Porsche had a treat for all of us attending the LA Auto Show this year leading up to the unveiling of the new Panamera GTS. A video was shown on the big screen boasting four of Porsche’s talented drivers, all taking a seat in the new Panamera GTS and having one hell of a ride out on a track. Greeting us on the show floor were drivers Patrick Long and Romain Dumas to pull the cover up off the new GTS.

Now Porsche has the video to share with the rest of the general public, showcasing all of the GTS’s strengths. Four passenger seating, ridiculous power, control and well, amazingly good looks. If you can’t tell by now, we’re huge fans of the new Panamera GTS… if only it came with a manual.

Check out the video after the break.

Continue Reading…

10. Chevrolet Spark

Just a few years ago picking a Top 10 Cars list from the LA Auto Show would have been a simple task, with few world premieres and most of the vehicles on display having already been revealed at some overseas venue. That’s no longer the case, with over 20 global debuts this year. So with a sizable list to choose from, the AutoGuide team sat down at the end of the two media days of press conferences to determine the most exciting, most interesting and most important reveals of the show. And here they are:

From the Fiat 500 to the Smart fortwo and Scion iQ, the mini car segment continues to grow in North America. Not wanting to pass this segment by, Chevrolet has entered the fray with a tiny car of its own, the Spark. Sized down from even the new Sonic sub-compact it still has a livable amount of space and comes powered by an ultra-small 1.2-liter 4-cylinder engine making just 85-hp. Thankfully it weighs just 2,300 lbs, so acceleration, shouldn’t be terrible.

Notable features on this car include a standard 7-inch screen with Chevy’s new MyLink system and Bluetooth. Plus, power windows, air conditioning and 10 airbags come standard.

GALLERY: Chevrolet Spark

If you’re a lover of hot-hatches then there’s a lot going on at Ford these days that will interest you. For starters there’s the new Focus ST, a high-performance version of the new compact hatch that’s set to take on cars like the Mazdaspeed3 and Civic Si. It makes 247-hp from a turbocharged direct-injection EcoBoost 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and thanks to a long list of upgrades an an innovative torque distribution system, looks to be plenty fun, and plenty capable.

Sized-down from the Focus ST is a new Fiesta ST, with the same sort of upgrades, but sporting an EcoBoost 1.6-liter engine making 180-hp. It’s technically a concept, but Ford is serious about bringing this car to market – and we can’t wait.

GALLERY: Ford Focus ST

GALLERY: Ford Fiesta ST Concept

Watch the video below for a look at both cars from the floor of the LA Auto Show:

Continue Reading…

Prior to this year’s LA Auto Show, there appeared to be a great deal of buzz surrounding the Dodge stand, after all the limited production Yellow Jacket Challenger and Charger Super Bee were due to make their debut here, most attendees expecting them to make a splash, finished in retina scorching yellow.

Instead things ended up quite different. The Yellow Jacket never made it out onto the show floor and Super Bee, instead of being officially unveiled, sneaked its way onto the Dodge stand virtually undetected, aided by being a Pitch Black model, instead of one finished in shocking Stinger Yellow.

Nonetheless the car, which will be limited to a production run of 1000 units, was quite well received, by those that were able to actually notice it. However, with matte black finished graphics, gloss black rear spoiler, even gloss black inserts on the rear wheels, the Pitch Black model is essentially devoid of color, that is, if you discount the charcoal hood stripes, 392 Hemi fender badges and Super Bee emblem on the grille.

However, with winter fast approaching for us Northern folk, the availability of this car and the Yellow Jacket will no doubt bring a few rays of sunshine to a dull January, even though from the time those North of the Mason-Dixon buy their new toys to the time they’ll really want to drive them might be several months.

GALLERY: 2012 Dodge Charger Super Bee

See AutoGuide’s complete LA Auto Show coverage here

Over a year ago Honda and Mazda got the ball rolling, announcing new B-Spec race cars based on their sub-compact Fit and Mazda2 models. Since then numerous other automakers have signed on, ranging from Fiat with the 500, to Kia with the Rio. The latest automaker to toss its tires into the ring is MINI, with a B-Spec race version of the Cooper Hardtop.

