What's Hot At The 2021 Los Angeles Car Show

The Subaru Exhibit at the Los Angeles Automobile Show has a Self-Immersion Forest Motif.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

What's Hot At The 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show

Words and Images by: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images unless otherwise noted. 

 After a 1-year hiatus one would have expected the majority of the automobile manufacturers would be queuing for a place on the Los Angeles Convention Center floor. Unfortunately that is not the case. Whether it is because the main emphasis is now on full-electric vehicles or just fallout from COVID,  some Asian and most of the European manufacturers were absent. I understand that at least one European manufacturer had an off-site display for "invited" journalists but I was not one of those individuals. 

 As in years past there was a theme for the show. This year it is Full-Electric vehicles with an emphasis on SUV's.  For those hoping to see some of the latest Coupes or Sedans this show will be disappointing.  Aside from Porsche and the 2023 Nissan Z and Z06 Corvette nothing new was on display to entice the sport car aficionado's. Both  Alfa Romeo and Jaguar did have a display of their offerings which are relatively unchanged from the past year.

The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 on display at the 2021 LA Automobile Show.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The World Premiere of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS at the 2021 LA Automobile Show.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The World Premiere of the 2022 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

2022 Porsche Mission R Racing EV Concept.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The 2023 Nissan New Z on display at the Los Angeles Automobile Show.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

That does not mean that there are not interesting vehicles to feast your eye's on, it means that you will be spending more time in the Galpin Exhibit hall and down on the parking level looking at some very nice older Corvettes.

A very nice 1953 Chevrolet Corvette on display at the LA Automobile Show.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

George Barris Bathtub Buggy in the Galpin Exhibit Hall.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

2004 Shelby Cobra Concept.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Not so with SUV's.  Three new entries into the EV market are Fisker, Mullen, and Vinfast.  Henri Fisker is back with his new 2023 Fisker Ocean, Southern California based Mullen has their 2024 Mullen Five, and Vietnam based Vinfast has two 2022 models, the VF e35 and VF e36. 

A very colorful 2023 Fisker Ocean on display at the 2021 LA Auto Show.
Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The 2024 Mullen Five on displat at the Los Angeles Automobile Show.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Vinfast VFe35 made it's World Premiere at the LA Auto Show.
Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien

The larger Vinfast VF e36 also made its debut at the LA Auto Show.
Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Also on display are two brands of three-wheeled vehicles.  Electro Meccanica is specializing in single seat vehicles while Sondors has a very nice three-seater.

Three-Wheel Electro Meccanica Solos on display at the LA Auto Show.
Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The cockpit of the Electro Meccanica Solo O2 appears to be very functional and automobile oriented.

                                                    Image Credit:  2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The Sondors Three-wheeled three passenger car.  Image Credit:  2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Subaru has the most inviting display with a forest  theme.  It was the perfect layout for displaying their all terrain vehicles.  Here they highlighted their new for 2023 Solterra.

The 2023 Subaru Solterra made its debut at the 2021 Los Angeles Automobile Show.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Hyundai has their new IONIQ 5 as well as the Hyundai SEVEN Concept vehicle which is purported to be produced in about 4 years.

2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The innovative Hyundai SEVEN concept as seen at the LA Automobile Show.
Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

KIA also had a concept vehicle called the CONCEPT EV9.  If we look at both the Hyundai and the KIA we can get an idea as to what SUV's may look like in the near future.

KIA CONCEPT EV9.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Ford had one of the larger displays showcasing their complete product line from sport cars to trucks. They also had an indoor test driving track for use with their Mustang Mach e's. 

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum Edition which will go on sale in the spring.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

2022 Ford F-150 Eluminator EV Concept.  Image Credit: 2021 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Although the 2021 Los Angeles Automobile Show was not as elaborate as in past years it certainly was good to have it back.  The show is open to the public from November 19-29, 2021

 TAGS: Brandon O'Brien, Cayman, Concept EV9, Electra Meccanica, F-150, Ford, Hyundai, IONIQ, Kia, LA Auto Show, LA Automobile Show, Los Angeles Auto Show, Los Angeles Automobile Show, Lightning, Mission R, Motor Driven Images, Mullen, Porsche, SEVEN Concept, Solo, Sondors, Solterra, Subaru, Taycan, Vinfast