Major automakers plan major global debuts at LA Auto Show

BMW, Mini, Mercedes-Benz, VW, Chevrolet and Honda have all confirmed new vehicle launches at November's west coast US automotive showcase.

It may be more than four months away but the LA Auto Show is already shaping up as one of the most important events in the automotive calendar. As well as a special expo focused on connected and autonomous car technology, a number of long-awaited new cars will be making their first public appearances at the event, which runs November 22 -December 1.

Porsche will be taking the wraps off its baby SUV, the Macan. It will be car fans' first chance to see the re-designed Mini, and there are even whispers that Honda's big news will be the finished road-going version of the NSX supercar, a vehicle that has been in either the prototype or development stage for the best part of 10 years.

In all, 50 new car launches are expected at the autoshow and BMW has confirmed that 'seven-to-eight' vehicles from its stable will be making their first US appearance and that they will be accompanied by another as-yet unnamed car that will be making its global debut. Although no further details are forthcoming -- why spoil the surprise? --new cars from Chevrolet, VW and Subaru will also be making their debuts in LA.

'As the first major North American show of the season, Los Angeles sets the tone for 2014, and we expect that automakers will pull out all the stops to excite new-car buyers. In virtually every category, from the greenest electric vehicle to high-horsepower performance models, the technological advancements we are seeing today eclipse all previous automotive eras,' said Terri Toennies, the LA Auto Show's General Manager.