts on the docket, some of which are previewed today.

The show has revealed that debuts from Audi, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls Royce and more are planned. Once again, the show will focus on green technology, so electric and advanced hybrid vehicles are expected to play core roles at many...

With the industry clawing its way back out of the pit of 2009, the Los Angeles Auto Show provides an early look at the cars that will hit the streets in 2010--cars the manufacturers hope will help jump-start the market back into growth. There won't be any shortage of new vehicles, either, with nearly 30 world or North American debuts on the docket, some of which are previewed today. The show has revealed that debuts from Audi, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls Royce and more are planned. Once again, the show will focus on green technology, so electric and advanced hybrid vehicles are expected to play core roles at many carmakers' displays. Unlike the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, which is losing exhibitors left and right, the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show looks to be ramping back up from a slow 2008, with Detroit stalwarts Ford, Chrysler and General Motors all returning with a "stronger presence" than last year. Ford and GM are also on the list of planned world debuts for LA. Other carmakers planning world debuts include Audi, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Porsche and Toyota. Ferrari is also thought to be working on something special for the Los Angeles show, with patents for an all-wheel-drive hybrid concept filed back in July hinting at what may be in store. Mercedes-Benz is likely planning the facelift of the 2010 C-Class for the Los Angeles show as well, though the car might have to wait until January's Detroit show. The Suzuki Kisashi sport sedan is one of the few confirmed debuts planned for the show. As always, we'll keep you posted on the latest from the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show as it breaks, so stay tuned as the show's December 2-3 press days draw nearer. Read More

Lamborghini used the Los Angeles Auto Show to debut a brand new convertible version of its Gallardo LP560-4 supercar, but until today only a limited selection of high-res official pictures were available. That's now remedied, so read on for the mega-gallery.

Picking up the ‘Spyder’ name, the new open-top model faithfully copies the profile of the coupe despite feature an automatic folding soft-top.

The roof mechanism uses a hydraulic pump and six-cylinders as well as an electric motor to lift or lower the roof, which takes about 20 seconds. With the roof closed, Lamborghini claims the new Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder will be able... Lamborghini used the Los Angeles Auto Show to debut a brand new convertible version of its Gallardo LP560-4 supercar, but until today only a limited selection of high-res official pictures were available. That's now remedied, so read on for the mega-gallery. Picking up the ‘Spyder’ name, the new open-top model faithfully copies the profile of the coupe despite feature an automatic folding soft-top. The roof mechanism uses a hydraulic pump and six-cylinders as well as an electric motor to lift or lower the roof, which takes about 20 seconds. With the roof closed, Lamborghini claims the new Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder will be able to safely reach a top speed of 324km/h. To further differentiate the Spyder from the standard coupe, designers have added slightly revised headlights with LED detailing and daytime running lights. Also new is a reverse camera located in the rear spoiler. The car measures in at 4.34m in length, 1.9m across, and 1.18m high, and weighs 1,550kg. When combined with the 552hp (411kW) and 398lb-ft (540Nm) of torque output of the LP560-4 5.2L V10 engine, the new Spyder will accelerate from 0-100km/h in about four seconds – 0.3 seconds slower than the hard-top. The Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder comes standard with the six-speed e-gear sequential transmission, which like the coupe has been revised to send more power and torque to a lighter and more efficient 4WD Viscous Traction system. Chassis stiffness and brake components have also been improved.Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder Mega Gallery Read More