L.A. Auto Show Takes the Wraps Off New Models

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Auto sales boomed through a lot of 2016, even though?sales have cooled recently, the is looking to help keep its streak alive by rolling out a bounty of new models. In the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, car buyers and enthusiasts can see the unveiling of fifty new or redesigned models.

Some 20 world or U.S. debuts include cars from Alfa Romeo, Mazda, Mini, Subaru and Volkswagen and a compact SUV from Jeep. The show will also feature the current models from domestic and foreign manufacturers.

With the economy and gas prices stable, car shoppers show a powerful?appetite for SUVs and trucks. While lower gas costs are good for the wallet, they’ve dampened curiosity about the discharge of new electric cars, which is creating less buzz this year although the Chevrolet Bolt, with 234 miles of range, will be on display.

Auto shows are ideal for car shoppers looking for a new group of wheels or anyone planning for a future purchase. Press unveilings started Nov. 16 and included from “Star Wars” storm troopers to reside bands and fireworks. The public show runs Nov. 18-27.

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Just a year after re-entering the U.S. market using the stunning Giulia sports sedan, Alfa Romeo is rolling out a luxury SUV, which debuts in the L.A. show. The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio is going to be offered in a wide variety of powertrains from the muscular V6 to a fuel-efficient gas sipper. An italian man , carmaker’s sales strategy matches those of other high-end manufacturers, for example Porsche and Audi, which have gained market share by jumping on the SUV bandwagon. Delays are typical from Alfa Romeo, however the Stelvio is planned for production early the coming year. Sources estimate the cost is going to be $55,000.

2018 Mini Countryman

The biggest in a type of small cars, the Mini Countryman continues to be completely redesigned and given a growth hormone for 2017. Making its debut in the show, the Countryman has become bigger and much more muscular-looking on the outside and roomier inside. The German carmaker, in line with the British brand, has added a choice of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) setup with an all-electric selection of 25 miles. For those preferring a more conventional powertrain, a pair of gas engines are available with an all-wheel-drive option for all models. Another interesting option: an electrical tailgate unit that unfolds in the trunk and offers picnic seating. The brand new gas-power Countryman continues sale in March with the PHEV version available later around. Pricing has not yet been announced.

2018 Nissan Versa Note and Juke Black Pearl Edition

Nissan takes the wraps off two new types of their popular small cars in the L.A. show. The 2018 Versa Note, a fuel-efficient four-door, may have new front-end styling, color palette and wheel designs. Its 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, matched with a brand new transmission, boosts gas mileage to 39 mpg highway. Meanwhile, the little SUV Juke introduces a Black Pearl Edition with unusual black styling inside and out and a complement of white accents. The 2018 Juke SV carries a car or truck of $22,550 for that front-wheel-drive model and $24,400 for that all-wheel-drive. Meanwhile, the Japanese manufacturer may have two additional world debuts, one of which will be a high-performance version of the old favorite economy car, the Sentra. Additionally, the Rogue (pictured) will be released inside a Star Wars Limited Edition.

2017 Jeep Renegade Desert Hawk

Jeep is known for its ruggedly iconic, all-American-style SUVs. But it is also mostly of the brands with limited-edition productions, such as the 75th-anniversary Wranglers along with a special 2016 Dawn of Justice Renegade. Now Jeep is releasing two more special-edition Renegades in the 2016 L.A. Auto Show: the Altitude and also the Desert Hawk. The 2017 Jeep Renegade Desert Hawk, like several Jeeps, is off-road ready with all-wheel drive, a couple.4-liter four-cylinder engine along with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Modeled after Jeep’s best-in-class Trailhawk, the Desert Hawk goes further with included 17-inch wheels, unique hood and rear designs including a U.S. army star decal, and rock rails for improved traction. The subcompact crossover’s signature color is Mojave Sand, but it’s available in Alpine White, Anvil or black. The Desert Hawk will arrive?at dealerships starting January 2017; sources predict it?will be listed at $28,140.

