2014 Los Angeles auto show: News and pictures
The West Coast plays host to one of the year's biggest motor shows - here are all the details
Latest LA auto show news and picture galleries
Audi Prologue concept news and pictures
Bentley Grand Convertible news and pictures
Jaguar F-Type R manual gearbox and AWD
Lexus LF-C2 concept news and pictures
Mazda CX-3 compact crossover
Toyota Mirai fuel cell car news and pictures
Volkswagen Golf Estate gets the R treatment
Picture gallery: Best of the rest from Los Angeles
LA auto show news
Henrik Fisker's Rocket muscle car
Mercedes-Benz Vision G-Code concept details and pictures
Mercedes-Maybach S 600 due for LA auto show debut
Porsche 911 GTS, GTS Cabriolet revealed
Porsche Panamera Exclusive Series
Show overview
As European journalists prepare for the long nights of winter, sunny Los Angeles and the LA auto show offer a last dash of sunshine for foreign correspondents. There's usually plenty of joy to be found in the shows's new launches too, promising plenty of world debuts and a healthy roster of performance cars.
The big three German luxury marques, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, each dominated the show with a mix of new production vehicles and concepts.
In the Audi corner sits the 570bhp Audi R8 Competition, a hardcore last hurrah for the popular sports car before it's replaced by an all-new model. Bigger still, in both stature and potential, is the Prologue concept - a hint at where Audi's design direction is going and a preview to a possible A9 model. BMW's 2-series convertible, launched in Paris, makes its American debut in LA, while new versions of the X5 M and X6 M also graced the stand.
For Mercedes, all eyes were on the G-Code compact crossover. Aimed at China, the G-Code previews a new design direction for the firm, alongside the new AMG GT sports car. The firm's new Mercedes-Maybach S 600 is sure to be popular in China too, and debuted there on the same day it made its appearance in Los Angeles.
Not to be left out, Porsche also has a few Los Angeles debutants - the Porsche Panamera Exclusive Series, and the range of four 911 Carrera GTS models - both two- and four-wheel drive, with coupe and convertible body styles.
More accessible will be Mazda's new CX-3 crossover model. The Juke rival features Mazda's Kodo design language and if Mazda's other vehicles are any barometer, the CX-3 is sure to be fun to drive too.
Muscle car fans won't be left out in the show's home market. Most exciting is designer Henrik Fisker's announcement of a new 'ultimate American muscle car'. Likely based on Ford's new Mustang, the project has been developed in conjunction with tuning firm Galpin Auto Sports.
