The production version of the Macan will take its formal bow at the upcoming LA Auto Show, organizers have announced.
Automakers aren’t the only ones vying for attention. Auto shows are also battling it out, in this case to land the vehicle previews that will get them not only headlines but hordes of both the media and the masses.
The Los Angeles Motor Show appears to have done a good job convincing manufacturers to come to Southern California this coming November, organizers announcing they’ll have “more than 50” new products to reveal for the first time. That includes a mix of conventional vehicles as well as the green machines the LA show has become increasingly known for in recent years.
“As the first major North American show of the season, Los Angeles sets the tone for 2014, and we expect that automakers will pull out all the stops to excite new-car buyers. In virtually every category, from the greenest electric vehicle to high-horsepower performance models, the technological advancements we are seeing today eclipse all previous automotive eras,” said Terri Toennies, the LA Auto Show’s new General Manager.
The new Mini hatchback will also debut in LA -- the Vision Concept shown here giving a hint of what the Brits have coming.
The debut line-up this year promises a mix of cutting-edge trends and innovations in today’s competitive automotive market. BMW has confirmed seven to eight debuts, including a yet-to-be-named global premiere. MINI will also present a strong showing with the long-awaited introduction of the replacement for its namesake hatchback.
(Tough battle ahead as nearly 50 new vehicles vie for North American Car and Truck of the Year honors. Click Here for more.)
Chevrolet, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru and Volkswagen have confirmed worldwide debuts with top-level executives on hand, while Porsche has officially announced that it will introduce the Macan, the manufacturer’s highly anticipated SUV crossover, Toennies said.
That reflects the fact that Southern California is the nation’s largest market for luxury, performance, tech-laden and eco-friendly vehicles, so a number of the vehicles set for an L.A. debut will fall into those categories.
(Automakers preparing to unleash a flood of new hybrids on US market. Click Here to find out what’s coming.)
The LA Auto Show is also introducing the Connected Car Expo, a three-day event designed to connect technology companies with automakers, media, analysts, and other potential customers. Slated to kick off on Nov. 19, CCE will continue in conjunction with LA Auto Show Press Days on Nov. 20 and 21.
“Our leadership team is guiding a new era of growth and evolution for the LA Auto Show in 2013,” said Show President Lisa Kaz.
The 2013 Show also plans to kick off Press Days with its inaugural invite-only Motor Press Guild Motoring Invitational, an exclusive two-hour showcase featuring exotics and classics from around the world. Nearly 100 “automotive icons, influencers, collectors and celebrities” will gather with their favorite rides to showcase California’s car culture, Kaz said.