What to see at the Los Angeles Auto Show

In L.A., auto makers revealed their new and refreshed models at previews on Tuesday and during press day on Wednesday. Here's a selection. Stay tuned for updates:

Range Rover P400e

Jaguar Land Rover has promised to offer an electric or hybrid powertrain option in each of its vehicles starting in 2020. Among the first will be the 2019 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. Plug-in hybrid versions of both vehicles are making their debut at the LA Auto Show. The Range Rover P400e and Range Rover Sport P400e have a 296-horsepower, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine combined with a 114-horsepower electric motor. They can drive up to 50 kilometres in pure electric mode at speeds of up to 137 km/h. Drivers can plug a destination into the navigation system and the Rover will calculate the optimal mix of motor and engine power to maximize fuel economy. Both go on sale next summer. – AP

Volvo XC40

The third and smallest SUV from Volvo – joining the full-size XC90 and mid-size XC60 in the group – will have a base price of $39,500 in Canada and become the "most powerful" luxury compact SUV in the industry for under $40,000, the auto maker pledges. It carries the T5 Drive-E powertrain in Canada, with all-wheel drive is included in the Momentum and R-Design vehicle trims. Care by Volvo, a negotiation-free subscription service announced at AutoMobility LA, will be offered in Canada in 2018. The XC40 goes on sale in the spring as a 2019 model. Orders are being accepted online and at dealers. – Staff

Audi A8

The biggest news with Audi's revamped A8 large luxury sedan is that it can nearly drive itself at slower speeds on some divided highways. The German brand's flagship car, when equipped with a traffic jam pilot, has 24 radar, camera and laser sensors connected to a computer that can take charge of steering, acceleration and braking at up to 60 km/h with barriers dividing the directional traffic. That means the driver doesn't have to touch the steering wheel in traffic jams until manual control is required again. The A8 gets a new 340-horsepower, 3.0-litre turbocharged V-6 engine with a gas-electric hybrid system that helps it accelerate for better fuel economy and also powers all of its advanced features. The 2019 A8 has an eight-speed automatic transmission. Price wasn't released, and it won't be available until late next year. – AP

Porsche Panamera Hybrid Sport Turismo

The Hatchback sedan gets 680 total horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque, more than both the $143,600 (U.S.) 911 GT3 and the massive $118,100 Cayenne Turbo SUV. To achieve these results, it uses a hybrid boost strategy from the track-dominating 918 Spyder roadster. It can hit 97 km/h in 3.2 seconds. Top speed is 192 mph – an exceptional feat but not unexpected among auto industry insiders. The power comes from a 550-hp, twin-turbo V-8 combustion engine and a 136-hp electric motor. The power pack is paired with Porsche's eight-speed "PDK" automatic transmission and standard active all-wheel drive. The high-voltage lithium-ion battery takes 12 hours to charge fully via a common 120-volt, 10-amp connection; on an optional 7.2 kW on-board charger, the charging time decreases to fewer than three hours. Each of six different drive modes offers various levels of efficiency and performance, and it will go 48 km on electric power alone before the regular combustion engine takes over. The new plug-in turbo hybrid fits right in aesthetically with the four other engine/powertrain variants in the Panamera Sport Turismo family. It has a large, low tailgate; a high roofline with seating for five; and ample luggage space. Adaptive cruise control and rear-axle steering allow for increased athleticism around corners and on uneven terrain. The power adjustable roof spoiler automatically moves to the highest position when the car exceeds 88 km/h. The new hatchback also comes packed with such standards as ceramic composite brakes, a Sport Chrono shifting package, 21-inch 911 "Turbo Design" wheels, and a three-chamber air suspension system that smooths acceleration and ride feel. – Bloomberg

Hyundai Kona

The Kona will be Hyundai's first subcompact SUV in the U.S. market, competing against the Honda HR-V, Chevrolet Trax and other small rivals. Eye-popping colour options like lime and bright turquoise will help it stand out from that crowd. The Kona sits low and wide and shares Hyundai's new "cascading" mesh grille, which debuted on the 2018 Sonata. There are two engine options: a 2.0-litre, 147-horsepower four-cylinder mated to a six-speed transmission or a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder that puts of 175 horsepower and is paired with a seven-speed transmission. An all-wheel-drive system is optional. Optional safety features include a forward-collision avoidance system with pedestrian detection. The Kona goes on sale in the first quarter of 2018. – AP

Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 4MATIC

For the first time, the CLS Coupe seats five people. The interior is fashioned to convey an impression of generous spaciousness, using a wavy pattern extending from the front to rear doors, accented by 64-colour ambient lighting. A high-resolution widescreen cockpit with two 12.3-inch displays is optional. In the cockpit, the driver can configure information content according to driving conditions. The seats, exclusive for this model, feature high-quality piping or transverse seams depending on the chosen interior. The backrests fold into a 40/20/40 ratio, expanding the 520‑litre luggage area. Optional "energizing comfort control" syncs the climate system – including fragrancing – with the heated, ventilated massage seats, steering wheel heating, lighting and music to create a "wellness setup tailored to the mood and need" of the driver and passengers. The automaker's new clean-contour design language is displayed on the exterior by the grille widening towards the base, a front section slanting forward, low-set headlamps and two-section taillights. P.S. All CLS trims receive a new six-cylinder engine and the latest driving assist technologies. – Staff

Jaguar XE SV Project 8

Its lap time of 7 minutes 21.23 seconds is the fastest ever recorded at the Nürburgring Nordschleife by a four-door production (or intended-for-production) sedan. Accomplished in "track mode," that's 11 seconds quicker than the best time previously recorded by a sedan, Jaguar says. The car can soar from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds with a top speed of 322 km/h. The roof and front door skins are transfered from the XE, otherwise 75 per cent of the hardware is newly designed. Only 300 of these hand-made missiles will be sold globally. The car can also be ordered in a two-seat formation with carbon-fibre seats and a four-point harness. – Staff

