Chat Transcript

<Edmunds_Moderator> Welcome to our Special Event Chat with Brent Romans, Senior Features Editor, Edmunds.com. He's here to tell us all about the 2001 Los Angeles Auto Show! We're glad you joined us. Please submit as many questions as you want and he will answer as many as he can during our chat hour.

<Edmunds_Moderator> Welcome Brent! Before we get to the member questions, could you give us an overview of the 2001 LA Auto Show and what you feel are the "must sees" for those who attend?

<Brent_Romans> I think it was generally a good show...mostly new models, with a few concept vehicles.

<Brent_Romans> This show didn't have a standout car or vehicle, generally a good selection of cars and trucks that will be important for consumers and buyers for this upcoming year.

<Brent_Romans> Specifically, in term of production cars, the Acura TL type S, the 2001 VW Jetta Wagon, and the 2002 Mazda Protégé Sport Wagon. Definitely some interesting wagons.

<Brent_Romans> What they showed indicates that small compact sporty wagons are going to become more popular in the coming years.

<Brent_Romans> Two main themes I got: the popularity of sport wagons, and a heavy emphasis on crossover vehicles like the Chevrolet Borrego concept vehicle.

<Brent_Romans> This is pretty interesting, designed in Chevrolet's design studio in North Hollywood.

<Brent_Romans> It's built Subaru Impreza platform (Chevy owns a 20% stake in Subaru).

<Brent_Romans> The Borrego is a combination of a rally car and a pickup truck.

<Brent_Romans> It looks like a car, but it rides high, with big wheels and tires, with an open pickup bed.

<Brent_Romans> It has a mid-gate, which can be lowered into the cabin to increase the length of the cargo bed, which is pretty unique.

<Brent_Romans> In general, the Borrego is a good example of crossover vehicles that we'll be seeing in the future.

<Edmunds_Moderator> Welcome to our Special Event Chat with Brent Romans, Senior Features Editor, Edmunds.com. He's here to tell us all about the 2001 Los Angeles Auto Show! We're glad you joined us. Please submit as many questions as you want and he will answer as many as he can during our chat hour.

<Edmunds_Moderator> Bob_J: Hi Brent, Were there any new power plants shown?

<Brent_Romans> Bob_J: Yes, assuming you mean engines...

<Brent_Romans> Two new engines, one in the Acura TL type S which is the engine that was introduced last year in the CL type S, with the HP v-6, featuring Honda's variable valve timing system.

<Brent_Romans> The other new engine wrapped around a current car is the engine found in the 2001 BMW M coupe and M roadster.

<Brent_Romans> Last year's M coupe and roadster had a 240 HP 3.2 liter engine

<Brent_Romans> But for this year, BMW has given these cars the same engine that will be in the BMW M3 coupe.

<Brent_Romans> This new engine is considerably more powerful-- 315 HP and 251 pds of torque.

<Brent_Romans> Both of these cars were plenty fast before...with this new engine they should be real screamers.

<Edmunds_Moderator> Dallas: I want to know about the hottest sports cars...can you tell me about a couple that were your favs?

<Brent_Romans> Dallas: I think my personal favorite was the 2001 BMW M coupe

<Brent_Romans> Even though it's been out for a couple years, I think it's very distinctive.

<Brent_Romans> BMW only sells about 1000 of them a year. Only certain types of people are attracted to them in terms of other sporty cars.

<Brent_Romans> One interesting vehicle was the 2001 Mazda Protégé, a special version called the MP3.

<Brent_Romans> This one Edmunds.com has always thought of as a fun and sporty economy sedan.

<Brent_Romans> The MP3 version will be even faster, 140 HP (considerably more than in the past).

<Brent_Romans> Also included is a stiffer suspension, quicker steering, and a stereo that can play MP3 files (thus the name-- the type of music files that you would normally play on your computer).

<Brent_Romans> Also, the 2001 Bullitt referring to Steve McQueen's movie of the same name.

<Brent_Romans> In that film he originally drove a Mustang

<Brent_Romans> There are some real improvements in addition to visual looks.

<Brent_Romans> The engine is similar to the Mustang GT. It has 270 HP.

<Brent_Romans> It also includes exterior and interior changes as well as special wheels

<Brent_Romans> One other car that was introduced at the Paris auto show
is the Porsche Carrera GT concept vehicle.

