Tinseltown. Hollywood. In Other Words, the Los Angeles Auto Show.

by Alexandra Straub on Tuesday, November 26th, 2013

You don’t get any faster on feet than Usain Bolt does. And if you’re paired next to Nissan’s fastest production GT-R to date, that’s an even more potent combination…

The Porsche Macan

The Porsche Macan

The Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R

The Jeep Wrangler

The Hot Wheels

The Hot Wheels

The Dodge Viper

 

 

Tinseltown. Hollywood. L.A. No matter what you call it, it’s a city of millions and it’s easy to get lost in the crowd.

But not if you’re attractive, have a great body and well, you shine. With hundreds of vehicles showcased at the Los Angeles Auto Show, it takes a lot to stand out amongst the plethora of sparkling sheet metal, which is constantly detailed by show workers.

If you’re a sexy snake, that’s automatic grounds for attention. The SRT Viper GTS was on display, but it wasn’t just any old venom-producing reptile. It came with the Anodized Carbon Special Edition Package. Aside from 640 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque being produced from its handcrafted, all-aluminum 8.4-litre, mid-front V10, it comes with the first-ever use for the Chrysler Group’s unique metallic matte exterior colour. And exclusivity is the name of its game. Only 50 will be made and they’ll be available as of January, 2014.

Speaking of fast things, you don’t get any faster on your feet than Usain Bolt does. And if you’re paired next to Nissan’s fastest production GT-R to date, that’s an even more potent combination. Godzilla takes on the NISMO (aka NISsan MOtorsport) badge with a healthy helping of 600-horsepower and some defining exterior features.

In regards to its body, it’s more rigid than before and you’ll also find it has a “factory tuned” enhanced suspension.

The aero package, which not only looks good, also improves road holding, minimizes the negative impact of drag, while giving the car a menacing and muscular appearance.

If you’re a luxury German vehicle and you have a worldwide debut in LA, chances are you’ll draw quite the A-List crowd. The all-new Porsche Macan did such a thing, with visitors such as Jerry Seinfeld and professional tennis player, Maria Sharapova.

The Indonesian word for tiger, it’s the first Porsche in the compact SUV segment. Or you could say it’s the baby brother to the popular-selling Cayenne. Either way, they’re both have some spice to them!

Two renditions of Macan will be available: the Macan S and Macan Turbo. Standard features include active all-wheel drive and the Porsche double-clutch transmission (PDK). The Macan S is powered by a new Porsche-designed 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo engine that puts out 340 horsepower. The Macan Turbo hosts a 3.6-litre V6 bi-turbo engine and emits 400 horsepower. Purrrr.

Practical and eye catching? You might not expect that from a cargo van, but when you team up with Hot Wheels, you’ll get exactly that: hot wheels!

Ford paired up with Hot Wheels and had its Transit Connect XLT Cargo Van LWB beaming a custom bright blue exterior with orange accents and custom 20-inch wheels.

But the fun doesn’t stop on the outside. Sure there’s a new front fascia and grille, and even a one-off “shark-fin” roof mounted antennas supporting GPS and Satellite radio along with custom gullwing doors (which replaces the standard sliding doors), but there’s a party waiting on the inside.

Alongside the custom ST seats, there’s a sleeping area and a 55-inch TV. Maybe I will try my hand at camping again, but only with this van!

It wouldn’t be a California auto show without a special edition Jeep Wrangler. Complete with bronze satin gloss accentuated 18-inch wheels, a matching grille, and other dark parts, the Wrangler Dragon Edition is sure to heat things up. If the bronze bits weren’t enough of a giveaway, the large dragon graphic on the hood will surely let you know that this mythical creature means business whether on or off road.

Email: alexandra [dot] straub [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca