Hits and misses from the 2016 Los Angeles auto show
The 2016 Los Angeles聽auto聽show had just a few reveals from major manufacturers鈥攁nd even fewer surprises鈥攂ut there were some tasty bites from the pre-Thanksgiving event.
The Hits鈥攐r what worked
Jag's first foray into the electric crossover business won't get here until 2018, but we have a good idea what it'll look like. The I-Pace may be more of a wagon, but it's all battery powered and represents the future for the resurgent luxury brand.
Not long after the launch of its first聽sedan聽in the U.S. for several decades, Alfa Romeo showed off its first crossover鈥攚ell, ever. Size-wise? Think BMW X4. Performance-wise? Think M4, at least in the Quadrifoglio trim that was shown.
Probably the worst-kept secret at the LA auto show was the 2018 Audi A5 Sportback. The聽car聽will get everything that made the A4 very competent but with the A7's looks to boot.聽
The Misses鈥攐r what didn't
That color is not hot. Best spread on eggs鈥攏ot on gaping grilles鈥攖he Lexus IS Sriracha jumped the shark on many fronts.
We could chide Buick for聽聽like Lexus did with the IS, but we were surprised they didn't bother to bring the Volt-related Velite to the "green"聽auto聽show. Buick needs a hit to follow the Avista before it fades from memory.
It drives well, but the Nismo's 188 horsepower just isn't enough grunt for sporty compacts that are starting at 200 hp now. The Nismo package is a handling upgrade here, but at nearly $3,000 more than the SR Turbo that packs the same聽engine, is that all we're getting?
The Holds鈥攐r too early to call
We're mixed on the looks and the same TigerShark inline-4 and 9-speed auto combo that we've struggled with in other places. The Compass will be a global best-seller, but we're not sure it's enough to be聽better聽than average.
Thankfully, Acura has made the move to improve its interior and infotainment systems from the current generation that makes the NSX feel like an Accord inside. (For the record: That's not a bad thing.) But Acura put more work in styling underneath the聽drive聽select knob than we find in our entire wardrobes.
Almost mechanically identical to the crossover we got for 2013, including wheelbase and powertrain, the new Mazda CX-5 feels too familiar. Mazda says they're bringing a diesel聽engine聽sometime next year, which also sounds a little familiar too.
That鈥檚 it for now but at any time you鈥檒l be able to access the latest information from the 2016 L.A. auto show via聽.