<Brent_Romans> This is just a concept vehicle, but if it goes into production (Porsche hasn't decided) it'll have a 5.5 liter normally aspiration V10 engine.

<Brent_Romans> That will produce 558 HP.

<Brent_Romans> Anyone who is going to the LA Auto Show will get to see this vehicle up close, which is a rare treat.

<Brent_Romans> The rumor is that it will cost well over $300,000, if it does go into production.

<Edmunds_Moderator> Fun Fact...Actor Pierce Brosnan was one of the first to drive the $128,570 BMW Z8. A perk of his role as James Bond in "The World Is Not Enough."

<Edmunds_Moderator> Will: What's up with the new jeep liberty?

<Brent_Romans> Will: We can say that the Jeep Liberty was not introduced at the LA Auto Show, but I can comment on it.

<Brent_Romans> It will be at the Detroit auto show.

<Brent_Romans> The Liberty will be a 2002 model and will replace the Jeep Cherokee.

<Brent_Romans> Some of the main new points are a new 3.7 liter V6, which is based on the 4.7 liter V8 in the Grand Cherokee, so the Liberty's V6 makes 210 HP.

<Brent_Romans> The V6 is optional and a 4-cylinder engine is standard.

<Brent_Romans> No one at Edmunds has driven the vehicle but our guess is it will be an improvement over the Cherokee.

<Brent_Romans> Better ride, better interior, with more room.

<Brent_Romans> We assume it will have Jeep's reputation for doing well off-road on challenging terrain.

<Edmunds_Moderator> jerrod: Was there any info on the new Acura Integra?

<Brent_Romans> (if you want to know more, check out the Detroit Auto Show coverage at www.edmunds.com)

<Brent_Romans> jerrod: Acura will show the new Integra at LA.

<Brent_Romans> It's just a concept vehicle, Acura is calling it the RS-X.

<Brent_Romans> It's very clear that this is what the production model is going to be like.

<Brent_Romans> This is a very highly-anticipated vehicle.

<Brent_Romans> The big news is its 200 HP 2-liter engine.

<Brent_Romans> Acura has given this engine an improved VTEC system.

<Brent_Romans> It produces 100 HP per liter which is very impressive for an engine that doesn' t have a turbo charger.

<Brent_Romans> Acura says they will introduce the production model at the New York Auto Show in April.

<Brent_Romans> All of us at Edmunds.com are very excited about the prospect of driving it.

<Edmunds_Moderator> bobinpa: Were there any new Mini Vans unveiled at the Auto Show?

<Brent_Romans> bobinpa: In a word: no.

<Brent_Romans> The closest thing to a minivan was probably the Pontiac Vibe.

<Brent_Romans> It's kind of a crossover vehicle, a combination of a sport wagon and an SUV.

<Brent_Romans> It was developed in partnership with Toyota

<Brent_Romans> Toyota is showing a similar version at the Detroit Auto Show called the Toyota Matrix.

<Brent_Romans> The Vibe looks like the Pontiac Aztek a bit, but better.

<Brent_Romans> The Aztek's sales haven't been great; hopefully with the Vibe things will improve.

<Edmunds_Moderator> Gyasi: How many vehicles were shown and are there any manufacturers that are NOT at the show?

<Brent_Romans> Gyasi: In terms of vehicles that were shown, every manufacturer that was there has their regular production vehicle in additon to a concept vehicle.

<Brent_Romans> Our coverage of the LA auto show includes 20 featured vehicles that haven't been seen before.

<Brent_Romans> Nearly all automotive manufacturers are represented there.

<Brent_Romans> Ferrari has an exhibit, as does Porsche and Rolls Royce.

<Brent_Romans> What I think makes the LA Auto Show one of the most interesting ones to attend is that LA has a separate hall dedicated to Aftermarket companies

<Brent_Romans> This isn't something that you'll find at other major shows

<Brent_Romans> If you're interested in modifying your vehicle, LA is a good show to go to.

<Brent_Romans> One other thing that's interesting is the Jaguar Roadster Retrospective.

<Brent_Romans> One of the most interesting vehicles is Jaguar's new S type, which will hit the streets in 2004.

