LA Auto Show

#112, LA Auto Show, Day 2: Kia president touts new Seltos SUV

The huge banner promotes the 2019 Kia Telluride as the Motor Trend sport utility vehicle of the year. It’s a perfect marketing location for the manufacturer since the signage is hanging above the Los Angeles Convention Center, the site of the 2019 LA Auto Show. Named the 2020 SUV of the year, the Telluride also has a new stablemate, the 2021 Kia Seltos. It’s positioned between the Kia Soul and Sportage as an entry-level SUV. Michael Cole, the newly named President of Kia Motors America, is our guest on Day 2 of The Weekly Driver Podcast special episodes from the LA Auto Show. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and James Raia speak with Cole about two hours after he presided over the

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#111, Day 1: LA Auto Show: Brembo, Bollinger Motors

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:06 — 60.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to The Weekly Driver Podcast. We’re broadcasting special daily episodes this week from the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show at the LA Convention Center. It’s the day before the showroom floors open for the global and North American debuts of several dozen vehicle debuts. But there’s still plenty to see and discuss. Co-hosts James Raia and Bruce Aldrich conduct interviews with Daniel Sandberg, President and CEO at Brembo North America, Inc., and Robert Bollinger, CEO of Bollinger Motors. The two executives couldn’t be further apart in their respective areas of expertise in the automotive landscape. Sandberg oversees the industry’s most well-known innovator of

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2019 LA Auto Show: global debuts galore

The yearly LA Auto Show is a must-attend event for experts and those who view automobiles and trucks simply as necessary annoyances. It’s the first major car show of the automotive season despite is unique dates near the end of the calendar year. A multi-floor, multi-hall extravaganza of more than is home for more than 500 exhibits and dozens of manufacturers and the North American or global debuts of their vehicles. The show provides a welcomed automotive overload, and it will be held Nov. 22- Dec. 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. It’s all about entry-level cars, top-end luxury vehicles, the ever-expanding alternative fuel industry, custom made machines and unique concepts. But unlike visiting a car dealership where the

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#107, LA Auto Show set for industry spotlight

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:55 — 38.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe yearly LA Auto Show is about a month away. It’s always a must-attend event as the first major car show of the automotive season despite is unique dates near the end of the calendar year. Alexis Evans, the show’s communications director, is our guest on Episode #107 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss this year’s show with Evans. The event’s public days are scheduled Nov. 22. to Dec. 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The location is the multi-floor, multi-hall venue for dozens of manufacturers and the North American or global debuts of their vehicles. With

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#64, LA Auto Show, holiday driving habits

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:01 — 45.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to another episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. In this week’s two-part presentation, we recap the recently concluded LA Auto Show and we discuss drivers’ habits during the holidays with Laura Adams of DriversEd.com. As the first major auto show of the year, the LA Auto Show is always chock-full of innovation. This year was no different. Two concept vehicles, Byton and Rivian, both soon scheduled for their public debuts, attracted a lot of attention. The Rivian concept is an all-electric SUV with 0-60 mph speed in 3.0 seconds and a 400-mile range. The new company also has an all-electric pickup. Image ©

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Episode 63, LA Auto Show, Day 3: Genesis, Rivian

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:49 — 25.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreDay 3 of the LA Auto Show was the last of the Media Days. The public show opened its 10-day run today (Nov. 30) and will continue through Dec. 9. A handful of vehicles attracted a vast amount of attention, and representatives of two of those companies are our guests on Episode #63 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Bruce Aldrich produced the show remotely from interviews I had from the show. Our guests are Kevin Smith, a Senior Group Manager of Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility for Genesis, and Sethu Gopal, Senior Director of Connected Car and Digital Experience for Rivian. A third

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#62, LA Auto Show, Day 2: Cadillac SUV, Baja 1000, Prestone

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:59 — 39.8MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to Day 2 of The Weekly Driver Podcast’s special coverage of AutoMobility LA and the LA Auto Show. Today (Nov. 28) was the opening day for media previews of new car debuts, and it didn’t disappoint. While co-host Bruce Aldrich produced Episode No. 62 remotely, James Raia (your other co-host) was reporting from the showroom halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center. We have three guests. Phil Zak is the exterior designer for Cadillac. He explains the enduring brand’s continuing transition into the SUV segment, particularly the new XT4. We also discuss Cadillac‘s continuing pursuit to appeal to younger buyers. And we also

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#61, LA Auto Show, Day 1: Byton concept, new Airstream

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:20 — 30.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to our special podcast episodes from AutoMobility LA and the Los Angeles Auto Show. For the past few years, AutoMobility LA has showcased the ever-advancing technology in the automotive world. Our first episode is direct from the technology tent on the eve of the opening day of the traditional show. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is producing the show remotely, but James Raia (that’s me) will be reporting live from the showroom floor for three days. We’ll start with two diverse guests, Florian Bauer from the concept electric vehicle Byton and Jeremy Levi, a sales consultant for Airstream. Bauer is director of product management for

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Celebrities, test drives, rare cars set for LA Auto Show

