Top 10: 2009 L.A. Auto Show Reveals

By Thomas Bey














Los Angeles knows a thing or two about appearance and presentation, and neither aspect was lacking at the 2009 L.A. Auto Show. And for a city obsessed with size (or lack thereof, depending on the context), it was also the perfect venue for so many smaller cars to entice attendees.

Whatever the size, there was no shortage of great production and concept cars among the 2009 L.A. Auto Show reveals, whether they made their North American or international debuts. Here are 10 of our favorites.

Start with No.10


No.10 - Honda P-NUT There aren’t a lot of concepts sharing phonetic names with legumes, but Honda’s P-NUT stands apart even without the curious name, an acronym of Personal-Neo Urban Transport (we’re just thankful they didn’t call it the Global-Oriented Neo Automotive Device). Making its international debut here, the P-NUT is like the revered McLaren F1 -- if only for its three-seat, driver-central configuration. Otherwise, you’re probably more likely to see an F1 on the street; this 2009 L.A. Auto Show reveal is little more than a showcase of Honda’s future design elements.



No.9 - 2010 Dodge Viper Call us sentimental luddites, but a world without the Dodge Viper would be dull. We may soon find out since 2010 is the last scheduled year for production. Still, Chrysler CEO and Viper enthusiast Ralph Gilles would rather not go gentle into that good night, so stay tuned. For now, at least, expect about 500 cars to mark the final edition. No doubt, many will be spec’d as ACRs for owners eager to recreate the record-setting 1:33.915 lap time at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.



No.8 - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
It was easy for the Chevy Cobalt to seem brilliant in comparison to the bucket-of-bolts Cavalier it replaced. The same can be said of the Cruze, Cobalt’s upcoming replacement. But then, the mini-Malibu is not such a bad car in its own right as buyers in world markets are already discovering. It promises to be the best small Chevy since... well, ever. And while that’s not a monumental feat, it has the looks and refinement to steal sales from Honda and Toyota. Too bad we have to wait until late 2010 for it.



No.7 - Volkswagen Up! Lite Concept
Volkswagen continues to impress us with its production diesels, so we’re inclined to presume the Up! Lite Concept’s experience is greater than the figures indicate. Making its international debut among 2009 L.A. Auto Show reveals, the four-seat hybrid has a 0.8-liter (yes, zero-point-eight) diesel on board. Not surprisingly, the maximum 64-horsepower city car lacks maniacal power, but at just over 1,500 pounds, it also lacks mass. This puts it in similar power-to-weight territory as the smart fortwo, but with claimed 70-mpg efficiency, more space and better looks.



No.6 - 2011 Ford Mustang V6
The most welcome change in the 2011 Mustang isn’t an asphalt-melting Shelby, but a new V6. Why? If you’ve driven the new V6 Camaro, you know why, and are probably impressed. Ford would prefer you weren’t, so its 2009 L.A. Auto Show reveal is an entertaining and refined six -- exactly what it lacked. The 3.7-liter is smoother and more economical than the outgoing 4.0, sure. However, it’s also far more powerful (305 horsepower vs 210 horsepower), making it competitive with not only the Camaro, but the current V8 Mustang.



No.5 - BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept
We’re already seeing BMW using the EfficientDynamics tag in production-model technology, but definitely not like this. Making its North American debut together with the 2010 ActiveHybrid 7, the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept is as much a show car as it is a four-seat laboratory. The diesel/plug-in hybrid’s technology and features extend far beyond the space we have to describe them. Suffice it to say, the look won’t be directly adapted to BMWs, but the engineering will.


No.4 - 2011 Buick Regal
Remember not so long ago when Tiger Woods hawked Buicks? Several revelations later, Woods is disgraced and Buick is great. Well, getting great, anyway. The automotive ascent is led in large part by this Regal, shown in America for the first time as a 2009 L.A. Auto Show reveal. Overseas, this is the impressive Opel Insignia, and it gets better with the 2.0-liter direct-injected turbo four we’ll be offered. Between the power, handling and build quality, the Regal is going to earn Buick some long-missed cred.


No.3 - 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder
Porsche didn’t have to show a remarkably different Boxster to make news as a 2009 L.A. Auto Show reveal, because the car isn’t half bad for starters. First shown to the world here, the Boxster Spyder slightly breaks tradition from its limited-run namesakes in recent years. This is a regular production edition, but don’t waste time ordering this lighter 320-horsepower model -- and don’t get caught in the rain once you have it. “Spyder” is part of the name for a reason, and only a temporary roof is included for minimal weather protection.


No.2 - 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
The first generation Cadillac CTS was good, and the current car is great. All along, though, we’ve been hoping a coupe version would reach production, like the 2008 concept shown in Detroit. Thankfully, the production version making its international debut here wasn’t much different. And for the next show in Detroit, don’t be surprised to see a CTS-V Coupe. However, we’re getting ahead of ourselves, and are more than grateful for the base 304-horsepower package on the way at last.



No.1 - 2011 Ford Fiesta/Mazda 2
Though shown separately, we’re featuring corporate siblings Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2 together. And the partnership has no bearing on rank; the cars are just that great. Shown in North America for the first time, at last, we’re anxious to compare them side-by-side on the street. The 2’s 1.5-liter will probably give up a few horsepower to Fiesta’s 1.5-liter, but Mazda may compensate with better handling (it does make the Miata, after all). Honestly, neither is a bad choice and both are our favorite 2009 L.A. Auto Show reveals


source: askmen