<Brent_Romans> Jaguar is also showing a lot of classic roadsters like the C and D type racers, XK120, 140 and 150, XKSS and SS100s.

<Brent_Romans> I encourage any attendees to check this exhibit out. It's pretty neat.

<Edmunds_Moderator> Dallas: What days is the LA Auto Show and do you have any tips for those who might attend? I'm up in San Francisco.

<Brent_Romans> I believe it's running now through the weekend.

<Brent_Romans> Make sure to check out their website, laautoshow.com

<Brent_Romans> If you live in Los Angeles, you know its very crowded here, and parking is limited.

<Brent_Romans> Try to go during off-peak times, early or late in the day.

<Brent_Romans> Bring a camera, and wear good walking shoes!

<Brent_Romans> It's a good opportunity to evaluate the interiors of the vehicles you might be considering buying.

<Brent_Romans> It's a good time to test comfort.

<Brent_Romans> You might be able to open the trunk to check the space, etc.

<Brent_Romans> It's also a good opportunity to compare different makes and models.

<Brent_Romans> There's generally no pressure there, no sales or anything like that, so you can just go and have fun.

<Edmunds_Moderator> JohnnyD: Brent, if you were going to buy something you saw today....which would be the top 3 choices and why?

<Brent_Romans> JohnnyD: The Mustang Bullitt, because it looks pretty neat and it's going to be limited production, so it will be rare.

<Brent_Romans> The VW Jetta Wagon, because we've always been impressed with the Jetta Sedan, but the wagon will give it extra utility.

<Brent_Romans> and the Acura TL Type S. It's an excellent entry-level luxury sedan. With the type S engine, it's FAST. It would definitely make the daily commute less of a slog.

<Edmunds_Moderator> soobie: What do you think was the most significant, interesting, or fun new vehicle at the show?

<Brent_Romans> soobie: The 2 most significant vehicles I saw were both concept vehicles. The first was the Ford Escape HEV. The second was the Dodge PowerBox.

<Brent_Romans> Both of these vehicles are hybrid electric vehicles.

<Brent_Romans> Hybrids are going to be more popular in the new millennium as we see more restrictive emission laws.

<Brent_Romans> Other hybrids are the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius.

<Brent_Romans> Those two are very small, with only two seats but they do get 70 MPG on the freeway.

<Brent_Romans> Sorry, the Honda Insight is a two-seater.

<Brent_Romans> The Toyota Prius has room for five.

<Brent_Romans> What the Escape and PowerBox show is that hybrids don't have to be small and boxy.

<Brent_Romans> The Escape has a gasoline engine as well as an electric motor.

<Brent_Romans> It's supposed to go on sale in 2003.

<Brent_Romans> If what Ford says is true, it should have just as much power as the current Escape with the V6 Engine.

<Brent_Romans> You can get 40 MPG.

<Brent_Romans> It will be rated for SULEV emissions.

<Brent_Romans> SULEV means that it is 90% cleaner current LEV emission ratings-- a very clean vehicle.

<Brent_Romans> The PowerBox is similar; it is a cool looking SUV.

<Brent_Romans> This one runs on compressed natural gas, with an electric motor to assist it.

<Brent_Romans> While it's unlikely that the PowerBox will make it into production, we can expect to see its powertrain installed in the 2003 Durango Hybrid SUV.

<Brent_Romans> Bottom line: hybrids are going to become a lot more popular in coming years.

<Edmunds_Moderator> clarke27: How far does one of those vehicles go? Like with the electric motor? And where do I get compressed natural gas to run it?

<Brent_Romans> clarke27: It is very difficult to buy compressed natural gas at this time.

<Brent_Romans> When the 2003 Durango hybrid comes out, it'll probably be gas powered with electric-assist.

<Brent_Romans> Dodge says the PowerBox has a 350-mile range.

<Brent_Romans> Ford says the Escape HEV will have a range of 500 miles on a single tank of gas.

<Edmunds_Moderator> jersy_jack: Brent...I am a Porsche kind of guy. Did they have anything coming out at the auto show?

<Brent_Romans> jersy_jack: Beyond the Carrera GT concept vehicle, Porsche didn't have anything new here.

<Brent_Romans> At Detroit, however, Porsche is showing the 911 GT2, which should be the fastest production 911 ever.

