What You Can't Miss at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show
Although technically at the end of the 2014 calendar year, the Los Angeles Auto Show marks the unofficial opening of the 2015 auto show season, and like last year, the automakers spared no drama with their reveals.
This year’s show is open to the public from Nov. 21-30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. in downtown Los Angeles, and there’s almost too much to see — your senses will be on overload.
Related: More 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage
There are plenty of distractions going on at the show, but several out-there concept cars, over-the-top exhibits and just plain weird displays can’t be missed. Check out the Cars.com editorial team’s list of L.A. must-sees:
“You simply cannot miss the Toyota Mirai. It’s a new fuel-cell electric car that Toyota is actually going to build and sell here in the U.S. You put in hydrogen, out comes electricity and water. But that’s not why you can’t miss it — it’s also, without question, by far, the ugliest car to hit the streets since the Pontiac Aztek.”
“I’ve seen all sorts of driving simulators at auto shows, but never a downhill ski simulator like the one at the Kia display. It’s a spectacle with the massive screens and wide ski track participants slide back and forth on through downhill pylons. (Or whatever they’re called — not corners and rumble strips.)”
“Don’t miss the Mercedes-Maybach S600. If you scoot the front passenger seat forward and deploy the rear ottomans, a 6-footer in the passenger-side backseat can fully stretch out. Oh, and there are custom, silver-plated champagne goblets that fit into tailored holders in the center console — which you’d fill with champagne from the refrigerated compartment between the seats.”
“The Audi Prologue concept is neat since it tips the hat to where Audi wants to go.”
“You can’t miss the vintage Toyotas wedged in the corner of the Toyota booth near the bathrooms. Cars include my two personal favorites: the very rare Toyota 2000GT and an original Land Cruiser FJ40. “
“The Black Pearl near the entrance to the West Hall. Sleek and gorgeous. Looks straight out of a comic book.”
“As a concept car, the un-topped LF-C2 doesn’t really wow. It looks like someone simply chopped off the roof of the RC F. However, the grille is remarkable. The top starts off as a waterfall flowing downward and then the wirework starts wildly crisscrossing all the way down the spindle shape familiar to the current Lexus lineup. They even make perfect air inlets at the bottom corners. Wow.”
“If you’re dragging your kids to the Los Angeles Auto Show this year, their enthusiasm for anything new and shiny might wane quickly as sensory overload sets in. For a quick kid-friendly respite, stop by the Toyota booth to gawk and marvel at the SpongeBob Sienna. Climb around the crayon-colored seats, enjoy the fish tank window and take a load off those aching feet. Your kids will thank you.”
“Yes, it’s a ‘concept,’ but the Chevy Colorado ZR2 is about as production-ready as it gets. Hopefully they’ll keep it as close to what we saw on the show floor as possible. Also, take a trip downstairs, to the aftermarket hall, to see some crazy creativity and custom configurations.”
Cars.com photos by Evan Sears, Eric Rossi, Kristin Varela, David Thomas, Mark Williams and Joe Bruzek
