http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061125/AUTO04/611250402/1148/AUTO01Can L.A. auto show upstage Detroit?
Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
L.A. Auto Show
Dates: Dec. 1-10; Media days: Wednesday and Thursday
Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St.
Cost: $10 for adults, $7 seniors, free for children 12 and younger with an adult; parking is $10-$30
For information and tickets: Call (213) 741-1151, Ext. 1, or visit
www.LAautoshow.com . Overview: Will feature more than 1,000 new vehicles from 47 manufacturers. The 35 unveilings include 21 world debuts, 17 North American debuts and seven concept car debuts.
GM : Hybrid versions of the Saturn Aura and GMC Yukon, the Buick Enclave crossover, Saturn Vue and a fuel-cell powered Chevrolet Equinox
Ford : Next generation Escape and Escape Hybrid
Chrysler : 2008 Sebring convertible
Honda : Two world debut styling concept vehicles and an Acura styling concept
Nissan : A sporty SER version of the Sentra small car and another vehicle that the automaker has only described as a "performance-oriented" model.
When organizers of the L.A. Auto Show moved the event's starting date to next week from its usual timing just days ahead of the North American International Auto Show in January, they hoped to grab some high-profile vehicle debuts and media attention that might otherwise have come to the Motor City.
Los Angeles, home to a plethora of automobile design studios and one of the world's top markets for luxury vehicles, has traditionally been a showcase for import automakers, hot designs and green technologies, but competed with Detroit for the biggest, must-see vehicle debuts. Even with the L.A. show snagging its most first-time offerings from carmakers, however, organizers of the Detroit show and auto industry watchers are confident Motown will remain at the top for automakers.
"Detroit is so much bigger," said Michael Robinet, vice president of CSM Worldwide, an automotive forecasting firm in Farmington Hills.
Still, the new dates for the L.A. show represent a major change on the U.S. auto show circuit, resulting in more media attention, bigger marketing investments by participating automakers and, organizers hope, a boost in stature for the show serving the nation's No. 1 auto market. The show also is now designated an international show.
The L.A. Auto Show, the smallest of the four major North American shows, has long been in the shadow of Detroit's 14-day January extravaganza.
"Automakers are going to do what's in their best interest, and they've been saying, 'If you move your dates, we will do more things with your show,' " said L.A. Auto Show spokesman Barry Toepke.
Change pulls in big debuts
The show has already had some early success in pulling in big names and big debuts.
General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will give the keynote address Wednesday and is expected to outline a new emphasis on environmentally friendly technologies at GM. The automaker will unveil hybrid versions of the Saturn Aura and GMC Yukon.
Also from GM: Golf superstar and Buick pitchman Tiger Woods will be on hand for the unveiling of the new Enclave crossover.
"Los Angeles is such an important market for trend-setting cars and trucks," Wagoner said in a statement this week.
Ford Motor Co. will show off its next generation Escape and Escape Hybrid. DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will debut its new Sebring convertible.
Among import manufacturers, Nissan Motor Co. will unveil two new models. The Japanese automaker is counting on a product offensive to reverse slumping sales.
Nissan will unveil a sporty SER version of the Sentra small car and another vehicle that it has only described as a "performance-oriented" model. That vehicle has been added to the production pipeline to expand Nissan's range in the United States. The automaker struggled in the United States earlier this year because of a lull in new product introductions but is now gaining traction with the launch of the Sentra and Altima cars.
Nissan also plans to unveil the Rogue, a compact crossover, in Detroit in January, but it will give the media a brief glimpse of the car in Los Angeles on Nov. 28.
Honda Motor Co. will unveil a trio of design concept vehicles.
An international approach
L.A. organizers are striving to give their show a global focus.
"This is more of a movement to get them away from a U.S.-focused auto show toward one that could be more of an international show," CSM's Robinet said. "Why should Detroit get all the glory?"
If it's successful in its new time slot, the L.A. show could lure some products from Detroit, but the Detroit show is massive enough to survive any damage L.A. could do, he said.
Organizers on the West Coast have changed dates before. A decade ago, the L.A. event was moved from after the Detroit show to just ahead of it. The change this year to early December puts a month between the two shows.
No matter when the show is held, L.A. organizers still must contend with a less-than-stellar facility in the L.A. Convention Center that requires that the show be split into three sections.
And even with a record number of debuts, the L.A. show doesn't come close to the scope of Detroit's.
The auto industry will unveil 35 new vehicles in L.A. -- up from 28 last year, but well below the 60 introductions in Detroit in January.
"There's a possibility they will get a couple new unveilings," said Bob Thibodeau, a Ford auto dealer and co-chairman of the Detroit show. "But with the proliferation of new products, there are a lot of new unveilings going to take place. Selfishly, we'd like to have all introductions here. The manufacturers aren't going to do that."
