2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

Day Two of Press Preview of the LA Auto Show was hectic. There were lots of cool new cars, but some were missing. There wasn’t a Maserati, Ferrari or Lamborghini in sight even though there were reports about a new Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder introduction. No show for Bentley either. We should have seen the new Bentley Continental GT. Maybe it will be there later in the week.

I also missed the introduction of the Hyundai Equus. Hyundai didn’t even have a Genesis on the floor. I’m sure those will all show up for the regular show.

Mitsubishi was also disappointing. I wanted to check out the Lancer Sportsback, but no luck. There were a couple dull SUVs on the platform, nothing else. There will be more there for the regular show. The big debut for Mitsu was the i MiEV. Yawn.

Below are more auto pictures from the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show:

The 2011 Audi R8 Spyder is sexy from all angles. This one has the Lamborghini V10.

The R8's interior is beautifully-crafted and driver-oriented. Very nice.

I really liked the new 2011 BMW 740i (short wheelbase). The cockpit simply fit my body better than the excellent one in the Mercedes S Class. But the 2011 Audi A8 looked better than all of them.

The 2011 BMW 740i has the 3.0 liter in-line, 6-cylinder turbo engine from the 535i and 335i. Why it's badged 740, I don't know.

The seats in the BMW 740i are superb.

Buick is very proud of the 2012 Regal GS. There is too much bling for me.

I like the side of the 2012 Buick Regal GS. The reverse Nike Swoosh on the side give it some character.

If you want to spend more than $100,000 on a Chevy, look no farther than this 2011 Corvette ZR1 Supercharged. I think you have to be over 75 to own it.

The ZR1 badge looks good.

I've always liked the double Oreo taillights on the Corvette.

The 2011 Dodge Charge is a nice evolution and better rendering of the last one. The prominent nose gives it presence.

Dodge's 2011 Durango SUV is a "cheaper" version of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee (based on the Mercedes ML platform). I like it better when it's cut away like this.

I really like the little 2012 Fiat 500. It feels a bit smaller than the MINI Cooper coupe. But it more functional and it has that Italian style that's hard to copy.

At introduction early in 2011, the Fiat 500 will be available only in 3 colors and only with the manual transmission.

There isn't much cargo space unless you fold down the small back seats in the 2012 Fiat 500.

This is the original Fiat 500. The legend lives!

I really like the 2012 Ford Focus hatchback. I don't think the wheels are stock.

Naturally Ford thinks they have to have the Focus sedan for the US market because all the stupid idiots in the focus group want a sedan, not a hatchback. I hope we prove the idiots wrong this time and hatchbacks rule!

Introducing the 2011 40 mpg Hyundai Elantra. Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra better be afraid. Very Afraid.

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra has style in abundance.

The rear of the 2011 Hyundai Elantra. I'd take it any day over the Toyota Corolla.

Hyundai has begun production of the 2011 Elantra at its plant in its Alabama plant. It's definitely a baby Sonata - and that's a good thing.

The interior of the Elantra is also a well-designed space. It echos its big sister, the Sonata.

Even the back seat of the new Elantra looks habitable.

The only interesting from Honda this year is an Electric Fit. There wasn't anything to look at at Acura either. Both areas were DEAD at the auto show.

The 2011 Jaguar XF R was nice, but it still looks too much like a Lexus to me. And that's not a compliment.

Jaguar hit a home run with the all-new 2011 XJ sedan. Finally a new flagship that's worthy of the Jaguar badge.

The Jag XJ's rear is one of the best in the business. You won't mistake it for any other luxo-barge.

The interior of the Jaguar XJ is a place I'd like to spend lots of time. Even sitting in traffic, it's a feast for the eyes.

The 2011 Jeep Wrangle is always a favorite. This thing had a "Call of Duty" Black Ops package. The snorkel is a favorite. But if you do go into deep water, it helps the engine breathe.

I read that this Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante was at the LA Auto Show. I never saw it.

Group Lotus PLC had lots of sexy concept cars at the LA Auto Show. This is the Elan Concept.

This is the Lotus Elise concept (I hope I got all the "E" names straight).

Lotus Elite Concept

The Lotus Eterne Concept is supposed to have 4 doors. Hard to see.