Unveiled at the LA Auto Show, MINI partnered with Mini of Charleston, South Carolina to develop a turnkey racecar package. Sold separate from the car, it will allow owners to transform their street machine (2007 to 2012 models only), into a track ready machine. Included in the package is a roll cage, racing seat and harness, plus KW coilovers, upgraded brake pads and braided lines. No changes to the engine are permitted in the series, with the B-Spec MINI making 122-hp.

With growing support for the class, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) has announced a new B-Spec series that will run alongside the World Challenge series as it makes its way to different tracks across America starting in the spring.

GALLERY: MINI Cooper B-Spec

The Fiat 500 was just an appetizer. This is the car Fiat fans have really been waiting for, the 500 Abarth. Built by the automaker’s in-house tuning division, the Abarth model gets a long list of upgrades, from a lower and stiffer suspension, to upgraded wheels and, most importantly, a turbocharged mated to the 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine to deliver 160-hp. Find out more on the Fiat 500 Abarth in the video below.

GALLERY: Fiat 500 Abarth

Watch the video below:

Continue Reading…

Americans have been historically unreceptive to small cars, and the 2013 Chevrolet Spark represents uncharted territory for the brand, which will introduce their first B-segment car since the Chevrolet Metro, long the butt of jokes for American society.

Unveiled at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Spark measures two feet shorter than the already compact Chevrolet Sonic, but is only 6 inches shorter than the Chevrolet Equinox mid-size crossover. These dimensions leave us a bit skeptical, as the whole package seems a tad top-heavy, but the 1.2L 4-cylinder engine only makes 85-horsepower, so high-speed cornering is more theoretical than realistic.

We do like the 2,269-lb curb weight, as well as the 7-inch touch screen and Bluetooth integration. The Spark has done well in a number of world markets where physical space is at a premium, and considering how much we liked the Sonic, we’re optimistic that the Spark will be a fun, if not sporty, urban runabout.

Gallery: 2013 Chevrolet Spark

The Ford Flex never really caught on in the marketplace, but the car has a cult following among a certain subset, who enjoy its quirky looks and seven-passenger layout. Ford unveiled a revised version Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

For 2013, the Flex will get a few changes to help make it more attractive to consumers. The base 3.5L V6 gets a 20 horsepower increase to 285, while the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 remains unchanged. A 1 mpg bump is also applicable to the base V6.

A revised front end (similar to what was previously seen on higher end Flex trim levels) marks the big change for this year, along with an updated interior and a new version of the MyFordTouch infotainment system. Features like a blind-spot alert system, adaptive cruise control push- button start, rear inflatable belts, rain-sensing wipers and active park assist will all be available.

Gallery: 2013 Ford Flex

Over the past few decades, one of the main criticisms that could be made against Buick models is that they were quasi-luxury cars, never quite rising to the status of a the Germans or Japanese. Buick now seems ready to raise the bar, with the debut of the LaCrosse GL Concept at the LA Auto Show.

Starting on the outside there’s an impressive Cabernet Red paint finish offset by tinted chrome brightwork, and 20 inch wheels. That’s nothing compared to the interior, which features  two-tone cabin with dark cocoa brown and caramel chocochino leather with light blue stitching. Inside, with a suede headliner, a swirled wood grain on the dash and steering wheel inspired by Les Paul guitars and storage boxes that have been lined in high grade materials.

What isn’t yet clear is if Buick plans to move their vehicles upmarket, or if GL models will be an exclusive trim level, much like Cadillac’s Platinum range.

GALLERY: Buick LaCrosse GL Concept

Overshadowed by a lot of other produts, even within the GM umbrealla with Cadillac’s new XTS flagship sedan, the Buick LaCrosse GL Concept

Adding performance, power and style, Porsche has unveiled the new Panamera GTS at the LA Auto Show. Already an impressive performer, Porsche ups the ante with a long list of upgrades, ranging from the brakes to the exhaust system, to a standard Sport Chrono Package with launch control. Power has also been increased 30-hp from the 4.8-liter V8 for a total of 430-hp.

With custom bodywork and a lowered suspension, this Panamera is starting to change our opinion on the car’s much-maligned looks.

For more on the new Panamera GTS, watch the video below:

Continue Reading…