What to Look for at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show

With the Los Angeles Auto Show opening to the public tomorrow it only seems right that this week’s article talks about the reveals with the most hype at this year’s show. In the past, the Los Angeles Auto Show has been known as more of a luxury event; high-end and performance-based vehicles and concepts are no stranger to the showroom floors in California. This year, however, we got more of a mixed bag regarding the types of vehicles expected to debut, and what we know does not disappoint at all. This article aims to highlight what is expected to be the most talked about reveals at the 2018 LA Auto Show and what the biggest announcements will likely be.

Jeep

As I said above, this year we got a little more than just luxury and performance vehicles. This year, there’s a lot of talk surrounding Jeep’s revitalization of their Scrambler Wrangler-pickup vehicle, now releasing as the Jeep Gladiator. Since last week’s article focused solely on the new Gladiator, I’ll only briefly recap what it’s expected to offer drivers here.

Let’s start with a distinction first: The Gladiator is still a Wrangler at heart, so don’t expect this to replace the F-Series or Silverado as your work truck. For the weekend adventurer looking for something a little more fun and durable to take up North on the weekends, listen up. The Gladiator will sit on the fourth-gen Wrangler body with a five-foot truck bed in back to haul whatever gear you need for your next adventure. The Gladiator will tackle trails with a 285-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic engine at launch, with rumors that 3.0L turbodiesel version will join the lineup in a couple years. As is expected with something based on the Wrangler, the Gladiator promises drivers exceptional off-road capabilities and the ability to cross up to 30” of water without issue.

Mazda

Another name you won’t stop hearing at the 2018 LA Auto Show is Mazda as they plan on unveiling the much-anticipated next generation of the Mazda3. The Japanese automaker has done a great job of keeping almost everything about the Mazda3 secret, however they did carefully release some information with a teaser video and everyone is excited for good reason.

The new hatchback, which heavily resembles the Kai concept revealed last year, features a heavily slanted roof and hatch that almost resembles a fastback. Mazda updated the unibody chassis of the Mazda3, offering more stability and improved suspension and powertrain systems. The suspension will be comprised of MacPherson strut fronts and torsion bar rear, and drivers will be expected to have the choice of either 205/60 tires on 16-inch wheels or 215/45 tires on 18-inch wheels. The Mazda3 will come with a standard six-speed automatic transmission with an option for a six-speed manual, and is expected to be available in 1.5-, 2.0-, and 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G dual-injection engines, a 1.8-liter SkyActiv-D diesel, and the SkyActiv-X, a supercharged 2.0-liter engine that uses spark-assisted compression ignition to significantly increase both power and efficiency. Mazda hints that the SkyActiv-X effectively blends the technologies of a gas engine with a turbodiesel to boost performance. Technology is of no shortage on the Mazda3, with the owner’s manual moving to an app that links to the car, advanced cruise control systems, and even a driver monitoring system that watches for distracted or fatigued driving.

Porsche

With Southern California being one of their biggest markets and the LA Auto Show typically being known for luxury and performance-based vehicles, it should be no surprise that Porsche is unveiling their next-gen 911 Carrera, code named the 992, this week. Although overall it still looks like the classic 911 on the outside, the new model will be made almost entirely of aluminum to reduce weight and has wider fenders and wheels; Base 992 models will get 19-inch wheels up front and 20s in the rear, while Carrera S models will get 20s and 21s, respectively. The front end will be almost 2” wider than previous models with the new fender design. Door handles will now sit flush with the body and will pop out when pressed, and a squared-off hood resembles early air-cooled 911s. In back, the 992 will feature a wider electrically-controlled spoiler than previous models and a full-length taillight previously reserved for only Carrera 4 models. The same flat-six twin-turbo 3.0-liter used in current Carrera models is mounted behind the rear axle, but improvements in the injection system increased the horsepower by 15 on base models and 23 on the S model, for totals of 385 and 443, respectively.

Although a lot is changing with the 992, the new 2020 911 Carrera is still the classic we’ve loved for over 50 years. The 992 is built on the same 96.5-inch wheelbase of the 991 and Porsche will still offer a manual transmission for the 992, likely a seven-speed carried over from the 991. As with the rest of the vehicle, Porsche didn’t simply transfer over the technology without giving it some upgrades; Porsche is presenting the 992 with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with the optional Sport Chrono package, which helps bring the Carrera S to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, and 3.2 seconds for the Carrera 4S.

