The auto show circuit heads to the U.S. next month for the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. Organizers expect more than 50 cars to debut, although as usual, this will include a mix of new unveilings and North American debuts for cars previously shown elsewhere. The focus won’t just be on cars, as organizers are trying a new format that will put a greater emphasis on tech and mobility services.
Never-before-seen cars will include Alfa Romeo’s first production SUV, the next-generation Honda Civic Si, and a concept car from Subaru. The 2018 Jeep Compass will also make its public debut in L.A. after a brief tease in Brazil earlier this month. Acura will also preview future interior and human-machine interface designs, according to a show press release. More debuts will likely be announced in the coming weeks.
Several cars that previously appeared at other auto shows will also make their North American debuts in Los Angeles. That includes the Porsche Panamera, Land Rover Discovery, Smart ForTwo Electric Drive, and Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster that all debuted at the 2016 Paris Motor Show last month, as well as the Infiniti QX Sport Inspiration concept that has appeared in both Paris and Beijing this year.
Read more: Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster debuts in Paris
Beginning this year, media days at the Los Angeles Auto Show will also be rebranded AutoMobility LA. This signifies the merger of the traditional series of press conferences announcing new cars with the Connected Car Expo, a tech event previously held separately from press days. Organizers expect new technologies and services related to things like autonomous driving and ridesharing to debut alongside the cars.
Combining tech announcements with new-car debuts is seen as a way to keep auto shows relevant in an age when car news can be made at CES as well as Detroit or L.A. It also reflects the increasing number of partnerships between carmakers and tech companies. Los Angeles is not a bad place to experiment, either, both because it’s the closest auto show to Silicon Valley, and because an innovative new format could help bring it out of the shadow of the Detroit Auto Show, which typically attracts more attention.
Whether it’s a new ridesharing service or a new sports car, Digital Trends will be on the ground in Los Angeles to cover it. AutoMobility LA runs November 14-17, so be sure to check back here in the coming weeks for the latest news.
