2006 Los Angeles Overview

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This is the last year you'll be reading Los Angeles auto show coverage in January. After too many years fighting for attention with Detroit, the L.A. auto show will switch to a fall schedule in 2006. This should help assure that L.A. finally gets the respect it deserves and gives us a chance to see two great L.A. shows in 2006.

The January edition of the L.A. show is shaping up to be big for General Motors. Its new line of full-size trucks and SUVs is set to go on sale in 2006 and Southern California will be a prime-time market. With the Tahoe and Escalade already out in the open, we're expecting to see the big boys of the lineup, the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL, for the first time. Sharing the show stage will be a couple of new Saabs, a special-edition Corvette and a Pontiac that could steal the show all by itself.

There will be news from the Germans as well, with the first North American showing of Audi's new Q7 SUV as well as the slick new Volkswagen Eos hardtop convertible. Lamborghini's Gallardo Spyder will make its U.S. debut in L.A. as well, along with the Ferrari F430 Challenge and Bugatti Veyron. We've even heard rumors that an all-new Porsche model might make an appearance.

Affordability will be on display, too, with the first U.S. showings of the Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen GTI hatchbacks. Chevrolet's Aveo subcompact is another affordable sedan that GM is hoping might catch on among the image-conscious in L.A.