Show and Tell

In recent years, the Los Angeles Auto Show has gained considerable ground in terms of prestige and significance within the auto industry. While still not as big as Detroit’s North American International Auto Show — staged every January — there’s no question that L.A. has increasing relevance.

This is the second time the L.A. show is taking place in November (16-25), instead of immediately before the January Detroit show. Following are some of the vehicle highlights.

ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE N400: This model draws inspiration from the company’s recent endurance-racing achievements. The 4.3 liter V8 engine makes 400 horsepower (380 in the the regular Vantage). The car also comes equipped with special lightweight wheels and performance-tuned suspension.

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED: This is the most powerful production Bentley ever and the first to top 200 m.p.h. (although just by the skin of its teeth). Changes from the regular Continental include a wider, lower air intake, a more upright radiator grille and a 12-cylinder engine producing 600 horsepower. Top “speed” is 202 m.p.h.

BMW M3: The new sedan and coupe share a high-revving 414-horsepower V8 and a balanced chassis that is designed to be, according to BMW, “faster than its engine.” The M3 also features driver-adjustable settings for crucial dynamic controls including steering, damping and stability as well as sumptuous new interior appointments and a carbon-fiber roof.

BUICK RIVIERA: This concept was developed with global design input by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in China. It accommodates a new hybrid gas/electric powertrain that will go into production in 2008. Features include carbon-fiber body panels, “gullwing” doors and 21-inch wheels.

CHRYSLER NASSAU: The four-door, four-passenger luxury coupe is built on a full-size platform but appears more visually compact than a comparable Chrysler 300 sedan.

FERRARI F430 SCUDERIA: This model weighs 220 pounds less than the standard F430 and the 4.3-liter V8 produces 510 horsepower (483 in the regular F430).

HYBRIDS: You want gas/electric hybrids? The L.A. Auto Show has hybrids to spare. Among the myriad production hybrids on display at the show are the Cadillac Escalade, Chrysler Aspen and GM pickup trucks. German automakers Mercedes-Benz and Porsche will serve up concept hybrids, the M-B S400 and the Porsche Cayenne, respectively.

JAGUAR XF: The last new Jaguar to be developed under Ford ownership, the new 2009 XF blends “the style and performance of a sports car with the refinement, and sophistication of a luxury sedan,” according to Jaguar. The interior is trimmed in wood, aluminum and leather. The XF replaces the S-Type.

MINI COOPER CLUBMAN: Think of it as the Maxi Mini. Making its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto show is the Mini Clubman wagon. It features a unique rear door that’s split down the middle and opens to either side. There’s also a “clubdoor”, hinged at the back, on the passenger side of the car to provide easy access to the back seat and help make the Clubman a true five-seater.

MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG: This is the road-going sibling to the car currently competing in the German Touring Car Championships (DTM). Its AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine develops a peak output of 451 horses and provides 0-60 m.p.h. acceleration of about 4.5 seconds. Performance features include speed-sensitive sport steering and the new three-stage sport suspension that combines smooth ride and race-car handling. The C-class is the smallest sedan in the Mercedes fleet and is new for 2008.

NISSAN GT-R: Nissan’s highly anticipated supercar, the GTR, is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 delivering 473 horsepower to all four wheels through a paddle-shifted six-speed-speed manual transmission. Expect 0-60 m.p.h. to be in the 3.5-second range. The Nissan-developed, high-performance suspension includes a three-mode driver-selectable switch. At around $80,000, the GT-R should redefine the the import supercar category with performance that’s rumored to be on par with the twice-as-expensive Porsche 911 Turbo.

Tom Jensen is a feature writer with Wheelbase Communications. You can drop him a line on the Web at: www.wheelbase.ws/mailbag.html. Wheelbase Communications supplies automotive news and features to newspapers across North America.