2019 LA Auto Show: Here’s Everything That Happened on Day 1

Day one of the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show has come to an end with a number of manufacturers showcasing various cars. Right from Porsche to the all-electric Karma, we got to see some interesting debuts and concepts that will soon grace the roads. The Los Angeles Auto show being a fairly big event, keeping track of each and every showcase might turn out to be a difficult affair. This is where we come in, and here are all major highlights from today’s episode of the LA Auto Show: 

Karma

The California-based all-electric carmaker has used the LA Auto Show to unveil two new offerings. First up is the SC2 concept which is an electric hypercar concept developing around 1000PS/14,000Nm of torque. Due to these otherworldly figures and the fact that it can do the 0-100kmph sprint in 1.9 seconds, Tesla has got every reason to worry. Karma has also showcased the Revero GTS sedan whose main talking point is the 580km range. 

Faraday Future

During an interview at the event, Faraday Future’s new CEO Carsten Breitfeld revealed the direction for the company’s future which includes the FF 91 SUV. The all-electric SUV, designed for comfort, is also claimed to sprint from 0 to 100kmph in under three seconds. A press release from the brand also points towards an output figure of 1065PS, with a claimed range of 608km. Although there is more clarity of the brand’s plans, we are also yet to hear on the pricing and launch date of the FF 91.

Audi

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Audi’s flagbearer for the EV title, the e-tron, has now got more stylish with the e-tron Sportback. As the name hints, the SUV coupe gets a sloping roofline making it more aerodynamic than the standard e-tron. It will be offered in two versions: 50 quattro and 55 quattro with prices starting at USD 79,052 (Rs 56.64 lakh).

Volkswagen

Yes, yet another all-electric unveil, but this time it’s not a supercar or an SUV, but a station wagon. Volkswagen has showcased the ID Space Vizzion wagon at the 2019 LA Auto Show. It is the third ID model in the lineup after the ID.3 and ID.4. Highlights include VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system with 335PS and a RWD version producing 275PS. Volkswagen is deploying a 82kWH battery pack that’s enough for doing 590km on a single charge.

Lexus 

The 2019 LA Auto Show witnessed the world debut of the Lexus LC500 Convertible. It uses the same 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 pushing out 471PS and 540Nm of twist. Lexus claims that the 4-layer soft roof can retract in 15 seconds within speeds of up to 50kmph. The Japanese carmaker also assures that the ‘vert will be dynamically similar to the coupe equivalent. Here’s how.

Porsche

Representing Porsche at the 2019 LA Auto Show were three cars: Taycan 4S, Macan Turbo and 99X. The Taycan 4S is the entry-level version of the all-electric sedan that uses a smaller 79.2 kWh battery pack developing 530PS. Prices for the Taycan 4S starts at USD 103,800 (Rs 74 lakh, excluding taxes) making it USD 76,000 (Rs 54 lakh) more affordable than the top-spec Taycan Turbo S.

Stuttgart’s second offering was the new Macan Turbo which gets a downsized  2.9-litre V6 that makes more power than before. There are also some minor exterior and interior revisions to complete the package.

Last but not the least, Porsche showcased the 99X all-electric racecar which will debut at the upcoming FIA Formula E Championship.