The unveiling of two European crossover SUVs were just a couple of the many highlights of the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The first crossover built by Alfa Romeo, the all-wheel drive Stelvio, will be built in Cassino, Italy and will be based on FCA’s Giorgio chassis, which can also be found under the Giulia sedan. It will come with two engine options – a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder and a 2.9 litre twin turbo V6 for the Quadrifoglio model.
Jaguar announced that its I-Pace will go on sale in 2018 and will feature 354 kms of range on single charge. The aggressively styled sedan looks quick and Jaguar says it will be, with 400 hp, 516 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 time of four seconds flat.
Honda used the show to unveil its new Civic Si concept, which featured a 1.5 litre turbocharged four cylinder mated to a six-speed transmission. Honda states the car, which will roll into showrooms in 2017, will be very similar to the concept on display. It will join a 10th-generation Civic line up that will also include the Type-R, which is finally making its North American debut in 2017.
The show also featured a redesigned Mazda CX-5, which is the Japanese manufacturer’s top selling crossover. The CX-5 has been reworked inside and out and will now be fitted with Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control handling system. It is expected to have options for a 2.0 litre or 2.5 litre gasoline engine or a 2.2 litre diesel. It will now also only be available with an automatic transmission.