Mercedes dragged out this 2011 Maybach 62S. It's gigantic. It's got presence. But it's not a Rolls Royce Phantom.

I love the Mercedes CL63 AMG. Mercedes knows how to do big coupes. No pillars and the windows roll all the way down. It's expensive and it shows it.

This Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG has the optional $12,900 AMG Performance Package and the $6,000 designo Graphic Edition Interior.

The SL63 also has the $3,950 designo Magno Night Black (matte finish) paint. Nice stuff if you can afford the $177,215 sticker price (including $2,000 Gas Guzzler Tax).

The MINI Cooper S Countryman SUV with All4 all wheel drive looks big for a MINI, but I think it's much more verastile with the extra room. I wonder if the ride is as bad or if it's as noisy as my Clubman S.....

The 2011 Nissan Quest makes an interesting entry into the Asian minivan slugfest. Honda has a new Odyssey and Toyota has a new Sienna. Chrysler has some real competition here.

I'm not feeling any attraction to Nissan's Ellure Hybrid Concept.

The Ellure's butt looks like a mashup of a Nissan Maxima and 370Z

The 2011 Porsche Cayman R is the hardtop version of the Boxster Sypder. Porsche took lots of weight out to make it a bit faster. Only it's mother could love that color.

Only in Porsche-land do you pay more for a gaping hole in the dash (saves weight, you know).

It's hard to count how many variations there are of the Porsche 911. This Carrera GTS Cabriolet is beautiful.

Check out the interior of this 2011 Carrera GTS. Everything is covered in ultra-expensive Alcantara (a synthetic suede).

The 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster is yet another hot fast car. An all-new 911 arrives next year as a 2012 model. Expect a big splash at the 2011 Frankfurt International Auto Show.

This is my favorite Porsche. The 2011 911 Targa 4S. There was no sticker on this baby, but judging from the red all-leatther interior and PDK transmission, I'd guess it's around $135,000. I still want it. Desperately.

Ram is now a separate brand of Chrysler. This is one hell of a truck. It's a 2011 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4

I had to get a side shot of the 2012 Range Rover Evoque. The slim silhouette is fantsatic. Is this my next new car?

Saab is back. The lovely new 2011 9-5 sedan is a better looking Buick Lacrosse.

The 2011 Saab 9-5 looks great from the rear too.

The 2012 Saab 9-4x is based on the Cadillac SRX crossover. It almost didn't make it to market. We should see it late in 2011.

Side view of the 2012 Saab 9-4x

The rear of the 9-4x looks good too. It's not nearly as dramatic as the Cadillac SRX.

Remember Suzuki? They still sell cars. The new 2011 Kizashi sounds like a cereal. Bottom line, the Suzuki gets lost among the many bands. Few dealers too.

Who knew Subaru could do a great concept car? This Impreza Concept looks almost production ready. I doubt we will actually get an Impreza with this much dynamic design and emotion.

The Subaru Impreza Concept has lots of angular lines. Very Japanese.

Toyota showed off its 2010 Plug-In Prius. Many people may choose it over the Chevy Volt.

The 2012 Toyota RAV4, powered by a Tesla motor and battery, was put together in record time. It's the first new all-electric SUV to the market sometime later in 2011.

The RAV4 EV looks pretty ordinary except for the EV badge.

This was the best shot I could get of the Tesla motor under the hood.

The interior of the 2011 Toyota Avalon looks inviting for a long drive. It's nearly a Lexus. I still think Toyota makes a better Buick.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon is as dull as the rest of Toyota's line up.

This was supposed to be the "facelifted" 2011 Toyota Corolla. Looks the same to me.

The rear of the 2011 Toyota Corolla is just another anonymous appliance.

I found this fun electrified Porsche Speedster Replica by Euromaster (in So Cal) in the aftermarket area in the basement of the Auto Show.

This is supposed to be one of the original Green Hornet Chrysler Imperials. They trotted it out for the upcoming Green Hornet 3-D movie.

The interior of the Green Hornet Chrysler Imperial looks like it really was used to chase bad guys for decades.

The MOBO Three Wheel Cruiser uses only human pedal power.

The Li-ion Motors Wave II won the 2010 Automotive X-Prize. It gets around 180 eMPG. They want to go into production in the 2nd Quarter of 2011. I'm not holding my breath.