Compact SUVs dominate Los Angeles Auto Show

LONDON: The LA Auto Show, an annual event held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, was dominated this year by compact SUVs, one of the fastest growing segments in the market.
This year the show kicked off with Automobility LA, four days of activities for journalists and trade reps that merge the car industry with connective and autonomous driving technology.
The LA Auto Show is one of the oldest in the world starting in 1907 with 99 cars on display.
In recent years the emphasis turned to green technology and an annual Green Car Award is presented.
Some participating companies offered test drives this year, with one driver crashing a Fiat 500 and hurting several people.
LA police later confirmed that the man did not have a driving license.
This year there were 22 world debuts including the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Chevrolet Colorado, Honda Civic and turbo-charged CR-V, Ford EcoSport, Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, Mazda CX-5, Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet and VW eGolf.
Jaguar also displayed an all-electric SUV concept named I-Pace which will be in the markets by 2018.
There were also 12 North American debuts including the Infiniti Q60, the Jeep Compass, the Land Rover Discovery and the Toyota C-HR, which stands for Toyota High-Rider.
A number of concept cars were highlighted in the show this year illustrating electric and autonomous driving ideas.
These included the Hyundai Autonomous Ioniq concept, and Subaru VIZIV-7. Infiniti also presented its QX Sport Inspiration concept.

These are some of the new models that attracted attention at the LA Auto Show this year:
• Jaguar I-Pace Concept: This concept SUV is different in the fact that it is all electric and due for sale in 2018.
Jaguar claims that the I-Pace will have at least 300 miles of range on a single charge and will be able to dash to 62mph from standstill in around four seconds.
A 90kwh lithium ion battery sits between the axles, driving two electric motors for a total power output of 395bhp and 700Nm of torque.
It is built on a light aluminum platform and most of its hardware is based on the F-Pace SUV.
Its batteries have been developed in-house and can be charged to 80 percent capacity in 90 minutes.
It has a drag coefficient of just 0.29 which is excellent for an SUV.
• Ford EcoSport: This is a compact SUV made in six locations around the world and will debut soon in the US in addition to 100 other markets.
It will have a two-liter engine linked to a six-speed auto box pushing all four wheels.
Ford will sell the EcoSport in four trim levels.
The vehicle got good reviews for its engine, sharp steering and affordable price but not so much for its interior quality and small boot.
• Infiniti QX30: This compact SUV also relies on a turbo two-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 208 bhp with an option for four or front-wheel drive.
Its well-appointed cabin features a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment screen.
Much of the technology for this car is reportedly borrowed from Mercedes-Benz.
It shares its platform and powertrain with the GLA Class.
Its premium interior looks attractive and spacious but visibility is impaired by small rear windows and thick C pillars.
• Alfa Romeo Stelvio: Alfa is one of the latest companies to venture into SUV territory.
It is the second (after the Giulia) in a product offensive that would include eight new models by the end of the decade.
The model displayed at LA was the Quadrifoglio that gets a 2.9 liter V6 twin turbo engine that gets the car to 100 km/h speed in 3.9 seconds and 177 mph top speed.
This performance puts it in touch with the Porsche Macan. Alfa claims the Stelvio is the fastest SUV around Nurburgring.
• Mazda CX-5: This is the second generation of this Mazda compact SUV.
The model has been successful for Mazda since its launch in 2012 selling more than 300,000 cars in four years in the US alone.
The new version is sharp looking with improved interior.
Its petrol engine is a two-liter SkyActiv-G which is renowned for being almost silent and smooth in operation.

The second generation has improved interior trim banishing the earlier cheap plastics.
One reviewer of this model wrote:”You get a strong sense of quality sitting inside the CX-5, and that inspires confidence in the car’s long-term reliability.”

• Land Rover Discovery: This new fifth generation Discovery has gone upmarket with new shape and luxury cabin. However, the company confirms it is still capable off-road as it is on motorways.
It is also predicted to keep depreciation to a minimum compared to other SUVs in the segment.
Its petrol Si6 engine generates 335 bhp and 450 Nm and pushes the car to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds.
It covers on average about 26 miles per gallon.
A two-speed transfer box is standard on all models, allowing low-range gears for tricky off-road manoeuvers.
Land Rover’s All-Terrain Control tech is also standard; first seen on the Evoque, it allows the driver to set a crawl speed of up to 19mph and focus on steering while the vehicle controls braking and throttle functions.
This is a more capable SUV for those who intend to go off-road more often.