LA Auto Show preview

The 2013 LA Auto Show opens to the public on Nov. 22 and runs until Dec. 1, promising something like 50 new cars and trucks—concepts, production cars, you name it. Many of these will be of the clean and green variety.

BMW, for example, will bring its i8 hybrid sports car and its smaller i3 electric city car. Volvo promises its new Drive-E powertrain in the popular S60, S80 and XC60; Mazda will be touting its Skyactiv technologies, and Hyundai will be talking fuel cells.

The American manufacturers will arrive in LA with the proverbial guns a-blazing, considering LA is one of three main shows on home turf. General Motors is planning a global reveal of the next Chevrolet Colorado midsize pickup truck and the debut of the new Cadillac Escalade SUV, while word is Ford's big news will be a concept pointing to the next Edge crossover.

Those of us who missed Pebble Beach and Frankfurt will also get a look at Cadillac's Elmiraj concept.

Nissan

Sports cars will be prevalent at the show, as well: Nissan will reveal the RS version of its Juke Nismo hatchback, and Porsche will bring a production-ready 918 Spyder.

Nearly 20 new luxury cars are expected to make their debuts, as well as 12 concept cars from Subaru, Volkswagen, Volvo and others. Jaguar will introduce the C-X17 small SUV to the American market, and Mercedes-Benz will bring its new S63 AMG sedan and GLA250, along with four other new models.

Other LA show happenings include the Connected Car Expo Nov. 19, featuring panelists, keynote speakers and participation by app developers, electronics interests and carmakers.

The Motor Press Guild is holding a car show it calls the Invitational from 6:30-8:30 a.m. on the first press day, Nov. 22. The Invitational is sort of a cars-and-coffee event, except there will be masterpieces from the Petersen Museum and customs from local hero George Barris. It will be held outdoors on John S. Gibson Boulevard and in the area to the south of the Staples Center.

Additionally, in the West Hall Lobby, the Petersen Automotive Museum will park several cars from its 300-car collection, as well as provide ambassadors who can guide visitors and talk cars.

The big, triangular area just off the West Hall Lobby and part of the Concours Hall will host a design gallery with displays from many, if not most, of the automotive design studios in Southern California.

Each studio will get 8 feet of wall space to show off drawings, as well as floor space in the triangle for project and concept cars.

The show will once again be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

By Jake Lingeman