On the tech side of things, the 992 will likely receive the 12.3-inch touchscreen previously found in bigger models like the Panamera and the Cayenne. The tachometer will remain front and center in the driving cluster, but rumors say the rest of the gauges could be replaced by driver-configurable screens. There’s also a good chance the 992 will receive the InnoDrive software already offered on the firm’s four-door models, something like cruise control that doesn’t sacrifice the vehicle’s sport performance. Finally, Automatic Emergency Braking will likely come standard, and an optional night vision safety camera should be available to drivers.

Rivian

It’s impossible to talk about cars in 2018 without talking about electric power, and startup Rivian plans to really create a buzz (sorry, I had to) this year in the EV section. With plans to apply Tesla’s model to the world of off-road vehicles instead of trying to break into the crowded luxury EV market, Rivian plans to launch two models called R1T and R1S, respectively, that blend electric power with practical performance. The R1T, an electric pickup truck, claims a mile range over 400 miles, and a 0-60 time of 2.8 seconds. It’s also expected to have impressive towing and payload ratings, making it more of a traditional work truck than the Jeep Gladiator will be. Visually, the R1T looks more like a futuristic Honda Ridgeline than it does a Ram or Ford, but as previously stated it is expected to perform like a rugged work truck.

Rivian’s SUV, the R1S, is expected to use the same motor and battery packs as the R1T, however it should boast a slightly higher mile range on the 180-kWh battery pack. Although we have yet to see the actual vehicles perform, the project briefs are extremely impressive, requiring the R1T be capable of safely driving through 3.6 feet of water, offers over 14 inches of ground clearance, and be capable of climbing 45-degree inclines. Achieving these benchmarks means that Rivian would put even a Wrangler to shame in off-roading, and the startup claims the truck will out-handle better than a Porsche Cayenne Turbo thanks in part to an air suspension and roll control technology.

Honorable Mentions

Obviously, these aren’t the only big releases we expect to see at the 2018 LA Auto Show. For example, the third-gen Kia Soul is expected to debut this week in LA. Although the Soul has always been aimed at young drivers, the new generation will feature a slightly more grown-up design and a more sleek, user-friendly interior. The Soul is expected to have a spacious interior and updated technology that will keep the car feeling new for years to come.

Shifting over to a more universal audience, Toyota plans on releasing an updated Corolla this year in LA. A staple for simplicity and reliability for decades, the new Corolla hopes to prove that driving can be enjoyable and emotional, not just a matter of getting from point A to point B effectively. Toyota is expected to release to versions of the Corolla, the first being either a 1.8 or 2.0L four-cylinder, and the second being some sort of gas-electric hybrid.

With a little help from Toyota, Subaru also plans on a big reveal this week. Subaru plans on unveiling a plug-in hybrid variant of their Crosstrek compact crossover. Concerned they will lose their eco-conscious drivers to competitors with more electric options, the Crosstrek Hybrid is expected to be all-wheel drive like all Subarus and is expected to have a battery range of 17 miles, enough for a short daily commute on electric power only. The all-electric top speed will max out at 65mph and the 2.0L gas engine provides 148 horsepower. The hybrid setup, developed with Subaru part-owner Toyota, brings the mileage to what the EPA calls a miles-per-gallon equivalent of 90, and the base price is expected to be $35,970.

In the luxury section, Bentley is expected to show us a 626-horsepower, tweed-topped convertible version of the Continental GT. The convertible will be capable of hitting 207mph, and the tweed top will keep the cabin three decibels quieter than in the old Conti GT convertible, and can open or close in just 19 seconds when traveling at speeds up to 30 mph. Under the hood is a 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W12 engine, good for 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque to power the luxury beast.

This year we also expect some updates on Audi’s e-tron GT, their all-electric performance sedan expected to hit the road in the next couple years. Several BMW concepts are expected to make their first appearance this week, including the X7 and the 8 Series Convertible. Rumor has it that we’ll catch our first glimpse of a Mercedes-Maybach GLS, which could be the first U.S.-produced Maybach vehicle. We also expect to see Honda resurrecting the Passport.

Conclusion

In all, this year’s LA Auto Show is expected to really stir up the industry. With all new performance vehicles, better fuel technologies, and several re-imagined vehicles, there will be no shortage of stunning vehicles to soak in this year. As the weekend plays out, we’ll be excited to see what rumors turn out to be true, what was just hype, and hopefully we’ll even be amazed by surprises we didn’t even know were coming.

Holbrook Auto Parts takes pride in our knowledge and experience in the automotive industry, and we always work hard to make sure we keep up with the latest vehicle technology and trends. We’re just as excited as you are for this year’s LA Auto Show and what it has in store for us; we hope everyone has a great time out in Los Angeles this year. We’d love to hear your input and what your thoughts are on the releases this year!

Images from pexels.com