Highlights from the Los Angeles Auto Show: camping, SUVs and concepts

The Los Angeles Auto Show gamely soldiers on despite strong headwinds that have spelled the end for other auto shows. Once again, Hyundai and Kia anchor the show with new production vehicles, but other interesting concepts and production cars made our visit worth braving the notorious traffic on the LA freeways. It’s not the LA show of the pre-pandemic glory days, but still interesting. Here are some highlights:

Hyundai Ioniq 9

Hyundai’s reveal of the its large flagship EV, the three-row luxury SUV, the Ioniq 9, was the show’s most poorly kept secret. Big and roomy, the production Ioniq 9 stays close to the design of the handsome Hyundai Seven concept of a few years back, particularly in terms of massing and side profile. But the more detailed surfacing features seem busy – too many character lines along the flanks and above the wheels. The front continues Hyundai’s “parametric pixels” theme.

At the interior, Hyundai claims the Ioniq 9 was made for families, and focuses on creature comforts with seating for six or seven in three rows. Front and middle row passengers have relaxation seats with a massage feature. All recline, and in certain configurations, the middle row seats can swivel, making the Ioniq 9 a lounge, “a third space”, for gathering.

Electronics and connectivity are, predictably, offered in abundance, with the Ioniq 9 ‘s electric motors providing plenty juice of charge to devices. The curved touchscreen allows the driver immediately access to all controls, including a steadily increasing number of active safety and comfort features.

Hyundai Initium Concept

We assumed that Hyundai’s Initium Concept, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, would make an appearance in LA, as California is one of the few places where one can find a hydrogen fuel station network. We are also interested in Hyundai’s new “Art of Steel” design language.

The Initium is a fuel-cell/electric SUV with room for a family and all their gear- some of which will probably ride on the luggage rack up top. Range is estimated at 650 kilometers.

The “Art of Steel” design language, looks fine in this instance- the massing and proportions are particularly good. Some of the surfacing seems a bit awkward, particularly the subtle character line that rises from the rocker panel diagonally up and across the C-pillar behind the passenger compartment. And the rear ¾ view does look a bit like the ill-fated Pontiac Aztek, so that is unfortunate. But, overall, we want to see more of the “Art of Steel’ and a more complete Initium concept.

Tesla Robotaxi

Tesla has avoided auto shows in the past, but lately, no doubt due to the rise of real competition, it has condescended to bring a few cars for the public to drool over. This year, the usual Teslas – the S, the 3, the X, and the Y – are displayed at a modest stand (a far cry from Musk’s recent Hollywood extravaganza), with the Cybertruck, a crowd favourite, as well as the Tesla Robotaxi nearby.

The Robotaxi looks good “in the metal’, and with some minor modifications, would be an interesting little sports coupé or convertible. Think of an electric Mazda MX-5. Of course, Tesla already has a Roadster, which is years overdue, so we are guessing another sports coupé might not work within their long-term product plans.

Let’s hope that Tesla can get its Robotaxi network up and running. In the meantime, Waymo autonomous taxis whiz by the LA Convention Center, their driverless cockpits making the motor show offerings look like yesterday’s news.

Best in Show, Production Car: Nissan Murano

This might be a bit of a surprise, given the other new cars and trucks introduced at the show, but the Nissan Murano refresh is a new direction for the crossover. And long overdue, too. The current (third) generation Murano has been on the market since 2014, and its design has been needing a refresh for quite a while. It is not like Nissan has been idle however. Enormous resources were invested in bringing a new crossover to the market, but that became the electric Ariya. Now Nissan is playing catch-up with its spiritual cousin, the Murano.

The new design of the Murano is more tailored, less flamboyant in its curves. The “floating” roof element, with blacked out C-pillars, is gone, replaced by a simpler roof. Like the Mustang Mach-E, the Murano’s roof is slightly squared off to accommodate rear-seat passengers, but the curving side glass and strong chrome trim piece along the top rails, suggest coupé. A new series of colours helps enhance the massing and profile- the silver, shown above, makes the composition look very elegant indeed.

