2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview: 17+ Global Debuts

The 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, which opens its doors to the public on November 18 for a ten-day run, is the first major U.S. show of the coming auto show season.

Even though the show does not open for another three months, 17 significant world debuts have already been confirmed. In all, the organizers anticipate more than 50 new vehicles will have their global or North American debut at the show.

Hyundai has already publicly announced two world premieres including the Elantra Coupe, which expands its product lineup into the compact coupe segment and the Azera, which rounds out its near-luxury segment. Infiniti will unveil the production version of the 2013 JX, which is an all-new, seven-seat, mid-sized crossover.

Ford alone will feature three world debuts, General Motors will unveil two and Fiat, Honda, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Subaru and Volkswagen will also show important world premieres. No details yet, though.

According to the show organizers, a significant number of manufacturers are upgrading their displays and adding enhanced features with more interactive content and experiences. “The message this year is very clear,” says Andy Fuzesi, general manager, LA Auto Show. “The automotive industry is gaining momentum and the LA Show is an important venue for manufacturers to launch the innovations that are leading the way.”

Many of the vehicles that will be launched at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show will make their North American debut in Los Angeles. These include the BMW i3 and i8 concept cars and the 2013 Mazda CX-5, featuring the company’s SkyActiv technologies.

We also expect to see several new green cars and associated technologies, since the LA Auto Show has become a leader in this arena. It’s also where the winners of the annual Green Car of the Year and the Nielsen Automotive Green Marketer of the Year awards will be announced.