2017 Mazda CX-5

Mazda doesn’t have the company recognition of their Toyota or Honda counterparts, nevertheless its cars are consistently reliable, affordable and thrilling to drive. Japan automaker has continuously reinvented the top-selling CX-5 since its introduction in 2012, which is now launching its redesigned CX-5 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2017 Mazda CX-5 is a sleeker breed: lower down, having a longer hood and streamlined headlights. Underneath the hood, the crossover is keeping the current 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engines and a six-speed transmission. In a single changeup, the model will have a diesel engine option starting the second 1 / 2 of 2017, a rarity within the U.S. market. No pricing information is available yet.

[In the marketplace for new wheels? Check out NerdWallet’s guide to buying a new car]

2017 Smart Fortwo Cabrio

Smart, part of the German Daimler AG family, is really a city-dweller’s car – subcompact 2- and 4-seaters that can park just about anywhere but look decidedly tiny on a freeway within this SUV-crazy country. Smart was an early player in the present crop of plug-in electric cars, using its first cars hitting 18 markets in 2009. Smart debuted its fourth-generation electric drive in Paris in September, which is offering the first U.S. glimpse in the L.A. Auto Show. Unveilings include the Smart Fortwo Cabrio, with a fold-down roof, which the maker says may be the only electric cabriolet available. It features a reported range on full charge of 99 miles, less than half of the items the new Chevrolet Bolt will offer next year but a lot more than sufficient for in-city commuting. All of the Smart models can be found in both electric and combustion engines. The car will hit the U.S. market in December. The cost has not been announced, but Car and Driver estimates it will be within the mid-$20,000 range.

2017 Honda Civic Si

We are all aware the Civic, right? This old favorite is getting newer and more effective sheen because it rolls out new models and makeovers included in its 10th generation. The Honda Civic Type R prototype was shown off in Paris in September, and now the Japanese maker has unveiled a prototype of its sporty 2017 edition from the Civic Si in La. The high-performance Si is going to be obtainable in 2017 as a sedan or coupe, with a turbocharged engine along with a “short-shifting” manual transmission. The Civic is in its 44th year, and Honda is projecting that 2016 is going to be its biggest sales year yet – however the overhaul from the complete Civic lineup shows the company isn’t resting on its laurels. The prototype Model R can also be on display. No price continues to be announced for the new models.

2018 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY

Land Rover’s Discovery models have always been large, luxurious SUVs, constructed with powerful off-road performance. The British automaker’s newest, however, sheds some pounds for any more refined look plus some cushy perks. Debuting at the L.A. show, the 2018 Land Rover Discovery impresses with lightweight aluminum construction, an arsenal of semi-autonomous driving features, along with a sleeker and lighter body shell. Its interior is how the model shines: designed with room for 3 rows of seating -?adjustable via smartphone, individually heated and organized in descending stadium height positions – a sports-inspired steering wheel, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot system. Despite its family-friendly face-lift, the off-road champion retains lots of power, featuring JLR’s 340-hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V6, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available at dealerships in mid-2017, it’s predicted to begin around $50,000.

2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS

Volkswagen can use some good news, as it works with the self-inflicted damage of its diesel emissions scandal. So in Los Angeles, it offers another look at its newest SUV model, the Atlas, which was first unveiled at the end of October. The Atlas, to be built at the German automaker’s assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will be VW’s biggest SUV yet, joining the compact Tiguan (MSRP from $24,995) and the midsize Touareg (MSRP from $49,495) – at a price tag likely to fall somewhere in between. The three-row Atlas will seat as many as seven adults and can come in two engine options: the 2.0 TSI four-cylinder turbo and also the 3.6 VR6, both with eight-speed automatic transmission. The SUV is front-wheel drive, by having an all-wheel-drive option for the VR6 engine. It’s expected to be accessible in spring 2017.

Philip Reed is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: [email protected].

Nicole Arata is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email:[email protected].

Photos for NerdWallet by Ed Carreon.