The 2023 LA Auto Show - What I'm Looking Forward To

For some, the advent of pumpkin spice lattes is the sign that the holiday season is around the corner. For a lifelong car lover like me, the LA Auto Show is the fitting sign that Thanksgiving is here. I’m also eminently grateful for the chance to walk the floor and see the latest and greatest that automakers have to offer, catch up with old friends, and bask in Southern California car culture at what I consider to be one of the greatest car events on Earth.

Researching a car has never been easier thanks to a myriad of tools – video, 3D, augmented reality. Still, until Skynet figures it out how to step up its game - there is no replacement for seeing a car in the flesh.  Here are a few of the cars I’m looking forward to checking out next week.

Toyota

2024 Toyota Crown SUV

The Toyota Crown SUV debuts November 14th at 10PM ET.  Expect to see this latest addition to the upscale Crown portfolio in person at the LA Auto Show.  Judging from this teaser image I’m guessing this will be a very popular SUV that you’ll see plenty of on the road.

2024 Toyota Camry

The next-generation Camry also debuts on November 14th. You may wonder why I’m excited to see a sedan when everyone has the SUV bug. First, I grew up riding around in two generations of Camry’s. Second, I’m also the guy that loves minivans and wagons so I’m a bit of a contrarian.

Finally, if you’re into the business side of the auto industry you know that the Camry is one of the cars that built Toyota. According to goodcarbadcar.net, the Camry is the best-selling sedan in the U.S. with about a quarter million units sold YTD, and the fourth best-selling vehicle overall behind only the F-series, Toyota RAV4, and Honda CR-V. That’s a lot of other contrarians, who still appreciate a good sedan and a lower center of gravity. Accordingly (see what I did there,) the Camry is always a big-stakes play for Toyota, and judging from the teaser shot we’re going to get to see an AWD hybrid variant at the LA Auto Show.

Lexus

Lexus TX

Sharing the GA-K platform with its Lexus siblings the RX and NX, the first-generation TX features three rows and three powertrains: a 2.4L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder on the TX350, a 2.4L turbocharged hybrid on the TX500h, and a 3.5L V6 plug-in hybrid on the TX550h+. The TX features a healthy 20.2 cubic-feet of storage behind the third row.

PHEV, three rows, and storage - this might be the end of increasingly painful maintenance costs that my wife and I are funding on her aging SUV. (Certain European cars are so fun to drive… and their corresponding dealership service centers must love the endless cashflow that begins somewhere in year five of ownership.)

2024 Lexus GX

The all-new Lexus GX looks amazing, especially in Overtrail trim replete with 33-inch all-terrain tires and 18-inch wheels. This long overdue replacement for the previous generation has the boxy-in-a-good-way styling that certain SUV owners with off-road dreams salivate over. I’m getting old-school Land Cruiser x Defender x Bronco vibes, and I’m not the only one.

The GX features a 3.4L twin-turbo V6 producing 349 horsepower and a respectable 479 lb.-ft, of torque – good for 8,000 pounds of towing power. A hybrid powertrain will be available later for those who prioritize fuel economy over towing capability.

Honda

2024 Honda Prologue

Honda has a winner on its hands with the Prologue, it’s first all-electric SUV.  With expected EPA range rating of 300 miles, starting price in the area of $40,000, and clean styling (none of that Cyber trunk jazz here), the Prologue is going to turn some heads.

Some folks who have been on the fence will finally become EV adopters and we can thank the product planners at Honda for bringing them through the Bass Diffusion Curve into land of reduced carbon emissions. The Prologue an aptly named opening salvo of Honda and Acura’s electrification strategy, and as the kids say - I’m here for it.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport

Last year my neighbor came home with a Ridgeline and it brought me back to my very happy two years driving the first-gen Ridgeline around town and towing the Motegi Racing Civic SI to the track. Comfortable, capable, and innovative the Ridgeline has long been a perfectly good truck for people who have no intention of off-roading.

That’s been changing over the years as Honda has beefed up the Ridgeline as well as it’s SUV stablemates for the road less traveled, as evidenced by it entering them in off-road races like Baja 1000 and the Rebelle Rally. In fact, back in 2021 the Ridgeline won the Baja 1000 in its class. Honda’s TrailSport trim denotes more rugged off-roading features.  According to Honda, “the first-ever Ridgeline TrailSport is more off-road capable, engineered to get weekend adventurers even further off the beaten path with new features, including an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires and steel underbody protection.” Looking forward to checking it out in person.

Porsche

Porsche turned 75 this year, and while I have no earthly idea what they will bring to the LA Auto Show – I know they will have an amazing display, as always. There’s been some prognostication online that Porsche will debut the new Speedster at the show. Pictured above are the 357 Vision Speedster and 357 Vision concept cars that Porsche displayed at Goodwood and Rennsport Reunion. If they bring just one of these I’ll probably take 357 photos.

LA Auto Show Tickets

The 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show will be cashless. All tickets can be purchased online at laautoshow.com/tickets with a credit card or bank card. Tickets purchased for attendance on November 18-19 will include complimentary admission to the USA Street Food Awards.

About The Los Angeles Auto Show® 

Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show® is widely recognized as one of the most influential shows globally. Reflective of its location, the show celebrates the love affair Angelenos have with their cars and offers a global platform to industry technology and innovation, synonymous with California.

The show runs for 10 full days over the Thanksgiving period and is a must-attend destination for many industry influencers, car enthusiasts and families wanting to enjoy a day out over the holiday season. Held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the LA Auto Show contributes several hundred million dollars to the local economy, stimulates the local job market, and is the number one revenue generator for the LA Convention Center.