LOS ANGELES—The LA Auto Show is upon us again, and this year’s iteration of the car expo promises to be a big one.
Environment-friendly cars, concept models, and innovative technologies will take center stage at the annual car exhibit held at the LA Convention Center this weekend, Nov. 22 to 24.
General Motors
Although GM isn’t poised to unveil a new model at the auto show, it doesn’t mean there’s no reason for you to visit their booth at the expo. Starting next year, GM car owners will be able to remotely unlock doors, activate car horns and lights, and start up their engines using their smartphone.
GM Infotainment Chief Philip Abram revealed that starting with their 2014 car models for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac, OnStar-equipped vehicles will have the new RemoteLink Key Fob Service. It’s basically a smartphone app that lets you remotely access your car and do a wide array of things, even if you’re across the country.
Abram said that the service will be a standard offering across all four GM brands, from the entry level Chevy Sonic and Spark, all the way up to the high-end Cadillac luxury models. Even if the owner declines to pay for other OnStar services, the RemoteLink Key Fob Service is free for five years.
Thirty-six 2014 model year GM vehicles are currently compatible with the RemoteLink mobile app. Using the mobile app’s additional services, the car owner can monitor the car’s operating systems, like remaining oil life, fuel level range in miles, tire pressure, and miles per gallon. Mobile app users can also upload trip directions to their car’s navigation system directly from their smartphones.
For GM’s electric vehicles (EVs), owners can also take advantage of the RemoteLink app to access the Smart Grid feature, a function that lets the app monitor when the power utility rates are at their lowest or when charging is most optimal. This will also let EV owners to remotely send commands to their cars to start charging via their smartphones.
This way, an EV car owner can just plug in his GM electric car and remotely command the car to charge when the power rates are cheaper (during off-peak hours). This service is compatible to at least 2012 GM models.
However, according to Stefan Cross, a GM representative from the Cadillac booth at the Auto Show, the automotive company is still waiting for more utility companies to come on board the program. While OnStar and GM are ready to roll out the Smart Grid system, they are still waiting to reach the most optimal number of utility companies to be compatible with the system.
Nissan
Performance took center stage for Nissan on Wednesday, as the company unveiled their most powerful GT-R supercar ever: the 2015 GT-R Nismo.
According to Divisional Vice President Fred Diaz, the GT-R Nismo is basically Godzilla on steroids. The car packs 600hp, punches in 480 pounds-per-feet of torque, and can go from zero to sixty in 2 seconds.
Joining Diaz in revealing the flagship car was six-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 100-meter dash world record holder Usain Bolt. Bolt is also Nissan’s “Director of Excitement.”
In May 2013, the world’s fastest was given a gold-colored 2014 GT-R by a Jamaican Nissan dealer. Upon seeing the 2015 GT-R Nismo, Bolt was swept off his feet.
Nissan’s exhibit also included the debut of the Sentra NISMO Concept, a design study for the next generation of Nissan’s small performance sedan. The Sentra Concept features a 200-plus horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, NISMO-tuned suspension and steering, custom driver focused interior, enhanced aerodynamics, and large wheels and tires.
Another NISMO car to out Nissan’s exhibit, the Juke NISMO RS features a higher level of performance, including 215 horsepower on 210 lb-ft of torque, larger brakes, a stiffer chassis, and unique RS interiors. It will be released in early 2014.
Ford
The Ford Edge Concept was revealed at the Auto Show. The concept SUV features strong and dynamic design improvements, as well as intelligent technology that will make driving easier and more convenient than ever.
The Edge Concept’s system improves on Ford’s safety-first approach with the Adaptive Steering, Fully Assisted Parking Aid, and Obstacle Avoidance. The new look of the Edge features a refined silhouette that is both fluid and athletic. Air Curtains and Active Grill Shutters maintain ideal aerodynamic efficiency.
Honda
Honda unleashed the 2014 Civic, which builds on the innovations of the 2012 and 2013 models.
New upgrades include sportier exterior styling of the the Civic Coupe and Civic Si Coupe, interior styling improvements, new CVT system that enhances performance and fuel efficiency, new display audio with 7-inch touch screen, increased engine performance, and the Honda LaneWatch blind spot display which was not previously available in the Civic.
Also, the Honda Accord was named as the 2013 Green Car of the Year, beating out other entries from Audi, BMW, Mazda, and Toyota. The Accord got the nod for it’s impressive miles-per-gallon (MPG) rating across all its models (gas, hybrid, and electric).
The Honda Civic Natural Gas model had previously won this award.
Mazda
For their part, the Mazda3 and the Mazda6 garnered praises even before the LA Auto Show Began.
On Nov. 12, the completely redesigned 2014 Mazda6 mid-size sedan was named Car of the Year by tech magazine Popular Mechanics. The Mazda6 was selected for the award for its key strengths in affordability, utility, fuel efficiency, performance, innovation, and bold design. Popular Mechanics editor-in-cheif Jim Meigs said that the Mazda6 impressed them with its great mileage, “fun” road handling, upscale features, and “remarkable” value.
Less than a week later, on Nov. 18, the 2014 Mazda3 was awarded a Residual Value Award for the Compact Car Segment by ALG, the car industry’s residual values and depreciation data crunching experts. ALG recognized the Mazda3 for its ability to retain a high percentage of its original price after a conventional three-year period. ALG vice president of editorial Eric Lyman said that the 2014 Mazda3, for its combination of style, technology, fuel economy, and fun-to-drive attitude, is posed to have a level of success that gave its first generation an incredible retention value.
Subaru
The 2015 Subaru WRX makes its world debut at this year’s LA Auto Show.
The new WRX platform offers a stiffer, more agile chassis for Subaru’s flagship performance car. Dubbed as a more powerful and better handling iteration of the car, the 2015 WRX carries a new 268hp 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo BOXER engine.
The 2015 will also feature the model’s first ever six speed manual transmission and a new, optional performance automatic transmission called the Sport Lineartronic. The Lineartronic system comes with a Sport Sharp mode and two manual modes – a 6-speed and 8-speed manual shifting using steering wheel paddle switches.
The 2015 WRX is remarked as a major evolutionary step for Subaru’s performance car that is considered a legend in the rally circuits.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen of America unleashed the Design Vision GTI, a stunning 503hp, 186mph concept car that is intended to exhibit the raw power of the new GTI. The Design Vision GTI can go from zero to 62 miles-per-hour in just 3.9 seconds.
The concept car has a direct-injection 3.0-liter V6 TSI engine with twin turbochargers. The V6 TSI engine powers the car forward with 369 pounds-per-feet of torque from as low as 2000 rpm, with a maximum push of 413 lb-ft at 4000 rpm.
