2013 Los Angeles Auto Show Summary On KNX1070 Newsradio

KNX Business Hour Host Frank Mottek checks in for an LA Auto Show summary of new vehicle introductions and awards on Day 2 (Nov. 21, 2013) of the Media Days from the LA Convention Center.

2013 LA Auto Show Video: Toyota's Bob Carter

Bob Carter, Sr. VP Automotive Operations at Toyota Motor Sales USA discusses new 2014 Toyota Highlander going on sale in January after being introduced at the New York Auto Show in March.

BOB CARTER INTERVIEW.

LA Auto Show Video: Jeff Conrad On 2014 Acura RLX

The all-new 2014 Acura RLX sedan, powered by an all-new 310-horsepower 3.5-liter direct-injected SOHC i-VTEC® SOHC 24-Valve i-VTEC® V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management, has a lightweight body structure and the first-ever application of Acura Precision All-Wheel Steer™ which is an independent and continuous control of the left and right rear-wheel steering angles for handling agility and high- and low-speed maneuverability. The next-generation AcuraLink® cloud-based connected car system also makes its debut on the new RLX. 

The 2014 Acura RLX is slated to go on-sale at U.S. Acura dealers nationwide in the spring of 2013 and will be available in five grades – the well-equipped RLX, the RLX with Navigation, the feature-packed RLX with Technology package, the RLX with Krell Audio package, and the top-of-the-line RLX with Advance package. Pricing details will be announced closer to launch. A version of RLX featuring Acura's new Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive® (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD®) technology, producing 370 horsepower with expected fuel economy ratings of 30 city/30 highway/30 combined, will debut later in 2013.

Jeff Conrad, VP of Acura Sales at American Honda shares his enthusiasm for Acura's new flagship luxury sedan.

LA Auto Show Video: Jim O'Sullivan On The All-New 2014 Mazda6

Mazda's SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine has arrived for the all-new 2014 Mazda6 and both made their North American debuts at the LA Auto Show a few weeks ago. The Mazda6 made its global debut in late August in Moscow. The Mazda6 arrives next month followed by the diesel version during the second half of the year. Mazda6 has two engine choices: the 184 horsepower SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine or the new SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine with a choice of SKYACTIV transmissions in either the SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic or SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual. Final specifications and pricing for all 2014 Mazda6 models will be available closer to the on-sale date.

The racing version of the 2014 Mazda6, powered by a Mazda SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel engine, will make its motorsports debut at the Rolex 24 endurance race on January 26-27, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida.  This will be the first time a diesel-powered vehicle of any type has ever raced at the Rolex 24 and Mazda is after their 24th class win in the American endurance classic, having most recently won in 2008 and 2010.

Also announced at the LA Show was an updated CX-9 and the more powerful 2.5 liter engine choice for the CX-5. The CX-7 is no longer in the Mazda lineup.

Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations discusses the new Mazda6 and more.

LA Auto Show Video: Tim Philippo On Jaguar F-Type

The all-new Jaguar F-TYPE two-seater lightweight aluminum architecture sports car is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive convertible coming next summer in three models: the F-TYPE with a 340 horsepower supercharged 3.0 liter V6, F-TYPE S with a 380 horsepower version of the 3.0 liter V6 and the F-TYPE V8 S with a 495 horsepower 5.0 liter V8 engine. All engines are mated to an eight-speed 'Quickshift' transmission with a centrally mounted SportShift selector offering full manual sequential control and steering wheel-mounted paddles. Jaguar Sports Cars Product Manager Tim Philippo discusses the new F-TYPE and the XFR-S shown at the LA Auto Show.

LA Auto Show Video: John Mendel On 2013 Honda Civic

The 2013 Honda Civic Sedan, the best-selling compact car in the U.S., receives all-new front and rear exterior styling, extensive interior upgrades and a host of new standard equipment just 18 months after a total redesign. Retuned steering and suspension, extensive chassis upgrades including Honda's ACE™ II body structure along with standard features including Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, rearview camera, Pandora® Interface, SMS text message feature, and steering wheel audio controls. The 2013 Civic has an MSRP increase of only $160 across the lineup. Pricing for the 2013 Civic LX Sedan starts at at $18,165. John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president of Sales discusses the early major upgrades to the Civic.

At the LA Auto Show Honda also announced that the 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid earned an EPA-certified 115 MPGe rating and will go on sale in New York and California on January 15 with an MSRP of $39,7801. Separately, the Accord Hybrid, featuring Honda's new two-motor hybrid system, will launch nationwide next summer with anticipated fuel economy of 49/45/47 city/hwy/combined. The revised 2013 Honda Crosstour and 2013 Honda CR-Z also made their auto-show debuts.

LA Auto Show Video: Megan Gillam On Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln, Ford's luxury brand, has a new advertising campaign that launched on December 3rd: “Introducing the Lincoln Motor Company.” Lincoln was originally called the Lincoln Motor Company in 1922, when Edsel Ford signed the agreement purchasing the company from its founder Henry Leland. The first campaign begins with “Does the World Need Another Luxury Car?”, followed by “Hello. Again” that just debuted on Dec. 10. The all-new entry level Lincoln MKZ will be featured heavily. Megan Gillam, the market manager for the MKZ discusses the new vehicle at a special event at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Certainly good timing with the name Lincoln being so widely talked about with all the praise around the feature film on President Lincoln. And if you have a penny in your pocket...

