SUVs, trucks – and Corolla – star at LA show
America’s passion for SUVs and pickups will be the driving force at the Los Angeles Auto Show. But there are some serious treats in store for car lovers at the event, which kicks off with media conferences and vehicle unveilings this week and is open to the public Nov. 30 to Dec. 9. The long-awaited Jeep Gladiator midsize pickup and Honda’s Passport five-passenger midsize SUV will be the stars, but the show also will host debuts of new versions of the legendary Porsche 911 sports car and one of the best-selling cars in history, the Toyota Corolla. Here’s some of what’s on tap starting this weekend:
BMW X7
Styled like an platinum ingot with a grille, this massive SUV will offer three rows of seats to compete with rolling bank vaults such as the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Mercedes GL550. At 203.3 inches long, the X7 is 21 inches shorter than the three-row Escalade ESV. Features include a standard air suspension, four-zone climate control and a choice of 3.0-liter six-cylinder or a 4.4L V8 engine. Built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the X7 goes on sale in March. BMW will unveil the 8Sseries convertible with a 530-horsepower 4.4L V8. The M340i sport sedan also arrives to boost power and performance of the new 3 Series.
Honda Passport
Honda expects this midsize SUV to be a player in what’s shaping up to be a hypercompetitive segment: five-passenger midsize SUVs. For years, the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano had the segment to themselves, but the Passport and Chevrolet Blazer join the party in the first half of 2019. Sized between Honda’s CR-V compact and Pilot three-row SUVs, the Passport will have more power and offroad capability, according to Honda.
Hyundai Palisade
This big SUV will become the Hyundai brand’s flagship when it goes on sale next year. Expect all-new styling and loads of road presence from the vehicle, which replaces the lackluster Santa Fe XL as Hyundai’s three-row, family-carrying SUV. V6 power and a host of safety and driver assistance features are likely.
Jeep Gladiator
Expect a crew cab that’s virtually identical to a four-door Wrangler Unlimited SUV and a 5-foot bed on Jeep’s first pickup in decades. Off-road capability and towing are likely to be the Gladiator’s main selling points. Fiat Chrysler’s Mopar parts business will probably have hundreds of accessories ready when the Gladiator goes on sale in early 2019.
Kia Soul
Designing the next generation of an icon is one of the toughest jobs in the auto industry. Making a slightly bigger copy won’t work, but how far can you push the envelope and evolve the design before you lose connection to the original? The all-new 2020 Soul must walk that line. Adding to the pressure, the Soul is nearly unique in that it’s simultaneously the icon for its brand and very affordable, with 2019 prices starting at $16,490. The new Soul will again offer several drivetrains, including a turbo and an electric model.
Lincoln Aviator
Riding on an all-new rear-drivebased architecture, the production version of Lincoln’s new SUV promises a host of engineering and performance surprises. You can expect Lincoln’s usual inventive and luxurious interior in a roomy package that has an occasionaluse third row of seats and plenty of capability. The Aviator should reach dealerships in the first half of 2019.
Mazda 3
Mazda’s top-selling vehicle around the world, the 3 is a relative afterthought in the SUV-centric U.S. market. The automaker hopes to change that with new looks, including both a sedan and hatchback. The 3 uses an updated version of Mazda’s weight-saving Skyactiv architecture that will underpin most of the brand’s vehicles. Mazda will offer a mild hybrid for better performance and fuel economy. Other fuel-saving engine advances are also likely.
Porsche 911
One of the auto industry’s true global icons, the 911 is the essence of everything that makes Porsche special: racecar handling in a street car, head-snapping power without a massive, fuelsucking engine and instantly recognizable looks. Watch for subtle updates to the classic 911 design, and don’t be surprised if many lessons from the 918 Spyder plugin hybrid arrive to make the 911 the gold standard in efficiency and performance.
Toyota Corolla
The 12th-generation Corolla moves to the automaker’s new global architecture, but its deep grille and short trunk will be familiar from the current model. The Prius, Camry and 2019 RAV4 also use the architecture. Toyota will offer a hybrid Corolla for the first time. Expect a lower price and lower fuel economy as key distinctions between the Corolla hybrid and Toyota’s own Prius. Standard safety features will include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane-departure alert. The Prius itself is in line for an update, possibly including an all-wheeldrive model.