Orange County International Auto Show 09/22 - 09/25

The Orange County International Auto Show opens today at the Anaheim Convention Center - I'm headed up there in a few minutes for the media preview and will report back later.

One of this year's headlines is that the 2012 Honda CR-V Concept will make it's world debut here!

To quote Honda "The 2012 CR-V Concept strongly hints at the more dynamic and refined look of the upcoming model," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda. "As the best-selling SUV in each of the past four years, the 2012 CR-V promises to build on its highly successful formula with even more style, innovative features and higher fuel economy."

We'll see the final production model revealed in November at the LA Auto Show.

Come check out the latest rides and drive a few, see the schedules at the Orange County International Auto Show site.

SoCalCarCulture - THE place to find out what is happening in Southern California's Car Culture! 

Over 30 Vehicle Debuts Already Confirmed for the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - August 3, 2011 - The Los Angeles Auto Show announced today that it anticipates more than 50 vehicles will debut at the 2011 Press Days, held Nov. 16 and 17. With still four months until show time, 17 significant world debuts and a similar number of North American debuts are already confirmed and more will be announced shortly. Coming off the momentum of the 2010 show and historic evolutions in the industry, the LA Auto Show continues to expand its role as a leading showcase for fuel-efficient vehicles including electric vehicles and other ground-breaking, alternative fuel technologies. The show also continues to highlight innovations in design, luxury, performance as well as forward-looking technology.

Underscoring the appeal of the show, all brands represented at last year's event are returning, with a significant number of manufacturers upgrading exhibit spaces and adding enhanced features with more interactive content and experiences.

"The message this year is very clear," said Andy Fuzesi, general manager, LA Auto Show. "The automotive industry is gaining momentum and the LA Show is an important venue for manufacturers to launch the innovations that are leading the way."

Debuts are coming from automakers around the globe as dramatic shifts within the industry begin to stabilize and the North American marketplace recovers. The result is a significant number of new products that continue to shape the future of mobility. Ford alone will feature three world debuts, General Motors will unveil two and Fiat, Honda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Volkswagen will also show important world premieres. Hyundai has already publically announced two world premieres including the Elantra Coupe, which expands its product lineup into the competitive compact coupe segment and the Azera which rounds out its near-luxury segment.

Numerous world premieres by luxury marques are also highly anticipated this year, including the Infiniti JX Crossover (2013) which is an all-new, seven-seat, mid-sized crossover that is more fuel efficient than its current seven seat option. Other global debuts are confirmed by Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Lincoln.

Slated North American debuts are also stoking speculation and promise some surprises, including several North American vehicle debuts from Audi. Also, BMW will make the first stateside showing of its new BMW i concept vehicles. These two all-new vehicles - the BMW i3 and i8 - will feature electric and range-extender IC/electric propulsion and will be the first two vehicles from the company's innovative new brand of sustainable vehicles. Mazda will show its CX-5 compact crossover, which is an all-new SUV featuring the company's SKYACTIV powertrain and chassis technologies, while Volvo will debut a ground-breaking concept vehicle.

The LA Auto Show is already recognized as a show that delivers the latest in environmentally conscious vehicles. Green news has become an expected feature with the annual Green Car of the Year® award, the Green Car Ride and Drive and the Nielsen Automotive Green Marketer of the Year award. However, at this year's show it is also expected that there will be an increase in compelling stories regarding new developments in advanced technology including remote vehicle control, in-vehicle data services, networked entertainment systems, autonomous driving controls and more.

About the Los Angeles Auto Show

As the first major North American auto show of the season, the 2011 LA Auto Show will host some of the industry's most important new vehicle debuts and set the tone for the rest of the year. The dates are Nov. 16 and 17 for press and Nov. 18-27 for the public. Media registration opens September 13. Following Press Days, the show becomes one of the best attended public auto shows in the world. To receive the latest show news and information, follow the LA Auto Show on Twitter, visit the Facebook page and sign up for alerts at LAAutoShow.com.

SoCalCarCulture - THE place to find out what is happening in Southern California's Car Culture! 

Lexus LFA at Cars & Coffee

A rather stealth looking Lexus LFA made an appearance at Cars & Coffee today...

The highly anticipated LFA supercar, which just made its global debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, will be on display to the public for the first time in North America at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show in December.

As the first Lexus supercar, the LFA serves as the flagship for the F portfolio of Lexus performance models and redefines the supercar for the 21st century.  The Lexus F brand complements the core Lexus DNA by emphasizing serious performance.  The LFA was carefully developed from a blank canvas by a small and dedicated team of hand-picked engineers that pushed every possible dynamic boundary.

“The development of the LFA was unlike any other Lexus,” said Mark Templin, Lexus division group vice president and general manager.  “Minute details were engineered to provide an engaging and serious supercar that delivers impressive performance on and off the race track.  Only 500 will ever be built worldwide, and each will be assembled to customer order, offering a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be part of a small, exclusive group of individuals.”

All 500 LFA supercars will be hand-assembled by skilled technicians in the “Lexus LFA Works” at the Motomachi Plant in Toyota City at a rate of no more than 20 per month.

The rear-wheel drive LFA is dynamically styled and powered by a sophisticated new high-revving 9,000 rpm (redline) 4.8-liter V10 engine that generates 552 hp and 354 lb.-ft. of torque for adrenaline-fuelled 202- mph performance.  This specially-developed powerplant is paired with a unique six-speed Automated Sequential Gearbox (ASG) with blazing-quick paddle-activated shifts for ultimate driver control.  Linked by a rigid torque tube for excellent drivetrain integrity, the ASG is located in a transaxle layout over the rear axle for an optimal 48:52 front-to-rear weight distribution.  Motorsport-developed lightweight aluminum alloy suspension components are complemented by Carbon Ceramic Material (CCM) brake discs and an innovative electrically assisted rack and pinion steering system.
Lightweight, powerful and balanced, the LFA features advanced Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) construction for its chassis and much of its bodywork to deliver a light, incredibly strong and impact-resistant structure.  Rather than outsource this sophisticated materials technology, the LFA team took the radical step of developing its own CFRP processes internally for ultimate quality control and to make a sound engineering investment in the future.

The LFA’s sporty styling is distinguished by coherent lines that flow from roof to sill in a seamless convex to concave line for sophisticated aerodynamics.  Its front-mid engine layout, long wheelbase, short overhangs, and snug, low-slung cabin identify it as a supercar.  CFRP also gave the LFA’s designers a far higher degree of design freedom, allowing them to create shapes, curves and edges that would have been impossible with metal.  For example, the sharp trailing edges at the rear of the LFA that help provide superlative aerodynamics would not have been possible had traditional metal been used for the bodywork.

A dramatic low-slung cockpit has been intelligently designed and hand-assembled with the finest materials to reflect the car’s driver-centric dynamics.  The intimate two-seat cabin has been conceived at every stage – ergonomics, acoustics, materials, comfort, versatility and visibility levels have all been painstakingly engineered – to put the driver at the center of the driving experience.

Production of the LFA supercar will begin in December 2010 with deliveries continuing for the following 24 months.  Consumers may contact the Lexus LFA Information Center at 866-LFA-4794 to express interest or visit www.Lexus-LFA.com for more information.