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Coming Next Issue
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Detroit Auto Show 2004 |
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Jaguar S-Type Review |
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| 2004 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show |
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By John Henley
Staff Writer
(Tuesday, December 30, 2003 11:15 PM PST) |
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The Greater Los Angeles Auto Show opens to the public Jan. 2 and will continue through Jan. 11, with a special preview night Dec. 30. There is plenty of attention and excitement surrounding the debuts and concept cars that will be unveiled at this year’s event. Everybody who’s anybody in the world of automobiles will be present I one of the six “halls.” Of particular note will be several entries that will be making their world or North American premieres at this year’s show.
The Buick Terraza and the Saturn Relay both fall into the world premiere category, as well as into a new category that has earned the moniker “Crossover Sport Van.” Combining the sleek front end styling of an SUV with the spaciousness of a minivan, both models are aimed at baby-boomers who may have gotten used to a minivan over the years, and have finally decided to go with something sportier now that the kids are all grown up. The Terraza boasts seating for seven adults and is available with GM’s Versatrak all-wheel drive system. The Relay will also seat seven adults comfortably and is available in both two- and four-wheel drive models.
The Saab 9-2X will also be making its world debut at the Greater L.A. Auto Show; and yes, it’s a hatchback. Now, that may not be a word you hear very often anymore - it has fallen from grace in the last decade, at least in the United States. Make no mistake, hatchbacks are still around, plentiful even, but automakers have come up with different words to describe them, or in some cases they don’t even address the issue. But Saab is bringing back the glory of the hatchback, sporting a Subaru engine and all-wheel drive. There will be several models available, including a turbocharged edition for those of you with a heavy left-foot.
Several other automakers have entries in this year’s show making their North American debut. They range from the ordinary to the extraordinary, from automakers that have entries every year to one automaker that hasn’t had a new model in 64 years, until this year.
Topping the list of North American debuts is the Lotus Elise, which has been called by some “the finest sports car in the world.” Finally, buyers in the United States will be able to decide that for themselves. At just under 1,900 pounds, the Elise benefits from a remarkable power-to-weight ratio. The Elise lands itself as the most attractively priced sports car to herald from the European car factories at just under $40,000. And although it may be the “best handling car in the world” as certain owners have boasted, it is also rather small. So, if the MG midget was “waaaay” too small for you, chances are you won't be squeezing into the Elise anytime soon.
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