Fiat brings the 500 back to the United States, but only in an electric version, Porsche presents the 911 Dakar, a two-door off-road vehicle, and the 911 T, Toyota anticipates the new plug-in Prius and a concept that in a few years could go into production as a new model in the bZ electric range, and Subaru unveils the sixth generation of the Impreza.
These are also the “European” novelties of the Los Angeles Auto Show, decidedly more international than the NAIAS in Detroit a few months ago. After all, there are even more brands (Ford, Lincoln, GMC, Chevrolet, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Volvo, Polestar, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Genesis, Kia, Vinfast, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler and Fiat), many of which however, they show off models for the American market only. Like the Turin-based company that anticipates the return of the electric 500 to the US for the first quarter of 2024.
The most “Italian” stand is that of the Vietnamese at VinFast, ready to launch the American offensive with four zero-emission models. In Los Angeles the VF9 designed by Pininfarina and the VF6 and VF7 designed by Roberto Piatti’s TorinoDesign are worth seeing.
With the two new 911s, Porsche confirms its choices in terms of exclusivity and not just because of the price. The Dakar will be produced in just 2,500 units (at least 231,000 euros each), while the lightened Touring (1,470 kg on the scale) is destined to satisfy driving purists with its 8-speed manual gearbox and its 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder with 385 HP and 450 Nm of torque for a top speed of 291 km/h. It can be ordered now and costs just under 129,000 euros.
In addition to the new rechargeable Prius, Toyota also unveiled a concept crossover coupe designed externally at Toyota’s Côte d’Azur style center, while the interior was developed in Japan. It is a zero-emission model which in terms of dimensions would fit between the C-HR and the bZ4X, compared to which it measures about 20 centimeters in length (about 4.5 meters) and 15 in height less.
Ian Cartabiano, now head of the Calty Style Center in California, explained that the exhibition serves to evaluate the reception of the public. It should be a global model, even if the proportions are more European than American. Any positive results could lead to its marketing within three years.
Subaru has anticipated the sixth generation of the Impreza, “completely redesigned”, with a 10% stiffer chassis and with even more important performance, in particular for the revived RS declination equipped with the 185 HP 2.5-liter engine. The 5-door hatchback will arrive in 2024. In short, the history of the model that is the protagonist of rallies starts from where it began: in 1992 the first generation was presented in Los Angeles.
Almost relegated to a corner (a matter of budget, of course) although at one of the two entrances is the Indi One, the production-ready model created in just over 4 years by Indi EV, a start-up that has its own headquarters general in the Californian metropolis. The 4.8-metre long crossover for which it is collecting orders has a price list starting at $49,000. The declared range is over 460 kilometers thanks to the 95 kWh battery. The two engines guarantee both 475 HP of power and four-wheel drive. Genesis, Hyundai’s top-of-the-range brand, has exhibited the global concept of a potential zero-emission convertible, the X Convertible, which completes the trio of prototypes for the zero-emission future. The others are the X Speedium Coupé and the X concept.
