Automotive Predictions for 2014

1.  Lots of unreliable duds will get stirring introductions.

2.  One or more big automakers will face lawsuits.

3.  Many new cars will be copies of competing products.

4.  Absent a return of Yugo, Chrysler will remain in last place.

LAAS 2013, Porsche Impreza

If you're not paying enough for dopey AWD cars, see your Porsche dealer.

LAAS 2013 Youabian Puma

When I saw a photo of this car, I thought it looked like a Hyundai. In person, it's much different.  The whole car is outsized.  The tires are over five feet tall.  I suspect that riding in a Youabian would be like what babies experience in their car seats.

St. John's 4:03

I copy you, and you copy me.

Here's the Ford Panther that is the template for the others. It doesn't look that great, but it has been flattered in the form of imitation at least twice.

I copy you, and you copy me.

Here's where Kia got their front end. 

I copy you, and you copy me.

The similarly bodied Kia Amanti and Ford 500. Both look like later Ford Panthers.

Cadillac XTS 4

This may be 2 different cars.  The plate numbers are different.  The bottom one is a V.  Other than the numbers, I can't tell them apart.

2013 LAAS: Mitsubishi's White Cars of Haplessness

In this display, you can see headquarters trying to micromanage.  I don't remember why, but white cars are traditional in Japan.  The idea doesn't translate to the US.  Next to everything else, Mitsubishi looks like Brand X.  It appears that they have given up.  A closer look reveals that their cars look outdated. Toyota was also drowning in white cars, but theirs looked better.

LAAS 2013: The 1954 Plymouth Belmont!

This prototype helped set a pattern.   Like many others, it drew crowds and ultimately led nowhere.  It tells us why cars are appliances.  The highly functional works of art at auto shows are only for show.  Your next car will be like the one you have, with more LED's.

2013 LAAS 3, with Special Guest Star, Flat Stanley from Kansas City!

 When you're Flat Stanley, you don't need a ticket.  You can just go to the auto show any time.   So, he went for a drive in the FIAT 500, a fun little car where he had plenty of room. From there, it was on to the rest of the show, indoors.  The picture below is from a map of the area carved in granite. The round thing he's next to is the convention center where the show was.  After that, it was back to the envelope.  What a day!

LAAS 2013, 2

An ego in Michigan got by the parent company, which is listed last. It should be separated and on different materials.

Their survey question was about the SRT (???) brand. Where they get the confidence to build another brand after bankruptcy and losing Plymouth is anyone's guess. Right before the question was asked, I caught a glimpse of an imitation Mustang with an SRT badge, which seemed to indicate a higher price and louder paint. If they need a defining characteristic beyond weak transmissions, this might be it.

2013 Los Angeles Auto Show

Rather than working as an unpaid publicity machine, our team chose to cover the event on the last, most convenient day. We're here for us. Also, we like to walk around when the corporate types are too tired to bother anyone. There are lots of pictures, but laziness prohibits their uploading at this time.