LA auto show opens under gloomy skies

Things are so bad that General Motors and Chrysler have all but pulled out of the show, which opens to the public on Friday and has drawn nearly 20 percent fewer exhibitors than last year. But automakers must keep their chins up and go on, because such events are essential to reaching consumers and creating buzz.

"Life goes on, even though we're in the middle of what's probably the biggest crisis the auto industry has ever seen," Aaron Bragman, an analyst with IHS Global Insight, told Wired.com. "They have to keep developing, they have to keep generating interest."

Chrysler LLC's three advanced production-intent electric vehicle prototype vehicles are headed to California, where they will make their worldwide auto show debut at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The vehicles -- the Dodge EV, Jeep(R) EV and Chrysler EV -- will be on display during press days (Nov. 19-20), and throughout the show's public days (Nov. 21-30). Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President - Product Development, Chrysler LLC, will attend the show tomorrow to discuss the vehicles with journalists.
Chrysler recently announced that at least one of these models will be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010. Additionally, the Company will have close to one hundred electric vehicles on the road in government, business and development fleets in 2009.
Chrysler is well into the development of advanced production-intent electric vehicles, and will apply its electric-drive technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years.

The 2010 Mustang has what the company calls a "new muscular, sculptured exterior," along with larger wheels, adjusted suspension and more power. Ford says the V-6 engine has 210 horsepower and the V-8 version has 315 horsepower.

"The best Mustangs have always been the ones that connect young America with the spirit of the times — and the 2010 does exactly that," J Mays, Ford's vice president for design, said in a news release. He said it has "the swagger you'd expect, but with modern refinement and attention to detail like you've never seen in a muscle car."

Ford also plans to use the show to unveil new versions of the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ, including Fusion and Milan models with hybrid gas-electric powertrains.

Honda hopes to challenge Toyota's supremacy in the hybrid segment by offering a gas-electric car for less than $20,000. Honda has high hopes for the car, and industry analysts say it will almost certainly be a hit, even in these tough economic times.

Other noteworthy green machines include the Hyundai Sonata hybrid concept, a new RX 450h hybrid crossover utility vehicle from Lexus, the Borrego hydrogen fuel cell concept vehicle from Kia and a Toyota Camry concept car that runs on compressed natural gas.