The front mask, always a Murano strong point, is again simplified and made more elegant with a variant of the latest V-Motion grille dominating the DRG, as does the light assembly extending across the top of the grille.

The interior has also made a move towards premium with a completely new IP and updated electronics. Seats also have been upgraded, even in the rear, to make the entire cabin a premium lounge. We will have an expanded article on the Murano, with an interview with Nissan program design director, Giovanny Arroba, in the near future.

Best in Show, Concept: Kia PV5 WKNDR

Fresh from the recent SEMA show, and closely related to modular van/ truck platforms Kia introduced at CES earlier this year, the PV5 WKNDR is a min-RV/camper van with chunky styling and host of modular appointments that make the PV5, according to Kia, “an ideal escape pod for extended weekends in nature”. The PV5 WKNDR EV VAN is lifted and fitted with off-road tyres, and lots of equipment for outdoor independence, like solar panels and an air compressor.

A modular storage compartment, called “Gear Head” can store tools, camping equipment or even double as a removable pantry for the chef on the go.

We enjoyed the chunky modular styling massing and detailing, and the overall cleverness of the scheme, especially at this show where outdoors was a strong theme across many of the exhibits. But the possibilities for other configurations intrigued us, too. Commercial applications, family travel, there’s a lot to consider in the design of the PV5.

Chrysler Halcyon

We wrote about the Chrysler Halcyon way back in February, and were much impressed with the car’s cheerful day-after-tomorrow futurism. A luxury sedan (!) for future autonomous or human-driven travel, the Halcyon incorporates advanced technology into a sleek minimalist expression.

After stepping through the carriage doors and under the butterfly panoramic roof, one encounters a cabin where almost every convention of interior design has been rethought. There is no instrument panel, a minimal steering wheel that folds away, and various driving or cruising modes that enhance the occupants’ travel experience. Screens and heads-up displays and smart glass provide infotainment. It is a great vision forward for the distant future, but what of tomorrow? Chrysler needs an intermediate step before this Jetsons-like sedan comes to pass. We look forward to seeing that soon.

The Land of Giants

Overland, the outdoor lifestyle magazine, was back for a second year at the show, with herd of mastodon-sized campers and off-road vehicles. These are not your Dad’s lumbering, lard-assed Winnebagos. These are real trucks from the likes of Ford, Tesla, Chevrolet, Rivian, and Ineos, which made an inaugural appearance with stock and custom versions of the Grenadier. They are loaded with four-wheel drive, ginormous tyres, bodies lifted to nose-bleed-level heights, and campers stuffed with all manner of sleeping, cooking and lounging gear.

Topping it all off are luggage racks, solar panels and mini-satellite dishes or Starlink connectivity. These trucks are perfect for those who want to get away from it all and take it all with them. On the other hand, in a crazy real estate market like Los Angeles’ (or London’s) these beasts could quality as affordable housing. Beyond “Van Life”, these vehicles are designed for a new breed of high-tech nomad, one who needs the freedom of movement on, off, and way, way-off-road.

PinDrop

The Pindrop “mini-camper”, a teardrop-shaped camper/trailer pitched its metaphorical tent right in the middle of the Land of Giants, reinforcing its lilliputian size and to-die-for cuteness.

A fun little camper with a camp kitchen in the tail, the doors at the sides open to a sleeping cabin, and storage box is up front next to the towing rig. You can order all manner of upgrades from awnings to extra storage or kitchen upgrades.

We were charmed not only by the PinDrop itself, but also by the context: a little camper parked in the midst of a group of behemoths. It said much about the fun and playful contribution joyous little vehicles can make in a world of crossovers and SUVs. There’s a market here if good design and generous dose of joie de vivre are baked in from the very start. A good lesson in an unlikely setting.