Los Angeles Auto Show

Dodge, Ford, Mazda, and Toyota nominated for Green Car award

Each year, Green Car Journal names its Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show. For the upcoming award, the field has narrowed down to five contenders, each using technology to achieve high fuel economy.

Here are this year's nominees:

Dodge Dart Aero Ford C-MAX Ford Fusion Mazda CX-5 SkyActiv Toyota Prius C

The Aero version of the new Dodge Dart uses aerodynamic components, low rolling resistance tires, and a grille shutter to get 41 mpg highway from its turbocharged 1.4-liter engine. However, its combined city/highway fuel economy is only 32 mpg.

Ford gains … Read more

2012 Fiat 500 Abarth: This small car's got bite

LOS ANGELES--For such a cute little car, the Fiat 500 Abarth's scorpion logo is probably the manliest badge in automotive world.

At the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, the peppy 101-horsepower Fiat 500 gets a heart transplant in the form of Fiat's award-winning 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine that boosts available power to 160 ponies. More impressive is the torque number: 170 pound-feet, which is the same amount of twist the Honda Civic Si develops with 2.4 liters of displacement. The Abarth 500 also features a single-option five-speed manual transmission and upgraded driveline components that can withstand … Read more

2013 Audi S7: Brains and brawn

Audi improves on the A7's formula the only way it can: with more power!

The Audi A7 is probably the only member of the so-called "five-door GT" segment to pass through the Car Tech garage and be universally liked by the editors. So we were interested to see what the automaker would do with the sport-tuned 2013 S7, which was revealed at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show. Predictably, the automaker didn't stray too far from the A7's formula. You know what they say, "If it ain't broke..."

Externally, the S7 differentiates … Read more

2013 Porsche Panamera GTS: The track sedan

LOS ANGELES--More power and a lowered ride height make this the performance Panamera.

Porsche has a knack for slotting cars into very specific niches. The Panamera GTS, unveiled at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, is the Porsche sedan for the track.

That is not to say the Panamera 4S or S would not excel when banged around a road course, but Porsche designed the GTS to beat both of them. Thirty more horsepower eked out of the same engine gives it a power edge, and Porsche includes many of its performance options as standard in the GTS.

Minor cosmetic … Read more

Volkswagen's sleek new CC

LOS ANGELES--The 2013 model gets an updated front end and new navigation systems.

The notion of a four-door coupe may seem like the product of a fevered marketer's imagination, but Volkswagen's CC is still one good-looking car. The CC stands for Comfort Coupe, a designation derived from the frameless doors and the low roof that curves gracefully back over the trunk.

Volkswagen showed off the 2013 version of the CC here at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the car's first redesign since its launch. Notably, it gets a new front end patterned after those of the new … Read more

Rolls-Royce 102EX does the electric glide

LOS ANGELES--CNET takes Rolls-Royce's experimental electric car for a cruise here at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Earlier this year in Geneva I got to look at the Rolls-Royce 102EX, an experimental electric car based on the Phantom. At the Los Angeles Auto Show, I actually got to drive it.

When Rolls-Royce first mentioned it had built this electric car those many months ago, I believe I said something like, "Wha?" The Phantom is a massive vehicle devoted to excessive luxury. It weighs 5,800 pounds and is powered by a 6.7-liter V-12. It seemed like it would take all the batteries in the world to move one with an electric power train.

But in Geneva, Rolls-Royce showed off the 102EX, and insisted it could drive under its own power. As it was confined to the show floor, I had to take Rolls-Royce's word for it.

Now I have proof.… Read more

Nintendo, West Coast Customs unveil life-size Mario Kart racers

LOS ANGELES--This may be the strangest unveiling of the LA Auto Show's history...

In celebration of the first title in the Mario Kart franchise to feature 3D graphics, Nintendo commissioned West Coast Customs to truly bring the game into the third dimension by building working examples of two of the cars from Mario Kart 7.

Mario's personal race car and Luigi's Bumble V car were constructed and can be driven under their own power. However, the hang glider and underwater propeller on Mario and Luigi's rides, respectively, are not functional. Visitors will be able to view … Read more

Lincoln streamlines the 2013 MKS, MKT

LOS ANGELES--Lincoln hits the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show with a one-two punch, unveiling the 2013 MKS sedan and MKT crossover simultaneously.

The most prominent change to these two 2013 Lincolns is the new design language. Lincoln has simplified and restyled the waterfall grille into something that can only really be described as a windswept mustache. Twin grilles with vertical bars sweep back into integrated headlamps. Meanwhile, the front fenders and hood have been simplified with fewer creases and kinks. I think the MKS wears the look better, partially due to its more compact size. In either case, the result … Read more

Bentley taps Apple for connected Mulsanne concept

LOS ANGELES--Bentley looks to provide the modern customer with connected information and entertainment.

It says something about the typical Bentley customer that the company's connected car concept would focus on rear-seat passengers. With the cost of the large Mulsanne sedan being about $350,000, most buyers can leave the driving to a chauffeur.

And at this level of luxury, there is nothing wrong with sitting in the back seat. But where past Bentley customers may have been content to listen to opera over the stereo system, the modern owner will have the smartphone and tablet out, buying low and selling high.

To oblige this type of customer, Bentley created its connected concept, fitting a Mac Mini and 4G-connected router in the trunk, and iPads in the rear-seat tray tables. The various computers in this system are integrated, so the iPads can control and call up media and files from the Mac Mini.… Read more