2018 Los Angeles Motor Show: news round-up
Everything from this year's packed Los Angeles Motor Show, with debuts from Audi, BMW, Kia, Porsche, Mazda, Toyota and more
The 2018 LA Motor Show did not disappoint, with the likes of Audi, BMW, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes, Porsche and Toyota all present at the famous LA Convention Center this year with a wealth of new cars to show off.
As ever, we had boots on the ground to cover all the new car reveals and concept unveilings, while also bringing you all the latest news, the best images and a range of videos.
The stunning Audi e-tron GT Concept was argubaly the most striking car to be uncovered, but the new Mazda 3 and new Porsche 911 certainly ran it close. Then there was also the new Kia Soul, which made its public debut, plus don't forget about the BMW X7, Jeep Gladiator, Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro and Toyota Prius.
Scroll down below for all the key cars at the 2018 Los Angeles Motor Show, plus a look at what each manufacturer had at the show...
2018 Los Angeles Motor Show: key cars
• Audi e-tron GT Concept - Fresh Audi concept previews upcoming all-electric four-door coupe.• BMW X7 - BMW's biggest SUV had its first public showing.• Kia Soul - Boxy new mini SUV arrived with all-electric power for the UK.• Mazda 3 - Mazda's new Golf rival arrived with revolutionary engine technology.• Porsche 911 - 992 generation 911 made Los Angeles arrival.• Toyota Prius - Toyota's hybrid superstar facelifted for 2019.
2018 Los Angeles Motor Show: news
• Audi PB18 concept could make production• Electric Audi hatchback on the way• New Porsche 911 hybrid at least four years away
2018 Los Angeles Motor Show: gallery
2018 Los Angeles Motor Show: A-Z
Audi
• Audi e-tron GT Concept• Audi R8 Facelift• Audi PB18 concept could make production• Electric Audi hatchback on the way
The new e-tron GT concept was one of the stars of the show, which previews an upcoming, high-performance, all-electric four-door coupe. Confirmed for production in 2020, the e-tron GT Concept will eventually turn into the brand's Porsche Mission E alternative. The new, more powerful, facelifted R8 was also present, and we've already driven it.
BMW
• BMW 8 Series Convertible• BMW M340i xDrive• BMW Vision iNEXT• BMW X7
There was plenty to see on the BMW stand. Headlining the show for the brand was the new X7 - a full size Range Rover rival and the largest SUV BMW has ever made. The new 8 Series Convertible was on show in the metal for the first time, alongside the six-cylinder M340i xDrive and the huge BMW Vision iNEXT concept.
Byton
• Byton K-Byte and M-Byte
A recent addition to the electrified market, Chinese start-up Byton showcased its K-Byte Saloon and M-Byte SUV concepts. The K-Byte we’d seen before, but the M-Byte was a new addition to the line-up. Marketed as a ‘Smart Intuitive Vehicle,’ the M-Byte features tech such as a 49-inch touchscreen display spanning the width of the dashboard and side-view cameras in place of door mirrors.
Hyundai
• Hyundai Palisade
As well as the returning Le Fil Rouge Concept, Hyundai unveiled the Palisade in LA. This premium SUV sits above the Santa Fe in the company’s range, targeting growing families. Tasked with muscling-in on the market dominated by the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander in the US, the new Palisade has seating for eight.
Jeep
The new Jeep Gladiator pick-up truck was officially revealed at the LA Motor Show. It features a 285bhp 3.6-litre V6, lightweight aluminium panels and a 3.5 tonne towing capacity. It'll arrive in the US next year, with a European launch scheduled for 2020. It remains to be seen whether the Gladiator will be offered in the UK, though.
Kia
• Kia Soul
The all-new Kia Soul made its world debut at this year's Los Angeles Motor Show ahead of going on sale in the UK in 2019. We'd already seen the new model testing in the wild, but now Kia has uncovered its latest version of its boxy SUV. The model is expected to be sold only as an electric vehicle in the UK.
Lincoln
• Lincoln Aviator
The three-row Lincoln Aviator premium SUV slots between the upcoming Nautilus and the flagship Navigator – but it’s a car only for the US. It features innovative technology, such as reverse brake assist and Suspension Preview Technology - a system which scans the road for imperfections and preloads the suspension to maximise passenger comfort
Mazda
• Mazda 3
One of the stories of the show was over on the Mazda stand, with the world debut of the all-new fourth-generation Mazda 3. Previewed last year, the hatchback variant of the new Mazda 3 sticks pretty close to the design principles outlined by the Kai concept. Both hatchback and fastback variants were revealed, while under the bonnet, the Mazda 3 is the first model to use the firm's new Skyactiv-X engine technology.
Mercedes
• Mercedes-AMG GT facelift• Mercedes AMG GT R Pro
Following the reveal of the new B-Class, GLE and A-Class Saloon at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes focused on the AMG GT in Los Angeles with the debut of the AMG GT R Pro. It's a far more track-focused version of the 577bhp AMG GT R, fielding some weight saving techniques, suspension revisions and new aerodynamics.
Meanwhile, with the AMG GT now three years old, the entire range has been facelifted, with tweaks for the regular GT as well as the GT S, GT C and GT R.
MINI
MINI lined-up in LA with four new special edition models strictly for the US market. Two new John Cooper Works MINI hatch models arrived in the form of the Knights Edition and the International Orange Edition (pictured).
Elsewhere, a new version of the MINI Countryman Cooper S was showcased, called the Countryman Yin Yang Edition. The Clubman wasn't left out either - a new Cooper S engined special edition version was on show.
Polaris
The Polaris Slingshot received a few siblings - four new Slingshot variants were shown at the LA Auto Show; the S, SL, SLR and Grand Touring. Each increase in trim level provides an increase in driver comfort, with the range-topping Grand Touring model being fitted with such creature comforts as ‘a roof’ and ‘a windscreen,’ as well as a seven-inch touch-screen display.
Porsche
• Porsche 911• New Porsche 911 hybrid at least four years away
While recent Porsche news concerned the brand's turn towards electrification with the upcoming Taycan, the new 911 took the brand squarely back to its roots at the LA show. The new 992 generation 911 made its full debut and is the latest chapter in the iconic model's 45-year evolution. For now the new-generation car was just showcased in Carrera form, but high-powered Turbo, GT2 and GT3 models are expected further down the line. Porsche is also tipped to introduce a plug-in hybrid 911 during the 992's lifecycle, too.
Rivian
Tesla won't have the electric pick-up market all to itself as American start-up Rivian revealed its challenger. The R1T is 5.5-metre pick-up with four electric motors, which each produce 197bhp. That means 14,000Nm of torque and a claimed 0-60mph time of around 3 seconds. Although primarily for the US market, it could be coming to Europe in 2021.
Joining the R1T was the R1S SUV. The all-electric seven-seater shares its powertrain with the pick-up and promises true off-road ability, with a three-foot wading depth, underbody protection and plenty of performance.
Toyota
The Toyota Prius has been updated for 2019 and the big news is that an all-wheel drive version will be coming to Europe for the first time. The facelifted car, which was revealed in LA, has been tweaked inside and out, with new front and rear headlights and a new front bumper the standout additions.
Volkswagen
• Volkswagen I.D. Buzz Cargo concept
It was a quiet show for Volkswagen, but they did show off a new Pike's Peak-themed livery for the I.D. Buzz Cargo concept. The all-electric van is powered by a 150kW electric motor, and promises a range between 200 and 340 miles depending on the size of the battery pack.
Which car do you think was the star of the 2018 Los Angeles Motor Show? Let us know below...
