Ah, the LA Autoshow, the most wonderful time of the year. To me, nothing beats getting to run around a giant convention center surrounded by the coolest cars of the year, you can imagine the smile on my face. This year, there weren’t as many reveals from enthusiast brands, but it was still something, and totally worth my time. Here are some of the highlights of the 2019 LA Autoshow.
Audi RS6 Avant
As enthusiasts, I think we can agree that there are few things cooler than a really powerful wagon. The all new Audi RS6 Avant is no different. For the first time, us Americans have access to Audi’s famed super wagon. Powered by a 4.0 liter twin turbo V8 (no surprise there) and assisted by a mild hybrid system for efficiency, the new RS6 Avant makes a whopping 591 hp and 590 lb/ft of torque. Combine this with a lightning quick 8 speed automatic transmission, and you get a 0-60 time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph, in a family station wagon. How cool is that? Not to mention it looks gorgeous with its sleek lines and low slung chassis, this thing is ready to gap supercars while the AC blasting and your kids jamming out in the back seats.
BMW M8 and M2 CS
It’s no secret that I’ve become a rather passionate BMW fan recently. After driving my friend’s E36 M3, my whole perspective of the brand changed. I’m proud to say that the BMW section this year was by far my favorite at the Autoshow. Sure, there was the stunning M8 Competition (the cabriolet has a very VERY low windshield I found out) and your host of M5s and I8s and X6 Ms, but what really stole the show for me was the M2 CS. Ask any BMW fan and they will most certainly tell you that the Bavarian marque is not what it used to be in terms of making sports cars. Sure, the new M5 is amazing and the M4 is faster than ever, but it seems that BMW is shifting further and further away from making sports cars. That’s exactly why I love the M2 CS so much. It is simply the closest BMW has been to recreating the legendary E46 M3, which most say was the peak of BMW. The small, nimble 2 series chassis combined with BMW’s S55 engine (a proper M engine) gives us one of the purest driving experiences you can buy today. Not to mention the CS now makes 450 hp and comes standard with a 6 speed manual. What a car.
C8 Corvette
Along with being one of the most anticipated cars of 2019, the C8 Corvette was a complete showstopper this week, drawing in crowds from all over the convention center. On display were both the coupe and convertible versions of the new corvette. I’m happy to say that both trims looked just as good in person as they did in their reveal pictures, although they are a bit wider than you’d think. Also, if I’m not mistaken, I believe this was one of the first, if not the first, public car show for the C8 Corvette Convertible, which is basically a Coupe with an automatic targa top. I look forward to seeing how the C8 compares to other sports cars and even supercars as GM has made some very bold claims about the future of their flagship sports car.
Mustang Shelby GT500 and Mustang Mach E
I think it’s safe to say that this year, Americans dominated the LA Autoshow. Ford this year, proudly displayed their new “Mustang” Mach E on the podium. This is all while the GT500 was placed just like another car in the showroom. Say what you want about the Mach E, but there’s no denying that Ford is very passionate about their new model, and by the looks of it (as much as it pains me to say it) so was everyone else. I think we’ve all heard enough about the Mach E, but thankfully, the new 760 hp Shelby GT500 did not disappoint. This thing is mean and ready to take names.
Toyota Supra
I never thought I’d get to see the day where a Supra was an actual part of the LA Autoshow and not just in the aftermarket section. This was my first time seeing a Supra in person and it’s a lot bigger than one might expect. The interior is also VERY BMW which is not necessarily a bad thing, but I expect more Toyota in a Toyota Supra (they also locked the hood so no one could see the BMW B58 engine which I thought was pretty funny).
Porsche
Although Porsche had no new reveals aside from the entry level Taycan 4S, the Porsche section was pretty good this year. There were plenty of racecars and 2 992s, one of which was sporting the new Sport Design Package which looks really nice in person. There was also the all new Cayenne Coupe Turbo S E-Hybrid which was menacing as ever. The all new 718 GT4 and Spyder were there too, and it pains me to say that they were rather disappointing. In pictures, these cars are some of the nicest Porsches that have ever been made, yet they were rather lackluster in person. The lines and the proportions for the lights were just not there and they looked too similar to base 718 models. I’m glad their 8,000 rpm redlines make up for it though.
The Verdict
As I said before, there really wasn’t anything too special at the Autoshow, not for enthusiasts at least. But, the tuner hall was really cool this year and we also got to see our friends from Malibu Autobahn at their own stand which was very nice. Overall, I still had lots of fun and am very glad to have gone.
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Rennsport Report 
Thank you for recap,You are absolutely correct about US car manufacturers,They did dominate this year.
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