* Los Angeles auto show bigger than ever. The November LA auto show drew more automotive journalists than ever and featured dozens of world and North American debuts.
Alan Mulally, Ford's president and CEO, addressed journalists on the first morning of the two-day media showings, reviewing the lineup of new Ford products. "We are focusing on the sustainable technology solutions that can be used not for hundreds of thousands of cars, but for millions of cars," he said. Fuel economy, the use of alternative fuels, and the expansion of hybrid vehicles was a common message delivered by automaker executives from Bob Lutz of GM to Carlos Goshn of Nissan.
The LA show offered 14 world debuts of new and concept vehicles, including the Audi Cross Cabriolet Quattro (concept), Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, Dodge Durango Hybrid, Honda Fuel Cell vehicle, Hyundai Genesis Coupe (concept), Lincoln MKS, Lotus Elise California, Nissan Murano, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Sequoia, and Volkswagen space up! Blue (concept).
With 25 North American debuts, the show had virtually all the markets covered from the sports car to the crossover segments. The new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Kia KND-4 concept, Dodge Journey, Jaguar XF, Subaru WRX STi, Aston Martin V-8 Vantage, and Volvo V70 were just a few of the new vehicles introduced to the U.S. market at the show.
The 2008 Chevy Tahoe was named Green Car Journal's 2008 Green Car of the Year during ceremonies at the LA show followed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's talk on green vehicle issues.
From GM to Honda, more and more automakers are ready to introduce fuel-cell technology to the market. One of those debuted in Los Angeles was the Honda FCX Clarity, a next-generation, zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicle based on an entirely new Honda V-Flow fuel-cell stack. The stack is combined with a new compact lithium ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle's electric storage drive.
"The FCX Clarity is a shining symbol of the progress we've made with fuel-cell vehicles and of our belief in the promise of technology," said Tetsuo Iwamura, American Honda president and CEO, at the LA show. "Step by step, with continuous effort, commitment, and focus, we are working to overcome obstacles to the mass-market potential of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel-cell automobiles."
The new FCX offers a 20 percent increase in fuel economy, a 30 percent increase in range (to 270 miles), a 25 percent improvement in power-to-weight ratio, a 45 percent reduction in the size of the fuel-cell powertrain, and an advanced lithium ion battery pack that is 40 percent lighter and 50 percent smaller than the current FCX's ultra-capacitor.
American Honda said it plans to release the FCX Clarity to a limited number of retail customers in Southern California beginning this summer.
*Subcompact market hot for performance-parts buyers. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) reported that the subcompact segment is a hot market with sales up dramatically over 2006 for the first nine months of 2007. The Toyota Yaris had a 32 percent increase in sales and led the market with sales of 68,465 cars for the period, but the Nissan Versa is closing fast with sales of 60,963 units, up 429 percent. Other hot sellers are the Chevrolet Aveo (49,147), the Honda Fit (41,085), Hyundai Accent (29,212), and the Kia Rio (24,930).
Brisk sales of those vehicles equates to added sales of performance tires, air intake and air filters, exhaust kits, exhaust headers, springs, exterior lighting, gauges, and more than a dozen other products, SEMA said, based on surveys of subcompact owners. SEMA said the inexpensive price of the subcompacts leaves extra money to purchase add-on performance-oriented products.