LA Motor Show 2014: news round-up

The Los Angeles Auto Show 2014 delivered a host of exciting new model launches and the Auto Express team were on hand to bring you the pick of the new production cars and concepts live from the show floor. 

The highlights of this year's LA Motor Show included major unveils from the world's top car manufacturers, including Audi, Mercedes, Mazda, Bentley and Jaguar, plus the more specialist machinery without which no American car show would be complete.

• 10 best cars at LA Motor Sow 2014

This page brings together all the big news stories from LA 2014. Our team were out in force at the event, bringing you the best words, pictures and video - including interviews with top car industry executives and behind-the-scenes insights via our live twitter feed.

Scroll down for a full round-up of what each manufacturer was showing on its stand and click through our gallery for the LA Motor Show 2014 in pictures. 

Los Angeles Auto Show 2014: top news stories

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• Mazda CX-3 crossover makes LA debut - the CX-3 will go on sale in the middle of next year, priced from around £13,000• Audi prologue concept revealed in LA - Audi's prologue concept hints at a two-door rival for the S-Class Coupe and future design direction for A6, A7 and A8• Luxurious Mercedes-Maybach limo is go - S-Class-based Mercedes-Maybach saloon will top the range - with a 530bhp V12 for the S600 model• 2015 Jaguar F-Type gets AWD and manual 'box - Jaguar has announced details of additions to the F-Type range for Spring 2015, including a manual gearbox and better infotainment• Bentley Grand Convertible concept takes a bow in LA - Bentley has unveiled its most luxurious open-top car yet at the LA Motor Show• Lexus LF-C2 Roadster concept arrives in LA - Lexus LF-C2 Roadster concept previews a convertible version of the RC coupe - but there's no roof at all

LA Motor Show 2014: new cars A to Z

Audi

Audi's prologue concept, revealed in LA, shows a revised design direction for the German brand, and points towards the next-generation A6, A7 and A8, as set out by newly appointed head of design, Marc Lichte. Described as a “signature car for Audi”, the prologue show car could also eventually manifest itself as the new Audi A9.

Audi also revealed its limited-run R8 Competition model at the show, complete with race-inspired styling, while the firm's executives were keen to talk about upcoming electric and hybrid models. We learned that the next generation Audi Q7 range will include an e-tron hybrid version and that Audi is developing an all-electric family car with a 280-mile range.

Bentley

Bentley unveiled a concept that could take on Rolls-Royce at its own game: the Grand Convertible. It was our first chance to see the car in the metal and the news is that it could make production. 

BMW

The BMW X5 has been on sale for more than six months, and we’ve just had our first drive of its sister car, the X6. However, from April next year, BMW will offer you high-performance X5 M and X6 M versions of the popular SUVs, both of which have been unveiled in LA. Packing a pretty substantial 567bhp and 750Nm of torque, both cars will tackle the 0-62mph sprint in an M5-rivalling 4.2 seconds. They'll also manage 1.2G in cornering forces, according to BMW. The X5 M will start from £90,170, and the X6 M from £93,070.

Ford

After months of teasers whetting the appetite of Mustang fans worldwide, Ford finally unmasked the flagship Shelby-tuned model at the 2014 LA Motor Show. Called the GT350, it will take pride of place as the fastest official model in the range.

The most important change to the American muscle car concerns its 5.2-litre V8, which ditches its traditional supercharger in favour of high-revving natural aspiration. It uses a flat plane crankshaft – a first for any Ford V8 – to produce in excess of 500bhp and 540Nm of torque.  

Jaguar

Jaguar is making its F-Type more appealing to Porsche 911 owners by introducing a raft of new additions including a manual gearbox, four-wheel drive variants, a new ‘R’ Convertible and a cleverer infotainment system.

The British brand is intent on tempting customers away from rival German firms and into its two-seater sports car. Heading the list of improvements are all-wheel drive versions, a manual ’box and a host of technology updates, swelling the F-Type range from six to 14 models.

Lexus

The Lexus LF-C2 Roadster concept was revealed at the LA Motor Show – previewing a convertible version of the all-new Lexus RC coupe.

However, unlike conventional drop-tops, the LF-C2 has no roof whatsoever. Lexus claims this is “designed to give driver and passenger the best top-down driving experience”, though in reality it probably means they ran out of time trying to engineer one.

Mazda

Mazda pulled the wraps off the all-new CX-3 crossover, which took centre stage at the Los Angeles Motor Show. Billed as a rival for the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008, the CX-3 will go on sale in the middle of next year, priced from around £13,000, and is expected to be become the core model in the brand’s growing range.

Also appearing on the Mazda stand at LA was a facelifted version of the CX-5 SUV, the car featuring a more upmarket exterior and a higher spec cabin. Last but not least is the facelifted Mazda 6 which also gains a series of improvements.

Mercedes

It’s been a busy month for Mercedes – with the German brand caught testing everything from the new A-Class, to a plug-in version of the upcoming GLE but there was more at LA. The Stuttgart-based firm debuted its new flagship model based on the S-Class and badged Mercedes-Maybach S600. It’ll be 200mm longer than a long-wheelbase S-Class, offering more space than the old Maybach 57 model.

In other news, Mercedes also revealed to Auto Express that a hardcore version of the A45 AMG mega-hatch is under consideration. It won't be badged Black Series but it will be exceedingly fast.

Porsche

The Porsche 911 GTS – which we drove earlier this month – made its public debut at the LA Motor Show. It joins the extensive range of 911 sports cars, sandwiched between the brilliant Carrera S and the lightweight GT3. Prices start from £91,098, and it’s available to order now.

The Stuttgart-based firm also showed two new versions of the Cayenne SUV. The new GTS edition, traditionally the most driver-focused in the range, is swapping powerful V8 for and even more potent V6. The 3.6-litre bi-turbo V6 engine will produce 434bhp and 600Nm of torque, which is 20bhp and 85Nm more than the V8. There is also a new entry-level model, with a 296bhp non-turbo 3.6-litre V6, sitting below the current Cayenne S. Prices start at £49,576, while the GTS kicks off from £72,523.

Porsche also dropped the biggest hint yet that the next generation of the Panamera 4-door will be joined by a 'shooting brake' estate version along the lines of the Sport Turismo concept from 2012.

Volkswagen 

If you’ve always fancied a VW Golf with almost 300bhp, but needed a massive boot and improved versatility, then Volkswagen is about to offer you the car of your dreams. The new Volkswagen Golf R estate was revealed at the LA Motor Show, featuring the same turbocharged 2.0-litre engine and four-wheel drive. Prices are expected to start from around £30,000, with performance only slightly down on the standard hatchback.

Live tweets from LA Motor Show 2014

LA Motor show 2014: live picture gallery

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LA Motor Show 2014 dates & tickets

The opening times for the LA Motor Show, which runs from November 21 to 30 this year, are below. Tickets are available online and cost $12 Monday-Thursday and $15 Friday-Sunday, with $10 tickets available for over-65s and kids can get in for $5. The first press day is on Tuesday 18 November and our live coverage will kick off then.

• Friday Nov 21: 10am – 10pm
• Saturday Nov 22: 9am – 10pm
• Sunday Nov 23: 9am – 8pm
• Monday Nov 24: 10am – 9pm
• Tuesday Nov 25: 10am – 9pm
• Wednesday Nov 26: 10am – 9pm
• Thursday Nov 27: 9am – 6pm
• Friday Nov 28: 9am – 10pm
• Saturday Nov 29: 9am – 10pm
• Sunday Nov 30: 9am – 7pm

Find out about our pick of the top 10 cars at the LA Motor Show this year.