2006 L.A. Auto Show: Saab 60th Anniversary 9-3 and 9-5

The L.A. Auto Show kicks off tomorrow with a slew of all-new models most people haven’t seen before. Actually, it kicks off here on KickingTires tonight at midnight EST, but we digress. Today, GM is giving us some special editions to whet our appetite for the big reveals tomorrow, starting with Saab’s 60th Anniversary 9-3 sedan, SportCombi and convertible, plus its 9-5 sedan and SportCombi.

All the special editions get an Ice Blue metallic paint job, unique 17-inch alloy wheels, embossed black leather seats and dark walnut trim. They’re also loaded with options, like a six-disc CD changer, parking assistance and more, as a way to entice buyers. Unlike almost everything else we’ll be covering over the next few days, GM provided prices for all the 60th Anniversary Editions. The package is an $1,825 option on the 9-3 lineup and $1,595 on the 9-5 lineup.

Keep reading for more photos.

Cars.com 2006 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

2006 L.A. Auto Show: Buick Enclave

We all knew the Buick Enclave would look a lot like the concept vehicle we saw in Detroit 11 months ago, but the production vehicle is almost identical in every way, at least from the outside. The interior is nowhere near as luxurious as the concept, but we knew that would be the case — there’s no way a mass-production vehicle can match a handmade one. Still, the interior seems upgraded enough from the Saturn Outlook to warrant the estimated price increase from that sub-$30,000 sibling.

The exterior design of the Enclave is gorgeous for a glorified minivan. Don’t use that “M” word around GM, though. They call this a “luxury crossover SUV.” The real question will come down to price and whether or not the Enclave will step into Acura MDX territory (starting at $40,000). We’d expect GM to be savvy to that figure, though when the car hits dealers this summer.

Keep reading for a bunch of photos. There will be more information on the Enclave’s powertrain and other features later today in the Cars.com L.A. Auto Show section.

The KickingTires Guide to the L.A. Auto Show

The 2007 auto show season gets a jump-start this year with the L.A. Auto Show moving to the fall, a full month before Detroit’s annual new-car spectacular. We’ll be covering all the madness from L.A. here on KickingTires and over in the main Cars.com Auto Show section this week. Why the two places for one show? There are a number of reasons.

The L.A. Auto Show is going to be extensive this year, with major production and concept cars from most manufacturers, and we need a quick way to get the information out to our readers. That’s what you’ll find here on the blog: Up-to-the-minute news and photos of new vehicles as soon as we’re allowed to post them, often at midnight.

Cadillac DTS-L: A Longer Caddie for VIPs

Cadillac’s biggest sedan right now is the DTS, but even that isn’t big enough to serve as a de facto limousine. To answer the need for more long-wheelbase vehicles in the livery industry, Cadillac is introducing the new DTS-L. The new Cadillac is certainly long. At 215.6 inches, it’s more than a foot longer than the new Lexus LS 460 L and bests most full-size SUVs in the length department. Rear legroom is 49 inches, which is also considerably more than the Lexus.

The large panel behind the rear passenger windows is meant to provide extra privacy for passengers, but we wonder why the rear seats offer only heat, not the heated and cooling abilities of the front seats. The rear seats don’t recline or offer a footrest, like others in the luxury long-wheelbase segment, either. As an executive car, however, it still delivers an attractive and more upscale alternative to the popular but aging Lincoln Town Car.

Editor’s note: While we realize car shoppers won’t be lining up to buy one of these, it’s still an interesting entry into a niche market that most of us only pay attention to on the way to the airport. For an interior photo click below.

Aston Martin Debuts V8 Vantage Roadster

We’re still a few weeks out from the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, but automakers can’t keep their excitement under wraps. Aston Martin just sent over information on the V8 Vantage roadster it will display at the show. Based on the Vantage coupe, the roadster version features the same 380-­hp engine as its hardtop brethren and hits 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Not too shabby for a convertible. Plus, it’s quite a looker. For those who want a British exotic, you can’t go wrong here.

Prices haven’t been announced, but we’d guess there will be around a $10,000 - $20,000 increase on the coupe’s $107,400 sticker. Expect the V8 Vantage roadster to arrive at an upscale dealer near you around the middle of 2007. We’ll bring you more on the V8 Vantage roadster during our coverage of the L.A. Auto Show at the end of the month. For now, enjoy the photos below.

Mazda Promises Wild Design Concept for L.A.

Mazda is whetting the appetites of car buffs everywhere with information about one of its concept vehicles for the upcoming 2006 L.A. Auto Show. Called Nagare, the concept is pure prediction of what future Mazdas will look like. The lead designer says it can all be summed up in one word: flow. From what we can glean from this sketch, the Nagare looks to be a radical evolution of the company’s current lineup.

Full coverage of the L.A. Auto Show starts Nov. 29 here on KickingTires and in the main Cars.com Auto Show section.

LA Design Challenge: Green Cars of the Future

Doc Brown would have been proud. Nine automakers have submitted entries in the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show’s Design Challenge, a competition aimed at conceiving a futuristic car that’s environmentally friendly, by both design and fuel source, and can be recycled after five years on the road. It’s the third such competition sponsored by the auto show, and all entries are strictly two-dimensional. Judges choose a winner based on originality, environmentalism, safety and how well it reflects Southern California’s “green” lifestyle.

For details on the winner, stay tuned for our full L.A. Auto Show coverage coming at the end of November. For now, here’s a sneak peek.

L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge

No, you didn’t sleep through October and November, the Los Angeles Auto Show is still more than two months away. That doesn’t mean the hype for the show hasn’t begun in earnest. Yesterday, show organizers announced nine entries for the show’s annual Design Challenge, including the Mercedes-Benz RECY concept shown above. The theme of this year’s challenge is how to design vehicles that are “environmentally aware.” The RECY, for example, is a roadster designed from 100% recycled materials. L.A.-based automaker design studios are partaking, including Acura, Audi, Honda, Hummer, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Toyota and Volkswagen. We’ll bring you more images as soon as we have them. The winner will be announced Nov. 30 during the L.A. Auto Show.