<Brent_Romans> It?s supposed to make 456 HP.

<Brent_Romans> (40 more than the current 911 turbo).

<Brent_Romans> I haven't seen it yet, but not only is it faster, but it's 200 lbs lighter than the current model.

<Brent_Romans> It is rear-wheel drive only, vs. the current model's all-wheel drive.

<Edmunds_Moderator> jerrod: Was there anything about a new lower cost lamborghini or the replacement for the diablo?

<Brent_Romans> jerrod: No, there wasn't any of that type of info at the auto show.

<Brent_Romans> It's been rumored that Lamborghini is working on a cheaper replacement, but they didn't have that information there.

<Edmunds_Moderator> cliff: Hi-Will the new Impreza wagon be as roomy as the outback wagon?

<Brent_Romans> cliff: Interesting question

<Brent_Romans> Yes, it will be as roomy as the current Outback (the Impreza version, not the Legacy Outback).

<Brent_Romans> We're obtaining the new Impreza sedan in two weeks for test-driving, and the wagon a couple months later, so keep an eye on www.edmunds.com to see when those test results get posted to the site.

<Edmunds_Moderator> cliff: What will the advantage of the WRX wagon be over the outback VDC if any?

<Brent_Romans> cliff: The Impreza wagon is going to be smaller than the Outback VDC.

<Brent_Romans> The VDC is based on the Legacy, which is a larger vehicle.

<Brent_Romans> The advantages to the new Impreza wagon will be that it will be faster, 227 HP turbo-charged 2-liter engine. Also, even in the most expensive WRX form, the price may even be a little cheaper than the Outback VDC (just guessing).

<Edmunds_Moderator> jersey_jack: Brent...did any SUV's appear with new body styles....Escalade....Expedition...Navigator? And what do you think of the new Toyota Sequoia?

<Brent_Romans> jersey_jack: One new SUV showed up, which was the 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT which is an upscale version of Chevrolet's Avalanche crossover pickup

<Brent_Romans> It can carry 5 passengers and has it also has a 5 foot cargo bed. Like the Avalanche, it has a mid-gate, which can be lowered, therefore increasing the cargo bed length to 8 ft.

<Brent_Romans> As for the Toyota Sequoia, we just finished our road test.

<Brent_Romans> In general the staff opinion of that vehicle is very high

<Brent_Romans> We were impressed with its on-road demeanor and its level of fit and finish. It?s interior material quality is higher than its domestic competition.

<Brent_Romans> If you're shopping for large SUVs, I'd encourage you to go to your local Toyota dealer and test-drive one.

<Edmunds_Moderator> bobinpa: If I gave you a blank check, which concept car would you drive away from the show and why?

<Brent_Romans> bob: I'm going to cheat, and pick one from the Detroit auto show.

<Brent_Romans> The concept car I'd drive away from there would probably be the Nissan Z, the new replacement for the old Nissan 300ZX.

<Brent_Romans> The production version's supposed to come out in mid-2002.

<Brent_Romans> From the pictures it looks like it will be a big hit.

<Brent_Romans> I'm certainly excited about it!!

<Edmunds_Moderator> bruce: Based on the auto show, what future automotive trends do you see coming up in the near future?

<Brent_Romans> bruce: Like I said earlier, the two big trends will be the crossover vehicles, like the Chevy Borrego and compact wagons like the Jetta wagon, but also the hybrids, like the Escape HEV.

<Edmunds_Moderator> Thank you Brent, it was exciting hearing about the LA Auto Show! What a great chat this was. We hope you join us again! Any closing comments?

<Brent_Romans> I just want to thank everyone for coming

<Brent_Romans> If you get a chance to go to the L.A. Auto Show, hope you have a good time! If you can't go in person, our coverage at www.edmunds.com is almost like being there.

<Brent_Romans> We have video coverage (best with a T1 line, DSL or cable modem) as well as extensive press coverage.

<Brent_Romans> Good night!

<Edmunds_Moderator> Members, thanks for joining us! Don't forget about Friday Freeway, "Car Trivia", 5-6pmPT/8-9pmET. Come and test your knowledge of cars!

<Edmunds_Moderator> Everyone Drive Safely and thanks again for joining us.