After a few tough years for auto shows and the auto industry, the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show is back with a vengeance. From hydrogen-powered concept cars to electric and gas-powered ones, here are five star cars in the City of Angeles that stole the show.
1. Hyperion XP-1
California-based car company Hyperion Motors is making its mark, proving hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles aren’t just vapour. Founded in 2011, Hyperion’s team consists of aerospace and automotive engineers who live and breath hydrogen fuel cells, energy storage and advanced mobility solutions. In 2020, the team unveiled the XP1 prototype, the world’s first 1,600-kilometre electric vehicle. And now, its upped the ante revealing this futuristic, out-of-this-world XP-1 hypercar. This hydrogen-powered one-off sports car uses NASA technology, has more than 2,000 horsepower and has a spaceship-inspired design with big bulbous curves, blue accents and massive air vents everywhere.
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The XP-1, made by Hyperion Motors, is a hydrogen-powered hypercar with more than 2,000 horsepower.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
2. Hyundai N Vision 74
Even traditional automakers are getting into the hydrogen-powered fuel-cell game. This is the Hyundai N Vision 74 – another hydrogen concept car that captured a lot of attention. It pays tribute to the 1974 Hyundai Pony coupe concept developed by the legendary Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. While the original never made it into production, Hyundai officials are hoping this N Vision 74 will see the light of day as a production vehicle. This high-performance coupe is capable of driving more than 600 kilometres and can refuel up to 80 per cent in five minutes. And the performance figures are impressive - it has 670 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque.
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The Hyundai N Vision 74 is a high-performance hydrogen-powered concept car.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
3. 2023 Toyota Prius
At first glance, you’d never guess this was a Toyota Prius hybrid thanks to its sleek aerodynamic design. Thankfully, Toyota dumped the awkward, quirky look of its past for a fresh, modern and sporty exterior design. Compared to the last generation, it has a lower centre of gravity and weighs less. The new hybrid system is also more powerful thanks to a bigger two-litre engine and a new lithium-ion battery that replaces the last generation’s nickel metal battery. This hybrid can accelerate to 100 kilometres per hour in 7.2 seconds. The Prius Prime, the plug-in hybrid electric version, can go even faster – reaching that speed in 6.8 seconds. And it’s electric range has more than doubled.
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The newly redesigned 2023 Prius.MIKE BLAKE/Reuters
4. Genesis X Convertible concept
There’s no better place to launch a convertible than at the L.A. Auto Show. Striking details on the X Convertible concept include slim V-shaped lighting at the front, a long hood, short front overhangs, a long wheelbase and horizontal quad rear taillights. The inside is well-crafted with four highly bolstered seats. And the folding hardtop roof features an integrated transparent moonroof so passengers feel like they’re open-air driving even when the roof is closed. No word yet on whether this vehicle will make it into production. If it does, the Crane White paint has got to go – it’s way too harsh on the eyes.
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Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
Genesis revealed the sleek X Convertible concept electric vehicle on Nov. 15.Jason Tchir/The Globe and Mail
5. Porsche 911 Dakar
This is no ordinary Porsche 911. And it isn’t electric. This is the 911 Dakar version – yes, a 911 designed for off-roading adventures. Its beefed up presence is eye-catching – it’s ground clearance is raised; it’s five centimetres higher than a 911 Carrera with sports suspension, but a standard lift system adds another three centimetres of clearance. Off-road features include red aluminum towing lugs at the front and rear, widened wheel wells and stainless steel protective elements all over its body. An optional Rallye Design Package adds touches that echo the look of the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally winning car. Like other 911s, this version doesn’t come cheap. Prices start at $247,200 and the Rallye Design Package adds $32,490 to the cost. And if you want one, you better act fast. Only 2,500 are available.
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Porsche revealed a jacked-up, off-road 911 version called the Dakar at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
The writer was a guest of Toyota. Content was not subject to approval.