2011 L.A. Auto Show: What We Know

Fall should mean only one thing to attentive auto enthusiasts: a new auto show season is upon us.

With the 2011 L.A. Auto Show less than a month away, we have a pretty good understanding of what to expect, though there still looks to be a few surprises. Like in previous years, the show will be a heavy mix of luxury car debuts intertwined with some fuel efficient, green options.

There will be at least 21 all-new releases at the show, and 25 vehicles that will make their North American debuts (about the same as last year). This fresh new clutch of vehicles will be shown to the media, and subsequently to you on KickingTires, Nov. 16 and 17.

The everyday car shopper should keep tabs on the redesigned Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Azera, all of which will debut at the show.

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible Coming to L.A. Auto Show

For those seeking the fastest production Camaro but wanting a little wind in their hair while driving it, your miracle machine has arrived. The 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 convertible’s name says it all. It’s a convertible variant of the ZL1 trim (first shown at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show), a high-performance Camaro variant that’s designed to challenge the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.  

The convertible comes with the same 580-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 engine with a six-speed manual transmission that’ll be on the coupe. Additional features include structural reinforcements meant to stiffen the convertible and reduce cowl shake/vibration with additional underbody stiffening.

Like the coupe, the convertible will come with a Magnetic Ride Control electronic dampening system and launch control. All of the systems are tied into a GM exclusive Performance Traction Management system, which integrates the dampening system, launch control, traction control and stability control to help boost acceleration performance at launch or in corners.

We can’t wait to hear the ZL1 convertible’s roar of the dual-mode exhaust system, probably its best attribute. We’ll have more information once the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show gets underway in mid-November. Both coupe and convertible variants of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will launch early in 2012.

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Joins Growing 500-Plus Horsepower Club

The number of new 500-plus horsepower cars is a surprisingly long list, but admission to the club isn’t cheap even from non-exotic automakers. The supercharged 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 — slotted above the already potent SS — will make 580 horsepower when it goes on sale in early 2012. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but we expect the ZL1 to stay close to its most appropriate rival, the 2012 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 that starts at $48,645.
 
Below are a few examples of how much money it takes to get 500-plus horsepower. A Camaro or Mustang won’t be mistaken for an Audi R8, but the money-to-horsepower ratio of ’roided-up muscle cars like the supercharged GT500, and potentially the ZL1, is impressive. And as you can see, only one has more than 580 hp.

Cars.com Podcast: 2012 Nissan Versa, 2011 Chevy Camaro, 2012 Nissan GT-R

If editor Kelsey Mays’ review of the all-new Nissan Versa wasn’t unvarnished enough for you then this podcast is a must-listen. Fellow editors David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder grill him over the least expensive car in the country. The trio also discusses the convertible version of Chevy’s Camaro and the updated 2012 Nissan GT-R, the company’s most expensive car.

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Extreme Commuting Mileage Report

Hybrid buyers are generally looking for high mileage over all else unless they're shopping in the luxury space. Still, the 2011 Lexus CT 200h is rated at an impressive 42 mpg for combined city/highway driving. We took it to task along with the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible and 2011 Kia Sportage SX in our latest extreme commuting challenge.

The Lexus CT 200h hybrid has a sweet spot for gridlock traffic with the ability to drive short distances using electric power only. In switchable EV mode, the CT 200h can drive up to one mile at speeds less than 28 mph. I didn’t need the feature to crack off better mileage than its city ratings. The Camaro convertible handled traffic congestion like a champ, offering a comfortable ride and better over-the-shoulder visibility with the top up than the coupe. The Sportage SX is turbocharged and takes a gas-mileage hit for the additional 84 horsepower, though only for highway ratings. EPA-estimated fuel-economy ratings drop from 21/28 mpg city/highway with all-wheel drive on non-turbo models to 21/26 mpg for the all-wheel-drive SX.

Cars.com Reviews the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Even before the debut of the convertible body style, the Camaro managed to topple the Mustang from its pre-eminent spot as best-selling muscle car — a title the Ford held for 23 years. Most of what makes the Camaro coupe popular to car shoppers translates well to the convertible model but with the added benefit of increased visibility, according to Cars.com senior editor David Thomas.

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Review

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Video

The fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro spent what seemed like an entirety in development, as GM teased the car to the public for nearly four years. Waiting a year for the Camaro convertible seems minuscule by comparison, but was it worth it? If you held out for the convertible, it looks like you’ll be rewarded, according to Cars.com senior editor David Thomas.

MotherProof.com's Car Seat Check Recap

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class would make for one expensive family hauler. But can a two-door coupe carry child-safety seats? Yes, according to MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check series. Installing them can be awkward depending on the car seat, but two can fit in the rear. To learn more about the CL-Class and how well car seats fit in the Chevrolet Camaro convertible, continue reading below:

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class: Car Seat Check 
2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible: Car Seat Check

Camaro Convertible Adds Visibility With Top Up

Chevrolet’s rebirthed Camaro is one of a handful of wild concept cars that made it to the streets without many styling changes. Concepts often stay concepts because raked windshields and short, aggressive rooflines mean poor visibility in the real world. That last part should sound especially familiar to Camaro coupe owners as the Camaro coupe’s visibility is one of the worst in the business. When the 2011 Camaro convertible came along for us to evaluate, it was apparent rearward visibility would be better with the top down. As it turns out, the convertible’s visibility is much improved over the coupe even when the top is up.
 
I brought the Camaro convertible to a suburban Chicago cruise night filled with owners of the fifth-generation Camaro — 2010 and newer — who were eager to check out the new drop-top. An owner’s opinion is a valuable insight for us, and the grouping of V-6 and V-8 owners were genuinely impressed by the convertible, especially its top-up visibility.

2012 Chevy Cruze, Camaro Get Better Mileage

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze will get a 2 mpg improvement in highway mileage on its most popular trim, according to General Motors. In addition, the 2012 Camaro gets improvements in power while returning a 30 mpg highway rating — up from 29 mpg — on select trims.

On the Cruze, the 138-horsepower, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, which is found on all Cruze trims except for the base LS, gets a 2 mpg improvement over the 2011 model in highway gas mileage when equipped with an automatic transmission. That means most Cruze models are now rated at an EPA-estimated 24/38 mpg city/highway.