LAST week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, automakers displayed their best efforts for the year to come. There was plenty to see, from a 755hp Chevrolet Corvette, that is the fastest in the world, to an all-electric Mini, that is the first of what will eventually be a 100 per cent electric portfolio.

Elsewhere, as sales decline among sedans, sales among sport utility vehicles continue to rise. To that end, Subaru, Lexus, Volvo, and Hyundai all showed new compact and midsize SUVs, while Jeep’s new Wrangler was perhaps the most anticipated of the lot. That was the first major update for the brand’s most iconic offering in 10 years. ‘The 2017 show saw another round of utility-vehicle introductions overshadowing car reveals,” said Michelle Culver, the associate director of IHS Markit research.

Most of the vehicles uncovered this week in Los Angeles will be available in spring next year, though some will arrive as late as fourth-quarter 2018. And there is still plenty of time to see them before making a purchase. The 2019 Corvette ZR1 Convertible made its world debut Tuesday. 80,000 (RM324,715) Corvette Z06.

55,000 standard base version of the Corvette Stingray. At a party Tuesday night, Land Rover introduced the 2018 Range Rover SVAutobiography SUV, one of several new editions from its Special Vehicle Operations factory. This is the most decadent variant of the model available, with thick leather seats, 10-inch touch-screen entertainment systems, and, in the extended wheelbase version, 4ft of legroom, reclining seats, and an ice-box refrigerator.

It comes with a 557hp supercharged V8 engine. The 2018 BMW i8 Roadster is the open-top version of the German automaker’s plug-in hybrid supercar. BMW has hinted at this model with concepts for years, but this is the first time it has produced the actual street-ready version. This year’s BMW i8 comes with a new motor that produces 143bhp for a total gas-plus-electric power output of 374bhp. The all-electric range is 55km on one full charge.

The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is the world’s most powerful luxury sedan. The hatchback sedan gets 680hp and 626 pound-feet of torque, more than both the 911 GT3 and Cayenne Turbo SUV. Its high-voltage, lithium-ion battery will go 48km on electric power alone before the regular combustion engine takes over.

188,400, with deliveries beginning next spring. The Nissan Infiniti QX50 Concept SUV comes with a 268hp turbo-powered inline-four-cylinder engine and optional all-wheel drive system - and that’s pretty much all Nissan has revealed about the details of this midsize luxury concept. Porsche introduced the 911 Carrera T on Wednesday. 106,000 911 Carrera S. It is also the lightest model in the 22-model-strong Carrera range, designed for spirited driving rather than optimal comfort or entertainment value; it can come with the rear-seat removed to further reduce weight. The 20-inch wheels are an option as well.

The Carrera T hits 96kph in 4 seconds and has a top speed of 290kph with the Porsche Doppelkupplung gearbox, or 292kph with the standard 7-speed manual transmission. The Jaguar E-Pace is the British brand’s newest compact SUV. 53,550 E Pace SE. Many luxuries come standard, though, such as rear fog lights, headed rear windows, and rain-sensing windshield wipers; while heads-up display, Wi-Fi hotspot, and navigation are optional. It will seat five and compete against the Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Deliveries begin in Spring next year. The BMW M3 CS is a special version of BMW’s iconic sports coupe. It is the most powerful production variant of BMW’s M3 line and comes with an optional carbon-fiber hood and roof and aggressive rear diffuser apparatus. Its twin-turbo inline-six engine gets 460hp and can get to 100kph in 3.9 seconds.



Top speed is 280kph. Unfortunately for manual lovers, it comes only with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Production is limited to 1,200 units; deliveries start in May next year. Pricing has yet to be announced. BMW came to the Los Angeles Auto Show this year with a lot of electric variants. The BMW X7 electric SUV and BMW 8 Series electric concept were two of the most exciting.