Last week the Los Angeles Auto Show kicked off in sunny Southern California. While there weren't too many bombshell unveilings or game changing debuts at this year's show, there was still some cool stuff for us car enthusiasts to be excited about.
We've already covered the new JL Jeep Wrangler which may have been the event's biggest news, but after spending a couple days walking the show and checking out the new machinery, here are five other LA Auto Show developments to be excited about.
1. Corvette ZR1 Convertible + Pricing
Chevy had already shown off the new 755 horsepower 2019 Corvette ZR1 prior to the LA Auto Show, but LA saw the debut of the drop-top version of the ZR1 along with some pricing information for the new Super 'Vette.
Base price for the ZR1 Coupe will be $119,995 and the optional aerodynamics package will add $2,995 to that figure. Opting for the convertible will set you back an extra $4000, and with that comes a very small weight penalty of 60 additional pounds.
That pricing is pretty much what was expected for the ZR1, and it should cement the car's status as one of the world's greatest performance bargains—with true Supercar capabilities for a fraction of the Supercar price.
2. Toyota FT-AC
Moving in a different direction, we have an interesting concept vehicle that Toyota debuted at the show, the FT-AC with the AC part of the name standing for "Adventure Concept".
With big fender flares, beefy tires and skid plates the FT-AC looks ready for the outdoors, and Toyota's idea of AWD, four-wheel locking and selectable terrain modes suggest this little thing could be a pretty capable off-roader.
Whether this would be a stand-alone model or a preview of the next generation RAV4 remains to be seen, but it's easy to see the market demand for something like this.
3. New Mercedes CLS
Back in 2003, Mercedes introduced the groundbreaking CLS with the practicality of a sedan and the styling of a coupe. It's a formula that's been replicated by many different automakers since—and last week they debuted the all-new 2019 CLS, to go on sale next year.
Although the styling has been updated to keep in form with Mercedes' latest design language, the familiar CLS profile remains on the new third generation model. The bigger story comes under the hood, where an all-new powerplant sits.
CLS450 models will be powered by a new inline six-cylinder engine matched with an integrated electric generator and starter. It's rated at 362 horsepower and 369 lb feet of torque with an additional 21 horsepower and 184 lb feet available for short periods thanks to an electrified booth.
That's enough to get CLS450 to 60 miles per hour in 5.1 seconds in rear-drive form and 4.8 seconds in AWD 4Matic form. Mercedes says the 2019 CLS450 will have the performance of a V8 but with the fuel economy of a six cylinder, and those numbers certainly don't lie.
4. Turbo Mazda6
Mazda meanwhile chose the LA Auto Show to debut the heavily updated 2018 Mazda6 sedan. Although the car has not been drastically changed from the current model, there's new styling on the outside, a re-tuned chassis and a dramatically redone interior.
Things get even more exciting in the engine bay, where, for the first time in several years, Mazda6 buyers in the U.S. will have two different engine options. The 2.5 liter naturally aspirated four cylinder will remain as standard equipment, but the turbocharged 2.5 liter engine from the CX-9 has also been added to the option list.
The turbocharged Mazda6 will be rated at 250 horsepower and an even more impressive 310 lb feet of torque when it goes on sale next spring. That should give it the needed muscle to go against the new turbocharged Honda Accord and the always-quick Toyota Camry V6.
5. Saleen S1
Last. but not least, Saleen debuted their new bespoke sports car called the S1. Unlike the old Saleen S7, which was a V8-powered monster machine, the S1 emphasizes agility and lightness with a curb weight set to be around 2,700 lbs.
Power comes from a 2.5 liter turbcocharged four cylinder engine making 450 horsepower and 350 lb feet of torque–enough to get the S1 to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed over 180 miles per hour.
The S1 will also be relatively affordable, by the standards of its competition, with starting price of $100,000 when it goes on sale next year. Time will tell whether it can live up to the standards of the still-impressive S7, but it's always nice to have another player on the market.
