The 2010 Lexus RX450h has a revised power train and a slick new iDrive killer called "remote touch." We check it out at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Click to view more photos of new models at the 2008 LA Auto Show.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)It seems like every year vehicles get bigger and more powerful, but recently we've been seeing a trend toward smaller and more efficient. While new models are still getting their requisite bump in displacement and power, automakers have been putting a much heavier emphasis on reducing emissions and boosting fuel economy with drivetrain tech such as direct injection, turbocharging, clean diesels, and hybridization. We've rounded up some of the most notable new vehicles from the 2008 LA Auto Show for a quick look at what you can expect to see on showroom floors over the next year.
Click to view more photos of the 2009 Smart fortwo Brabus.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)Smart has revealed a new version of its fortwo at the 2008 LA Auto Show, the fortwo Brabus. Brabus being the German tuning house most famous for their close ties with Mercedes-Benz. If the idea of a performance variant of the superthrifty fortwo seems a bit odd, you're not alone. We're looking at with a bit of skepticism as well.
Particularly because the fortwo Brabus features no more power than the standard 71 horsepower fortwo, choosing to boost performance in the suspension and aesthetic departments instead.
The fortwo Brabus will be released in limited quantities and made available only to current participants in the Smart reservation holders, who can choose to upgrade their reservations to Brabus status for an additional cost. The fortwo Brabus is only available in black or silver, and can be had as a coupe for $17,990 or as a cabriolet for $20,990.
The Insight is back to do battle with the Prius (and possibly impersonate one). Brian Cooley takes a look at it on the floor of the Los Angeles Auto Show.
It's not for sale, but 500 lucky people will determine if it should be. Learn more as Brian Cooley takes a look at the Mini E Electric on the floor of the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Brian Cooley takes a look at the 2010 Mustang on the floor at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, admiring the car's evolved exterior styling and its vastly improved interior.
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Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)
The Fusion, Ford's bread-and-butter mid-size sedan, gets a significant update for 2010, complete with new body work, new cabin tech options, and an all new hybrid model. Ford built on the hybrid powertrain technology it already uses in the Ford Escape Hybrid, but significantly retunes it for the Fusion, giving it a top electric speed of about 47 mph. Gas mileage is estimated to be around 38mpg city and 35mpg highway. Along with its high-tech powertrain, the Fusion Hybrid gets an innovative instrument cluster with a variety of gauges to monitor economy and powertrain operation. Putting it over the top on the tech scale is Ford's navigation and entertainment package, using Sirius Travel Link and Sync, which should put it in front of the tech pack next year. The new Fusion Hybrid was unveiled at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show and will be in showrooms early in 2009.
Click here to view photos of the Mini E reveal.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)At the 2008 LA Auto Show, Mini unveiled an all electric version of its Mini Cooper. Dubbed the Mini E, this vehicle sacrifices its rear seats to make room for a huge array of lithium ion batteries, giving the tiny EV a range of 156 miles.
Space is about all that the Mini E has sacrificed, as Mini claims that power and handling are on par with the gasoline and diesel variants of the Cooper.
Only 500 examples of the Mini E will be available in the US through a leasing program, focusing on the California, New Jersey, and New York markets.
Honda shows off the FC Sport hydrogen fuel-cell supercar.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)This century, vaunted supercar names such as Ferrari and Lamborghini might be displaced by Honda. At the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, Honda showed off a supercar concept, the FC Sport, powered by an electric motor with energy generated by a hydrogen fuel cell. The fuel-cell powertrain, which Honda calls V Flow, is being used in the FCX Clarity, the hydrogen-fueled sedan that Honda currently leases on a limited basis. The FC Sport is designed to be a lightweight, performance-oriented car, and should have a 0-to-60 mph time of under 4 seconds to achieve supercar status. While Honda is known for producing fuel-efficient compact cars in the U.S., it garners performance expertise by competing in F1 and IRL racing.
The rear of the FC Sport houses a cooling unit.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)In the FC Sport, the electric motor sits just in front of the rear axle, similar to the placement of engines in some sports cars, allowing for good weight distribution. The hydrogen tanks sit above the rear axle, and in a nod towards the glass-covered engines in Ferraris, the back glass of the FC Sport shows off the tanks. A long overhang in the rear houses a cooling unit for the fuel cells. The cabin is arranged in a 1+2 format, with a single driver's seat in front, and two passenger seats behind it. Don't expect to see the FC Sport on the road, ever, as it is just a design study.
See all coverage of the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)We find ourselves at the beginning of day two of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Looking back on yesterday's announcements, there's a lot to be excited about.
There were luxury performers, such Maserati's 2009 Quattroporte and Porsche's updated Boxter and Cayman mid-engine sports cars. A few manufacturers introduced cabin tech refreshes, such as Lexus' new Remote Touch interface in its 2010 RX SUV or Aston Martin's Bang & Olufsen audio system. Those in search of power will no doubt want to check out the 2010 Ford Mustang or Nissan's new, smaller, more powerful 370Z Coupe.
There's something for every kind of car nut on the LA Auto Show floor. Stay tuned as our coverage continues. Also remember that you can follow us on the CNET Car Tech Twitter page for up to the minute updates of what's happening on the show floor.