Celebrity interaction, more test-drive availability, increased mobility solutions, custom cars and a host of world vehicle debuts are set for the LA Auto Show. The annual 10-day extravaganza of all things automotive will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. And there will be something for everyone, whether you’re an avid car enthusiast or a first-time visitor to the more than 100-year-old show. Consider a few highlights: * Amazon Gaming Lounge: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May are bringing high-jinks and hot laps to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in The Grand Tour Game, an episodic racing game based on the hit Prime Original series, The Grand Tour. Created by Amazon Game Studios, The Grand Tour Game transports players to exotic locations, where

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#59, Technology, Chinese influence on tap for LA Auto Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:58 — 49.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe LA Auto Show began more 100 years ago and it’s always changed with trends in the automotive industry — pick-up trucks to alternative fuel vehicles. This year’s show, scheduled Nov. 29-Dec. 10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will be no different. More than 60 vehicles are confirmed to make their North American or global debuts. Lefteris “Lefty” Tsironis, the show’s marketing and communications director, is our guest on episode #59 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Tsironis takes co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia through the show, concepts to the increase of Chinese manufacturers to the enduring tradition of manufacturers’ ambassadors, once known

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BMW, electric start-ups set for big presence at LA Auto Show

Much like the unusual circumstance of new vehicles debuting throughout the calendar year, the global auto show circuit begins at the end of the year at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The show, preceded since 2016 by press and trade days and a connected car expo, AutoMobility LA, doesn’t bill itself by age. It’s had several hiatus years. But since its debut in 1907 when 99 vehicles were showcased on a skating rink, the LA Auto Show has become a go-to event for automakers to unveil new models and concept vehicles. The tradition will continue this year, beginning Nov. 26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, when established manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Toyota and BMW will have several models making

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No place like home, office and car all in one new odd EV concept

No other vehicle at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show attracted any more bizarre reaction than the Redspace REDS EV concept. It’s the automotive version of a tiny house. It’s transportation. It’s living space. And it’s a mobile office all in one small, futuristic-looking machine. Chris Bangle, a former designer at BMW, originated the idea of the wacky electric vehicle for equally wacky, congested Chinese market. Bangle and his colleagues at the auto show touted the vehicle with statistics. In China, they stated, cars are stopped 90 percent of the time. With living and office space also at a premium, Bangle believes he will have success with buyers who wish to combine three components of their lives into one place.

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Redspace concept: the new ugliest car never made — yet

Like all major auto shows, the LA Auto Show annually showcases a few dozen world debuts and a handful of concept cars. This year, the wildest was Reds, the short name for the Redspace Project. It’s arguably the ugliest vehicle never made. At least, not yet. The all-electric vehicle wasn’t designed in a high school auto shop class, although it might be an insult to those young entrepreneurs. Rather, the prototype is the design of Chris Bangle. He’s well-known in the auto industry and was the lead designer for 17 years at BMW. He also designed cars for Fiat and Opel. Bangle began his own design firm, Chris Bangle & Associates, in 2009. And his latest vehicle stretches the definition

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LA Auto Show: Hydrogen cars, electric vans and a gold-gilded rarity

The LA Auto Show is an annual automotive sensory overload. It’s all new cars and trucks, technology innovation and, in recent years, an increasing focus on hybrid, electric and other alternative fuel vehicles. This year’s show is no different. With new focuses on custom and vintage vehicles in the “garage” (basement), the future of autonomous vehicles, and the usual offering of global and North American debuts, there’s a lot see across the automotive spectrum. Including a full day’s schedule on Thanksgiving, the 2016 LA Auto Show will continue through Nov. 27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. (Video produced by Bruce Aldrich (www.tahoetruckeoutdoor.com) Here are five highlights from this year’s show: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt — With a 238-mile range, the

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2016 LA Auto Show: foam cars, electric vans, new colors

The 2016 LA Auto Show is emphasizing technology this year with its newly named segment, AutoMobility LA. The expanded format allows for more innovation exhibits — some logical advancements in the automotive landscape, other products and software hard to decipher. In the latter category, consider the Spira4u Co. It debuted its three-wheel electric trike. It’s steered with a tiller and its exterior looks like a toy car covered in styrofoam. The Spira4u can be driven with a car or motorcycle license in California, and a helmet is not required. The body is constructed of recyclable light foam, fiberglass and plastic. Top speed is 75 mph. The gas version is priced at $6,000 and the electric version is priced at $10,000.

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LA Auto Show: New technology, global car debuts

The LA Auto Show has a unique position in the automotive industry. It’s annually the first major new car showcase of the season, but it’s held at least one calendar year behind the model years of debuting vehicles. The oddity is representative of the industry at-large. New car models were once almost always announced in late summer or early fall. Now, with increased competition, many 2017 vehicles have been available for months. They’re released when manufacturers believe the timing is right to best challenge rivals. At the Los Angeles show, scheduled Nov. 14-27, including three media-only days, 2017 and 2018 models will be unveiled. But how vehicles will operate and interact with our lifestyles as far into to the future

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