Range Rover SVAutobiography

The rear features business-class seats that recline up to 40 degrees, with a refrigerated compartment able to house two 750-ml bottles of champagne and two glasses. The flagship model includes rear doors that close at the touch of a button. – Staff

Lexus RX L

An optional third row in an RX is provided adequate space and head room by extending the body length by 110 mm and fitting a steeper tailgate window angle than on the two-row model. Access to the 60/40 bench seat is gained by using a lever that moves the second seat forward. Second-row captain's chairs in the optional six-seat format allows for walk-in accessibility. Leather upholstery in all three rows is standard, and triple-zone climate control with dedicated vents should guard against passengers freezing in the back. The seat power-folds and the tailgate operates hands-free. – Staff

Nissan Kicks

Positioned below the Nissan Qashqai, the all-new Kicks compact crossover is targeted to urban dwellers, particularly singles and young couples who are looking for affordable wheels with a bit of attitude. The design language holds true to its roots and the original concept, which was first unveiled at the Sao Paulo Motor Show back in 2014. It's bold and expressive in its exterior design with a sloping roofline that is especially attractive when painted in daring two-tone colour schemes. Opting for the black roof set against contrasting body colours such as orange and red give it an edge and make it really stand out in the highly competitive CUV segment. That said, there's no need to hold onto your seats when it comes to its powertrain. Under the hood is a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder which delivers 125 horsepower and 115 lb-ft of torque. It's not the fastest out of the gate, but its not meant to be. It's designed to be a practical little funky ride that's fuel efficient and ideal as a city runabout or for parking in cramped quarters. – Petrina Gentile

Subaru Ascent

Known for its small all-wheel-drive cars and SUVs, Subaru enters the big people-hauler market with the new Ascent. It's got three rows of seats and can carry as many as eight people. Built in Lafayette, Ind., the Ascent will be sold only in North America to satisfy its thirst for bigger vehicles. The all-wheel-drive Ascent is powered by a new 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Second-row captain's chairs are optional on some versions. The price wasn't released, but the Ascent will go on sale next summer. – AP

Mitsubishi Eclipse

The compact crossover becomes Mitsubishi's third SUV offering. While Lancer may be Mitsubishi Canada's best-selling model, it's being dropped, though inventory will remain into 2018, leaving the midget Mirage hatchback alone among the crossovers. With blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert included, it is priced at $29,998, about $2,000 above base. Heated steering wheel and rear seats, panoramic roof and head-up display push MSRP into the province of the $35,998 GT. The Diamond Edition, $37,498 with five-coat red and clear applications, is limited to the first 150 who pre-order on-line before February. – Dan Proudfoot

Lincoln Nautilus

Lincoln's midsize MKX SUV gets a new name, Nautilus, in an effort to separate itself from the alphanumeric luxury crowd. It also gets its first refresh since it went on sale in 2015. The 2019 Nautilus swaps its V6 engine for two turbocharged four-cylinder choices: a 2.0-litre that puts out 245 horsepower or a 2.7-litre with 335 horsepower. The Nautilus adopts Lincoln's signature mesh grille. It also has a suite of new safety technologies, including a system that keeps the SUV centred in its lane and an evasive manoeuvring system that can automatically steer the vehicle around obstacles. The 2019 Nautilus goes on sale in the spring. – AP

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Convertible

The fastest, most powerful version of General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Corvette gets its first drop-top in nearly a half-century. Chevrolet says the convertible won't hurt the 755-horsepower car's performance much. It's only 60 pounds heavier than the standard coupe and still will have a top speed of over 200 miles per hour. The only changes for the convertible are the structure for the car's folding top and repositioned seat belt mounts. The 2019 ZR1 made its debut earlier this month in Dubai. The ZR1 last had a convertible in its original model year in 1970. The coupe starts at $119,995 including shipping, while the convertible starts at $123,995. They'll hit showrooms this spring. – AP

Infiniti QX50

Infiniti's midsize, five-seat SUV gets a complete overhaul, starting with a rigid but lightweight new underbody made from high-strength steel. The 2019 QX50 sits up higher than the outgoing model and has a beefier, more confident look. Under the hood is what Infiniti says is the world's first production-ready variable compression ratio engine. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder automatically adjusts the pistons' performance to optimize power or fuel efficiency. Infiniti says the engine delivers 268 horsepower and 8.7 litres/100 km in combined city and highway driving, a 35 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency over the outgoing QX50. The new QX50 also boasts Infiniti's ProPilot driver assistance system that can automatically control braking and speed and keep the SUV within its lane. The QX50 goes on sale in the first quarter of 2018. – AP

Jeep Wrangler

Engineers say the new engine choices were made with off-road performance as a priority, so they shouldn't bother the purists. Buyers will have a choice between an updated 285-horsepower 3.6-litre V-6, and a new 270-horsepower 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that comes with a battery-electric hybrid system to help the Jeep get rolling for better fuel economy. A 260-horsepower 3.0- liter diesel V-6 will come in 2019. The engines will be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic. Engineers shed 91 kilograms by use of lighter high-strength steel in the frame as well making the hood, doors, fender flares and hinges out of aluminum. For improved aerodynamics, the windshield was rounded and its angle lowered, and the Wrangler even gets a subtle small spoiler at the back of the roof. Engineers also made other changes, including an internal roof support structure to accommodate a new ragtop. The new version also has a higher ground clearance for off-road driving, enough to make it through 75-cm-deep water. And Fiat Chrysler says it has better manners on pavement, long a criticism of the Wrangler. – AP

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