• Detroit Auto Show 2007
• Review of the Geneva Motor Show 2007

By Oliver Spies

Los Angeles has a lot to offer. As the creative center on the West Coast of the United States, the attractive California metropolis is home to and experimentation space for the dreams of designers, artists, actors and seekers of innovation. Innovation is, therefore, always on the agenda. Especially in environmental concerns, everyone in L.A. wants to be one of the trailblazers. There is hardly anyplace else where so many hybrid cars are already in use and where global warming is in omnipresent discussion.

Associate with speed: grey and orange(c) Photo visual-research.com

Not without reason, the L.A. Auto Show, with its high demand for innovation and broad spectrum of exhibitors, has established itself as one of the most important auto shows in the U.S.A. today. This year found the most current design and technology trends of the car industry exhibited here. It was on level with the major car exhibitions in Detroit and New York.

Biggest topic this year? Alternative engines. Besides the Cadillac Escalade, the Chevrolet Malibu, and the Volvo C30, even Porsche presented their own sought-after hybrid car in form of the Cayenne, available from 2009. “Clean diesel” technology and the fuel cell concept were both part of the “Great Green Hope” of this auto show.

Berry red was the trend color in luxury limousines © Photo visual-research.com

Chevrolet, BMW and Volkswagen are making a name for themselves here in L.A.; the latter created a real exhibition highlight with its “space up! Blue” study: just 3.68 meters long and weighing only 1,090 kilograms, the minivan with the look of a 1950s VW-Transporter Samba was the attraction at the Volkswagen booth. According to the manufacturer, this vehicle of the future, optionally powered by fuel cells or an electric engine, has a top speed of 120 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 13.7 seconds. Just like the efficient electric engine, the onboard electronics are supplied by rechargeable lithium-ion-batteries. These in turn are supplied via state-of-the-art laser-cut solar cells embedded in polycarbonate, which are situated on the synthetic solar car roof, itself the largest solar roof worldwide and ready to go into production. Bettina Weiss and Norman Starke of the development company, Proof, explained to us the novelty of this technology, in which the wiring of the single modules remains invisible. The relatively low weight of the “space up! Blue” and its high range of up to 350 kilometers on a single charge make this minivan likely suitable to go into mass production - and therefore make this study especially interesting. We are thrilled, curious and full of hope.

Solar technology in use: the high-tech module developed
by “Proof” © Photo visual-research.com

Even were it not for the “green” automobile concepts to be marveled at in Los Angeles this year, at least the fuel-guzzlers and giant SUVs found fewer admirers than in the automobile past. The topic of climate change was omnipresent and exhibition visitors from nearby Hollywood were visibly keen to only be snapped in front of the more exemplary concept cars. This had its effect and hopefully will create copycats – and not just in California!

The “space up! Blue” study: hopefully on the roads soon! © Movie visual-research.com