LA Auto Show Video: Al Castignetti On Nissan's 2013 Line-up

Nissan showed off its new line-up at the Los Angeles Auto Show, including the new 2013 Sentra, 2013 Altima and 2013 Pathfinder and the Nissan Hi-Cross Concept, which provides design cues for a future Nissan SUV according to Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America. The Hi-Cross Concept couples an electric motor powered by a Nissan-developed compact lithium-ion battery similar to that utilized in the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle with a 2.0-liter direct injection gasoline engine. The hybrid system is linked to Nissan's next-generation Xtronic CVT® (Continuously Variable Transmission) used on the recently introduced 2013 Nissan Pathfinder and has smaller shaft-diameter pulleys to provide the widest possible ratio coverage for enhanced efficiency.

Castignetti responds to Nissan President & CEO Carlos Ghosn's call for increased sales by boasting about Nissan's "Five All-new Models in 15 Months" product revolution representing a high percentage of Nissan's volume and discusses Leaf lovers.

LA Auto Show Video: Steve Hirashiki On 2014 Kia Sorento

 
Just three years into its product lifecycle, Kia brings the new 2014 Sorento to market on an all-new chassis that increases torsional rigidity by 18-percent. Over 80-percent of the parts in the 2014 Sorento are either all-new or significantly redesigned, including a new 290 horsepower 3.3-liter GDI V6 engine and a substantially redesigned interior and a next-generation infotainment system with Kia’s next-generation UVO eServices voice-activated telematics system. There are now four trim levels: LX V6, EX V6, SX and SX Limited. The SX Limited is new and will arrive within the second quarter of 2013, shortly after the arrival of the other new 2014 Sorento models. Steve Hirashiki, Senior Product Strategy Manager at Kia Motors America describes the new 2014 Sorento.

LA Auto Show Video: Jacob Harb On BMW i3 Concept Coupe

Jacob Harb, BMW's North American Manager of Electric Vehicle Sales and Strategy, says the i3 Concept is closer to reality though the actual model, expected in about a year, will be a 4-door version of the BMW i3 Concept Coupe shown at the LA Auto Show in the world premiere.

LA Auto Show Video: Andres Valbuena On VW Beetle Convertible

 
Andres Valbuena, Product Manager at Volkswagen of America, discusses new Beetle Convertible offerings at the LA Auto Show. The New Beetle Convertible is the third-generation Beetle Convertible with three special editions from the 1950s, the 1960s, and the 1970s. The ‘50s Edition Beetle Convertible is black with a tan interior, the ‘60s Edition has two-tone seats and Denim Blue paint and the ‘70s Edition Convertible has a Toffee Brown exterior and chrome-look disc wheels. Compared with the 2006 version of the older car, the latest Beetle Convertible is 3.3 inches wider at 71.2 inches; 1.1 inches lower at 58.0 inches tall; and 6.0 inches longer at 168.4 inches overall. The 2013 Beetle Convertible offers a 170 horsepower 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. There's also a 200 horsepower dual-overhead-cam, 16-valve 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine with six-speed manual or six-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmissions getting an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The third choice is a 140 horsepower 2.0-liter TDI turbocharged Clean Diesel with the same manual or DSG options which gets an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 28 mpg city and 41 mpg highway with the manual transmission.

The Beetle Convertible has a starting MSRP of $24,995. The ‘50s Edition costs $26,095. The Beetle Convertible with Technology starts at $26,695. The Beetle Convertible with Sound and Navigation starts at $28,495. The ‘70s Edition has an MSRP of $28,595. Beetle TDI Convertible starts at $27,895. The Beetle TDI Convertible with Sound and Navigation has a base price of $29,195. The Beetle Turbo Convertible starts at $27,795. The Beetle Turbo Convertible with Sound is $29,195. The Beetle Turbo Convertible with Sound and Navigation starts at $31,195 and the ‘60s Edition is priced at $32,395. The are on sale this month.

LA Auto Show Video: Simon Turner On All-New Range Rover

The all-new Land Rover flagship fourth generation Range Rover is on display at the LA Auto Show following its UK introduction in early September. The Range Rover keeps much of the original design from over 40 years ago with a very similar footprint to the outgoing model but now has a lightweight all-aluminium body and a rear compartment that offers more space. Simon Turner, Manager Service Engineering Support and Tech Center at Jaguar & Land Rover was on hand in L.A. to discuss the new vehicle.

LA Auto Show Day 1 Highlights

Toyota Rav4

Hyundai Santa Fe

Acura RLX

Jaguar F-type

Nissan Sentra

Subaru Forester

MINI Paceman

Porsche Cayman

BMW i3 Concept

Fiat 500L

Kia Sorento

There were 17 media conferences to debut all-new, refreshed or concept vehicles during the first day of the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. We'll have the details and video interviews about these vehicles in the days ahead. Stay tuned for Day 2 unveilings.